General On 30 November 2016, Kazakhstan adopted certain amendments to its Tax Code (the Tax Amendments). Most of the Tax Amendments take effect on 1 January 2017. Below we summarize some of the most important Tax Amendments: VAT Registration Threshold Under the Tax Amendments, the existing VAT registration threshold (i.e.,… – Continue reading
Four UK territories in list ‘undermine Britain’s efforts to be responsible member of the international community’ Bermuda is the world’s worst corporate tax haven, according to a list by Oxfam, which includes three other UK territories among those it names and shames. The charity’s list of the “world’s worst” 15… – Continue reading
Giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are among five La Liga clubs from whom the Spanish taxman is looking to recover €52 million (RM244 million), online newspaper El Confidencial claimed yesterday. Alongside Atletico Madrid, Sevilla and Valencia, the big two are accused of having avoided tax by paying player’s agents directly…. – Continue reading
Opposition vows to shut down scheme that uses ‘contrived’ financial arrangements to slash national insurance bills Labour and trade unions have called on the government to take action after a Guardian investigation found that an aggressive tax avoidance scheme used by temporary recruitment agencies is depriving the taxpayer of “hundreds… – Continue reading
Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance released a draft circular on October 11th which, if passed, is set to become the largest change to transfer pricing (TP) regulation since the implementation of Circular 66/2010/TT-BTC in 2010 – which the draft updates. Touching on conditionality of TP exemption and thresholds for defining related… – Continue reading
Institute for Economic Affairs says changes would make those at top 13% better off, but incomes of those at bottom would rise 26% National insurance, business rates, stamp duty, the TV licence fee and excise duties on alcohol and tobacco should be among 20 taxes abolished by the government, a… – Continue reading
The amended bilateral tax treaty between India and Japan, which provides for strengthened exchange of information to help reduce tax evasion, has come into force from October 29. The agreement to amend the 27-year old Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) was signed when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited India… – Continue reading
The finance department over the weekend said it has received the backing of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on its planned comprehensive tax reform package, as well as proposals to relax the country’s bank secrecy law. The Department of Finance (DOF) said the IMF has given its nod to the… – Continue reading
The Saudi Council of Ministers has authorized minister of finance or his deputy to discuss two draft uniform agreements on value added tax (VAT) and selective tax for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. The agreements shall be discussed within the framework of the GCC financial and economic committee, and sign… – Continue reading
Auditing and tax advisory firm KPMG is calling for establishment of the T&T Revenue Authority (TTRA) so there can be a structured way of collecting taxes. “The current main tax authority does not appear to have structured means, if any, of treating with businesses that conceal transaction to avoid tax… – Continue reading
Ghana loses nearly $2.1 billion dollars to tax evasion and incentives annually, reveals a study carried out by the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), a civil society organisation. According to the study, which was conducted on behalf of the National Coordinating Council of the Public Services International (PSI), there was… – Continue reading
THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT will keep value-added tax (VAT) exemptions for three key sectors, but may opt to remove this benefit from senior citizens and others to arrive at a “fair” tax regime. Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III told reporters late last week that the government is looking to trim… – Continue reading
“Maybe lower the income tax from 25 percent to 20 percent first, then 17 percent.” The government will once again provide the public with tax break following its tax amnesty program. It is currently reviewing a plan to lower income tax rates and the possibility of establishing a tax haven,… – Continue reading
A revenue-neutral modification of Finland’s tax structure could boost the nation’s economic growth, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said in a recently released report. Finland has already adopted some measures to make the tax structure more growth friendly in recent years, the report, Boosting Productivity in Finland, said…. – Continue reading
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
Polish President Andrzej Duda has signed into law a so-called fuel legislative package, a set of measures designed to clamp down on tax evasion. Under the legislation, which includes amendments to several laws, each importer of fuel, gas or oil from another EU member state will have to pay VAT… – Continue reading
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
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
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
Tax authorities in Spain have raided Google’s offices in Madrid as part of an investigation into tax evasion and fraud, TechCrunch understands. Local press and the Reuters news agency are also reporting the raids. The raid on Google’s Madrid headquarters and its Google Campus workspace are related to VAT payments… – Continue reading
Poland has approved a general anti-avoidance rule (GAAR) which may be used retroactively with regard to undertakings or arrangements made before its introduction. The Act introducing a clause against tax avoidance [a general anti-avoidance rule – GAAR] comes into force within 30 days after its publication, likely in July 2016…. – Continue reading
The European Council has adopted a directive on the reporting by multinational companies of tax-related information and exchange of that information between member states, which transposes the OECD’s recommendation on country-by-country reporting (CBCR) into EU law Companies with a total consolidated group revenue of at least €750m (£570m) will be… – Continue reading
Sweden will appoint an inquiry to study whether tax advisers should be required to inform the Swedish Tax Agency about tax planning schemes as part of an action plan to combat tax avoidance, which also urges companies to maintain their own tax policies at board level. According to the Government,… – Continue reading
Minutes after midnight on Saturday, Chen Sheng, a businessman from the southern city of Wenzhou, got a value-added tax (VAT) invoice after paying his bill at a hotel in Beijing. To his surprise, the invoice was the very first issued in China after the country replaced all business tax with… – Continue reading
The UK Government has launched a consultation on plans to make the disclosure of value-added tax avoidance schemes (VADR) system more closely resemble the Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Schemes (DOTAS) regime. According to the consultation, “VADR should be more closely aligned with DOTAS to provide early information on new avoidance… – Continue reading
An award for informers who help check tax evasion and inclusion of exhibition organisers in the VAT net are some of the strategies devised by the Delhi government to boost its revenue in the current financial year, officials said. The informer award would go to people who help the government… – Continue reading
The European Commission has set out a proposed action plan to modernise the EU VAT system in a move which should give more freedom to the member states The action plan will include new rules such as the implementation of key principles for a future single European VAT system, short… – Continue reading
Premier Li Keqiang’s message to the country’s tax and financial authorities is crystal clear: The ongoing landmark tax reform must reduce burdens on all industries. One month before the May 1 deadline of a sweeping reform that seeks to replace China’s decadeslong business tax with a value-added tax, Li visited… – Continue reading
The Delhi government’s Trade and Taxes Department has initiated investigation into alleged tax evasion by the city’s top 10 traders. The move comes as the government is reportedly not satisfied with the role of the police in punishing Value Added Taxes (VAT) defaulters. “The department will file a charge-sheet against… – Continue reading
Summary The pace of change in international tax is dramatic. Each month brings new initiatives and developments at both national and supra-national levels. In this update, we focus on recent changes which are relevant to our clients. The OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (“BEPS”) reports were finalised in October… – Continue reading
The Isle of Man Government has struck a new VAT deal with the UK. Treasury Minister Eddie Teare MHK has this morning informed Tynwald that a new agreement has been reached involving a revision of the formula that governs the sharing of joint indirect tax revenues under the 1979 Customs… – Continue reading
For now… corporations, as responsible global citizens, should endeavour to pay their fair share of taxes to avoid threats to their own long term sustainability. Multinational companies like Google, Starbucks, Facebook, Amazon and other global corporations are constantly coming under public fire for avoiding taxes on their British sales. For… – Continue reading
Budget 2016 should rationalise entertainment tax, exempt newsprint from VAT and end double taxation on temporary transfer of movie rights to television channels, experts said. “Currently, entertainment industry players such as DTH and cable service operators are reeling under the heavy burden of multiple taxation and levies such as licence… – Continue reading
Malta has always insisted it is no tax haven, but it employs a system which allows foreign shareholders to claim a six-sevenths’ refund on their taxed dividends, taxed at the maximum 35%. There’s a new battle lining up for the Maltese government inside Brussels: an aggressive fight against tax avoidance… – Continue reading
ST. GEORGE — The Internal Revenue Service has announced that avoiding taxes by hiding money or assets in unreported offshore accounts remains on its annual list of tax scams known as the “Dirty Dozen.” “Our continued enforcement actions should discourage anyone from trying to illegally hide money and income offshore,”… – Continue reading
A 30% tax bracket. A rise in the standard rate, with a rebate for lower earners. Higher taxes all round to finance more spending. In Scotland, ahead of May’s elections for the devolved parliament, a fascinating debate on tax and spending is under way, with the main parties setting out… – Continue reading
BRATISLAVA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) — Preventing VAT evasions should be one of the priorities of the Slovak EU Presidency starting this July, confirmed Andrej Kralik, head of the European Commission’s Representation in Slovakia. Europe is annually losing as much as 168 billion euros (189.5 billion U.S. dollars) on tax evasions… – Continue reading
China has one of the most archaic corporate tax systems in the world, from which the new value-added tax structure was supposed to provide much-needed relief. China’s tax complexity and inconsistent enforcement has become an efficiency drain on China’s own economy and a roadblock to foreign companies wishing to set… – Continue reading
Former Standard Chartered chief says eliminating €500, $100, SFr1,000 and £50 notes would prevent corrupt payments Governments should consider scrapping high denomination banknotes to combat financial crime and tax evasion, including paying tradespeople in cash, a former bank boss has said. Criminals move more than $2tn (£1.4tn) around the world… – Continue reading
Introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be a crucial step towards tax reforms in India. Abolishing several central and state taxes and replacing them by one single tax will mitigate the recurring problem of double taxation and for the first time, create a common national market. Due to… – Continue reading
The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is convening a meeting with the private sector on February 16 to discuss FATCA, the US extra-territorial law governing accounts held by US taxpayers overseas. In a notice in today’s Stabroek News, the GRA said that the focus of the meeting will be the Foreign… – Continue reading
At least this is the goal – member states safeguarding their social models by preventing trans-border operating multinational companies from avoiding “their fair share” of the tax burden. According to the European Commission, small and medium-sized enterprises in the EU pay 30% higher tax burden than large multinational companies. With… – Continue reading
The Tax Authority and Barclays Israel CEO Leonard Rosen are disputing the bank’s VAT liability. Barclays Israel CEO Leonard Rosen was summoned back for additional questioning by the Israel Tax Authority, following the testimony he gave when the alleged tax evasion at Barclays Israel was first reported six months ago…. – Continue reading
The Italian Patent Box regime largely complies with the OECD recommendations to prevent base erosion and profit shifting. Its non-compliant features offer a brief window of opportunity for companies able to take swift advantage of its wide range of qualifying intangible assets. Many countries have implemented specific IP regimes through… – Continue reading
The Ministry of Finance is planning to make the forthcoming general budget people-friendly. According to informed sources, the service tax exemption limit is expected to be increased from Rs 10 lakh at present to Rs 25 lakh. This is being seen as a major step aimed at benefitting traders and… – Continue reading
A. INTRODUCTION On the 13th of March 2012, the Cyprus VAT Authority has launched a scheme making Cyprus one of the most attractive EU jurisdictions for yacht registration. According to this scheme, a Cyprus company can enter into a lease-sale agreement of a yacht with a third party, paying VAT… – Continue reading
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) which is now saddled with the onerous task of getting alternative sources of revenue for the federal government has since adopted a stick and carrot approach to bringing tax payers into the tax net. Assistant Editor, Nduka Chiejina looks at the issues contained in… – Continue reading
The good news: Indonesia to scrap the recently announced 10pc tax on cattle sales. The bad news: Unless permit dispensations are secured soon, there will be no cattle exports from Australia to Indonesia in April. The 10 percent Value-Added Tax (VAT) introduced on cattle sales in Indonesia earlier this month… – Continue reading
Main principles of Indirect Taxation In our fifth article in a series of articles on the tax challenges of the digital economy, we shall be providing you hereunder with a brief overview of the principles of indirect taxation, with a focus primarily on the VAT and the destination principle applicable… – Continue reading
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has maintained third in the global ranking for ease of tax payment, according to the latest release of the Paying Taxes report by the World Bank and PwC. With the least demanding tax framework, well below the world average, the Kingdom has a total tax rate of… – Continue reading
