Tax News Daily
The latest tax news from around the world, summarised and tagged for tax professionals. Updated twice daily.
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FBR designates Taftan Railway Station as Customs Station
Pakistan's Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has officially designated Taftan Railway Station as a customs station, expanding the country's formal customs infrastructure. Taftan, located on the Pakistan-Iran border in Balochistan, is a key trade crossing point. This designation enables formal customs processing, duty collection, and trade documentation at the railway station, bringing cross-border rail trade under regulatory oversight and potentially improving customs revenue collection and trade facilitation along the Pakistan-Iran corridor.
Rs6b tax & petroleum levy evasion uncovered
Pakistani authorities have uncovered a Rs6 billion tax and petroleum levy evasion scheme. The investigation reveals significant non-compliance involving both tax obligations and petroleum levies, which are key government revenue streams in Pakistan. The case highlights enforcement challenges in the energy and fuel sector, where evasion of both direct/indirect taxes and sector-specific levies represents substantial revenue loss. FBR and associated agencies are pursuing recovery and potential prosecution in what represents a major tax controversy case in Pakistan's energy sector.
HMRC Tax Update 2026: Customs Digitalisation and E-Invoicing Plans
HMRC's 2026 tax update outlines plans for customs digitalisation and e-invoicing as part of the UK's broader tax modernisation agenda. The update details HMRC's roadmap for integrating digital customs processes with emerging e-invoicing requirements, targeting improved compliance, reduced fraud, and administrative efficiency. The plans include interoperability with the Peppol framework and alignment with international standards. Businesses involved in cross-border trade should take note of the dual focus on customs digitalisation and e-invoicing, as both streams will require system and process adjustments in the coming years.
Software developers providing customs declaration software
HMRC maintains a list of approved software developers whose products support customs declaration submissions in the UK. This guidance is relevant to businesses and agents filing import/export declarations under the Customs Declaration Service (CDS). The software tools listed facilitate compliance with UK customs requirements, including tariff classification and duty calculations. The publication is important for traders and intermediaries seeking compliant technology solutions for customs procedures post-Brexit, directly supporting the operational side of UK customs and trade tax obligations.
Guidance: Notification of Vehicle Arrivals (NOVA): service availability and issues
HMRC's Notification of Vehicle Arrivals (NOVA) service tracks vehicles brought into the UK from abroad, ensuring proper VAT and duty compliance. Users must notify HMRC within 14 days of a vehicle's arrival to avoid penalties. This guidance page provides updates on service availability, planned maintenance, and any technical issues affecting the NOVA online system. The service is critical for individuals and businesses importing vehicles, as NOVA notifications are required before vehicles can be registered with the DVLA, linking customs and VAT obligations to vehicle registration processes in the UK.
Guidance: Tied Oils Enquiry Service: service availability and issues
HMRC's Tied Oils Enquiry Service relates to the UK excise duty regime governing oils used for specific permitted purposes under tied-oil arrangements, where reduced or zero duty rates apply subject to conditions. This guidance page provides updates on service availability and technical issues affecting the enquiry system used by businesses to verify eligibility and compliance. Proper use of tied oils is subject to strict HMRC oversight, and the online service supports businesses in managing their excise duty obligations, ensuring that only qualifying oil usage benefits from the relevant duty reliefs under UK tax law.
Guidance: Rebated Oils Enquiry Services: service availability and issues
HMRC's Rebated Oils Enquiry Service supports the UK excise duty framework for rebated fuels such as red diesel and other marked oils, which attract a lower duty rate than standard fuel. This guidance covers service availability and any ongoing technical issues with the online enquiry system. Businesses using rebated oils must comply with strict eligibility rules, and the service helps users verify permitted uses and ensure compliance. Recent UK reforms have significantly narrowed the categories of users entitled to rebated fuel, making accurate access to this service increasingly important for affected industries.
Federal Circuit Permits Section 122 Tariffs to Proceed
The Federal Circuit Court has permitted Section 122 tariffs to proceed, addressing a significant legal challenge to the executive branch's authority to impose emergency tariffs. Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 grants the President authority to impose temporary tariffs of up to 15% for balance-of-payments purposes. This ruling has notable implications for U.S. trade and customs policy, potentially affecting importers and businesses subject to these tariff measures. The decision reinforces presidential tariff-setting powers and may influence ongoing trade disputes and customs compliance obligations for companies importing goods into the United States.
Notice: Notices made under The Customs (Export) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
This UK government publication sets out official notices made under The Customs (Export) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which govern export procedures following the UK's departure from the European Union. These notices carry legal force and specify requirements for exporters, including documentation, procedures, and controls applicable to goods leaving the UK. The regulations form a core part of the UK's post-Brexit customs framework, directly impacting trade compliance obligations for businesses engaged in cross-border export activities.
Hyderabad Customs ramps up anti-smuggling drive, confiscates goods worth over Rs77m
Hyderabad Customs authorities have intensified their anti-smuggling operations, seizing contraband goods valued at over Rs77 million. The enforcement drive reflects Pakistan's customs administration efforts to curb illicit trade and protect legitimate revenue streams. Such operations are part of broader customs enforcement mechanisms aimed at preventing duty evasion and smuggling of prohibited or restricted goods across Pakistani borders. The confiscations underscore the Federal Board of Revenue's commitment to strengthening border controls and trade compliance, with significant implications for customs duty collection and the deterrence of illegal import/export activities within Pakistan's trade regulatory framework.
UK legislation
This UK government page outlines the domestic legislation underpinning customs and tax reliefs for goods used at international events. It references relevant UK law governing temporary admission, duty suspensions, and related customs procedures following Brexit. The page serves as a legislative reference for businesses and customs agents seeking to understand the statutory basis for claiming reliefs when importing or exporting goods for international events under the UK's post-EU customs framework administered through HMRC and the Customs Declaration Service.
Commodity-specific requirements
This UK government guidance addresses commodity-specific customs and regulatory requirements for goods brought into the UK for international events. It covers categories such as food, alcohol, animals, and other regulated items, detailing the additional licensing, certification, and duty considerations that apply. For tax purposes, different commodity classifications can attract varying duty rates and VAT treatments, making this guidance relevant to event organizers and importers needing to navigate the intersection of customs tariff classification and sector-specific import controls.
Definitions
This UK government page provides definitions of key terms used across the international events customs guidance suite. It clarifies terminology related to customs relief procedures, temporary admission, ATA Carnets, and the Customs Declaration Service, ensuring consistent interpretation for businesses and customs practitioners. Understanding these definitions is essential for correctly applying customs duty reliefs and exemptions when importing or exporting goods for international events under UK law administered by HMRC.
Roles and responsibilities
This UK government guidance defines the roles and responsibilities of various parties involved in importing and exporting goods for international events, including organizers, exhibitors, customs agents, and freight forwarders. While primarily procedural, it has a clear tax angle as it establishes who bears legal responsibility for customs compliance, duty payments, and accurate declarations. Understanding these roles is critical for determining liability for import duties and VAT on event goods entering the UK, making it relevant to customs and indirect tax practitioners.
Additional Procedure Codes for claiming reliefs when using the Customs Declaration Service
This UK government guidance covers Additional Procedure Codes (APCs) used within the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) to claim customs duty reliefs and exemptions. It is relevant to businesses importing or exporting goods for international events, detailing the specific codes required to obtain temporary admission, ATA Carnets, and other customs relief procedures. Accurate use of APCs ensures compliance with HMRC requirements and enables businesses to avoid unnecessary duty payments when moving goods across borders for exhibitions, trade shows, and similar international events.
Compliance checklists and templates
This UK government resource provides compliance checklists and templates for businesses handling goods at international events under customs relief provisions. The materials are designed to help importers, exporters, and customs agents ensure they meet HMRC requirements when claiming duty reliefs such as temporary admission. By following structured checklists, businesses can reduce the risk of non-compliance, avoid unexpected customs duty liabilities, and maintain proper documentation required for audit or enforcement purposes under the UK's Customs Declaration Service framework.
Exporting goods to other countries from the UK for international events
This UK government guidance explains the customs and tax procedures for exporting goods from the UK to other countries for international events such as trade fairs and exhibitions. It covers the use of ATA Carnets, temporary export reliefs, and customs declaration requirements to ensure goods can be re-imported without incurring additional duties. The guidance helps UK businesses understand their obligations under customs rules, avoid double taxation on goods temporarily abroad, and comply with both UK export requirements and the import rules of destination countries.
Special procedures and reliefs for event goods
This UK government guidance outlines special customs procedures and relief schemes available for goods imported temporarily for international events held in the UK. It covers mechanisms such as temporary admission, ATA Carnets, and other duty suspension arrangements that allow event goods to enter without full import duty liability, provided conditions are met and goods are re-exported afterward. The guidance is directly relevant to event organizers, exhibitors, and freight forwarders seeking to minimize customs duty costs and administrative burdens when moving goods across UK borders for events.
Customs Import Duty reliefs
This UK government guidance specifically addresses customs import duty relief options available for goods brought into the UK for international events. It details eligibility criteria, application processes, and conditions for claiming relief from import duties, including temporary admission and other suspension regimes. This is directly relevant to businesses and event organizers seeking to reduce duty costs on event equipment and materials. Proper use of these reliefs can result in significant savings, making the guidance important for customs duty planning and compliance in the UK events sector.
Declarations and freight movements
This UK government guidance covers customs declarations and freight movement requirements for goods brought into the UK for international events. It addresses the procedural obligations for importers and freight handlers, including documentation, declaration types, and compliance with UK customs rules. The guidance is relevant to businesses and event organizers managing cross-border logistics, ensuring goods are properly declared upon entry and exit. It forms part of a broader framework for handling event-related imports and exports under UK customs law, with implications for duty liability and border compliance.
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