Category: Withholding tax rules

Ireland: Aviation Finance & Leasing 2022

Financing structures involving Irish entities often employ the use of a special-purpose vehicle ("SPV"), which is a company established specifically to hold title to the aircraft subject to the financing and to lease those aircraft to the operators. Ireland is a popular jurisdiction for the establishment of SPVs due to the numerous double-tax treaties in place between Ireland and other countries, many of which specifically refer to aviation in their text. Ireland is also attractive due to the confidence in the legal and court system (which is broadly based on English common law) and the number of aviation experts and leasing companies based in Ireland. ... - Continue reading

Canada: “Changing Of The GAAR”: A Background On The General Anti-Avoidance Rule, And Canada’s Attempt To Expand Its Tax Power In The 2022 Budget

The Budget purports to introduce several new financial and taxation regimes, as well as enhance several existing mechanisms. One of the existing taxation mechanisms proposed to be amended is the General Anti-Avoidance Rule (the "GAAR"). The Government initially indicated they would be amending the GAAR in the 2021 Budget. The 2022 Budget now provides some additional detail, though we are still waiting for the actual legislation. ... - Continue reading

How much capital gains tax you pay in Portugal?

Like many countries, Portugal imposes a capital gains tax on the sale of assets. It only applies to gains made on real estate and investments; personal items are not taxable and inheritances are only subject to a limited form of stamp duty. Your exposure will depend on whether you are resident, how you own the asset and, with property, whether it is your main home. ... - Continue reading

Requests for confirmation, tax treaty relief applications and tax sparing applications

IN 2021, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issued Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) 14-2021 and Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 77-2021, which streamlined the procedure for the availment of benefits under the applicable tax treaty.  ... - Continue reading

Polish Deal introduces new minimum tax for corporations

On 8 September, Poland’s government accepted a new tax bill called the “Polish Deal,” announcing after the public consultation on the bill a significant amendment to include a special anti-avoidance measure referred to as a minimum income tax for corporations. ... - Continue reading

UK: Tax Bites – June 2021

Further extension to UK Common Reporting Standard compliance rules

Regulations have been made to extend the International Tax Compliance Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/878) (the Compliance Regulations). The Compliance Regulations, among other things, require UK financial institutions to report information regarding certain non-UK account holders to HMRC for exchange under international arrangements relating to the Common Reporting Standard (CRS). ... - Continue reading

Ten-year tax incentives granted to special technology zones

The government has granted a comprehensive duty and tax incentives for a period of 10 years to investors operating in the proposed special technology zones (STZs), sources in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said on Monday. The incentives also include immunity from explaining the source of funds to be… – Continue reading

Canada: Don’t Let Your Dream Vacation Home Become A Tax Nightmare

Renting your foreign property may require you to disclose information to the Canada Revenue Agency (the "CRA"). A Foreign Income Verification Statement is required to be filed with the CRA where the adjusted cost base of the property exceeds CDN $100,000.  ... - Continue reading

Canada: Treaty Shopping: MIL, MLI And ALTA Things In Between

On February 12, the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) released its decision in The Queen v. Alta Energy Luxembourg S.a.r.l.1 (Alta Energy), a case that represents an attempt by the Canadian tax authority to relitigate the issue of whether Canada’s domestic general anti-avoidance rule (GAAR) can apply to curtail so-called “treaty shopping”.2   ... - Continue reading

Ireland Budget 2020 released

On 8 October, the Irish government announced its Budget 2020 measures. Brexit and climate change are core themes of new revenue measures and expenditure commitments. Brexit remains the foremost immediate concern for the Irish economy, whereas tackling climate change requires long-term commitments to tax and spending policies. ... - Continue reading

Bermuda: Chambers Private Wealth 2019: Bermuda (2019)

1. Tax1.1 Tax regimes In Bermuda there is no income or profits tax, withholding tax, capital gains tax, capital transfer tax or inheritance tax. There is no exit or similar such tax based on a resident's wealth when ceasing to be resident and there are no other consequences of leaving the jurisdiction. Customs duties and stamp duty are major government revenue earners, with stamp duties charged at different rates and in different manners on a variety of legal documents, excluding wills. ... - Continue reading

Ukraine: Ukraine Ratifies Protocol Amending Double Taxation Treaty Between Ukraine And Switzerland

On 18 September 2019, the Parliament of Ukraine ratified a protocol (the Protocol) of amendments to the double tax treaty between Ukraine and Switzerland (the DTT) which had been signed by the states on 24 January 2019.  ... - Continue reading

Canada: Canada Ratifies The Multilateral Instrument

On June 7, 2017, Canada along with numerous other jurisdictions signed the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (“OECD”) Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (the “MLI” or “multilateral instrument”). The multilateral instrument is the culmination of work undertaken as part of the OECD/G20 BEPS Project to equip governments with domestic and international instruments to address tax avoidance.   ... - Continue reading

Cyprus: The Cyprus Investment Programme And The Benefits

The Cyprus Investment Programme is rapidly becoming one of the EU’s most popular residence schemes.

  • Non Cypriot citizens (and their families) can acquire Cyprus Citizenship by investing €2.5 million* in Cyprus.
*In one specific set of circumstances as detailed below in the financial criteria, the investment required is €2.0 million. A non-Cypriot citizen who meets one of the financial criteria detailed below can apply for Cypriot citizenship ‘through naturalization by exception’.
  • Following the application, Cyprus citizenship will be granted in six months, assuming the application has been completed accurately and the correct documentation filed.
  • The applicant needs to be in posession of a residence permit for a period of six months before obtaining the citizenship.
... - 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

UK: Non-Resident Capital Gains Tax on United Kingdom Real Estate: A New Regime

The legislation encompassing the new regime for taxing non-residents' gains on the United Kingdom (UK) commercial real estate came into effect on 6th April 2019. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has additionally published draft guidance on this recently introduced regime. This article briefly summarizes the new rules. ... - Continue reading