As we enter 2026, the landscape of international e-commerce continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Understanding and adapting to these changes is crucial to maintaining compliance and ensuring seamless international operations. Here’s an overview of the key changes at the start of 2026, and how Glopal is here to help you navigate them.
GLOBAL TAX Rate CHANGES
Standard VAT/GST rate changes announced for 01.01.2026:
- Russia: The country is increasing its VAT rate from 20% to 22%.
- Kazakhstan: The standard VAT rate increases from 12% to 16%. A new 10% reduced VAT rate applies for essentials.
- Ghana: Current cascading taxes with a consolidated rate of 21.9% (15% VAT + 2.5% Education (GETEL) + 2.5% Health (NHIS) + 1% COVID (CHRL) levies) will be replaced by a streamlined standard VAT rate of 20%.
- Liberia: The GST Rate increases from 12% to 13%, ahead of the anticipated VAT regime implementation in 2027.
- Zimbabwe: The standard VAT rate increases from 15% to 15.5%.
Reduced VAT rate changes effective 01.01.2026:
- Finland: The reduced VAT rate of 14% applied to food & books decreases to 13.5%. The standard VAT rate remains at 25.5%.
- Lithuania: The existing 9% reduced rate gets replaced by a new 12% rate. Medicine, books and publications move down to 5% VAT.
How Glopal Can Support You
Keeping up with tax changes across multiple countries can be challenging. Glopal continuously monitors global tax regulations, and automatically updates tax rates and thresholds in real time. This ensures your pricing, invoicing, and reporting remain accurate and compliant, allowing you to focus on growing your business without worrying about ever-changing tax rules.
🇺🇸 U.S. Tariff Changes
Following a bilateral agreement signed in late 2025, trade relations between Switzerland and the U.S. have entered a more favorable phase. A reciprocal 15% ceiling on customs duties (similar as granted to the European Union) is now in full effect, replacing the previously enforced IEEPA rate of 39% on most Swiss origin products.
How Glopal Can Support You
Glopal detects and processes any relevant customs tariff changes from official U.S. customs sources, guaranteeing that applied duty rates are up-to-date and calculated total landing costs are accurate.
🇪🇺 EURopean union: NEW LEVY ON Low-value parcelS
The European Union agreed to introduce a new €3 customs levy on all low-value (<150€) B2C parcels, effective from July 2026. This is an interim measure ahead of the full 2028 Customs Reform which will entirely abolish the long-standing €150 customs duty de minimis threshold.
Member state Romania is moving even faster, introducing a national logistics fees of RON 25 (roughly €5) for sub-€150 shipments from January 1, 2026. This levy will be layered on top of the EU wide €3 customs levy once active.
Several other member states - France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg - likewise also still debate the introduction of a national handling fee (of 2€) on imported low-value parcels as early as February 1, 2026. Final decisions are expected in January 2026.
How Glopal Can Support You
Glopal’s Duty & Tax engine automatically applies new customs levies as they come into effect, ensuring your store always provides up-to-date total landed cost calculations.
🇫🇷 France: EORI NUmBER Transition
France is modernizing its customs identification to align with EU-wide digital standards. The French EORI number format is moving from a 14-digit SIRET-based number to a 9-digit SIREN-based EORI number (Format: FR + 9 digits).
Merchants with a French EORI can verify their status on the Soprano-Access portal. Most non-EU companies linked to a French SIRET must re-apply for the 9-digit version to ensure continued access to the French market.
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia: Mandatory Short Address Codes
Saudia Arabia announced that he newly introduced Short Address Code will become mandatory for all cross-border shipments to Saudi Arabia, effective January 1, 2026.
WHAT is the short address code
The Short Address Code is a unique, eight-character identifier (4 letters + 4 digits, example: ABCD1234) that pinpoints a specific building with GPS-level precision. This system aims to replace the need for descriptive landmarks in the long term and ensures your parcels reach their exact destination without delay.
Collect and Share Short Address Code
To prevent shipments from being rejected by carriers or Saudi Customs, you must include this code in your address data.
Major international carriers, including DHL, FedEx, and UPS, have announced they will enforce this requirement at the point of origin. Most carriers demand to pass the code either in address line 3 or, alternatively, added in address lines 1 or 2.
Our Commitment to Your Success in 2026
We understand that navigating regulatory changes can be complex. That’s why we’re dedicated to providing you with the tools and expertise needed to thrive:
- Real-Time Regulatory Updates: Stay informed about global compliance requirements with automatic updates integrated into your workflow.
- Dynamic Landed Cost Engine: From VAT changes to new and updated tariffs, our software adjusts to ensure accurate calculations and reporting.
- Expert Support: Our team of cross-border trade specialists is here to help you adapt your logistics and tax strategies to meet 2026’s unique requirements efficiently.
As your trusted partner, we’re here to empower your growth and success in the evolving world of e-commerce.
Here’s to a prosperous and compliant 2026!