Estonia Makes Emergency VAT Hike Permanent From July 2025
Estonia has confirmed that its temporary emergency VAT hike—introduced to fund national defense—will now become a permanent change. Starting July 1, 2025, the standard VAT rate will rise from 22% to 24%, and it won’t be rolled back after 2028 as originally planned.
Why the change?
The 2% increase was first approved in 2023 as a temporary measure to respond to growing security threats from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The plan was to return to the previous rate at the end of 2028, but Estonia’s Finance Minister and Prime Minister have now announced that the higher rate is here to stay. The money will help fund long-range weapons and ammunition.
Contracts with the old rate
If you signed a contract before May 1, 2023, with the old 20% VAT rate, and that contract didn’t include a clause for VAT changes, you can still apply the 20% rate—but only until 30 June 2025. After that, the 24% rate will be applicable. This shortened transition period is meant to create consistency across all standard-rated transactions and ensure fair application of the new rate.
Other tax changes coming in 2025 and 2026
VAT isn’t the only tax going up. Estonia is introducing a wave of new measures to boost government revenue:
- Corporate and personal income tax: Increasing from 20% to 22% from January 1, 2025. These rises are still expected to be reversed after 2028.
- New security tax: A 2% tax on individual income and corporate earnings is set to come into effect in 2026.
- Reduced VAT rates are also rising:
- Accommodation: Going from 9% to 13% (but staying below the standard rate)
- Press publications: Increasing from 5% to 9%
- Accommodation: Going from 9% to 13% (but staying below the standard rate)
Estonia’s economy has struggled in recent years, shrinking by 1.3% in 2022. The government is prioritizing defense spending in response to the ongoing security threat from Russia. While taxes are rising, Estonia still maintains one of the most competitive tax systems in the OECD thanks to its flat-rate model and transparency.
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