Category: Individuals

CRS reveals Australians holding $100bn in offshore accounts: reports

Australians are holding more than $100bn in undisclosed offshore accounts, according to new taxation office data collected under the Common Reporting Standard (CRS), British newspaper the Guardian has reported. ... - Continue reading

High Court confirms ATO can use information from data leaks

Today the High Court confirmed that the ATO may use information obtained from data leaks, even if leaked from a law firm. Second Commissioner Jeremy Hirschhorn said today’s decision in Glencore International v. Commissioner of Taxation means the ATO can continue to use the ‘Paradise Papers’ and other similar data… – Continue reading

FBR collects Rs1bln in revenue from foreign fund transfers

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected one billion rupees in withholding tax revenue on funds transferred abroad through credit and debit cards in a year, official statistics showed. The government opened the avenue for revenue collection a year ago considering the growing trend of payment through plastic cards…. – Continue reading

China issues overall plan for new area of Shanghai FTZ

BEIJING, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) — China’s State Council, or the cabinet, has issued an overall plan for the new Lingang area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone. The new area will be set up to the south of Dazhi River, east of Jinhui Port, and south of Xiaoyangshan… – Continue reading

Mauritius leaks latest reminder of how much we lose to tax havens

Mauritius leaks latest reminder of how much we lose to tax havensA report by Canadians for Tax Fairness Bay Street and Tax Havens revealed how over 90% of Canada’s largest corporations have subsidiaries in tax havens. Ottawa (06 Aug. 2019) — Last month Canadians for Tax Fairness reported that, while… – Continue reading

Tanzanian freelance journalist in court over money laundering, tax evasion

DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) — Tanzanian freelance journalist Eric Kabendera on Monday appeared in court charged with money laundering, tax evasion and leading organized crime. The state prosecution told the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam that on diverse dates between January 2015… – Continue reading

Hong Kong: A Guide To Tax Regulations In Hong Kong 2019 – 2020

While considering moving a business into a new market, one of the key consideration is that country's tax regime. What are the incentives that would attract foreign investment? Are there any double tax treaties in place? What is the rate for corporate tax? ... - Continue reading

Cyprus: Country Update-Cyprus: AML

The financial services and international business sector in Cyprus is one of the vital pillars of the Cyprus economy. That said, Cyprus aims to be in full compliance with the AML European framework, and in this respect constantly implements changes in its local laws to align with EU Directives and Regulations. ... - Continue reading

United States: Anti-Money Laundering And Sanctions: Trends And Developments Emerging Under The Trump Administration

Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering (BSA/AML) and sanctions matters continue to be a core focus of regulators, law enforcement agencies, policymakers and Congress, and the story of the Obama and Trump Administrations on AML and sanctions is one of general continuity. ... - Continue reading

Vietnam’s Tax Administration Law Reform to Take Effect in July 2020

In June, Vietnam’s National Assembly approved a new Law on Tax Administration 38/2019/QH14. Under the new law, tax authorities have been granted additional enforcement powers. At the same time, the new law has made it a little bit easier for both individuals and entities to file taxes. ... - Continue reading

Nigeria: Reviewing The Implications Of The Revised Transfer Pricing Regulations On Intangibles For Businesses

Intangibles are key sources of differentiation for businesses and typically, they help drive revenue, manage cost or both. As a result, many businesses make significant investments in developing, enhancing, maintaining and protecting unique and valuable intangibles to help drive their businesses. ... - Continue reading

Setting Up a Hong Kong Holding Company for Your Chinese Business

Many companies looking at the Chinese market choose to establish a holding company or special purpose vehicle (SPV) to hold their Chinese investments. This typically provides flexibility and an added layer of protection to their corporate structure. Foreign investors have commonly chosen Hong Kong to set up a holding company… – Continue reading

Singapore Bankers ‘Flooded’ With Inquiries from Hong Kong – Reports

Following Hong Kong’s extradition bill protests, wealth managers and private banks have seen increased queries from clients looking to set up channels to move assets to Singapore. MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) officials have reportedly been asking wealth managers not to aggressively target Hong Kong clients in their market campaigns,… – Continue reading

Pagcor: Government not inclined to impose higher taxes on POGOs

State-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. expressed optimism the government will not impose higher taxes on offshore gaming operators in the country to encourage them to stay here. Pagcor chairman and chief executive Andrea Domingo said at the sidelines of the opening of the first Philippine-Asian Gaming Expo held on… – Continue reading

Portugal: Central bank to disclose public report on large debtors

The Bank of Portugal (BdP) is to publicly disclose aggregated information about large bank debtors by 17 July, announced the chair of the Budget and Finance Committee. On 23 May, the central bank sent parliament an extraordinary report on the problematic loans and other assets that caused banking problems and… – Continue reading

Bank of Singapore’s Hong Kong CEO on Developing a Greater China Proposition

As Bank of Singapore’s Global Market Head for Greater China and North Asia, and since March 2018 also Hong Kong CEO, Derrick Tan has plenty of challenges in front of him. But he can draw on from his multi-faceted background – he spent five years as an investigating officer with… – Continue reading

BIR files tax evasion charges against 15 Metro Manila business taxpayers

The Bureau of Internal Revenue filed Thursday separate criminal cases against 15 business taxpayers in Metro Manila for alleged refusal to pay tax debts totaling to more than P493 million. This brought to 482 the number of tax evasion charges lodged by the bureau under its Run-After-Tax-Evaders (RATE) program under… – Continue reading

HMRC defeated as Jersey companies deemed not UK-resident

The UK’s Upper Tribunal has decided that three special purpose vehicles (SPVs) incorporated in Jersey as part of a tax planning arrangement were not tax resident in the UK for tax purposes, overturning a 2017 decision from the First-tier Tax Tribunal. Development Securities, a property and investment group based in… – Continue reading