Category: Regulatory

HMRC explores tougher methods for publicising tax fraud by the wealthy

Public Accounts committee criticised HMRC’s lack of strategy HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is exploring how it can better publicise fraud investigation outcomes and increase the impact of the sanctions it uses, in order to dispel the myth “people are getting away with tax evasion”. The department said it wants… – Continue reading

Tax avoidance: how it works and how to stop it

The Panama Papers have put the spotlight on tax avoidance once again. This is, of course, not a new issue. Before that, we had Swiss Leaks and BVI Leaks. You may be asking: how does tax avoidance work and why have policymakers struggled to rein it in? Firstly, it is… – Continue reading

South Africa Urges African Transfer Pricing Advances

During a recent speech in Pretoria to the High Level Conference on Illicit Financial Flows, South African Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan noted that tax code improvements are required in African countries so that multinational enterprises (MNEs) “pay their fair share of taxes in the countries where they generate their… – Continue reading

Macau and China add protocol to the agreement to avoid double taxation

The Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) and China’s State Administration of Taxation in Beijing signed an additional protocol to the agreement to avoid double taxation and prevent tax evasion, officials said in Macau. The Additional Protocol, the third, according to the statement released by the Office of the Secretary for… – Continue reading

Nordea blocks 68 accounts in Panama Papers investigation

Nordea has blocked 68 accounts for further analysis after finding suspicious signs in an internal investigation of the bank’s handling of the Panama Papers leaks. The bank announced some of the findings of the probe into whether it adhered to internal rules and external regulations regarding offshore structures at the… – Continue reading

IRS Proposes New QI Agreement for Foreign Banks to Comply with FATCA

The Internal Revenue Service has released new guidance on how foreign financial institutions can enter into a Qualified Intermediary agreement with the U.S. under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA. Notice 2016-42, released earlier this month, outlines the proposed QI agreement, which revises and updates the current agreement… – Continue reading

Panama agrees to sign tax treaty

Panama has agreed to sign a multilateral tax treaty, which the Indian agencies believe will help them expedite investigations into the “Panama papers” recently made public by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Monday announced that Panama formally communicated to the… – Continue reading

Panama To Join Automatic Tax Info Exchange Deal

Panama announced on July 15, 2016, that it intends to sign the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. Pascal Saint-Amans, Director of the OECD’s Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, said: “We very much welcome Panama’s request to join the Convention. Signing and ratifying the Convention will… – Continue reading

IMF call for ‘comprehensive reform’ of US tax system

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) review has called for a comprehensive reform of the US tax system, with the aim of removing exemptions, simplifying the system, rebalancing from direct to indirect taxes, and reducing statutory rates for individual and corporate income taxes According to its annual Article IV consultation report… – Continue reading

Guernsey makes more commitments to crack down on financial crime

Guernsey States has taken steps to crack down on financial crime like tax evasion and money laundering, by formally committing to international agreements. The G5 initiative means countries will share information on beneficial ownership. Beneficial ownership refers to when one person benefits from assets even though the legal title belongs… – Continue reading

U.S. Corporate Tax Directors Have a Hard Time Adjusting to BEPS

Tax executives at U.S.-based multinational companies are having a hard time adjusting to the new rules demanded by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Base Erosion and Profit Shifting plan, also known as OECD BEPS, according to a new survey. While OECD BEPS is not a requirement in the… – Continue reading

CBDT signs 7 advance pricing agreements to cut tax litigation

The latest APAs signed with taxpayers pertain to various sectors like banking, information technology and automotives In a move designed to reduce tax litigation, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on Monday signed seven more unilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) with Indian taxpayers. “With today’s signing, the total number… – Continue reading

Germany Adopts Law On CbC Reporting And Tax Rulings

The German Federal Cabinet has adopted a bill to implement key aspects of the OECD’s base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) recommendations and the European Union’s administrative cooperation directive. The Act Concerning the Implementation of Changes to the EU Administrative Cooperation Directive and of Additional Measures against Base Erosion and… – Continue reading

Pravin Gordhan’s 10-point solution to tax evasion

Tax and prosecution bodies must build the capacity to curb illicit activities that rob countries of tax revenues, said Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan on Thursday, speaking at the High Level Conference on Illicit Financial Flows at the University of Pretoria. Illicit money leaving Africa reduces the amount of resources available… – Continue reading

UAE signs tax info deal with ADGM

The UAE Ministry of Finance has signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) on the automatic exchange of information for tax purposes in its premises. This step follows the ministry’s commitment to exchange tax information according to international requirements and sign agreements on the avoidance of double taxation…. – Continue reading

Minister Of Finance Visits Kyoto, Japan – OECD BEPS Process And Tax Agreement United Arab Emirates

As part of the aim to sustainably meet the highest international standards in the tax field, the Minister of Finance Dr. Jose Jardim has joined the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting agenda of the OECD. In this context, the section with regard to the Common Reporting Standards concerning the automatic… – Continue reading

Monaco signs up to EU’s tax transparency scheme

The EU has signed a fiscal transparency agreement with Monaco in an attempt to stop Europeans hiding undeclared income in the Mediterranean principality. EurActiv Spain reports. Famous for its glamorous casinos and annual Formula One race, Monaco is also known for not levying income tax and for being somewhat of… – Continue reading

How to get ready for BEPS tax reporting rule changes

Multinational companies are making strides in preparing for radically changed cross-border tax and transfer-pricing reporting rules as compliance deadlines near, research by Thomson Reuters suggests, but uneasiness remains amongst tax executives about their readiness. The new rules will require multinational enterprises with annual revenues of €750 million ($830 million) or… – Continue reading

Corporate tax avoidance: New rules adopted

On 12 July 2016, the Council adopted new rules addressing some of the practices most commonly used by large companies to reduce their tax liability. The directive is part of a January 2016 package of Commission proposals to strengthen rules against corporate tax avoidance. The package builds on 2015 OECD… – Continue reading

OECD releases IT-format for exchange on tax rulings under BEPS Action 5

The OECD has released its standardised IT-format for the exchange on tax rulings (ETR) between jurisdictions to meet the new tax framework following adoption of BEPS Action 5 on countering harmful tax practices more effectively The ETR XML Schema is part of the OECD’s work to ensure the swift and… – Continue reading

‘Tax avoidance’ masters revealed: EXCLUSIVE

The “Big Four” global accounting firms – PwC, Deloitte, KPMG and Ernst & Young – are the masterminds of multinational tax avoidance and the architects of tax schemes which cost governments and their taxpayers an estimated $US1 trillion a year, according to an Australian taxation expert. The controversial new claims… – Continue reading

Ukraine, Austria Increase DTA Withholding Tax Rates

Ukraine and Austria have agreed to sign a protocol to their double taxation agreement to increase withholding tax rates on dividends, interest, and royalty income. The protocol increases the withholding tax rate for dividends and interest to 15 percent and five percent, respectively. Additionally, the royalty rate for patents, trademarks,… – Continue reading

Ireland Details Framework On Exchange Of Tax Rulings

The Irish Revenue has released guidance on how it will exchange information on the tax rulings it grants. Revenue eBrief No.65/16, which was released on July 5, 2016, sets out Revenue’s arrangements for implementing Council Directive (EU) 2015/2376; and the OECD’s framework for the compulsory spontaneous exchange of information in… – Continue reading

US Consumption Taxes Low In Global Comparison

A recent paper from the Tax Foundation (TF) pointed out that, while most Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries lean more on tax revenue from consumption taxes, the United States relies more on individual income tax, while raising relatively little from consumption taxes. The TF noted that “this… – Continue reading

APAs in fashion as Swedish retailer H&M inks four-year Australian tax deal

Fast-fashion retailer H&M is one of a growing number of multinationals locking in their Australian tax, as debate continues about whether Australia has stopped corporate tax leakage. H&M’s strongly performing Australian subsidiary has entered into a four-year Advanced Pricing Agreement (APA) with the tax office that expires on November 30,… – Continue reading

EU anti-tax avoidance directive: Measures to be introduced aimed at curbing abuse

The European Union’s Anti-Avoidance Directive, which has to be put into national legislation by 2019,is aimed at plugging loop-holes in tax systems which allow large corporations to legally avoid paying tax. While Malta has been criticised for offering competitive tax rates, despite the openness and uniformity of such competitive rates,… – Continue reading

Feds Sue Facebook Over Ireland Asset Sale That Cut IRS Tax Bill

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said Facebook Inc. may have understated the value of intellectual property it transferred to Ireland by “billions of dollars,” unfairly cutting its tax bill in the process, according to court papers. The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in federal court in… – Continue reading

Ghana losing tax revenue to extractive sector over lack of data

The absence of adequate data on the operations of businesses in the extractive sector continues to impede the GRA’s ability to fully implement Ghana’s transfer pricing policy. According to the Deputy Commissioner in charge of Policy Programs at the GRA, Edward Gyamerah, the issue makes it difficult to fully assess… – Continue reading

European Parliament votes against tax evasion

European Parliament on July 6 passed draft recommendations for making corporate taxation fairer and clearer. They were approved by 514 votes to 68, with 125 abstentions. With the recommendations, which were prepared by co-rapporteurs Michael Theurer (ALDE, DE) and Jeppe Kofod (S&D, DK) on behalf of Parliament’s Special Committee on… – Continue reading

India Revamps Its Treaty Provisions With Mauritius

The Government seeks to curb revenue loss, prevent double non-taxation, streamline the flow of investment, and stimulate the flow of exchange of information between India and Mauritius The India – Mauritius double taxation treaty was under negotiation for the last 4 years. The Treaty has now been amended by way… – Continue reading

After Brexit, EU proposes tougher tax rules on trusts

The European Commission will propose on Tuesday stricter rules on trusts to prevent tax evasion, according to draft legislation seen by Reuters, in a move that Britain has long opposed and which was deferred until after the Brexit referendum. The EU push to identify owners of trusts has been in… – Continue reading

Multinational Companies Have Increased Their Work on BEPS Compliance, Thomson Reuters Survey Finds

Two-thirds of corporate tax executives surveyed say their companies are proactively preparing for the onslaught of new tax regulations resulting from the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action Plan. That`s a 22% increase in the past year. In Thomson Reuters 2015 BEPS Readiness Survey, 54% of respondents said they… – Continue reading

UBS ordered to provide France with tax information

UBS (UBSG.S) has been ordered by Switzerland’s tax agency to provide France with tax information, the Swiss bank said on Tuesday, adding that it expected other countries to file similar requests. Since the financial crisis, cash-strapped governments around the world have clamped down on tax evasion, with authorities probing Swiss… – Continue reading

EU Seeks to Fill Tax-Avoidance Gaps in Wake of Panama Leaks

The European Union, faced with mounting anti-establishment furor from populist parties across the region, is speeding up efforts to thwart tax dodging after the Panama Papers leaks and wants its blacklist of tax havens ready next year. “The recent leaks exposed loopholes that still allow tax evaders to hide funds… – Continue reading

Dominican Rep, Nauru Sign OECD Tax Convention

The Dominican Republic and Nauru signed the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters on June 28, 2016. The two countries are the 97th and 98th jurisdictions to sign the Convention. Nauru, a tiny island nation in Micronesia, has already deposited its instrument of ratification to bring the… – Continue reading

Tax haven route won’t work for post-Brexit UK, OECD says

The United Kingdom is unlikely to try to lure international investment by becoming a tax haven after it leaves the European Union, according to an internal memo prepared by the body responsible for the drafting international tax rules. The head of tax at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development,… – Continue reading

Brexit – The UK and International Tax Consequences

The political, economic and constitutional fallout of the UK’s referendum decision to leave the European Union (Brexit) will continue for some time. In addition to considering some of the possible domestic UK tax implications of Brexit, this OnPoint also considers some of the potential tax implications from the perspective of… – Continue reading

Five More Countries Agree To Exchange CbC Reports

A further five countries have signed the OECD’s Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement for the automatic exchange of country-by-country (CbC) reports, bringing the total number of signatories to 44. The Agreement allows all signatories to bilaterally and automatically exchange CbC reports with each other, as contemplated by base erosion and profit… – Continue reading