October 2021: 15 top tax updates

Keep up to date with all the latest rate changes and tax announcements from across the world in our latest monthly round-up. With 15 snippets, October 2021 is our largest update ever!

1) Ireland

The reduced rate of VAT for the hospitality industry – currently standing at 9% – will be extended until at least 31^st August 2022.

2) Italy

A new super-reduced rate for natural gas supplies has been announced; it will stand at 5% until 31^st December 2021.

3) Ukraine

Ukraine is to become the next country to adopt SAF-TSAF-T (Standard Audit File for Tax) is a file type based on the XML standard. It is created in a standard readable format from data exports taken from accounting records. SAF-T is used internationally to ensure the fast and secure digital transfer of tax information. It is known for its high level of security, ability to simplify the collection of tax data and simple readability due to its standardised format. reporting, following Romania, Portugal and Poland. SAF-T is scheduled to become mandatory in the country from 2023.

4) Philippines

The House has approved a bill that would introduce a 12% VAT on digital transactions and is now due to pass it to the Senate.

5) Netherlands

The government is planning to equalise excise duties for all breweries across the country. Currently, smaller firms now pay less in excise duties than large brands such as Heineken and Grolsch.

6) Canada

The province of Manitoba has revealed its 2021 budget plans, which include a 7% tax on streaming services, online marketplaces and accommodation services.

7) Greece

Greece’s reduced VAT rate for specific goods and services related to the dining and tourism industries has been extended until 30^th June 2022.

8) Turkey

The VAT rate on the supply of used mobile phones has been reduced from 18% to 1% for renewal centres and authorised dealers.

9) Indonesia

Indonesia’s new budget has been agreed and includes an increase of the standard VAT rate from 10% to 11% from 1^st April 2022, while a further rise to 12% will come into effect on 1^st January 2025.

10) Serbia

Mandatory e-invoicingElectronic invoicing - widely referred to as e-invoicing - is the exchange of a digital document between a supplier and a buyer. E-invoices are issued, transmitted and received in a structured data format that enabled automatic and electronic processing. They contain data in a machine-readable format so that an AP system can read an invoice without manual data entry, leading to faster and more efficient invoicing. will be effective in Serbia from January 2022. The first phase of the rollout will apply only to the public sector.

11) Thailand

Non-residents and online platforms that generate revenue from the provision of electronic services to non-VAT registered customers in Thailand will be required to register for VAT and apply a 7% rate (if their annual revenue from these services exceeds THB 1.8 million).

12) Poland

Businesses trading in Poland will have to maintain excise records in electronic form only from 1^st January 2023.

13) Norway

Naprapaths and osteopaths in Norway will remain exempt from VAT until 1^st July 2022.

14) Venezuela

Imports of computer and telecommunications assets not produced (or with insufficient production) in Venezuela will be exempt from VAT.

15) Belgium

The reduced rate of VAT (6%) for face masks and hydroalcoholic gels in Belgium has been extended until 31^st December 2021.