Category: Round Tripping

MP CM’s nephew under fire for tax evasion

According to sources, the raids were conducted at Mr Nath’s nephew Ratul Puri’s company, Hindustan Powerprojects Pvt Ltd on April 7. New Delhi: The income tax department has detected tax evasion of more than Rs 1,350 crore during search and seizure operations conducted against Hindustan Powerprojects, a company owned by… – Continue reading

India notifies capital gains exemption norms for Mauritius investors

Private equity (PE) investors and venture capital (VC) funds from Mauritius will have to pay capital gains tax on investments into quasi-equity in India, under the revised tax treaty, unless the conversion of investments into equity is not finalised before 1 April 2017. The government has notified the revised double… – Continue reading

Mauritius pact: A laudable reform

Last month the government announced an amendment to the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement between India and Mauritius. The DTAA was signed between the two countries in August 1982 and notified in December 1983. For the past thirty-three years it has been a key factor affecting foreign investment flows into India…. – Continue reading

India-Mauritius tax treaty: An end and a new beginning

Recent news of India and Mauritius signing a Protocol to amend their 33 year old tax treaty caused seismic changes in the tax world. Though not completely unanticipated, the change is significant for foreign investors to go back to the drawing board and reassess their structures. The tax treaty between… – Continue reading

SEBI tightens rules on offshore derivatives

MUMBAI India’s capital market regulator on Thursday took steps to stop suspected illegal money flowing into the country by making issuers of securities known as offshore derivative instruments register their customers. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) also tightened rules for transferring ownership of these offshore instruments to… – Continue reading

UAE investment in India may bypass Mauritius

The closure of a tax loophole could hit UAE firms planning to invest in India through Mauritius. The Indian government this week amended a long-standing treaty that helped foreign investors to avoid capital gains tax by routing their investments through Mauritius. Mauritius is the biggest source of foreign direct investment… – Continue reading

Investors making money must pay taxes, no fear of FDI fall: Arun Jaitley

India had in August 1982 signed the treaty with Mauritius to eliminate double taxation of income and capital gains to encourage mutual trade and investment. Investors must pay taxes on money they earn in India and the domestic economy is now strong enough to depend on any “tax-incentivised route” to… – Continue reading

The IBFM tax regime: A non-starter

Despite best intentions of the government, there have been little or no takers for India-based fund managers In 2015, the Indian government took a commendable step by introducing a new provision in the Income-tax Act, 1961 (i.e. section 9A), to promote India as a fund manager jurisdiction, and to encourage… – Continue reading

Govt negotiating issues relating to DTAA with Mauritius

Outstanding issues relating to the existing Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) are under negotiation between India and Mauritius through the mechanism of Joint Working Group (JWG), Parliament was informed today. “India has proposed changes in the existing DTAA to address concerns relating to treaty abuse, around tripping of funds, double… – Continue reading

Full faith in India on tax treaty revision: Mauritius

NEW DELHI: Dismissing apprehensions of Mauritius being used to route black money as “misconception”, its Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth has termed the issue as an aberration in the “very special” ties with India and hoped that revision of their tax treaty won’t harm its interests. Stating that Prime Minister Narendra… – Continue reading

No revisions in main provisions of DTAA with India: Mauritius PM

Prime Minister of Mauritius, Anerood Jugnauth, on Tuesday said there will be no revisions to the main provisions of its Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with India as both countries are happy with the existing provisions of the tax treaty. “This treaty between our two countries has been there for… – Continue reading

Mauritius promises India clean and trusted jurisdiction

NEW DELHI: Often accused of being an offshore financial centre misused for round tripping, Mauritius today assured India that it will “walk the extra mile” to ensure that its reputations as clean and trusted jurisdiction is upheld at all costs. “We will put in all the necessary efforts and walk… – Continue reading

India fails to get to root of black money problem

The Indian government’s initial unsuccessful efforts to unearth billions of dollars of undeclared foreign assets – some believed to be hidden in Swiss banks – highlight the complexity of vehicles used to move money illicitly. Earlier in the year, a new law on black money came into effect. It included… – Continue reading

Sebi probing UBS on round-tripping : Companies in mining, liquor, and real estate also being investigated, it appears, with ED asked to have a look

In the midst of the Special Investigative Team (SIT) on undisclosed money flagging concern on participatory notes (p-notes), the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) says it is probing a case of alleged round tripping. The term refers to transactions between companies that bolster their revenue but, in the… – Continue reading

British Virgin Islands: Re-Situating The BVI: Offshoreart.Co, International Finance And Contemporary Art

There is an intimate relationship between art and finance. In the public sphere, the state plays a predominant role in funding and maintaining national art collections. The private sphere is dominated by private patronage. For example, artists in medieval Italy were funded by wealthy families such as the Medici, and… – Continue reading

P-note crackdown may weigh heavy on markets : This route accounts for Rs 2.75 lakh crore of FPI holdings

The Supreme Court-appointed special investigative team’s (SIT’s) recommendation of stricter norms for participatory notes (P-notes), to check the flow of unaccounted money, is likely to be viewed negatively by the market. The SIT had last week suggested the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) put in place regulations to… – Continue reading

Negotiations on DTAA between India and Mauritius in advanced stages: Revenue Secretary

Finance Ministry has informed that the negotiations on the double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) between India and Mauritius are in advanced stage and the pact would be revised soon. Revenue Secretary Shaktikanta Das has said that “DTAA treaty (with Mauritius) is in very advanced stage of negotiation. It is progressing… – Continue reading

Mauritius assures India will not allow shell companies

Lutchmeenaraidoo, who met foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, played down the issue of misuse of the India- Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC). Mauritius will make it difficult for shell companies using a liberal and controversial bilateral tax treaty with New Delhi to evade taxes in India, said the island nation’s… – Continue reading

Round Tripping: The Bane of Indian Tax Treaties

Mauritius and Singapore are both examples of countries with Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) with India, meaning dividends from corporations that are paid out to shareholders are not taxed further, having already been taxed at the corporate level. This legislation has meant that such countries have been used to “round-trip”… – Continue reading

Narendra Modi: India, Mauritius will work to avoid tax treaty abuse

Port Louis, March 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday assured that India would work with Mauritius to avoid the “abuse” of the double taxation avoidance agreement and added that the destinies of both nations are “linked by the currents of the Indian Ocean”. Addressing the National Parliament of… – Continue reading

Hong Kong’s 2015/16 budget offers hope and risk for tax competiveness

Hong Kong Financial Secretary, John Tsang delivered his eighth budget speech on 25 February 2015. Key Points: >Expansion of tax exemption for certain offshore investment funds >Tax concession for treasury centre activities on the way >Full steam ahead with implementation of OECD automatic exchange of tax information standard >Addressing Hong… – Continue reading

Tax evasion: Govt moves to make laws stricter

ISLAMABAD: The government has prepared draft bills to introduce amendments to four relevant laws to declare tax evasion as an offence related to money laundering, aimed at curbing misuse of foreign investment and remittance schemes. The step is being taken to meet a condition of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that… – Continue reading

Mauritius Yet to Agree on Tax Treaty Revision: Finance Minister

New Delhi: The government on Tuesday said Mauritius is yet to agree to certain proposals to the long pending revision of bilateral tax treaty. “India has made certain proposals for revision of DTAC (Double Taxation Avoidance Convention) to end round tripping and other aspects. Mauritius is yet to agree to… – Continue reading

New Leak Reveals Luxembourg Tax Deals for Disney, Koch Brothers Empire

A new leak of confidential documents expands the list of big companies seeking secret tax deals in Luxembourg, exposing tax-saving maneuvers by American entertainment icon The Walt Disney Co., politically controversial Koch Industries Inc. and 33 other companies. Disney and Koch Industries, a U.S.-based energy and chemical conglomerate, both created… – Continue reading

Sebi tightens screws on dubious inflows from loosely regulated, offshore entities

MUMBAI: As the market touches a new high, Sebi is clamping down on dubious inflows from loosely regulated, offshore entities, particularly those located in the Gulf. According to a Sebi communique on Monday evening, foreign funds investing on behalf of unknown investors and through opaque structures will now find it… – Continue reading

Hiding places where Indian black money is concealed

Aparajita Basak, the manager, of research analytics, innovation and knowledge centre at Frost & Sullivan, talks about the use of tax havens across the world for Indian black money. What kind of role do tax havens play in black money in terms of Indian companies and individuals? Across the world,… – Continue reading

Black money: Narendra Modi’s government turns to Cyprus to act against round tripping

NEW DELHI: After reaching a significant breakthrough in information exchange on bank accounts with Switzerland, the Narendra Modi government has now turned the heat on European tax haven Cyprus as part of its fight against black money. The government wants to drop a provision in the tax treaty between the… – Continue reading

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj to visit Mauritius, Maldives over the weekend

NEW DELHI: Ahead of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s three-day visit to Mauritius from tomorrow, India today said amendments to the bilateral tax treaty with the island nation would be made only after taking into account the “legitimate interests” of both sides. Swaraj will also be visiting Male and hold… – Continue reading

Fresh affidavit on black money in SC today: What the debate is all about

An informed, mature and realistic debate on black money is too much to ask for in a country where the issue attracts intense, almost emotional public reaction. It does not help when political games and systemic problems in the economy that aid tax evasion and stashing of illicit money in… – Continue reading

Dirty money: 19 UK firms alleged ‘complicit’ in $20bn laundering scam

Some 19 British firms are at the center of an investigation into in a mammoth global money-laundering operation. The scheme was allegedly contrived to make $20bn (£12.5bn) worth of ill-gotten gains appear legitimate. The illicit funds are thought to have originated from criminal gangs and corrupt officials across the globe,… – Continue reading

Kenya: NGO Moves to Court Over Double-Taxation Agreement

Tax Justice Network Africa, which campaigns against harmful tax policies that favour the wealthy and perpetuate inequality, has moved to the High Court to stop a double-taxation treaty between Kenya and Mauritius. Mauritius is a popular tax haven for companies with multinational operations, tilting scales against countries that sign bilateral… – Continue reading

Lobby sues Treasury CS over ‘illegal’ tax deal with Mauritius

A tax civil society has sued National Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich over an ‘illegal’ agreement signed with Mauritius, in a major litigation that could affect thousands of companies operating in Kenya. The suit filed at the High Court by Tax Justice Network-Africa (TJN-A) demands that Rotich withdraws a taxation treaty… – Continue reading

Looks like Cheryl Womack may be pleading guilty in her criminal case

Mission Hills businesswoman Cheryl Womack is scheduled to appear in federal court in Kansas City on November 12 for a change of plea hearing in her criminal case. Womack had earlier entered a not guilty plea to charges of avoiding income taxes and lying to investigators. (Update, 9:03 p.m) It’s… – Continue reading

Government seeks banking information on 97 cases from Mauritius in one year

PORT LOUIS: Mauritius has provided details on majority of information requests received from Indian authorities in the last one year, according to a government official. India has concerns that Mauritius, which is one of the top sources of foreign direct investments into the country, is being used for round-tripping of… – Continue reading

Mauritius, India in talks to address tax treaty concerns: FSC

PORT LOUIS: Dispelling ‘misperceptions’ that Mauritius is a tax haven, its financial sector regulator has said the island nation is in discussions with India to address concerns and make changes to the bilateral tax treaty. Emphasising that the country provides stability and predictability for investors, Mauritius’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) sought to… – Continue reading

Treasury’s Inversion Rules Create Uncertain Environment For US Multinational Companies

The Obama administration’s new rules intended to stem the tide of inversions, in which U.S. companies reincorporate abroad to dodge taxes at home, won’t be completely effective because they don’t address the high corporate tax rate in the U.S. that compels such behavior, say tax experts and analysts. The rules announced… – Continue reading

Congressman Introduces Legislation to Stop Tax Inversions

Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., has introduced three pieces of legislation to close tax breaks that enable U.S. multinational corporations to use so-called “inversions” in which they merge with a foreign company and move their tax domicile abroad to a low-tax country to reduce corporate taxes. Corporate inversions are used by… – Continue reading

U.S. tax evasion and money-laundering sting nabs Canadians

A contingent of so-called “corrupt clients” from Canada have been caught in the net of a massive fraud investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney, a source close to the investigation told CBC. CBC News reported Wednesday that two Canadians, along with four others, were indicted in the U.S…. – Continue reading

Schumer to release offshore tax bill

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) released legislation Wednesday seeking to roll back the tax benefits for companies that reincorporate abroad. Schumer’s bill takes aim at a maneuver known as earnings stripping, a process by which U.S. subsidiaries can take tax deductions on interest stemming from loans from a foreign parent. The… – Continue reading

Mauritius PM says will allay India’s concerns on roundtripping of funds

Navin Ramgoolam discussed issue of long-pending treaty re-negotiation with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in their bilateral meeting today Mauritus on Tuesday said it was determined to allay India’s fears on round tripping of funds, by incorporating adequate safeguards in the India-Mauritius tax treaty. The island nation said it had… – Continue reading

Amazon Facing Fresh UK Tax Avoidance Row

The internet retail giant Amazon is facing fresh claims of tax avoidance after its latest accounts showed it routed more than £11 billion through its Luxembourg-based subsidiary in 2013 – yet paid only £4 million in UK corporation tax last year. Amazon trades through the Luxembourg subsidiary, Amazon EU SARL,… – Continue reading

How widespread is tax evasion?

In round-tripping, U.S. investors move funds to offshore tax havens, then invest in U.S. equity and debt markets with these “foreign” funds. In essence, the U.S. investors are disguising themselves as foreign investors, who are not subject to the same tax rates on capital gains and interest income. The money… – Continue reading