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TAX MAG: VAT news in Europe

Keep up with the latest Intra-Community and European VAT news, decoded by our experts.

Focus: VAT
Not established in France but VAT-registered? Learn which transactions are in scope for French e-reporting, the applicable timelines, and how to prepare ahead.

EU : the European Union strengthens data access to combat cross-border VAT fraud

The Council of the European Union announced on 5 May 2026 an agreement to strengthen cooperation between Member States, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and the European Anti-Fraud Office in tackling cross-border VAT fraud. The aim is to give investigation authorities better access to the data they need to detect and prosecute fraud schemes, including...
Country Briefs
24 July 2026

EU : Review of the VAT reverse charge mechanism

European Parliament study, 22 June 2026 The European Parliament has published a study examining the effects of the reverse charge mechanism under articles 199a and 199b of VAT Directive 2006/112/CE. These provisions allow Member States to depart from the normal rule that the supplier collects VAT. In situations presenting a particular fraud risk, they can...
24 July 2026

France : reverse charge on construction services : proof of subcontractor status required

Bordeaux Administrative Court of Appeal judgment, 19 May 2026, no. 25BX00295 The court confirmed that VAT reverse charge applicable to building works carried out as a subcontractor (French Tax Code article 283, 2 nonies) requires demonstrating genuine subcontractor status. A construction company had applied the reverse charge mechanism to services provided as part of building...
24 July 2026

EU : once a tax audit is final, no amendment is possible

EU : General Court of the European Union, 3 June 2026, T-198/25, G Kft The General Court of the European Union ruled on whether a national rule is compatible with the VAT Directive when it prevents a taxable person from correcting their VAT position once a tax audit becomes final. A company discovered after a...
Country Briefs
24 July 2026
A UK-based company specialised in the trade of medical products was facing increasing challenges with its VAT obligations in the European Union (EU).

Austria : new reduced VAT rate since 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026, Austria has introduced a reduced VAT rate of 4.9% for a selection of essential food products, replacing the previous reduced rate of 10%. The 4.9% rate applies only to products that correspond exactly to the tariff codes listed in the new Schedule 3. Processed or composite products not falling within those...
Country Briefs
24 July 2026

France : VAT and furnished holiday lettings, assessing hotel-type characteristics

Bordeaux Administrative Court of Appeal Judgement, 21 May 2026, no 24BX01030 This judgment clarifies the criteria for determining whether furnished holiday lettings fall under VAT exemption or must be taxed due to their hotel-like characteristics. In this case, a French property management company was letting furnished apartments in a ski resort and had claimed VAT...
Country Briefs
23 July 2026

Transfer Pricing and TVA : the CJEU rules on intragroup adjustments in the Stellantis Portugal case

In a ruling dated 13 May 2026 (CJEU, C-603/24), the Court of Justice of the EU has clarified the VAT treatment of transfer pricing adjustments within international groups. The case concerned a Portuguese car distributor whose profit margin was adjusted at year-end to meet the target return set by the group’s transfer pricing policy. The...
11 June 2026
Why appoint a mandataire fiscal ponctuel in France? Use cases, obligations and benefits for foreign companies. Complete guide.

France : Customs representation and import VAT – the Court of Cassation sets a high bar for mandates Ruling of 11 February 2026 (No. 70 F-B — Case No. Z 24-18.748)

In this ruling, the Court of Cassation clarified the liability of a logistics provider for import VAT where customs formalities are carried out by an intermediary. A company had instructed a logistics provider to handle its customs clearance under a so-called “express” mandate. Following irregularities in the import declarations, French Customs held the provider liable...
Country Briefs
19 May 2026
Find out why using a tax representative is essential for managing your tax and customs obligations.

France: VAT credit refunds and appeal deadlines

 When a tax adjustment proposal is treated as a rejection In a decision issued on 14 November 2025, the French Supreme Administrative Court (Conseil d’État), ruling in the Société Penn Ar Bed case, clarified the procedural treatment of VAT credit refund disputes. The Court held that a tax adjustment proposal may, in certain circumstances, be...
Country Briefs
6 January 2026

France: Reorganisation of VAT into the CIBS

Implications for Businesses and Tax Professionals France is continuing to modernise its tax legislation with the reorganisation of VAT into the “Code des Impositions sur les Biens et Services” (CIBS). The new structure will take effect from 1 September 2026. This reform does not change the substance of VAT rules; rather, it reorganises and clarifies...
Country Briefs
6 January 2026

EU: New VAT rates from 2026 – What business need to know

At the beginning of 2026, several EU Member States introduced changes to their VAT rates. Here is an overview of the main changes: • Belgium : from 1 March 2026, the reduced VAT rate on hotel accommodation, takeaway food, leisure activities and entertainment services will increase from 6% to 12%; • Czech Republic : since...
6 January 2026