We’re excited to announce Sovos as a proud Gold Sponsor of the Tax Technology Conference 2025, taking place this November in Frankfurt. This event brings together pioneers and thought leaders at the intersection of tax and technology to explore the latest innovations, regulatory updates and digital strategies transforming the tax landscape.
The Good, the Bad & the Compliant: Mirror Visibility and AI in the Wild Wild Tax
Session Overview: In a global tax landscape that’s becoming more digitised, fragmented and unpredictable, navigating compliance is increasingly like surviving in the “Wild Wild West.” Governments are deploying real-time data collection tools, expanding e-invoicing mandates, and leveraging AI to detect non-compliance faster than ever before. So how do businesses keep up and stay compliant, without becoming the next cautionary tale?
Join Christiaan Van Der Valk, a leading authority in regulatory technology and digital tax, as he explores how forward-thinking companies can harness “mirror visibility” and AI-driven tools to not only survive but thrive in this new era of tax compliance.
This session will delve into:
The global rise of Continuous Transaction Controls (CTCs) and real-time reporting
How AI is being used, by both tax authorities and businesses, to interpret and act on vast amounts of transaction data
Practical strategies to future-proof your tax and compliance operations in a rapidly evolving digital environment
Real-world examples of success and failure and what we can learn from both
Attendees will walk away with a clear understanding of the opportunities and risks AI presents in tax compliance, and how to build the right digital infrastructure for sustainable, scalable and fully compliant operations.
With a wild west theme underscoring the challenges and opportunities of modern tax, this conference promises to be an engaging frontier for sharing ideas and advancing tax technology.
We can’t wait to saddle up and connect with everyone in Frankfurt!
Sovos is proud to be a Sponsor of SAPinsider EMEA 2025, taking place in Copenhagen — the essential event for SAP users, experts and innovators focused on driving real-world results. Join us as we dive into how to get more from the SAP technologies you already use, while uncovering what’s next across finance, GRC, data, security and more.
Whether you’re planning a transformation, in the midst of migration or looking to optimise your SAP investment, SAPinsider EMEA 2025 is where strategy meets execution — and Sovos is here to help you lead with confidence.
We’re excited to be sharing the stage with our customer KION, where we’ll talk about:
KION’s Blueprint for SAP S/4HANA Success: Standardised Indirect Tax Determination for Global Compliance Excellence featuring Stefani Mohr, Tax Compliance Officer (KION Group) and Christopher Lewis, Solutions Consultant (Sovos).
Discover how KION Group used a standardised indirect tax determination framework to anchor their SAP S/4HANA migration. The session will show how determination logic drives compliance across every process, with practical insights into testing, localisation, and integration for sustainable, future-ready operations.
Sovos is proud to be a Sponsor of the E-Invoicing Exchange Summit Europe 2025, taking place in Vienna from September 22–24. This premier event brings together global leaders and experts to explore the latest developments in legislative changes, tax reporting mandates and real-time e-invoicing requirements through government platforms.
We’re also thrilled to be hosting our own speaking session: What Happens After ViDA and CTC Implementations? The Evolution from Compliance to Continuous Audit.
Join Anna Nordén, Principal Regulatory Affairs and Stanislava Filcheva, Senior Regulatory Liaison Counsel, as they unpack the transformational impact of ViDA and global CTC frameworks. This session will explore:
The shift from periodic compliance to continuous, real-time dialogue with tax authorities
How businesses can move from reactive compliance to proactive, audit-ready operations
The CIAT matrix and the growing responsibilities across the value chain
Using tax data not just to comply, but to gain predictive insights and drive transformation
Why ViDA’s real-time reporting requirements are a catalyst for operational change
The future of tax goes beyond meeting compliance deadlines — it’s about leveraging real-time data, enabling cross-border transparency and turning tax into a strategic asset for digital transformation.
We can’t wait to connect in Vienna and drive this important conversation forward.
Sovos is proud to be a Silver Sponsor of the Gartner CFO & Finance Executive Conference 2025 — the premier event for CFOs and finance leaders navigating today’s most critical priorities. From managing risk and boosting efficiency to driving profitability and long-term growth, this conference delivers expert insight for success in an increasingly volatile and uncertain environment.
We’re excited to be hosting our own session:
Built for Visibility, Driven by Compliance: Unlocking the Composable Enterprise.
Join Ryan Ostilly, VP Product Management, as he explores how enterprises can respond to two major revolutions — real-time tax demands and AI-driven ERP transformation. Learn how modular systems can enable “mirror visibility” with tax authorities by connecting core business functions to a dedicated tax suite. Discover how aligning internal and external data reduces risk, enhances agility and builds trust by ensuring compliance in a rapidly evolving regulatory world.
With the finance landscape changing fast, we can’t wait to engage with industry leaders and peers on the future of tax, finance and transformation.
Sovos is proud to be a Premium Sponsor of the 9th Indirect Tax & VAT Management Summit — the leading event for global tax professionals tackling the biggest challenges in indirect tax and VAT. This two-day summit promises expert panels, real-world case studies and hands-on insights into the future of digital tax.
With mandates like the EU’s VAT in the Digital Age (VIDA) and global shifts in tax reporting, it’s never been more critical to stay ahead. We can’t wait to join industry leaders and peers as we explore the impact of e-invoicing, tax automation and cross-border compliance.
Don’t miss our session with Christiaan Van Der Valk, GM Indirect TaxTech.
Stationsplein Zuid-West 951, 1117 CE Schiphol, Amsterdam, Netherlands
With the pilot phase of France’s e-invoicing reform fast approaching, we’re prepared to support businesses every step of the way. As a global provider of tax compliance solutions and a trusted technology partner, we’re ready to help companies navigate the upcoming transition with confidence.
Preparing for a Milestone Year
The French B2B e-invoicing reform is set to begin its pilot phase in February 2026, and we’re fully prepared to support companies during this critical stage.
With less than a year to go before the phased implementation of the mandate, we’re anticipating the needs of both French and international businesses operating in France. Our solution is complete, interoperable, and aligned with the latest specifications published by the French tax authority (DGFiP) and the AFNOR Commission.
A Pilot Phase Starting in February 2026
According to Article 91 of the 2024 Finance Law, the obligation to receive electronic invoices will apply to all VAT-registered businesses from 1 September 2026. The issuance of e-invoices and e-reporting data will be introduced progressively between 2026 and 2027.
To help companies prepare, the French tax authority has announced a pilot phase starting in February 2026. Participation will be voluntary and will involve testing all end-to-end flows, formats, and business scenarios set out in the reform. Companies and their Partner Dematerialisation Platforms (PDPs) will play a central role in ensuring everything is operational before the full mandate kicks in.
We’re Operational and Ready to Cover 100% of the Use Cases
We’re committed and ready to support our clients and partners in this next crucial step. Our solution enables participation in the pilot while covering all 36 use cases identified by the DGFiP, including:
Issuing and receiving invoices in all required formats and profiles (Factur-X, UBL, CII – EN16931 and ‘Extended’)
Exchanging invoices either via the public invoicing portal (PPF) or between PDPs using the PEPPOL network (adapted to French requirements)
Collecting and transmitting e-reporting data (B2C transactions, cross-border B2B transactions, payment data) to the PPF on time and accurately
Managing data and workflows related to specific business scenarios defined by the DGFiP and now formalised in the AFNOR XP Z12-014 standard, such as SIREN numbers, multiple delivery addresses, detailed VAT mentions, and internal accounting processes
Our platform is fully compliant with the latest technical specifications issued by the DGFiP, and we plan to support our first voluntary clients from the very beginning of the pilot in early 2026.
As of August 2024, we’re officially registered as a Partner Dematerialisation Platform (PDP no. 0004). Thanks to our deep regulatory expertise, strong local presence, and robust global infrastructure, we’re uniquely positioned to support clients not only during the pilot, but all the way through full implementation.
Guiding You Through the Transition with Confidence
This combination of technology, expertise, and trusted partnership makes Sovos a strategic ally in the transition to e-invoicing. We’re here to guide businesses of all sizes with confidence, ensuring full compliance with the evolving requirements in France, across Europe, and around the world.
From Europe to Southeast Asia, governments are reshaping e-invoicing rules and timelines, putting pressure on businesses to adapt. We will break down the latest changes across these key jurisdictions.
With the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) officially adopted by the EU on 11 March 2025, businesses have many questions about its rollout and impact on their operations. We answer the most frequently asked questions.
When will businesses begin to see an impact from ViDA?
ViDA is leading to changes in several areas of Value Added tax (VAT) law, starting now and going on for the coming decade.
From its entry into force on 14 April 2025, ViDA immediately removed restrictions that previously prevented EU countries from introducing mandatory domestic e-invoicing.
Therefore, Member States can now introduce both mandatory domestic e-invoicing and digital reporting requirements (DRRs), as long as they align with ViDA by 2030. By 2030 electronic invoicing and DRRs will become mandatory for so-called intra-Community transactions.
Since ViDA’s approval, we are already seeing momentum across the EU, with several countries announcing plans to introduce mandatory e-invoicing and real-time reporting within the next few years. ViDA will see the intensification of the current wave of new Continuous Transaction Control (CTC) mandates to prepare for in the short term, with many EU countries already announcing initiatives or starting rollout.
Is there likely to be a grace period for businesses to adjust and comply?
No, the ‘grace’ period for businesses was taken into account when setting the 2030 deadline for mandatory electronic invoicing and DRRs for intra-Community transactions. Member States’ domestic mandates will follow each country’s legislative process and culture but we are seeing an average period of 18-24 months for businesses to adapt, with no grace period after that.
Many businesses gravely underestimate the work required to ensure data quality, including the long adaptation cycles for their different business applications to incorporate the data and process changes required for real-time reporting and e-invoicing.
The introduction of changes of this magnitude to business and administrative processes is never without challenges on both sides of the equation. Businesses will make mistakes that may take time to fix, and this only gets harder as governments do the same thing in parallel under the pressure of political deadlines.
What business processes are likely to be impacted as part of the new regulations?
All invoicing and related processes will be impacted by ViDA including any accounts payable and accounts receivable process and the associated information systems that support them. All invoicing needs to be reviewed against this backdrop and readied for the digitization paradigm shift that will come off the back of ViDA.
How is ViDA likely to impact my business?
Whilst the reporting processes required to meet specific transmission protocols, authentication, and document exchange orchestration tend to get a lot of attention, businesses should be equally wary of the impact of CTC mandates generated or modified by ViDA on their upstream processes and data.
Many businesses have multiple ERP systems, multiple billing systems, accounts payable systems etc. for different lines of business or trading partner categories. Most of these systems process invoice data on a paper or PDF invoice manually or semi-automated which cannot be easily ‘upgraded’ to handle the data completeness and quality requirements of a stringent e-invoicing and e-reporting regime.
Beyond the headlines about mandatory e-invoicing and real-time reporting, the fine print of ViDA will drive a number of challenging modifications to business processes. This includes the very definition of what constitutes an invoice which will require billions of PDF invoices in the European Union to be converted to machine-readable formats.
To comply with ViDA, businesses will need to increasingly use software and service providers that can guarantee compliance with frameworks and laws that add up to a need for a complete rethink of invoicing processes and systems throughout most businesses.
Can businesses expect their current technology partnership to work for the new standards?
Companies that currently use EDI systems, procure-to-pay or accounts payable automation software of SaaS services, customer communications management, order-to-cash, electronic billing presentment and payment solutions etc. must ask themselves how those platforms will handle the new requirements for e-invoicing and e-reporting under ViDA and associated regulatory initiatives.
These vendors specializing in business process optimization typically have little experience with this specific area of compliance. Most of them are not set up to anticipate and address the tens or hundreds of changes that typically follow the initial rollout of a CTC regime in any jurisdiction in a timely manner.
We advise businesses to contact their enterprise software vendors and service providers now to ask these questions – are they aware of these changes as a result of ViDA, and what is their plan to keep you compliant?
How will cross-border transactions be impacted?
Under ViDA, cross-border transactions between EU countries will be subject to a new real-time reporting regime (DRR) that replaces the current requirement for a recapitulative statement. Each transaction will be reported individually to the respective national tax authority, which will then transmit the data within one day to a centralized European Commission-managed system known as “Central VIES”. This enhanced platform, launching in July 2030, will consolidate intra-EU B2B transaction data, integrate with systems like the Customs Surveillance System and the Central Electronic System of Payments (CESOP), and provide a unified interface for VAT number validation and transaction transparency across the EU.
In addition to these digital reporting sections of ViDA, intra-EU cross-border transactions are also affected by other parts of the proposal in other ways. For example, quite far-reaching changes will take place, removing administrative burdens for businesses moving their own stock between EU countries.
Take Action
Want to know more about ViDA? Get in touch with an expert here or learn more about VAT in the Digital Age with this guide.
In this webinar will explain Belgium’s B2B e-invoicing fundamentals and showcase a live demo of Sovos’ end-to-end compliance solution.
Czech Republic E-invoicing
Like many countries, the Czech Republic has experience with e-invoices for the purposes of reducing administrative strain, reducing associated costs and greater visibility into the nation’s transactions.
It has yet to implement a full mandate on electronic invoicing for any type of transaction. This could change quickly, however. Keep this page in your bookmarks to stay on top of the country’s e-invoicing plans.
There is no mandate for issuing electronic invoices for B2B transactions in the Czech Republic, nor have any plans been unveiled for the eventual implementation of a B2B e-invoicing mandate.
Issuing e-invoices is optional, but a supplier must acquire the buyer’s consent before legally transmitting an invoice electronically.
B2G e-invoicing in the Czech Republic
There is no blanket mandate covering B2G transactions in the Czech Republic.
Central, regional and local authorities must accept and process e-invoices if they meet the format according to the European Standard. That said, suppliers are not required to issue e-invoices.
These authorities are also obliged to use the Národní elektronický nástroj (NEN) platform as part of the e-procurement process unless they have been authorised to use another tool.
Timeline of e-invoicing adoption in the Czech Republic
These are the dates to know in the Czech Republic’s e-invoicing journey.
August 2015: The Národní elektronický nástroj (NEN) platform is launched to replace the Public Procurement and Concessions Portal (Portál VZ)
1 October 2016: Public contracting authorities must accept e-invoices if they meet the European standard for formatting
April 2019: Public authorities must be able to receive and process e-invoices for B2G transactions
Setting up e-invoicing in the Czech Republic
If you fall within the Czech Republic’s remit for issuing e-invoices, it’s wise to choose a partner that can help – not just in this country, but everywhere you do business.
That’s where Sovos steps in. We act as a single vendor for tax compliance, providing peace of mind and allowing you to reclaim time to focus on growing your business.
No, there are no mandates for issuing electronic invoices in the Czech Republic. However, public authorities are required to be able to receive and process e-invoices should a supplier voluntarily issue one.
B2C e-receipts were abolished in 2023. The EET portal and related infrastructure have been decommissioned. As a result, there is no longer a legal obligation to issue e-receipts or report sales in real time, and taxpayers cannot voluntarily continue using the EET system.
While Hungary does not explicitly mandate the issuance of electronic invoices for most transactions, the country’s real-time invoice reporting (RTIR) scheme applies to all taxpayers and companies.
This can make understanding your requirements difficult, but this overview makes compliance simple. Be sure to bookmark the page to stay ahead of any future regulatory changes.
There is no mandate to issue and receive e-invoices for business-to-business (B2B) transactions in Hungary.
That said, businesses are required to participate in Hungary’s real-time invoice reporting (RTIR) scheme. This model allows for e-invoicing, though it doesn’t mandate it, given that it requires taxpayers and companies to report their invoice data to the Hungarian tax authorities in real time.
E-invoicing can be voluntary, provided the buyer’s consent is obtained prior to issuance.
B2G e-invoicing in Hungary
Receiving and processing electronic invoices is mandatory for central, regional and local contracting authorities in Hungary.
It is not required for suppliers to issue invoices electronically to these public administrations, however, meaning that e-invoicing is not fully mandated in a business-to-government (B2G) context.
RTIR in Hungary
While there is no e-invoicing obligation in Hungary, the country does require the electronic transmission of invoice data. More specifically, the real-time invoice reporting (RTIR) scheme requires all taxpayers to send their invoice data to the tax authorities as the transactions happen.
Learn the key dates in Hungary’s e-invoicing journey.
1 July 2018: All taxable persons must report invoice data in real-time to the National Custom and Tax administration for domestic transactions with a minimum VAT amount of 100,000 HUF
1 January 2021: All B2C and B2B transactions must be reported to the national tax authorities in real time
1 April 2021: Version 3.0 of Hungary’s real-time invoice data reporting system is implemented
June 2021: All taxpayers must use the NAV Online Invoicing System to submit their invoice data
1 July 2025: E-invoicing becomes mandatory for electricity and natural gas supplies to non-private individuals
1 July, 2030: Hungarian VAT-registered businesses must comply with VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) requirements, which include mandatory e-invoicing and digital reporting for Intra-Community B2B transactions.
Setting up e-invoicing in Hungary with Sovos
You’re not required to issue electronic invoices in Hungary, but it does benefit some taxpayers to issue and receive them. If that sounds like you, Sovos can help.
If your business operates in multiple countries, you have multiple obligations to meet. Sovos can help there too.
We are the compliance partner of many major companies, a single vendor for all things tax compliance – including e-invoicing.
No, e-invoicing is not mandatory for either B2B or B2G transactions in Hungary. That said, governmental entities must be able to receive and process electronic invoices.
Hungary’s real-time invoice reporting obligation requires all taxpayers to send their transaction data to the tax authorities in real time, however.
Join Sovos at the SAPinsider Europe Super Summit in Vienna!
We’re proud to be Gold Sponsors of From Migration to Modernization: Supercharging Your Business Transformation.
Whether you’re planning your move to SAP S/4HANA or optimizing an existing deployment, this summit will help you go beyond migration to drive true enterprise transformation. Discover actionable insights on data governance, cybersecurity, cloud scalability, intelligent automation, and more—all grounded in real-world expertise.
To review the full agenda for this event, click here.
Meeting Venue
Hilton Vienna Park | Am Stadtpark 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
In today’s rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, tax departments are under increasing pressure to enhance efficiency, ensure compliance and deliver strategic value. However, securing an investment in tax technology often requires a compelling business case that resonates with organizational stakeholders. With the right strategy and organization buy-in, you can transform your tax.
Join us for this webinar where Sovos experts will be joined by an SAPinsider analyst to discuss how tax leaders can construct a persuasive business case for tax technology investment. Drawing from real-world experiences and best practices, we’ll explore how to align tax technology initiatives with broader organizational goals, quantify both tangible and intangible benefits and effectively communicate the value proposition to decision-makers.
Attend to learn how you can:
Quantify ROI, including cost savings, risk mitigation and process improvements.
Simplify support frameworks by centralizing your tax technology under one.
Transform your tax center into a profit center.
Anticipate future requirements and ensure flexibility in tax processes.
Strengthen your business case and engage stakeholders effectively.
Whether you’re a tax professional seeking to modernize your department or a finance leader evaluating technology investments, this webinar will equip you with the tools and insights needed to build a robust business case for tax technology.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how you can transform your tax function into an asset for the business.
Keeping up with evolving tax mandates across multiple countries is challenging. This webinar provides key insights into recent and upcoming regulatory updates—including VAT, SAF-T and e-invoicing—across 12 European countries, helping you stay compliant and prepared.
We recently partnered with StudioID on a global survey of 150 finance leaders to reveal significant insights into how companies are navigating the increasingly complex world of indirect tax compliance. The research, which included CFOs, EVPs/SVPs/VPs of Finance, and Finance Directors from companies with revenues ranging from $500 million to over $5 billion, provides a comprehensive look at the strategies finance leaders are implementing to stay ahead of changing regulations.
Real-Time Reporting Becomes Essential
The survey found that an overwhelming 95% of finance executives believe ensuring accurate real-time data reporting is important or extremely important for improving tax and compliance operations. This shift reflects a fundamental change in how tax authorities operate globally.
Previously in indirect tax, the way that the government could enforce the law was always through periodic reporting, but it was an unsophisticated instrument. Now, continuous transaction controls have become very popular since it’s about sending data in real time to the government.
This transition means businesses are no longer simply reporting their subjective view of a period’s aggregate sales and purchasing numbers —tax authorities are increasingly gathering authenticated data in real-time and informing companies of their liability instead. The stakes are higher than ever, with non-compliance potentially halting business operations entirely rather than just resulting in penalties.
Navigating Complex Jurisdictions
The complexity of global tax compliance is staggering. Approximately 30% of both US-based and international companies surveyed sell products and services across 2,000 to 5,000 different tax jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction has its own rules, rates, and reporting requirements. Requirements are also increasingly dynamic, with laws and technical specifications evolving to reflect tax administrations’ fine-tuning operations at an ever-increasing rate.
With initiatives like VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) and e-invoicing mandates rolling out across Europe and beyond, companies must stay ahead of regulatory changes. Encouragingly, 87% of finance executives report having systems and processes in place to anticipate these upcoming mandates.
Top Challenges in Implementation
When it comes to successfully implementing current and upcoming e-invoicing mandates, finance leaders identified two primary challenges:
Staying informed about domestic and international compliance requirements (38%)
Choosing the right platform that can seamlessly integrate with existing systems (49%)
Additionally, 56% of respondents mention difficulty in making business decisions due to limitations around tax and compliance data accessibility and accuracy.
Strategic Responses to Tax Complexity
Finance leaders are implementing several key strategies to improve their indirect tax and compliance operations:
Training existing teams on tax technology (56%)
Developing and maintaining tax technologists (51%)
Hiring specialized talent (34%)
Investing in fully automated solutions (61%)
These investments are paying off—76% of finance executives report seeing a positive return on investment from their tax compliance software. However, cost remains a significant concern, with 91% identifying “lowering or maintaining compliance costs” as a top priority.
The Problem of Point Solutions
One notable finding is that 73% of respondents believe their companies use too many point systems to meet tax obligations across different geographical locations. The median number of systems currently in use is 40, with most wanting to reduce this number significantly.
There seems to be a lot of confusion in the market, whereby a lot of businesses think they need to replace their business software with regulatory-driven software. This simply isn’t true as there are multiple ways that leaders can make existing business software compliant.
Looking Ahead
As tax authorities worldwide continue advancing their technology, making compliance more complex and demanding, finance leaders must balance compliance requirements with business objectives. The most successful approach integrates tax considerations into core business processes rather than treating them as separate functions.
The message is clear: while tax compliance is becoming more complex, the right strategies and technologies can transform this challenge into an opportunity for greater efficiency and intelligence about your business. Whatever you set as your business objectives, make sure that your compliance software works in such a way that the tax is never a burden.
By staying ahead of regulatory changes and investing in the right solutions, finance leaders can ensure their organizations not only remain compliant but thrive in an increasingly complex global tax landscape.
Want to learn more about how finance leaders are adapting to the changing indirect tax landscape? Download the full research report, “The Future of Indirect Tax: How Finance Leaders Are Staying Ahead of Changing Regulations” for comprehensive insights and strategic recommendations. Download Now
Sales tax compliance in the U.S. has never been more complex – and the stakes have never been higher. With 19,000+ jurisdictions, relentless regulatory changes, and evolving audit practices, it’s easy for even well-resourced businesses to fall behind.
In this session, Sovos product and regulatory experts will unpack what’s driving today’s compliance challenges and how leading companies are preparing for what’s next, from ERP transformations to smarter tax technology investments.
We’ll also take a brief look at how real-time tax enforcement is reshaping compliance in Europe and beyond – and why U.S.-based companies should not assume “it won’t happen here”.
You’ll learn:
-Why future-proof solutions are essential for navigating intricate sales tax regulations and ensuring compliance across multiple jurisdictions
-How tax leaders can drive and shape the conversation around tax strategy, ensuring alignment with business goals and compliance requirements
-What to look for in a tax technology partner
-How to build a compelling business case for compliance investment
Whether you’re entering the US market, expanding into new states, or simply trying to stay audit-ready, this session will give you the actionable insights you need to future-proof your sales tax compliance strategy.
We are thrilled to announce that Sovos will be Diamond Sponsors at the 7th Annual VAT Management Summit in London. The event brings together leading experts and professionals to discuss the latest trends, regulatory updates, and best practices in VAT compliance, indirect tax management and the global digital transformation of tax.
Both Christiaan van der Valk, General Manager, Indirect Taxtech and Ryan Ostilly, VP Product Management at Sovos, feature on the packed agenda.
To review the full list of this year’s topics and speakers, download a brochure, and register for the event, click here.
Meeting Venue
Congress Centre – 28 Great Russell St, London WC1B 3LS, United Kingdom
As some countries either introduce or consider introducing mandatory natural catastrophe insurance (e.g., Italy this year), France is ahead of the curve.
This is because France already has a specific compensation scheme in place for coverage of property against natural disasters, and has had one since 1982. The importance of the scheme is clear, as it is based on a statement in the preamble to the 1946 Constitution that French citizens are united and equal in bearing the burden of natural disasters. It is often referred to as the CATNAT or NATCAT regime.
What is the scope?
Unlike in some countries where mandatory natural catastrophe insurance may be limited to insurance of buildings, various types of insurance are within the remit of the CATNAT regime in France.
First and foremost, damage to property coverage (both fire damage and any other damage to property) triggers the insured’s entitlement to cover against the effects of natural disasters. This is extended to damage to motor vehicles and, separately, also operating losses caused by damage to property.
It is worth highlighting that insurers providing these types of insurance must include a clause in their contracts outlining their coverage of natural disasters. Any provision to the contrary is invalid.
Practical application of the CATNAT regime
Insurers collect an additional premium (the so-called CATNAT premium) representing the coverage of natural disasters at a rate set in law and based on the type of insurance, subject to exemptions. Following a change in January 2025 due to increased costs caused by climate change, the premium rate for property damage is now 20%, whilst there are rates of 9% and 0.75% in the case of motor coverage.
Insurers have a choice on what to do with this premium amount. They can choose to retain it themselves, in which case they are responsible for compensating policyholders for damage caused by natural disasters. Alternatively, they may opt to utilise the private reinsurance market. Finally, and most significantly, there is also the option for insurers to reinsure the premium with the state-backed reinsurance body, Caisse Centrale de Réassurance (CCR).
CCR only provides cover in the event of genuine natural disasters, as defined by their exceptional intensity. Floods and earthquakes typically satisfy this, whereas storms and hail do not as the insurance market can cover them as normal. Where CCR does provide compensation, it offers unlimited reinsurance coverage.
IPT implications
The CATNAT premium is subject to premium tax treatment, meaning that it also attracts IPT. Additionally, an additional insurer-borne levy due on property risks is calculated as 12% of the CATNAT premium. These are the contributions to the Major Risk Prevention Fund (or Fonds Barnier), which are included on the IPT return.
Sovos is well placed to assist both in identifying whether a particular policy is within the scope of the CATNAT regime and with the ultimate declaration and settlement of the taxes due on the CATNAT premium.