European Commission holds implementation dialogue on EU Customs Reform
On 8 June 2026, Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič chaired an implementation dialogue with businesses and trade associations on the practical rollout of the EU Customs Reform. Participants expressed broad support for the reform’s objective of creating a more digitalised, efficient and resilient Customs Union, while highlighting the need for clear guidance, realistic implementation timelines and close cooperation between authorities and businesses. Discussions focused in particular on the proposed EU Customs Data Hub, which is expected to become the central platform for customs data exchange, and the new Trust and Check regime, designed to simplify customs procedures and reduce compliance costs for compliant traders. Stakeholders also raised concerns regarding the abolition of the €150 customs duty exemption for low-value imports, the need for harmonised application across Member States and the potential impact on smaller businesses and customs intermediaries.
General Court of the EU clarifies that transferred loan servicing does not qualify for VAT exemption
On 17 June 2026, the General Court, in its judgement in Case T-184/25, ruled on the VAT treatment of loan management services supplied by a financial institution after it had transferred the underlying loans to another company. The case concerned a Finnish bank that sold mortgage loans to a subsidiary and continued to manage those loans and related guarantees for consideration. The Court held that such services do not qualify for the VAT exemption for the management of credit by the person granting it under Article 135(1)(b) of Directive 2006/112/EC (VAT Directive) once the loans have been transferred to a third party. The Court also found that the services could not benefit from the exemptions for transactions concerning credit guarantees under Article 135(1)(c) or transactions concerning debts under Article 135(1)(d) of the Directive. According to the Court, the services constituted taxable supplies provided to the purchaser of the loans and formed part of a separate contractual relationship distinct from the original credit relationship between lender and borrower. The judgment confirms that VAT exemptions for financial services must be interpreted strictly and cannot be extended to outsourced loan management activities solely because they relate to exempt credit transactions.
MEPs endorse tariff measures under EU-US trade agreement
On 17 June 2026, the European Parliament approved two regulations implementing the tariff commitments agreed between the European Union and the United States in the 2025 Joint Statement reached by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump in Turnberry, Scotland. The first regulation eliminates tariffs on all US industrial goods and grants preferential market access for a range of US seafood and agricultural products, while the second regulation extends the tariff-free treatment of US lobster imports, including processed lobster. Parliament and Council negotiators strengthened the Commission’s original proposal by introducing a sunset clause under which the tariff preferences will expire on 31 December 2029 unless renewed, as well as safeguard measures to protect EU industry and agriculture. The legislation also allows the Commission to suspend tariff preferences if the United States maintains tariffs exceeding 15% on certain steel and aluminium derivative products or fails to address EU concerns regarding the treatment of Union exports. The measures are intended to implement and monitor the tariff-related commitments contained in the 2025 EU-US trade agreement while preserving the EU’s ability to respond to potential trade distortions.
European Commission reviews progress on key tax initiatives in 2025
On 16 June 2026, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) published its 2025 Annual Activity Report, providing an overview of progress made in the areas of taxation, customs and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The report highlights several key achievements during 2025, including the adoption of the VAT in the Digital Age package (ViDA), the Directive introducing the Incentivised Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) and the Commission’s Recommendation on tax incentives supporting the Clean Industrial Deal. It also outlines preparatory work for the forthcoming Taxation Simplification Omnibus and ongoing implementation efforts relating to Directive (EU) 2025/872 (DAC9), Directive (EU) 2025/50 (FASTER Directive) and Directive (EU) 2022/2523 (Pillar Two Directive). According to the report, more than €33 billion in VAT was declared through the One-Stop Shop (OSS) schemes in 2024, while the number of businesses registered under the OSS system increased by 15% year-on-year. DG TAXUD further reports progress on customs reform, CBAM implementation and measures to strengthen administrative cooperation and combat tax fraud.
New EU guidance on Pillar Two compliance obligations
On 10 June 2026, a new manual on compliance obligations under the OECD/G20 global minimum tax (Pillar Two) was published as part of a European Commission Technical Support Instrument project supporting the implementation of Directive (EU) 2022/2523 (Pillar Two Directive). The manual provides a practical overview of registration, filing, payment and reporting obligations in 14 Member States, including Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Poland and Slovenia. It highlights that, despite the harmonised Pillar Two framework, domestic compliance requirements continue to differ across jurisdictions, particularly regarding designated entities, local filing obligations and payment procedures. The publication also explains the interaction with Directive (EU) 2025/872 (DAC9), which enables the central filing and automatic exchange of Top-up Tax Information Returns (TTIRs) within the EU, while noting that additional domestic obligations may still apply. The manual is intended to assist multinational enterprise (MNE) groups in preparing for the first Pillar Two filing cycle in 2026. It is important to note that the manual does not constitute official interpretative guidance and is based on information available as of 1 May 2026.
MEPs to discuss strengthening cooperation in the fight against VAT fraud
On 24 June 2026, Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) and Subcommittee on Tax Matters (FISC) will hold a joint exchange of views on cooperation in the fight against VAT fraud with representatives of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and Eurofisc. The discussion will focus on improving information exchange and cooperation between tax authorities, law enforcement bodies and EU anti-fraud agencies in combating cross-border VAT fraud, in particular missing trader intra-Community (MTIC) or “carousel” fraud. In parallel, CONT will examine a draft own-initiative report on combating VAT fraud, which calls for stronger cooperation between Member States and EU bodies, enhanced access for EPPO and OLAF to EU VAT information systems, and greater use of digital tools to detect fraudulent transactions. The draft report also highlights the role of the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) package, supports the extension of the reverse charge mechanism beyond 2026, and calls for measures to strengthen the fight against import VAT fraud and the misuse of crypto-assets in VAT fraud schemes.
OECD launches consultation on amendments to digital platform reporting rules
On 15 June 2026, the OECD launched a public consultation on proposed targeted amendments to the Model Reporting Rules for Digital Platforms (MRDP), which underpin the automatic exchange of tax information on sellers operating through digital platforms. The proposed revisions are intended to address practical issues identified during the implementation of the rules across participating jurisdictions. Among other changes, the consultation proposes amendments to the thresholds for excluding sellers engaged in low-value goods transactions, clarifications of the definitions of “Platform” and “Platform Operator”, limitations on reporting where a seller is itself a Reporting Platform Operator, and the introduction of a “Related Entity” concept to exclude certain intra-group platform arrangements from reporting obligations. The OECD is also considering possible measures to improve reporting outcomes in relation to intermediary sellers. Stakeholders are invited to submit comments by 14 August 2026.
