INTERNATIONAL
European Union: EU Customs Reform Enters Force, Ushering New Trade Compliance Era
On 21 September 2026, the European Union’s landmark Customs Reform package officially entered into force following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The reform, formally adopted by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament, represents the most significant overhaul of the EU customs…
European Union: EU Launches VAT Consultation for Circular Economy
On 10 September 2026, the European Commission launched a public consultation on adapting Value Added Tax (VAT) rules to better support the circular economy. This initiative forms part of the EU’s broader Circular Economy Action Plan and the European Green Deal, aiming to align taxation with sustainable production and consumption…
European Union: Maastricht University Awarded EU Customs Certificate for Tax Programme
On 10 September 2026, the European Commission announced that the “Customs & International Supply Chain Taxation” specialisation within Maastricht University’s Master’s programme in International and European Tax Law has been awarded the EU Customs Certificate of Recognition. This certification, established under the EU Customs Competence Framework, validates that the curriculum…
European Union: EU E-Commerce VAT Rules Generate €125B Revenue After Five Years
On 3 September 2026, the European Commission released new figures demonstrating that the simplified VAT rules for cross-border e-commerce, introduced in July 2021, have generated more than €125 billion in VAT revenue for EU Member States. The data, compiled from national tax administrations, shows a steady increase in compliance and…
European Union: EU Launches New Tax Customs Training for Candidate Countries
On 27 August 2026, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) announced the launch of new training paths on the EU Learning Portal, specifically designed for taxation and customs officers from candidate and potential candidate countries. This initiative forms part of the EU’s broader enlargement strategy,…
European Union: EU Updates Customs Data Model to Version 7.0.1 for Traders
On 27 August 2026, the European Commission released version 7.0.1 of the European Customs Data Model (EUCDM), the standardized data framework underpinning electronic customs declarations across the EU’s 27 member states. This update, mandated under the Union Customs Code (UCC) and its Implementing Regulation, introduces critical changes to data elements,…
AMERICAS
Trinidad and Tobago: Trinidad BIR Adjusts Cashier Hours for September 30, 2026
The Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) has issued a public notice advising of revised cashiering hours on Wednesday, 30 September 2026. This change affects specific BIR offices across Trinidad and is implemented to facilitate year-end reconciliation processes. The notice specifies that cashier services will be available only during morning hours…
Aruba: Aruba Releases 2026 Ground Lease Collection; Payments Due at Tax Department
On 23 September 2026, the Aruba Department of Impuesto officially published the 2026 ground lease (erfpacht) collection notices, marking the commencement of the annual payment obligation for all leaseholders of government-owned land. Ground lease constitutes a fundamental component of Aruba’s property tax framework, levied on the right to use and…
Argentina: Argentina Joint Resolution 56/2026 Updates Tax Compliance Rules
On 23 September 2026, Argentina’s Ministry of Economy, through the Secretariat of Finance and the Secretariat of the Treasury, published Joint Resolution 56/2026 in the Official Gazette. This resolution introduces amendments to the general tax procedural framework, aiming to modernize compliance obligations for both resident and non-resident taxpayers. The measure…
Argentina: Argentina Joint Resolution 57/2026 Modifies Withholding Tax Regimes
On 23 September 2026, the Argentine Ministry of Economy, via the Secretariat of Finance and the Secretariat of the Treasury, enacted Joint Resolution 57/2026, published in the Official Gazette. This regulation modifies the withholding tax regimes applicable to payments made to residents and non-residents, including dividends, interest, royalties, and service…
Aruba: Aruba Issues 2026 Ground Lease Collection for Tax Payment
On 23 September 2026, the Aruba Tax Department (Departamento di Impuesto) officially released the 2026 erfpacht (ground lease) collection notices, mandating that all leaseholders remit payment directly to the Department of Impuesto. This annual levy applies to holders of long-term ground leases on government-owned land and is governed by the…
Colombia: DIAN Seizes $240 Million in Contraband Cell Phones at Barranquilla Airport
On 22 September 2026, DIAN customs officials at the Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport in Barranquilla intercepted and seized a shipment of contraband mobile phones valued at over COP 240 million. The operation resulted from intelligence-driven risk profiling of passenger baggage and cargo manifests. The merchandise lacked proper import documentation, customs…
EUROPE
Hungary: NAV Seizes Contraband Cigarettes in Abandoned Vehicle
On 25 September 2026, the Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) announced a significant excise tax enforcement action in Bács-Kiskun County. The operation began with routine inspections of hospitality venues and culminated in the discovery of a large quantity of contraband cigarettes hidden in an abandoned vehicle. NAV revenue…
Slovenia: Slovenia Sets Russian Ruble Exchange Rate for October 2026 Customs Valuation
The Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia has published the official exchange rate for the Russian ruble (RUB) applicable for customs valuation purposes during October 2026. In accordance with EU customs legislation (Regulation (EU) No 952/2013, Article 70), the customs value of goods imported from non-EU countries must be…
Slovenia: EU Imposes Safeguard Measures on Silicon Steel Imports for Electrical Sheets
The European Commission has adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2133, introducing temporary safeguard measures on imports of certain silicon steel products used for electrical sheets. The regulation, effective from 25 September 2026, imposes a provisional safeguard duty on top of the normal customs duty for a period of up to 200…
Spain: Spain Publishes 2025 VAT Economic and Tax Results
On 24 September 2026, the Spanish Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria) published the comprehensive Economic and Tax Results for Value Added Tax (VAT) corresponding to the 2025 fiscal year. This annual statistical release provides a detailed breakdown of VAT revenue, taxable bases, deductions, and compliance metrics across economic sectors and regions.…
Poland: Poland Tax Authority Announces COI System Maintenance Window
On 24 September 2026, the Polish Ministry of Finance’s official tax portal (podatki.gov.pl) published a technical communication regarding a planned maintenance window for the Central IT Center (COI) systems. The Central IT Center operates the core information technology infrastructure supporting Poland’s National Revenue Administration (KAS), including the e-Urząd Skarbowy (e-Tax…
Slovakia: Slovak Customs Seize Stolen E-Bikes at Ukraine Border Crossing
On 24 September 2026, the Financial Administration of the Slovak Republic reported a successful intervention by customs officers at the Vyšné Nemecké border crossing with Ukraine. Acting on a tip from a vehicle owner whose tracking application revealed the location of a stolen e-bike, officers inspected a van transporting ten…
ASIA PACIFIC
Solomon Islands: Solomon Islands IRD Reschedules USP Tax Policy Consultation
On 24 September 2026, the Solomon Islands Inland Revenue Division (IRD) announced the rescheduling of the University of the South Pacific (USP) consultation on the Draft Tax Policy Work Programme and Value Added Tax (VAT) Reform Education. The session, originally set for 25 September 2026, has been postponed to allow…
Taiwan: Taiwan Denies Foreign Tax Credit for Treaty Income Without Benefits
On 24 September 2026, the Taipei National Tax Bureau (NTB) issued a clarifying ruling regarding the foreign tax credit (FTC) mechanism for profit-seeking enterprises deriving income from countries with which Taiwan has concluded comprehensive income tax treaties. The ruling addresses a specific scenario where a Taiwan-resident enterprise receives income from…
Singapore: Singapore DB DIC Flowchart Updated for 2026 Tax Compliance
On 24 September 2026, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) published an updated flowchart for DB or DIC (Distribution of Benefits or Dividend Income Certificate) processes, reflecting the latest regulatory requirements for the 2026 financial year. This flowchart serves as a critical compliance tool for companies and tax practitioners…
Singapore: Singapore Updates Government Interest Rates for FY2026 Loan Benefits
On 23 September 2026, IRAS updated the ‘Benefits Relating to Loans’ webpage to reflect the revised government interest rates applicable for the financial year 2026 (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027). These rates are used to calculate the taxable benefit for employees who receive interest-free or subsidized loans from…
Taiwan: Taiwan Business Vehicle License Tax Collection Starts Oct 1
On 23 September 2026, Taiwan’s National Taxation Bureau (NTB) announced the collection schedule for the second half of 2026 business vehicle license tax. The levy applies to all vehicles registered for commercial use under the Vehicle License Tax Act. Collection begins on 1 October 2026 and the payment deadline is…
India: India CBDT Notifies Reporting Entity Registration Procedure Form 98
On 21 September 2026, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) issued Notification No. 3 of 2026, prescribing the procedure for registration of reporting persons and entities and the submission of Form No. 98 under Rule 160 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026. This notification operationalizes the compliance framework for reporting…
MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
Seychelles: Seychelles Customs Leadership Change: New Commissioner from October 2026
The Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment and the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC) announced leadership changes in the Customs Division as part of strategic realignment to strengthen institutional governance and efficiency. Effective 1 October 2026, Mrs. Cindy Blakemore will assume the role of Commissioner of Customs. This change…
Qatar: Qatar Tax Authority Joins Global Fiscal Policy Conference
On 21 September 2026, the General Tax Authority (GTA) of Qatar participated in the Fifth International Conference on Fiscal Policies and Economic Development, organized by Qatar University in cooperation with the Authority. The conference, running until 23 September, convenes experts, researchers, international financial institutions, universities, government entities, and consultancy firms…
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha: Ascension Island Raises Road Traffic Licence Fees
On 21 September 2026, the Ascension Island Government published an ordinance announcing increases to road traffic licence fees. As a British Overseas Territory, Ascension Island maintains its own fiscal regulations, and this fee adjustment represents a direct cost increase for vehicle owners and operators on the island. The measure was…
Rwanda: Rwanda Finance Minister Urges Research-Driven Tax Policy Reform
On 21 September 2026, Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, delivered a keynote address at the African Tax Research Network (ATRN) congress, emphasizing the critical need for research-based decision-making in tax policy formulation and revenue administration. The Minister highlighted that effective domestic resource mobilization requires moving beyond…
Kenya: Kenya Bonded Warehouse & MUB Licence Renewal 2027 Notice
On 21 September 2026, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) published a public notice regarding the renewal of licences for Bonded Warehouses, Manufacture Under Bond (MUB) facilities, and Transit Godowns for the 2027 licensing year. This notice is issued pursuant to the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA) 2004, the…
Republic of Congo: Congo Decree Reorganizes Tax Administration Directorate
On 18 September 2026, the Government of the Republic of Congo published Decree No. 2026-322, which redefines the attributions and organizational structure of the General Directorate of Taxes and Domains (Direction Générale des Impôts et des Domaines – DGID). This decree forms part of the ongoing modernization of the Congolese…