Category: A-E

Google says give R&D tax breaks to small techies, not big guys

Tax breaks for research and development should be targeted to smaller technology start-ups, rather than big companies that will most likely make the investments regardless of incentives, Google Australia will tell the senate inquiry into corporate tax avoidance. Google Australia’s managing director, Maile Carnegie, will be appearing before the inquiry… – Continue reading

Mylan makes $29B bid for rival drugmaker Perrigo

Mylan-Perrigo deal would combine two generic drugmakers that recently left the U.S. for Europe. NEW YORK — In a deal that would combine two generic drugmakers that recently left the U.S. for Europe, Mylan says it wants to buy Perrigo for $205 per share, or $28.86 billion. Shares of both… – Continue reading

Property sales spike sparks money laundering fears

Suspicions rising that ‘hot money’ is being washed through Vancouver real estate As affluent Chinese buyers – spurred by relaxed regulations and a lower Canadian dollar – flood into British Columbia’s real estate market, warnings are rising that some cash deals may contravene federal money laundering rules. A 2015 report… – Continue reading

Art: A market laid bare

An arrest over allegations of price fixing has increased calls for tighter regulation of the booming sector On a late February morning, Yves Bouvier arrived at the Monaco home of one of his best clients. He expected Dmitry Rybolovlev, the Russian billionaire owner of AS Monaco football club, to pay… – Continue reading

Apple, Google and Microsoft grilled over Australian tax avoidance

Apple, Google and Microsoft have faced an Australian Senate inquiry into corporate tax avoidance on Wednesday. The tech giants have given evidence to a committee regarding the low amounts of tax paid locally in comparison to their profits. From the coy responses of the big three, one may come to… – Continue reading

Starbucks ‘used UK firm’ to cut European tax bill: Coffee chain under investigation after ‘using company to hide millions from Dutch authorities’

• Starbucks ran its European business – including UK – through Holland • But Dutch division paid just £1.9million tax on profits of £300million • Now details of UK company at heart of new probe have started to emerge • A Starbucks spokesman said it complies ‘with all relevant tax… – Continue reading

Rand Paul’s Record Shows He’s a Champion for Tax Cheats and the Wealthy

No member of Congress has been more active in the cause of protecting tax cheaters and tax avoidance by our nation’s wealthiest individuals and corporations than Sen.(now presidential candidate) Rand Paul. While Paul is a standard bearer of anti-tax conservatives through his advocacy of radical policies such as the flat… – Continue reading

More Australian businesses using renminbi

The number of Australian companies using renminbi to settle cross-border business has increased substantially over the past year, according to a new business survey. HSBC surveyed companies transacting with China and found that the proportion of Australian companies using RMB for cross-border business has risen from nine per cent in… – Continue reading

More Australian businesses using renminbi

The number of Australian companies using renminbi to settle cross-border business has increased substantially over the past year, according to a new business survey. HSBC surveyed companies transacting with China and found that the proportion of Australian companies using RMB for cross-border business has risen from nine per cent in… – Continue reading

Miners accused of avoiding tax in boom

Urgent changes are needed to Australian tax laws, say experts, amid claims BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto avoided paying billions of dollars in tax during the mining boom. The Australian Tax Office has the mining giants in its sights over claims they have been saving more than $750 million a… – Continue reading

News Corp CEO Julian Clarke rejects tax avoidance claim

Allegations that News Corp engaged in an aggressive tax avoidance scheme have been strongly rejected by the company. News Corp Australia chief executive Julian Clarke said in a statement: “This claim is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of these transactions, US and Australian tax treaties and applicable… – Continue reading

Cadbury gets a bitter bill

Mondelez India is accused of misusing a tax holiday scheme in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh Company, the local arm of Cadbury’s, claims that it is functioning since 2009. The issue is one of interpretation, and it will be inappropriate on our part to discuss the details externally at… – Continue reading

European Banking Weekly Notes: HSBC, RBS and Barclays

European bank shares showed notable improvements in prices last week, benefiting from hopes of Greece evading a crisis coupled with continued strength in the U.S. dollar. Reports that Germany is looking to adopt a new law that will boost the capital position of the country’s banks helped Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB)… – Continue reading

Rupert Murdoch’s US empire siphons $4.5b from Australian business virtually tax-free

Rupert Murdoch’s media empire in the US has siphoned off $4.5 billion of cash and shares from his Australian media businesses in the past two years, virtually tax free. According to calculations by University of NSW accounting academic, Jeffrey Knapp, over the past 10 years, Mr Murdoch’s companies here have… – Continue reading

Valeant Finally Bags Salix for $11 Billion

After much of a clout about who will acquire Salix Pharmaceuticals (SLXP), Canadian Drug maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Ltd (VRX) completed the purchase for $11 billion last Wednesday. Salix Pharmaceuticals works in gastro instrumental drugs and it will provide Valeant with new therapeutic business. This is Valeant’s biggest buy so… – Continue reading

Kellogg’s says tax clampdown will harm profits

Warning from Corn Flakes maker comes amid international pressure to close tax loopholes Kellogg’s has warned that its profits could be hurt by the international drive against tax avoidance, which is targeting structures that benefit multinationals. The US-based maker of Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies and Coco Pops is worried that… – Continue reading

UFIA Bill could impact Make in India policy: Sonu Iyer

Interview with Partner and National Leader, Human Capital Services, EY India The Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets (Imposition of Tax) Bill, 2015, popularly called the “anti-black money bill” has been in the news for its stringent and sweeping provisions. Sonu Iyer, partner and national leader, human capital services, EY India,… – Continue reading

Joe Hockey’s Google tax could derail international tax treaties: Budget Office

The likely centrepiece of Treasurer Joe Hockey’s assault on multinational profit-shifting – a so-called “Google tax” – risks breaking Australia’s international tax treaties, the Parliamentary Budget Office has found. The independent adviser warned that the unilateral introduction of a “diverted profits tax” like ones being considered by Australia and Britain… – Continue reading

Future Fund refuses to appear before Senate tax avoidance inquiry

Inquiry sparked by leaked Luxembourg files naming the sovereign wealth fund among dozens of Australian companies using elaborate structures to cut tax bills The $100bn Future Fund has refused to give evidence to a Senate inquiry into corporate tax avoidance despite being named in leaked documents last year among scores… – Continue reading

Google, Apple tax crackdown will fail without US support

Jurisdictional issues will limit success. It’s no secret that companies including Apple, Google and Amazon, seem to pay less than their fair share of tax in Australia. Despite booking huge revenues from sales to Australian customers they are able to reduce their profits in this country by shifting profits to… – Continue reading

Shome, Senapaty, Pai and Bala set up tax think-tank

BENGALURU: Parthasarathi Shome, who is chairman of the Tax Administration Reforms Commission (TARC) of the Union finance ministry, together with and former Wipro CFO Suresh Senapaty, has formed a taxation think-tank that will be based in Bengaluru.  Called International Tax Research Foundation (ITRF), the think-tank will study and understand the… – Continue reading

China ‘Through-Train’ Ends Double Taxation For Equity Investors

The Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Exchange Connected is working out its kinks and investors are taking notice. Hong Kong and Beijing signed a tax treaty on Thursday that ends double taxation for equity traders, which was one of the sticking points for local brokers hoping to buy into China’s massive mainland… – Continue reading

Tax Authority to impose VAT on foreign Internet cos

A new circular says multinational corporations like Google and Facebook will pay taxes on online business with Israelis. Foreign Internet companies and another other foreign corporation with significant business in Israel must register with the VAT authorities as authorized dealers, and their transactions are liable to VAT. Under certain conditions,… – Continue reading

Greeks target Ireland with corporation tax move

Ireland has been targeted by a new Greek law that the country’s government says is aimed at combating the nation’s widespread corporate tax avoidance, reports the Irish Independent. However, critics say a new tax regime that explicitly targets companies doing business in Ireland, Cyprus and Bulgaria undermines Europe’s common market… – Continue reading

Swiss Asset Manager Admits He Helped Americans Evade Taxes

(Bloomberg) — A former Swiss asset manager pleaded guilty to helping U.S. clients hide millions of dollars in offshore accounts and avoid paying federal income taxes. Peter Amrein, 53, a Swiss citizen, told U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein in Manhattan Tuesday that from 1998 to 2012 he helped Americans evade… – Continue reading

Russia extends deadline for reporting Controlled Foreign Companies (CFC)

[NEW YORK] A Swiss asset manager pleaded guilty on Tuesday to participating in a scheme to help US citizens hide millions of dollars in Swiss bank accounts and evade paying taxes. Peter Amrein, 53, entered his plea in Manhattan federal court to conspiring to defraud the United States and Internal… – Continue reading

New York Attorney General Announces America’s Cup Indictments

New York, NY (April 1, 2015) – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the indictment of individuals charged with conspiring to abuse the unique 19th century America’s Cup Charitable Trust to shelter profits to the offshore tax havens in Bermuda, Guernsey, and The Isle of Man. Beginning in January… – Continue reading

Big business took $25 billion in tax relief in 2014, Tax Office figures show

Australia’s biggest 900 companies claimed tax deductions and exemptions worth a total $25 billion last year – enough to wipe out two-thirds of the current federal budget deficit at a stroke. As Treasurer Joe Hockey prompted a national “conversation” about tax reform, including the prospect of a higher and broader… – Continue reading

Pols keep giving corporate tax dodgers a free pass

Remember that $2.1 trillion of corporate tax profits parked overseas? Well, it’s still there (and growing every day) and politicians are still trying to find a way to lure or compel companies to bring it home. On Monday, President Obama sent a $478 billion transportation bill to Congress funded largely… – Continue reading

Bitcoin A ‘Threat’ To Australia’s Tax Collection System; ATO To Clamp Down On Tax Avoidance Of Multinationals

A recently released discussion paper has found that Australia finds Bitcoin as becoming a threat to the country’s tax system. The paper said new technology and globalisation are among the main factors pushing multinational practices to engage in tax avoidance. According to the paper, news ways transacting such as Bitcoin… – Continue reading

EU plans ‘revolution’ on sweetheart tax deals

New EU plans to force governments to send quarterly reports on tax rulings are a “revolutionary” step towards overcoming corporate secrecy, the bloc’s tax commissioner has said. The blueprint published two weeks ago by the Commission would establish a system of automatic exchange of information on tax rulings and require… – Continue reading

CORRECTION: AS „TRASTA KOMERCBANKA” audited financial report for the year 2014

Riga, 2015-03-31 08:32 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In the audited financial report of AS “TRASTA KOMERCBANKA” has been made some changes in the design of the document. These changes do not affect the important financial information about the Bank. In 2014, Latvia’s GDP grew by 2.4%, and this growth was… – Continue reading

Cash-flush corporations at center of income-tax debate

U.S. multinationals represent the healthiest segment of the economy, with higher profits and more than $1 trillion of cash on hand. This has kept corporate tax reform alive as a political issue. ON Semiconductor had a solid 2014, boosting net income by 36 percent to $196 million on revenue of… – Continue reading

Euro Unions Slam Big Four Accountancy Firms for Dodging Trillions in Tax

European trade unionists have called for the split-up of the Big Four accountancy firms, PWC, Ernst & Young, Deloitte and KPMG, who they say are using their dominant position to help multi-national companies avoid trillions of Euros in tax. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has called for the break-up… – Continue reading

BSI first bank to face US non-prosecution deal fine

After 2008, BSI has more than 3,000 US accounts on its books The Lugano-based BSI bank has been fined $211 million (CHF203 million) by the United States for aiding and abetting tax cheats. It is the first Swiss-based bank to complete the non-prosecution programme set up in 2013 to clear… – Continue reading

Government says new technology stymies Australian tax system

Summary:A new discussion paper released by the Australian government suggests that the emergence of new financial transaction technology such as bitcoin is making it tough for the country’s authorities to clamp down on tax avoidance. The emergence of new technology is proving to be problematic for Australia’s tax system, according… – Continue reading