30 October 2026
4 inches of rain, a 4 year old boy and this weeks tax news.
Subject: Four inches of rain, a four year old, and this week's tax news
Hi all,
I have no blog post this week. Instead, I spent a wet weekend building games for my four year old with Claude. They have nothing to do with tax. I wanted to see what was possible with an LLM and a child who had run out of patience with the weather, and it turns out quite a lot. If you have a 4 to 6 year old and it won't stop raining, they're at https://kids.askcolm.com
Now, the tax news, 21 articles picked this week.
E-invoicing keeps taking shape across Europe. Ireland has confirmed a phased e-invoicing and real-time VAT reporting rollout, the UK has set out an April 2029 roadmap for B2B e-invoicing, and Italy's ViDA implementation now runs from 2027 to 2030. If you work across several countries, the timelines are what to watch.
A European Court case worth reading is T-555/26 (Gemeinde A). It asks whether an automated facility and subcontractor staff can create a fixed establishment for VAT liability. A lot of remote and outsourced setups will care how that lands.
On the technology side, Microsoft announced new Copilot capabilities for audit, tax and compliance work. This isn't a plug for Microsoft, I'm including it because a lot of you already have access to Copilot, and it may be a good place to dip your toe into AI for tax and finance.
Elsewhere, USA Today reports that more than 100 big companies paid no federal income tax in 2025. Colorado is the latest place debating a "tax the rich" move for those earning $500,000. And in Morocco, the 2027 Finance Bill proposes VAT exemptions for FIFA and World Cup partners.
For something lighter, a court fight might bring back home distilling of liquor in the US.
Everything is on the site, with links to the original articles: https://askcolm.com
Have a spooky weekend.
Colm
Selected articles
USA Today: More Than 100 Big Companies Paid No Federal Income Tax in 2025
Report reveals over 100 major U.S. corporations, including Citigroup, Tesla, and Walt Disney, paid zero federal income tax in 2025 despite significant profitability.
Microsoft announces Copilot capacities for audit, tax, compliance, more
Microsoft expanded its Copilot AI platform with 25 new finance skills and partner plugins supporting audit, tax, compliance, and bookkeeping functions.
Israel Confirms Cost-Plus Treatment for R&D Centres
Israeli tax authorities have confirmed cost-plus transfer pricing treatment for research and development centres, providing guidance on the applicable method for pricing intercompany transactions involving R&D activities.
Court Confirms Stock Options Exempt from Social Security Contributions
A court ruling confirms that stock options are exempt from social security contributions, establishing that equity compensation does not trigger payroll tax obligations.
Wayfair decision: Seven mistakes online sellers make
Article discusses common compliance errors among multi-state online sellers following the Wayfair Supreme Court decision, which fundamentally altered sales tax obligations for remote sellers.
Supreme Court on Section 143(2): Participation Cannot Cure Complete Absence of Mandatory Notice
Supreme Court ruling on Section 143(2) of Indian income tax law clarifies that a taxpayer's participation and cooperation in reassessment proceedings cannot cure the complete absence of a mandatory notice requirement. The court held that procedural compliance is essential and cannot be waived by subsequent participation.
Italy ViDA implementation 2027 to 2030 update
Italy's implementation timeline for ViDA (VAT in the Digital Age) has been updated, with rollout scheduled between 2027 and 2030. This eInvoicing and eReporting mandate will require businesses to adapt their compliance systems accordingly.
Tax-the-rich movement arrives for $500,000 earners in Colorado
Colorado voters consider a ballot measure to raise income taxes on earners above $500,000, continuing the tax-the-rich movement at state level.
Electronics Maker Says $48.5M Tax Suit Wrongly Tossed
Electronics manufacturer Flex Ltd. appealed to the Delaware Supreme Court seeking a $48.5 million tax distribution from its Nextracker spinoff, arguing their agreements entitled it to the funds while Nextracker contended Flex agreed to bear the tax costs.
Budget 2026 – what it means
Analysis of UK Budget 2026 covering tax changes affecting pensioners on low income, landlords, and individuals receiving interest outside ISAs. Most taxpayers see minimal impact.
UK April 2029 B2B e-invoicing roadmap
UK announces B2B e-invoicing roadmap with April 2029 implementation date for mandatory electronic invoicing requirements.
TP ‘matters more than ever’ under pillar two: Deloitte leader
A Deloitte leader warns that transfer pricing decisions will significantly impact top-up tax exposure under pillar two, as global consensus on the rules continues to develop.
Ireland Confirms Phased E-Invoicing and Real-Time VAT Reporting Rollout
Ireland's Revenue confirmed a phased e-invoicing and real-time VAT reporting rollout. Phase One begins 1 November 2028 requiring approximately 2,400 large VAT-registered corporates to issue structured e-invoices and report selected domestic B2B transaction data in real time. Phase Two starts 1 November 2029.
European Court – T-555/26 (Gemeinde A) – Questions – Automated facility and subcontractor staff: fixed establishment for VAT liability
German Federal Fiscal Court referred preliminary ruling to CJEU on fixed establishment concept under EU VAT Directive Article 192a. Case concerns VAT liability where Austrian service providers supplied sewage-sludge services to German municipality operating treatment plant.
Goldin et al: Optimal Taxation of Indistinguishable Activities
Academic working paper examining optimal tax policy design when tax administrators cannot easily distinguish between activities subject to different tax treatments, such as business versus personal expenditures.
NO INCOME, YET TAXABLE! When the Income-tax Law Taxes you on amounts you never earned
Article examining provisions in India's Income-tax law where tax may be imposed on amounts not actually earned by the taxpayer, exploring situations where taxable income differs from actual income received.
Liberia 18% VAT implementation Jan 2027
Liberia plans to implement an 18% VAT effective January 2027.
IMF: Global Taxation of Agriculture and Forestry
IMF report examines global taxation of agriculture and forestry, noting that despite declining economic share in developed economies, governments maintain extensive tax preferences, subsidies, and trade protections for these sectors. Analyzes the political economy and cross-country structures of agricultural tax benefits.
Morocco’s 2027 Finance Bill Proposes VAT Exemptions for FIFA and World Cup Partners
Morocco's draft Finance Bill No. 60.26 for 2027 proposes exemptions from VAT, corporate income tax, personal income tax and registration duties for FIFA and its partners in connection with the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Exemptions implement Morocco's hosting commitments and would include simplified administrative procedures.
Americans Once Distilled Liquor at Home. Could a Court Fight Bring the Tradition Back?
Two court cases challenge the scope of Congress's power to collect federal alcohol taxes, with potential implications for home distillation. The legal dispute centers on the constitutional limits of federal excise tax authority.
Summaries are AI generated and may contain errors. Check the original article before relying on them. Nothing here is tax advice.
Get the Friday Digest
Every Friday I share the tax developments that caught my eye, from VAT and eInvoicing to Pillar Two and global policy, with practical context and links to the original sources.