Category: Regulatory

Australia Provides Update On International Tax Enforcement

In comments to the TPMinds International Conference in late March, Deputy Commissioner Mark Konza outlined the Australia Taxation Office’s priorities in the area of international tax enforcement, with an especial focus to be placed on the energy and resources sector and pharmaceutical industry. His comments, published by the ATO on… – Continue reading

Indonesia Goes Hi-Tech in Hunt for Tax Assets After Amnesty

Jakarta. Indonesia’s tax office plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to update its outdated technology to boost low tax compliance and raise revenue collection in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, the country’s tax chief told Reuters. Indonesia completed one of the world’s most successful tax amnesties in 2017, but… – Continue reading

Luxembourg Vulnerable To International Tax Developments, Says IMF

International tax developments could have a negative impact on Luxembourg’s tax revenues and economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said in its latest Luxembourg country report. The report, published on April 3, warns Luxembourg that a number of external tax events are likely to have “important implications” for Luxembourg,… – Continue reading

Cambodia, Vietnam ink double taxation agreement

Cambodia has signed a double taxation agreement with Vietnam that protects each country’s nationals from dual taxation, according to a news release from the General Department of Taxation released on Tuesday. The agreement was signed on Saturday on the sidelines of the Greater Mekong Subregion Summit held in Hanoi. Chou… – Continue reading

UK property tax changes affect GCC nationals

  PROPERTY in the UK, particularly London, has always been popular with GCC investors for many years. It has remained a safe haven and an attractive destination for investors and their families from the GCC region perhaps more than any other major city. Depending on the level of investment, well… – Continue reading

IRS To Close Door On OVDP For Offshore Tax Dodgers

US taxpayers who have failed to declare their offshore money will lose the chance to confess to the Internal Revenue Service later this year. The IRS has announced that the Overseas Voluntary Disclosure Program will close on September 28. In the 10 years the OVDP has run, 56,000 taxpayers have… – Continue reading

Qc Backs Income Taxes To Ease ‘Rich/Poor Divide’

AN outspoken QC is backing the introduction of corporate and personal income taxes as a way to reduce “the gulf between rich and poor” in the Bahamas. Fred Smith QC, the Callenders & Co attorney and partner, has added his voice to those urging the Government to use the European… – Continue reading

Court classifies medical firm tax planning as evasion

Tax authorities reviewed a case in which a doctor worked at a limited partnership firm and was paid via a limited liability company. The court described the arrangements as tax evasion. Many professionals would prefer to pay taxes on capital income because the tax burden is lighter than on earned… – Continue reading

VAT compliance driving digital capabilities in the GCC

Muscat: Tax authorities in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are starting to use sophisticated digital platforms that require taxpayers to submit data in real time or near-real time prompting companies in the GCC to enhance their digital capabilities. This is changing the way businesses collect, format and report tax information,… – Continue reading

Kazakhstan May Ban Cryptocurrencies Citing Money-Laundering Concerns

Kazakhstan’s National Bank is considering banning cryptocurrency use, exchanges, and mining, saying virtual currencies are an ideal vehicle for fraud, money-laundering, and tax evasion. “In Kazakhstan, the National Bank is taking a very conservative approach toward the matter, and it welcomes nothing but extremely tough restrictions,” Daniyar Akishev, the chairman… – Continue reading

New Report Expected to Reveal Naturalized U.S. Citizens in Africa Who Failed to Disclose Their Income or File Taxes

NEW YORK —Globe Afrique Media and Communication has initiated a research on naturalized US citizens living and working abroad, especially in African countries who have either refused to file US federal and state taxes or are under-reporting their income and assets. In a recent assessment conducted by Globe Afrique, hundreds… – Continue reading

Thai Finance Ministry Releases Final Version Of Cryptocurrency Tax Framework

Thailand’s awaited tax framework for cryptocurrencies has been announced this week by the Thai Finance Minister, local news outlet Nikkei Asian Review reported Friday, March 30. Apisak Tantivorawong reported during a March 27 cabinet meeting that crypto trades will be taxed with a 7 percent value added tax (VAT), and… – Continue reading

TAX TALK: LUX-FRANCE TREATY CREATES UNCERTAINTY

On the occasion of the signing of the new double taxation treaty (DTT) between Luxembourg and France on 20 March 2018, the grand duchy’s finance minister, Pierre Gramegna, commented in a government press release that the new DTT is, “…an innovative instrument that will benefit both citizens and business in… – Continue reading

Kazakhstan ratifies double taxation protocol with Belarus

ASTANA, 29 March (BelTA-Kazinform) – The Senate (upper house) of the Parliament of Kazakhstan passed the law on the ratification of the protocol between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on amendments and additions to the agreement on the avoidance of… – Continue reading

Decade in jail for Australia’s biggest tax fraud

A former Gold Coast property developer has been jailed for more than a decade in the largest prosecuted tax fraud case in Australia’s history. Glitter Strip businessman Michael Issakidis was sentenced to 10 years and three months in prison by the Supreme Court of New South Wales for his involvement… – Continue reading

India Adds BEPS Provisions To Qatar Tax Treaty

India has approved amendments to its double tax agreement with Qatar. The amendments update the information exchange provisions between the two countries in line with current international standards. A new Limitation on Benefits (LOB) provision has been introduced, which is designed to prevent “treaty shopping” (whereby companies or transactions are… – Continue reading

Argentina Extends CbC BEPS Reporting Deadline

Argentina’s Federal Administration of Public Income has extended the filing deadline for country-by-country (CbC) notifications. Taxpayers who are part of multinational enterprises now have until May 2, 2018, to file CbC notifications where the ultimate parent company of the multinational group has a December 2017 fiscal year end. The CbC… – Continue reading

TAX TALK: BEPS & ATAD RESHAPING INT’L TAX LANDSCAPE

Speakers corner: Delano asked Raymond Krawczykowski, partner and tax leader at Deloitte Luxembourg, “In your view, what have been the key changes in EU & Luxembourg tax rules in 2017, and what major shifts could be in store for 2018-19?” His response was clear: Beps and Atad. The Base Erosion… – Continue reading

Multinational tax avoidance plan extended

The federal government wants to block multinational companies using trusts and partnerships to escape paying tax in Australia. Assistant to the Treasurer Michael Sukkar introduced legislation to parliament on Wednesday that would bring artificial or contrived arrangements involving trusts and partnerships under the multinational tax avoidance laws introduced in 2016…. – Continue reading

India Defers Surrogate Entity CbC Reporting Deadline

The Indian Central Board of Direct Taxes has issued a statement to defer the filing obligation on surrogate parent entities with regards to country-by-country reporting. Section 286 was inserted into the Income Tax Act 1981 through the 2016 Finance Act to introduce a requirement to furnish a country-by-country report. The… – Continue reading

Australian Tax Office Seeks Input On Cryptocurrency Tax Obligations

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has launched a community consultation to seek feedback on practical compliance issues arising from complying with taxation obligations in relation to cryptocurrency transactions. On March 13, the ATO updated its web guidance tax treatment of cryptocurrencies to address some of the common enquiries in relation… – Continue reading

UK Parliament Opens Three Probes Into £12.6 Bln of Under-Collected VAT

British lawmakers are shifting their focus towards the offshores and tax havens detailed in the Panama and Paradise papers, in order to improve tax collection, curb multinationals’ tax avoidance practices, and track the money flows of ill-gotten gains. Kristian Rouz — Members of Parliament (MPs) are set to investigate the… – Continue reading

Foreign groups in India have to provide country-by-country report, clarifies govt

All international groups operating in the country will have to provide a country-by-country (CbC) report as per the revised Income tax Act, the government clarified in a finance ministry release issued today. The CbC report is to be furnished by the ultimate parent entity of an international group in the… – Continue reading

Financial institutions must file accounts reports

HEADS of financial institutions face a fine of up to $10,000 or two years in prison if they fail to make the necessary accounts reports. The reminder came in a statement from the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Investment this week. It stressed that the deadline is approaching for filing… – Continue reading

Ibcs Face ‘Much Damage’ Through Blacklisting Bill

THE Bahamas’ ‘blacklisting’ response threatens to “cause a lot of damage” to its IBC business and create “much less certainty” for the financial services industry, a top attorney is warning. Michael Paton, a former Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) chairman, told Tribune Business that the proposed Multinational Entities Reporting Bill… – Continue reading

Buhari signs double taxation agreement with Singapore

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday signed two agreements with two countries following the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The agreements, according to a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, include the instrument for ratification of agreement between Nigeria and… – Continue reading

IRS Reminds Taxpayers to Report Virtual Currency Earnings

The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently published a document reminding taxpayers that income derived from virtual currency transactions must be reported on income tax returns. The IRS states that taxpayers who fail to report virtual currency earning may be audited or made liable for “penalties and interest.” IRS… – Continue reading

Professional Fee paid by Deloitte India to Its US and Singapore Entities Not Taxable in India, No TDS: ITAT [Read Order]

Granting tax relief to Deloitte India, the Mumbai bench of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) held that the provisions relating to Tax deduction at Source (TDS) are not applicable to the professional fee paid by them to its Group Entities in US and Singapore. The division bench of the… – Continue reading

BEPS Multilateral Instrument To Enter Into Force

The OECD has announced that its multilateral convention to implement tax treaty-related measures to counter base erosion and profit shifting will enter into force on July 1, 2018. The Convention, negotiated by more than 100 countries and jurisdictions under a mandate from G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, will… – Continue reading

Cyprus and UK sign updated Convention on the Elimination of Double Taxation

The Republic of Cyprus and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, signed on March 22, in Nicosia, an updated Convention on the Elimination of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital Earnings and the Prevention of Tax Evasion of tax… – Continue reading

Ukraine and Qatar sign agreement on avoiding double taxation

Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin and Finance Minister of Qatar Ali Shareef Al-Emadi have signed an agreement on avoiding double taxation and preventing income tax evasion between the government of Ukraine and Qatar. According to a Thursday posting on the website of the Finance Ministry of Ukraine, avoiding double… – Continue reading

Corporate Taxation On The Way For Bahamas

The Government’s planned legal reforms pave the way for the introduction of “corporate taxation” on a wide range of Bahamian financial services products, it was revealed yesterday. Carl Bethel QC, the Attorney General, confirmed to Tribune Business that legislation intended to address the European Union’s (EU) ‘blacklisting’ concerns was designed… – Continue reading

EU Announces Sanctions For ‘Blacklisted’ Countries

The European Commission is to take steps to ensure that EU external development and investment funds cannot be channelled or transited through entities in countries included on the EU’s “blacklist” of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions. The Commission has published guidelines which set out the applicable legislation on how EU funds should… – Continue reading

Cyprus, UK sign updated double taxation treaty

Cyprus and the UK on Thursday signed an updated agreement on double taxation avoidance on income and capital, which will contribute to further develop commercial and financial relations between the two countries. The agreement, signed in Nicosia by Finance Minister Harris Georgiades and British High Commissioner Matthew Kidd, is based… – Continue reading

Brussels raises new 3% tax on technology sales

The assessment to companies like Google, Facebook or Apple would raise 5 billion a year Google, Facebook and Apple have specialized in locating in a fictitious way their operations in microaffiliates located in territories or countries where corporate tax is low or even practically nil. And they have thus turned… – Continue reading

Govt. revises Agreement between India and Qatar for avoidance of double taxation

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today gave its approval for revision of the Agreement between India and Qatar for the avoidance of double taxation and for the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. The existing Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with Qatar… – Continue reading

UK’s Proposed Digital Tax ‘Would Cauterize Investment’

The introduction of a unilateral revenue tax on digital businesses in the UK would stymie investment and be a strangely timed gamble, says accountancy firm Moore Stephens. The Government’s position paper, “Corporate tax and the digital economy,” released at the recent Spring Statement, includes a proposal to tax certain tech… – Continue reading

Malta Backs EU Crackdown On Aggressive Tax Planning

Malta has reiterated its commitment to fighting aggressive tax planning, joining other EU member states who have unanimously agreed to amend the EU’s tax information sharing law, the Directive on Administrative Cooperation. The amendments to the Directive, which were agreed last week by EU finance ministers, will require intermediaries, such… – Continue reading

Pakatan’s SST Will Not Relieve People’s Burden, Senseless For The Future

Pakatan Harapan had unveiled an election manifesto earlier this month stating that they will restore the Sales and Service Tax (SST) after abolishing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) within the first 100 days of its administration. While the Prime Minister had pointed out earlier that Malaysia will only be… – Continue reading

Ambassador To Eu Proposal In Wake Of Blacklisting

IN THE aftermath of The Bahamas’ blacklisting by the European Union for being a tax haven, Financial Services Minister Brent Symonette says it might be time for The Bahamas to consider appointing an ambassador to the EU to increase dialogue on matters concerning this country. The St Anne’s MP said… – Continue reading

Hong Kong and India enter into tax pact

Hong Kong (HKSAR) – The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, on behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, signed in Hong Kong today (March 19) a comprehensive agreement for the avoidance of double taxation (CDTA) with the Ambassador of India to China, Mr Gautam Bambawale, signifying… – Continue reading

Singapore’s central bank imposes penalties on Standard Chartered Bank, Trust

SINGAPORE, March 19 (Xinhua) — The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced on Monday it has imposed penalties of 5.2 million Singapore dollars (about 3.95 million U.S. dollars) on the Singapore branch of Standard Chartered Bank (SCBS), and 1.2 million Singapore dollars (about 0.91 million U.S. dollars) on Standard Chartered… – Continue reading

Peru: President Admits Using Offshore Firm to Avoid Taxes

Peru’s under fire President, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, admitted using an offshore company to avoid paying US taxes ahead of an impeachment vote on Thursday. The septuagenarian leader’s disclosure came during a marathon seven hour testimony to a congressional investigative committee on Friday as he attempted to disentangle himself from an… – Continue reading