Category: Lesotho

UK aid programme “failing to tackle tax avoidance and evasion”

A report by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) has criticised the Department for International Development’s (DfiD) approach to tackling tax avoidance and its alleged failure to achieve value for money on HMRC collaboration DfiD has failed in its efforts to fully include developing countries so that they benefit… – Continue reading

Troubling Implications of the BEPS Project: Interest Deductibility

On October 5, 2015, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) issued final tax policy recommendations stemming from its Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project. The reports, endorsed by the G20 Finance Ministers on October 8 and by the G20 leaders at their November 15-16 summit, consist primarily… – Continue reading

ATAF pushes for scrapping of double taxation

THE African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) has come up with a draft document on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion within the continent. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), a member of ATAF, has said avoidance of taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion was with respect to taxes… – Continue reading

Panama thumbs its nose at transparency – again

We have on several occasions fingered Panama as a particularly recalcitrant secrecy jurisdiction: our recent Panama Narrative Report spills a fair number of beans in that respect. Its recalcitrance is perhaps hardly surprising, given the quantity of Colombian and Mexican drugs money believed to be sheltered there – to name… – Continue reading

HMRC publishes a policy paper setting out planned negotiations on DTAs and TIEAs

On November 13, 2015 the UK HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) published a policy paper setting out planned negotiations on Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs) and Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs). According to the policy paper HMRC will begin negotiations on double taxation agreements with: • Nepal • Romania • Trinidad… – Continue reading

Kenya and U.S. Agree Deal On Stringent Measures to Stem Runaway Corruption

An agreement signed between Kenya and the American government could introduce new drastic measures in curbing corruption and help seal loopholes in the dwindling war against the vice in the government. But the initiative could dampen hopes of Cabinet secretaries mentioned in various corruption scandals of ever getting back to… – Continue reading

The Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes published new peer review reports

On August 3, 2015 the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes published 12 new peer review reports. Phase 1 reports were published on: Albania, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Lesotho, Pakistan and Uganda. The reports assessed these countries’ legal and regulatory frameworks for transparency and… – Continue reading

Govt to add more and raise taxes

AMidst the continued decline in the country’s Southern African Customs Union (SACU) receipts, government has decided to enhance domestic revenue which will see the introduction of new taxes and a possibility of increasing some. Minister of Finance Martin Dlamini speaking during breakfast meeting hosted by the Federation of Swaziland Employers… – Continue reading