Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Luxembourg’s Chamber of Deputies approved the ratification of the protocol to the 2006 income and capital tax treaty with San Marino on 11 February 2026. The two countries signed an amending protocol to their 2006 tax treaty on 14 May 2025, marking the second revision to the agreement following an earlier update in 2009. The...
The UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has released an updated guide, Taxable Persons Guide for Excise Tax (Excise Goods) – ETGTP2 on 10 February 2026. This guide is the second in a two-part series for taxable persons on excise tax in the UAE: ETGTP1 – General Legislative Provisions ETGTP1 covers the general legislative framework for...
South Africa’s Revenue Service (SARS) is preparing to shift VAT compliance to a digital model under its VAT Modernisation programme. Structured e-invoicing will be a key part of the system, enabling near-real-time transaction reporting rather than relying on periodic VAT returns. The phased rollout will begin with the largest VAT contributors and is expected to...
The Bank of Russia Board of Directors decided to cut the key rate by 50 basis points to 15.50% per annum on 13 February 2026. The economy continues to return to a balanced growth path. In January, price growth accelerated significantly due to one-off factors. However, the Bank of Russia estimates that the underlying measures...
The OECD released an updated version of its Carbon Pricing and Energy Taxation Database on 16 February 2026. The database monitors energy taxation and carbon pricing trends across multiple jurisdictions worldwide and has been expanded to cover data through 2023. The Carbon Pricing and Energy Taxation database integrates data on price signals from fuel excise...
Panama has ratified its first tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) with Ecuador through Law No. 508, published in the Official Gazette on 13 February 2026. Key highlights include the formal approval of a tax information exchange agreement with Ecuador and new financial reporting templates issued by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The Tourism Authority...
The Trump Administration released a Joint Statement on 12 February 2026 outlining a framework for a US-North Macedonia trade agreement that establishes a 15% tariff rate on North Macedonian goods, with the possibility of zero tariffs on select products. Key terms of the Agreement will include: North Macedonia will eliminate customs duties for all US industrial and...
The Belgian Council of Ministers approved a Royal Decree on 13 February 2026 introducing higher VAT rates for specific goods and services. The changes target pesticides, plant protection products, furnished accommodations, and camping facilities. The government released official statements about these changes on 14 February 2026. The decree implements two primary VAT increases: Pesticides and...
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has updated its foreign exchange rate guidance, which includes Monthly exchange rates for 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, and monthly rates for October, November, and December 2025, and January 2026. As per the guidance, all foreign income, deductions, and foreign tax paid must be converted to Australian dollars...
The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced, on 12 February 2026, that the Trump administration finalised a reciprocal trade agreement with Taiwan. The Trump Administration also released a fact sheet on the agreement. The agreement establishes a 15% tariff on Taiwanese imports to the US. The deal represents an improvement from the initial...