As tax authorities push deeper into digital enforcement, VAT and e-invoicing are moving into a phase defined by real-time control, standardised data and increased transparency. As 2026 unfolds, the real challenge for businesses is not just tracking change but interpreting what it reveals about the direction of indirect tax compliance. This session explores how recent VAT rate changes, evolving reporting requirements and shifting CTC timelines point to a broader regulatory direction.
We’ll examine VAT rate changes planned for 2026, what Bulgaria’s SAF-T introduction reveals about rising expectations for transactional data and how Poland’s JPK VDEK updates foreshadow the rollout of KSeF 2.0. We’ll also assess the impact of CTC postponements announced in 2025 budgets, including Spain’s Verifactu and Portugal’s QES and Accounting SAF-T, and what these delays tell us about enforcement strategy and market readiness. We’ll conclude with a strategic view of global e-invoicing mandates, identifying convergence patterns and outlining what organisations should be preparing for next as digital VAT controls continue to mature.
You’ll learn more on:
VAT rate changes taking effect in 2026 and key compliance impacts
Bulgarian SAF-T scope, timelines and preparation priorities
What CTC postponements in Spain and Portugal reveal about regulatory strategy
How Poland’s JPK VDEK updates align with the direction of KSeF 2.0
Active and upcoming e-invoicing mandates worldwide and what they signal next
We’re proud to sponsor the E-invoicing Exchange Summit. As the Middle East continues to establish itself as a global fintech hub, with the UAE at the forefront of digital tax transformation. The 2026 E-Invoicing Exchange Summit will explore regional e-invoicing requirements, real-time compliance readiness and the technologies shaping the future of digital taxation. Featuring an exhibition of leading solution providers and insights from Alex Pavel on why vendor foresight not deadlines defines real-time readiness, the Summit offers a forward-looking perspective on compliance in an increasingly connected economy.
To review the agenda and registration details click here.
Meeting Venue
Park Hyatt Dubai, Dubai Creek Club St Port Saeed – Dubai
Join Sovos at the 19th Group Indirect Tax Exchange to gain expert insights into the industry adoption of e-invoicing and the challenges of e-reporting. We will also be hosting a dedicated session with Kelly Muniz, Senior Regulatory Counsel, Sovos, on Keeping Up with Legislative Changes and Shifting Local Reporting Requirements, covering:
Dealing with increased demand on transactional and master data in near real time
Stay ahead of the latest e-invoicing conversations and make the most of this leading conference and networking event. Reserve your ticket today!.
To review the agenda and registration details click here
Meeting Venue
Marriott Hotel Leidseplein, Stadhouderskade 12, 1054 ES Amsterdam, Netherlands
European manufacturers and supply chain teams are facing growing VAT complexity as real time reporting expands and scrutiny of cross-border movements increases. In this webinar we’ll simplify the latest rules impacting operational flows from import VAT and call-off stock to inventory management and reverse charge mechanisms. Our expert will share what these changes mean in practice and how to adapt processes to stay compliant and efficient across multiple jurisdictions. Join us to learn the key requirements shaping VAT compliance today and how to build a resilient, future-ready framework for your organisation.
Brazil’s tax system is undergoing a historic transformation, and businesses need to be ready. In this webinar, we’ll break down the key elements of the new Tax Reform and what they mean for organizations across different sectors.
European tax authorities are accelerating the move to real-time digital reporting, creating new rules and tighter deadlines for organisations. This session will break down the latest developments in Poland and Bulgaria, including Poland’s draft regulation aligning JPK_VAT with KSeF from February 2026 and Bulgaria’s mandatory SAF-T go-live in January 2026. With clear explanations and a short demo, Sovos’ experts will outline key requirements, practical impacts and how to generate, validate and submit accurate files. Join us to understand how these changes affect your reporting processes and how to prepare for a future-ready compliance strategy.
As real-time tax mandates accelerate worldwide, global businesses face growing compliance risks that can halt operations and disrupt ERP transformations. In this session, Brown-Forman’s Director of Enterprise Applications and SAP, Kelly Lewis, joins Vadim Nemtsev, Director of Product Marketing for Indirect Tax at Sovos, to share how the company unified tax compliance within its SAP S/4HANA transformation.
In this extended instalment of our quarterly VAT Snapshot webinar covering Poland, France, Croatia, Greece, United Arab Emirates and Oman our experts will navigate the complex regulatory landscape, clarify key requirements, and deliver practical guidance to help your teams ensure readiness ahead of these mandate go-lives in 2026.
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) represents one of the most sweeping shifts to the tax compliance landscape in recent history. With wide-ranging provisions that touch nearly every corner of information reporting and withholding (IRW), this legislation will fundamentally reshape how organizations manage compliance, reporting, and operational risk.
For tax leaders, the OBBB is more than just new rules—it’s a call to rethink long-standing processes and prepare for a transformed regulatory environment.
As the IRS rolls out Form 1099-DA for digital asset transactions, financial institutions that have long reported on traditional securities through Forms 1099-B, 1099-DIV, and others are encountering a new level of complexity. For firms expanding from traditional finance into digital assets, it is essential to understand both the differences and the overlaps between these reporting frameworks. Join Sovos experts as we break down the specific requirements of 1099-DA reporting, from capturing transaction data to calculating cost basis, and compare them with established reporting processes for stocks, bonds, and other traditional instruments. We will also address the risks of treating digital asset reporting as a separate process (spoiler alert – data silos, inconsistent outputs, and operational strain!) Attendees will walk away with strategies for unifying reporting across asset classes. If you want to ensure accuracy and compliance and deliver a seamless customer experience, you don’t want to miss this.
Your SAP S/4 Migration and ‘Always On’ VAT Compliance Are on a Collision Course – Here’s How to Manage
If you’re an SAP user and you want to better understand your options in moving to S/4 in relation to tax compliance, this story should help. Download it now.
Prepare for the SAP S/4 migration to ensure continued tax compliance
SAP users wanting to better understand their options when migrating to S/4 from a tax compliance perspective should read this e-book. Gain insight into the future of global tax, including paperless transactions, business networks and the advent of transaction-orientated indirect tax enforcement.
The e-book also provides examples that explain the options for moving to a new ERP software – an important decision spanning multiple business departments, such as tax, accounting, IT and revenue.
Simplify Your SAP S/4 VAT Migration - Start Reading
Download our e-book to understand:
What are the greenfield and brownfield S/4 migration options?
What has changed in global tax?
What other approaches exist for S/4 migration?
What are the criteria for a future-proof VAT compliance solution?
How can Sovos help?
SAP plans to discontinue support for ECC6 by 2025 and that deadline will loom closer and closer as the months pass by.
It is quite clear from market data that many companies will not be able to migrate to S/4 prior to the 2025 deadline – even 2025 will prove tight on time for many, and in some cases, companies will find this deadline near-impossible to make.
Furthermore, many SAP users are yet to automate procurement and customer interactions: a significantly large proportion of orders and invoices are still exchanged on paper, often using ample scanning and OCR software in accounts payable.
Tax digitization is a trend that continues to rise in importance, with tax authorities across the globe introducing e-invoicing and continuous transaction controls (CTCs) to close the VAT gap. Tax compliance requires processes to be updated to comply with these digital tax changes.
Legacy reporting processes, organizational structures and technologies that continue to directly interact with your ERP systems need to evolve. The transformation of indirect tax is becoming a reality: manual, decentralised or shared service centre-aided indirect tax reporting will become a peripheral activity while your organisation negotiates the transformation to ‘always-on’ compliance.
If these challenges sound familiar, our e-book is equipped to help you overcome them. Our expert team have distilled their knowledge into this easy-to-digest guide on a complex subject that is underpinned by an increasingly urgent deadline.
How Sovos can help
At Sovos our goal is to allow our SAP customers to switch to a single vendor they can entrust their data to. This seamless migration will simplify operations and ensure compliance with each country’s different periodic or continuous controls at any time.
In doing so, you decouple business and tax functionality so you can focus on the former to power your digital and finance transformation – important considerations in an increasingly digital world where widespread digitisation is the expected status quo rather than a purely innovative force.
Sovos provides certainty with a future-proof strategy for tackling compliance obligations across all markets as VAT regulations evolve toward continuous e-reporting and other continuous transaction controls requiring increasingly granular data.
Experience end-to-end handling with compliance peace of mind with Sovos.
Ecuador VAT Compliance
Ecuador has multiple tax mandates you need to be aware of, including its VAT regime. Your obligations may span multiple regulations, and they can change, so staying on top of the latest developments is vital.
Ensure you are on the right side of Ecuador’s tax mandates with our Ecuador VAT Compliance overview. Bookmark this page to stay current on what’s new.
Monthly Subjects registered in the general regime will declare the VAT of the operations on a monthly basis within the month following the date of their execution, according to the day assigned to the ninth digit of their RUC
Quarterly 28th day of the month following the end of the tax period
VAT rates
15% 5% in local transfers of construction materials 0% or Exempt
VAT rules in Ecuador
Ecuador e-invoicing
Like many Latin American companies, Ecuador has a significant electronic invoice regime. It has been compulsory for all domestic taxpayers since 2022, requiring them to issue e-invoices for both B2B and B2G transactions.
There is no VAT registration threshold in Ecuador. This means that any organisation that makes taxable supplies of goods or services in the country must register for VAT purposes.
Those looking to register for VAT in Ecuador must submit numerous documents. They must also request a subscription to the RUC Single Taxpayer Registry in person.
Invoicing requirements in Ecuador
There are multiple rules and requirements governing the use of invoices in Ecuador, including:
Registering with the country’s tax authority, Servicio de Rentas Internas (SRI)
Once approved by the SRI, issuing e-invoices for both B2B and B2G transactions
All e-invoices must be sent to the tax authority for validation before sending to the recipient
E-invoices have to be securely signed with an e-signature to validate the contents
E-invoices must be in XML format
Penalties for non-compliance with VAT in Ecuador
Not meeting Ecuador’s VAT rules may lead to penalties such as fines, which is why you must stay on top of your requirements.
For example, being late to filing or paying VAT can result in fines of up to five times the amount of VAT owed to the tax authorities.
Foreign tourists can request a refund of the VAT paid on the acquisition of nationally produced goods by presenting the corresponding requirements in the different service channels enabled.
Subjects registered in the general regime will declare the VAT of the operations monthly within the month following the date of their execution, according to the day assigned to the ninth digit of their RUC.
In Ecuador, a VAT number is given to a registered individual or company as a unique identifier. The country’s VAT number is 13 digits long, with the first 10 digits comprising a personal identification number.
Solutions for VAT compliance in Ecuador
Ecuador’s multiple tax-related mandates may seem complicated to manage, especially if your organisation operates in numerous countries and jurisdictions. This feeling is often multiplied when considering the evolving nature of rules and regulations.
Sovos can help. As your compliance partner, we handle your tax obligations so you can focus on your business.
Complete the form below to speak with one of our experts
VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) is one of the most significant regulation changes to EU VAT in recent years. Changes to requirements became effective on 12 March 2025 with the official adoption of the package, with further rules coming into effect in 2030.
This blog discusses the changes impacting businesses, including Digital Reporting Requirements, and when they take effect.
Changes effective as of ViDA’s approval on 12 March 2025
Removal of EU approval for domestic e-invoicing
Under the previous VAT Directive, EU approval was required for Member States to introduce domestic mandatory B2B e-invoicing. Countries such as Italy, Poland, Germany, France, Belgium and Romania applied for derogations to mandate e-invoicing. With ViDA, Member States may impose domestic e-invoicing without needing EU approval, provided it applies only to established taxpayers.
Buyer e-invoice acceptance eliminated
The previous EU VAT Directive stated the use of e-invoices was subject to buyer acceptance. Under ViDA, Member States that have introduced mandatory domestic e-invoicing will no longer require buyer consent.
ViDA changes effective from 1 July 2030
Redefinition of electronic invoicing
ViDA redefines electronic invoices. Under the proposal, electronic invoices are those issued, transmitted and received in a structured electronic format that allows its automated processing. This means that non-structured formats, such as pure PDFs or JPEG images, will no longer qualify as an e-invoice. Hybrid formats, such as ZUGFeRD and Factur-X, can remain due to their structured portion.
In principle, electronic invoices must comply with the European standard and the list of its syntaxes pursuant to Directive 2014/55/EU (the “EN” format). However, ViDA allows Member States to use other standards for domestic transactions upon meeting certain conditions.
From 2030, B2B e-invoices compliant with the European standard will be the default and no longer requiring buyer acceptance. However, if a Member State opts for a different mandatory domestic standard, they may either waive or require buyer acceptance for e-invoices using the European standard.
ViDA Digital Reporting Requirements (DRRs) for cross-border transactions
One of the most impactful updates in ViDA is the requirement for near-real-time digital reporting of cross-border transaction data.
Starting in 2030, taxpayers engaging in cross-border transactions within the EU must report invoice data electronically following the EN format. Such DRR will be a condition for taxpayers to exempt VAT in a cross-border transaction or claim input VAT. Each Member State will provide electronic mechanisms for submitting this data.
With ViDA, cross-border e-invoices within the EU must be issued in up to 10 days after the chargeable event. In these cases, DRR must happen at the same time the e-invoice is issued or should have been issued.
Invoices issued by the recipient on behalf of the seller (known as self-billing) and the invoices related to intra-community acquisitions must be reported no later than five days after the invoice is issued or should have been issued or received, respectively.
As expected, DRRs may be carried out by the taxpayers themselves or outsourced to a third party on their behalf.
ViDA Digital Reporting Requirements for domestic transactions
ViDA grants Member States the option to mandate digital reporting for domestic B2B/B2C sales, purchase data, and self-supplies for VAT-registered taxpayers within their jurisdiction. Domestic reporting requirements must align with ViDA’s cross-border DRR standards, and Member States must permit submissions in the European standard format, although other interoperable formats may be allowed.
For Member States with domestic real-time reporting systems in place as of 1 January 2024, compliance with ViDA’s standards will be required by 2035. On the other hand, the package clarifies that other reporting obligations, such as SAF-T, can still exist. This alignment will ensure consistency across the EU in preparation for full ViDA implementation.
Member States have until 30 June 2030 to integrate ViDA’s e-invoicing and DRR provisions into their national legislation, making the Directive effective across the EU by 1 July 2030.
ViDA’s impact on businesses
ViDA represents a significant shift for businesses operating within the EU, promising both opportunities and challenges. By introducing DRRs, ViDA aims to replace obsolete requirements, reduce administrative burdens, improve accuracy, and combat VAT fraud.
The move towards structured e-invoicing and near-real-time digital reporting will require businesses to update their invoicing and reporting systems, driving digital transformation across sectors. While the transition may entail initial adjustments, it is expected to increase efficiency, create a level playing field, and facilitate smoother interoperability between companies using different systems.
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.
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.
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.
