Here at , we understand that keeping up with changing regulations in global VAT and indirect taxation is time consuming. So, we’ve created a VAT update for you covering the first half of 2019.
Bahrain
Bahrain introduced a VAT rate of 5% from 1st January 2019.
China
As of 1st April 2019, a reduction in the standard VAT rate from 16% to 13% was introduced. The reduced VAT rate on retail was also reduced, from 10% to 9%.
Croatia
Croatia has cut the VAT rate on e-Books to 5%.
Greece
In May 2019, the Greek Prime Minister announced a proposal to reduce the VAT on a number of services:
- Food & Drink – From 24% to 13%
- Hotel accommodation – From 13% to 11%
- Electricity – From 13% to 6&
These changes are set to be introduced in late 2019 and should be fully implemented in 2021.
Ireland
As of 1 January 2019, the VAT rate on tourism services increased from 9% to 13.5%. On the same day, the VAT rate on e-books decreased from 23% to 9%.
Kuwait
The introduction of a 5% VAT regime from 1 April 2021 was announced.
Lithuania
Cuts to the VAT rate of books and newspapers from 9% to 5% as of 1 January 2019. The Lithuanian parliament are currently considering a proposal to cut standard VAT rate from 21% to 18% to promote and boost economy.
Luxembourg
Reduced the VAT rate on e-books from 17% to 3%. The measure was back dated to 1 January 2019.
Malta
From 1 January 2019, the VAT rate on e-books set to 5%.
The Netherlands
The reduced VAT rate was increased from 6% to 9%, as of 1 January 2019.
Norway
The VAT rate on e-books and new journals will be scrapped and will be set at zero percent from 1 July 2019.
Russia
As of 1 January 2019, the standard VAT rate increased from 18% to 20%. There was also an increase in the reduced rate from 15.25% to 16.67%.
Slovakia
The VAT rate for hotels/accommodation services was reduced from the standard VAT rate of 20% to the reduced rate 10%. This came into effect on 1st January 2019.
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