Category: Corporates

Journalists publish details of 200+ companies using offshore law firm, conclude Mauritius promotes tax avoidance

Data on more than 200 companies that engaged the Mauritius office of Conyers Dill & Pearman were published on the internet today by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) as a result of leak of confidential information. ... - Continue reading

Netherlands draft law requires disclosure of cross-border transactions to tax authorities

On July 12 the Netherlands government published a legislative proposal implementing the EU mandatory disclosure directive. This follows an internet consultation on a draft legislative proposal which ran from December 19, 2018 — February 1, 2019. ... - Continue reading

Portugal: Central bank to disclose public report on large debtors

The Bank of Portugal (BdP) is to publicly disclose aggregated information about large bank debtors by 17 July, announced the chair of the Budget and Finance Committee. On 23 May, the central bank sent parliament an extraordinary report on the problematic loans and other assets that caused banking problems and… – Continue reading

Transfer (mis)pricing

TRANSFER pricing — the pricing of commodities traded between or within multinational enterprises — is a legal practice and a key feature of cross-border and intra-firm transactions. The United Nations prefers to use the broader phrase ‘trade pricing’ in addressing this practice and defines it as a ‘normal incident of… – Continue reading

Taiwan to join anti-tax evasion program CRS

Taiwan expected to share financial information with Japan and Australia in 2020 TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan is expected to exchange financial information with a number of countries in September of next year as part of the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) program designed to combat tax evasion. Developed by the… – Continue reading

Taiwan to join anti-tax evasion program CRS

Taiwan expected to share financial information with Japan and Australia in 2020 TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan is expected to exchange financial information with a number of countries in September of next year as part of the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) program designed to combat tax evasion. Developed by the… – Continue reading

Bank of Singapore’s Hong Kong CEO on Developing a Greater China Proposition

As Bank of Singapore’s Global Market Head for Greater China and North Asia, and since March 2018 also Hong Kong CEO, Derrick Tan has plenty of challenges in front of him. But he can draw on from his multi-faceted background – he spent five years as an investigating officer with… – Continue reading

Tensions between the drive for transparency and the right to protection of privacy

Update on the UK government’s proposal to improve transparency with a new register of persons with significant control of companies which hold UK property. In our last article (https://hubbis.com/article/transparency-enhanced-in-the-uk) we looked at the UK government’s proposal to improve transparency with a new register of persons with significant control of companies… – Continue reading

BIR files tax evasion charges against 15 Metro Manila business taxpayers

The Bureau of Internal Revenue filed Thursday separate criminal cases against 15 business taxpayers in Metro Manila for alleged refusal to pay tax debts totaling to more than P493 million. This brought to 482 the number of tax evasion charges lodged by the bureau under its Run-After-Tax-Evaders (RATE) program under… – Continue reading

A Huge Tax Break Went to a Politically Connected Company in New Jersey Despite Red Flags

Holtec International told New Jersey regulators that Ohio was competing for its new headquarters. But officials there stripped the firm of past tax awards for failing to create the jobs it promised.n January 2014, as Holtec International explored sites for a new national headquarters and high-tech manufacturing center, the New… – Continue reading

India: Government Of India Ratifies MLI – Bringing India On The Cusp Of A New International Tax Regime

The Government of India (Union Cabinet) has approved the ratification of the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (MLI) and India's final position to the same. ... - Continue reading

Oman to introduce Common Reporting Standards

Muscat: Oman, in line with its commitment to align itself with international best practices in tackling cross-border tax evasion and meeting the standards set by the European Union (EU) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), is currently in the process of issuing regulations for automatic exchange of… – Continue reading

Australia: OECD releases beneficial ownership implementation toolkit to facilitate transparency

In brief – Beneficial ownership toolkit aims to help governments implement legal and supervisory frameworks to identify and collect beneficial ownership information Beneficial ownership is a critical issue in many areas of law, in particular tax and anti-money laundering. National authorities often struggle to keep up with private ingenuity in… – Continue reading

India: Split Residency – ITAT Upholds The Taxpayer’s Claim For Treaty Exemption, Applies Centre Of Vital Interest Test

Dual Residency gets attracted when an expat in the year of move qualifies as a resident of the host country (i.e., the country in which he is deputed) as well as home country (i.e., the country of his residence). On account of dual residency, an expat can be doubly taxed… – Continue reading

Canada: With Recent Regulatory Developments, Canadian Business Interest In Cayman Will Grow

Canada is home to some of the largest multinational corporations in the world, a bustling pension fund and private equity industry, and growing numbers of alternative investment, real estate, and insurance shops. With dynamic industry and growth in the region, Canadian business leaders are leveraging Cayman as a financial centre to help… – Continue reading

India: Bombay High Court Quashes 197 Order Rejecting Mauritius Tax Treaty Benefits

High Court sets aside section 197 order due to absence of prima facie evidence of tax avoidance Rejects factors such as lack of business activities and administrative expenses as conclusive of sham transactions Holds that a detailed inquiry can be conducted during normal assessment Directs refund of withheld tax subject… – Continue reading

British overseas territories top corporate tax loophole index

Governments are stepping up efforts to recoup more tax from multinationals, with the European Commission forcing iPhone maker Apple to repay 13 billion euros after it used Ireland to cut its tax on European profits to almost zero. The Tax Justice Network, a group campaigning for transparency, said its study… – Continue reading

Tax Office Investigating Individuals, Corporations for Offshore Tax Evasion Allegations

The National Tax Service has launched an investigation into 104 individuals and corporations suspected of offshore tax evasion.The National Tax Service of South Korea launched an investigation targeting 104 individuals and corporations suspected of offshore tax evasion. The number is likely to increase over time. The targets include Orion Holdings… – Continue reading

Nigeria Signs Off On Common Reporting Standard With OECD

As we await official communication, information reaching us have it that Nigeria has signed off on the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). As publicly stated on Wikipedia, ‘The Common Reporting Standard (CRS) is an information standard for the Automatic Exchange Of Information… – Continue reading

Anti-Money Laundering Software Market to Generate the Revenue of US$ 4,262.0 Mn by 2026

Companies, especially in the financial services industry are investing in the anti-money laundering software to effectively track the transactions and eliminate the risk of fraudulent. Companies offering anti-money laundering software are also focusing on providing effective and efficient software including currency transaction reporting software, transaction monitoring software, compliance management software,… – Continue reading

US IRS begins FATCA crackdown

After years of deliberation and debate spanning two administrations, the Tax Information Exchange (United States of America) Bill, 2016, also known as the Foreign Account Taxpayer Compliance (FATCA) Bill was passed in the Senate on March 7, 2017. This following its unanimous passage in the House of Representatives, two weeks… – Continue reading

Court rules John Doe summons to identify law firm clients isn’t barred by attorney-client privilege

Section 7609(f) of the tax code allows the Internal Revenue Service to use a “John Doe” summons when the target is unknown. It has been used successfully by the IRS against banks and other financial institutions to find offshore accounts. Now, a district court in the Western District of Texas… – Continue reading

Tax authorities mount raids on 19 German banks and houses

Investigation is linked to Panama Papers and part of money laundering allegations Eleven banks and eight private homes and offices across Germany have been raided by police and tax investigators as part of a wide-ranging investigation into tax evasion. The raids, which began at dawn on Wednesday and went on… – Continue reading

Kamal says fully foreign-owned cos no more to be allowed

Finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has said that the foreign companies will be required to have local partners for doing business in Bangladesh as the government wants to bring them under the tax net. ‘No foreign company can do business alone here any longer,’ he told reporters on Thursday after… – Continue reading

FIRS Vows to Eliminate Multiple Taxation

Obinna Chima The Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Babatunde Fowler, has restated the agency’s commitment to eliminating multiple taxation in the country. Fowler said this at a tax breakfast seminar with the theme: “Tax Controversy and Dispute Resolution,’ organised by KPMG Nigeria in Lagos, recently. According to… – Continue reading

Non-resident capital gains tax on UK commercial property ‘could block overseas investment’ – expert view

The Government’s changes to the tax treatment of overseas investment in UK commercial property will increase revenues in the short term but might prove short-sighted, write Craig Hughes and Russell Dickie There is, as they say, no place like home. However, in recent years, solid and steady capital growth and… – Continue reading

India notifies pact with US to check tax evasion by MNCs

As per the agreement, it is intended to provide relevant and reliable information to perform an efficient and robust transfer pricing risk assessment analysis. Aimed at providing relief to subsidiaries of US multinationals and ensuring a check on cross-border tax evasion, India has notified the inter-governmental agreement with the United… – Continue reading

Africa’s problem with tax avoidance

Every year African countries lose at least $50 million in taxes — more than the amount of foreign development aid. So where is it all going and how can multinational companies be held to account? NGOs continue to raise the alarm. African countries are being cheated out of billions in… – Continue reading

FBR threatens to penalise RFIs

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will penalize Reporting Financial Institutions (RFIs), which would fail to submit Common Reporting Standard (CRS) reports pertaining to required information of financial accounts of non-resident persons and any other reportable person by May 31, 2019 to the FBR. According to an announcement of the FBR… – Continue reading

EU passes legislation protecting whistleblowers to encourage wrongdoing

Whistleblowers across the European Union have won greater protection under landmark legislation aimed at encouraging reports of wrongdoing. The new law, approved by the European Parliament on Tuesday, shields whistleblowers from retaliation. It also creates “safe channels” to allow them to report breaches of EU law. It is the first… – Continue reading

HMRC targets accountants over tax evading clients

HMRC sent 1,414 requests to professional services firms demanding confidential information on clients suspected of tax evasion in the 12 months to 31 March 2018, according to law firm RPC. The production orders are issued by HMRC’s Criminal Investigation Directorate to force third parties, such as accountants, lawyers and other… – Continue reading

Democrats introduce bill to curb tax havens

Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., a member of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced a pair of bills aimed at stopping corporations from using offshore tax havens and outsourcing jobs to other countries. The first bill, the No… – Continue reading

Italian authorities target Swiss banks in wake of UBS fine

Guardia di Finanza, a financial police authority in Italy, has sent letters demanding Swiss lenders to reveal the the names of bankers working in the country, Bloomberg has reported. The authority wants to know more about the business that these banks entertain in Italy, in particular which type of business,… – Continue reading

Swedbank hires EY to conduct forensics into money laundering

Swedbank, one of the largest banks in Sweden, has hired professionals services firm EY to investigate the bank’s possible involvement in large scale money laundering. According to media reports in Sweden, over the period of nearly ten years the bank facilitated approximately $5.8 billion worth of suspicious transactions. The transactions… – Continue reading