Category: Turkey

UPDATE 1-G20 leaders pledge robust fight against patchy economy -draft communique

* G20 leaders say they will deliver on vow to lift global growth * G20 promise not to surprise markets with policy decisions * World leaders agree to tackle tax dodgers, pledge to cooperate on migrants (Adds details, background) BELEK, Turkey, Nov 15 The heads of the world’s 20 largest… – Continue reading

Cantillon: no escape from tax talk at G20 summit

Leaders of world’s major economies gather in Turkish city of Antalya Leaders of the world’s major economies gather in the Turkish city of Antalya this weekend for the tenth annual G20 summit. The summit takes place at a sensitive moment in international affairs. The war in Syria and the resulting… – Continue reading

Australia-Germany Sign Tax Treaty; Michael Turnbull Visits for Submarine Bid

In the first step towards boosting trade and investment between the two nations, Australia and Germany have signed a new tax treaty in Berlin. It also marks an attempt to improve the integrity of the tax system by pinning down on multinational tax evasion. The deal, which preceded the arrival… – Continue reading

Oxfam urges G20 leaders to take action on climate change, refugees and tax reform

G20 countries spend over 15 times subsidizing the coal and oil industry than developed countries provide in adaptation finance to poor and vulnerable countries, said Oxfam today, ahead of the G20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey. Oxfam also urged the G20 leaders to tackle fundamental reforms to ensure the benefits of… – Continue reading

G-20 summit At Turkey: India has a lot to learn and deliver

The group, as a whole, will have to contend with adopting the BEPS framework and fulfilling the commitments made under the Brisbane Action Plan 2014 The tenth G-20 meeting at Antalya, Turkey, (that starts day after tomorrow) is gaining momentum. The challenges before the G-20 nations are many and varied…. – Continue reading

Canada to join G20 effort to limit ‘profit shifting’ by multinationals

Canada is expected to join other G20 countries to sign off on an international deal in Turkey aimed at cracking down on “profit shifting” by large multinational companies seeking to reduce their tax bills. The changes, which are also aimed at exposing the corrupt use of tax havens to launder… – Continue reading

OECD Warns Ireland That Growth Will Take More Than Just Low Taxes

Ireland has among the lowest taxes in Europe. However, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is not impressed. They warned Ireland that it will have to spend more time selling itself in the new era of global tax transparency if it wants to experience meaningful economic growth. OECD… – Continue reading

Modi, Obama unlikely to meet during G20 summit in Turkey

Both leaders recently discussed key bilateral issues on the new ‘hotline’ NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 12: In a major deviation from earlier times, the much-publicised bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama is unlikely to happen on the sidelines on the 10th G20 summit in Turkey…. – Continue reading

Report: Canada among biggest G20 losers in tax evasion

Ahead of a G20 meeting in Turkey this weekend that will tackle, among other issues, the GDP lost to global tax havens, the anti-poverty organization Oxfam is warning that it’s not just poor countries that suffer when corporations evade taxes. Julie Delahanty, Oxfam Canada’s executive director, says the only people… – Continue reading

Transparency International: G20 failing on corruption

Corporate corruption is still prevalent in rich Group of 20 nations despite their pledges last year to close loopholes, according to Transparency International. It has listed Brazil, China and the US among the offenders. Transparency International on Thursday labeled this weekend’s G20 summit in Turkey as a mere “photo opportunity,”… – Continue reading

Low taxes alone not enough for growth, says OECD

Chief economist says clampdown on tax avoidance will be ‘negative for Ireland’ Ireland will have to sell itself as more than just a low-tax destination in the new era of global tax transparency, OECD chief economist Catherine Mann has said. She said moves to better align taxable profits with real… – Continue reading

UK leads on anti-corruption push, U.S. and China lag, campaigners say

Britain has done more to tackle secretive company ownership practices which facilitate corruption than other leading economies, while the United States and China are falling short of their promises, a leading anti-corruption group said. Britain has made good progress on making beneficial ownership information accessible, having legislated for a central… – Continue reading

European Commission releases press material for the upcoming G20 summit in Antalya

On November 10, 2015 the European Commission published a brochure titled “Did you know… Facts and figures about the European Union and the G20 – 2015 Turkey G20 Antalya, 15>16 November 2015”. According to the European Commission, the brochure sets out the European Commission’s aims for the G20 summit. The… – Continue reading

G20 among biggest losers in large-scale tax abuse – but poor countries relatively hardest hit

Headline: G20 among biggest losers in large-scale tax abuse – but poor countries relatively hardest hit G20 countries are the biggest losers when US multinationals avoid paying taxes where they do business. This is the main finding of a new report on the global tax system, ‘Still Broken,’ released by… – Continue reading

Bermuda: Day Of The Deed

Article by Patrick W Martin and Ashley Fife With a net worth of USD77.1 billion, Mexican telecoms businessman Carlos Slim Helú was ranked the second richest person in the world in a 2015 survey.1 At the end of 2014, 16 of Mexico’s citizens were on Forbes’ billionaires list.2 As for… – Continue reading

Governments have taken an important step towards ensuring cross border consumption tax

Governments have taken an important step towards ensuring that consumption taxes on cross-border transactions are effectively paid in the jurisdiction where products are consumed, while minimizing the risks that uncoordinated tax rules distort international trade. The decision by representatives of more than 100 countries and jurisdictions to endorse the new… – Continue reading

Tusk and Juncker set out the EU’s agenda in advance of G20 meeting

The President of the European Council Donald Tusk and the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, who are representing the European Union at the G20 summit in Antalya (Turkey) on November 15th and 16th, have set out the EU’s agenda in a joint letter sent to EU Heads of… – Continue reading

OECD crack down on corporate tax shelters is a risky double edged sword

Companies who have been accused of shifting profits to low-tax jurisdictions or those seeking tax shelters need to beware—these practices are coming under fire, and could possibly come to an end. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) just released details of their far-reaching plan that would require companies… – Continue reading

Worldwide: OECD Releases Final BEPS Recommendations – Now What?

On Oct. 5, 2015, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released a set of final reports on its 15 point action plan to address Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS). In an accompanying explanatory statement, the OECD also included plans for additional work on technical matters and a… – Continue reading

United States: Tax Policy Update – October 13, 2015

NUMBER OF THE WEEK: 0 The number of House Republicans who want to be speaker and can actually secure the necessary 218 votes as of today. After Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s dramatic exit from the race last week, the House GOP conference is taking the week-long Columbus Day recess to… – Continue reading

House ways and means tasked with funding highway bill; Treasury moves forward with BEPS implementation

Legislative Activity House Lawmakers Schedule Markup of Transportation Bill Without Revenue Provisions Last week, on Friday, October 16, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released a six-year, $325 billion highway funding bill (the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015); a markup of the legislation is scheduled for Thursday,… – Continue reading

BEPS: CURRENT STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

Last week’s OECD release of the final package of measures for a coordinated international approach to the reform of the international tax system, under the OECD/G20 base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) project, marks the end of the discussion and recommendation phase, and the start of the implementation and practical… – Continue reading

NBR to sign deal with Bhutan to avoid double taxation

Bangladesh is set to sign an agreement with Bhutan to avoid double taxation to boost investments, trade and facilitate information exchange between the two Saarc nations, the National Board of Revenue said in a statement. A team led by NBR Chairman Md Nojibur Rahman is now in Thimpu to take… – Continue reading

KPMG Webcast Will Examine OECD’s Final Recommendations On Base Erosion And Profit Shifting Initiative

NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — KPMG’s Tax Governance Institute (TGI) will examine the final recommendations from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) and discuss what they could mean for U.S. multinationals during a live video webcast on Tuesday, Oct…. – Continue reading

Canada: International Tax Reform 2015-BEPS Final Reports

On October 5, 2015, the OECD released its final reports relating to the OECD/G20 base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) project (the Final Reports). The BEPS project began in 2013 and has received unprecedented attention from governments and the private sector. The Final Reports outline the OECD’s recommendations and the… – Continue reading

OECD proposals could save countries US$240bn in lost taxes

With the bulk of the OECD’s work on the BEPS project complete, attention will now turn to the implementation of the recommendations by member countries and others. Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan said that he welcomed the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (Beps) report, and that the OECD’s proposals would… – Continue reading

CORRECT: NZ’s biggest companies may face ‘enormous compliance burden’ from OECD tax dragnet

Oct. 6 (BusinessDesk) – Fonterra Cooperative Group is likely to be among some 20 New Zealand companies left dealing with increased red tape to comply with wide-ranging reforms to corporate tax rules proposed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and expected to be endorsed by the world’s 20… – Continue reading

Turkey: Council Of Ministers Approves Agreement Between Turkey And Kosovo To Prevent Tax Evasion And Double Taxation

The Council of Ministers has approved an agreement between the Republic of Turkey and Republic of Kosovo (“State” or collectively “States”) to prevent tax evasion and double income taxation for residents of the two countries (“Agreement”). On 19 August 2015, the Council of Ministers approved the Agreement and its annexed… – Continue reading

Malta – the optimum choice for private equity

Malta provides an outstanding opportunity for private equity and venture capital managers. It has a flexible LP structure, an extensive network of double tax treaties, a favourable local tax regime and experienced service providers who can provide a cost-effective solution,” comments Felicity Cole (pictured), Head of the Funds Department at… – Continue reading

G20 finance communique: Long on reassurance, light on policy

G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors released their third communique of 2015 over the weekend. Their rhetoric is notable for the calm statement of positive reassurance on the macroeconomic environment, although the direct policy commitments appear to be light on. In the communique, Ministers and Governors recognised the significant… – Continue reading

india turkey offshore imf residency G20

The recent shocks in the global economy triggered by the Chinese devaluation of yuan and its economic slowdown are likely to dominate discussions in the two-day meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors starting here tomorrow over which India has expressed serious concern. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley arrived… – Continue reading

Luxembourg performs poorly in anti-money laundering index

In an assessment of money laundering and terrorism financing risks, Luxembourg scored in the bottom half of a ranking of 152 countries carried out by the Basel Institute on Governance, reports the Luxemburger Wort. The institute says that its AML (Anti-Money Laundering) Index is the only such review carried out… – Continue reading

Tax disclosure programme has some flaws, say experts

HE Voluntary Disclosure Programme introduced in 2012 to encourage taxpayers to regularise their affairs has some flaws that need addressing to be able to expose the real amount of money that has left SA illegally. Tax experts warn that the process in SA is relatively expensive, there are uncertainties because… – Continue reading

Key pillar of the Beps process is to align profit with value creation

OECD guidance needs to be clear otherwise the process could favour the bigger nations In Paris last week, as Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande discussed events in Greece, the international tax system was being discussed in an underground meeting room at OECD headquarters. For almost two days tax authority delegates… – Continue reading

OECD establishes roadmap for membership with Lithuania

10/07/2015 – The OECD set out a clear path for Lithuania’s accession to the Organisation, reinforcing the OECD’s commitment to further extend its global membership. On 8 July 2015 the 34 OECD Members adopted the Roadmap for the Accession of Lithuania to the OECD Convention setting out the terms, conditions… – Continue reading

WB to assist Azerbaijan in combating money laundering

The Financial Monitoring Service of Azerbaijan’s Central Bank will send the National Action Plan on the elimination of risks in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing to the World Bank in September 2015. The National Plan was discussed by WB’s experts during a seminar held in Baku between… – Continue reading

LPC-Turkish borrowers target Asian loan investors

Turkish banks and companies are trying to sell syndicated loans to Asian investors after a drop in Asian lending but investors are wary of increasing Turkish exposure due to political instability following June’s elections, bankers said. Turkish borrowers are targeting Asian investors in a bid to extend loan maturities after… – Continue reading

HSBC to Shed 50,000 Jobs in Overhaul of Global Business

LONDON — Like other global institutions, HSBC, Europe’s largest bank, has been under severe pressure since the 2008 financial crisis to cut costs, meet stringent new regulatory demands and satisfy restless shareholders. To that end, the British bank said on Tuesday that it would shed as many as 50,000 of… – Continue reading

Abbott government’s multinational tax avoidance plan was never costed

The Abbott government didn’t get costings from Treasury on how much revenue its multinational tax avoidance budget measure would bring. The revelation explains why costings were not given by Treasurer Joe Hockey when he announced the measure or included budget papers. Speaking at a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday, finance… – Continue reading

Australia signing up to global tax effort

AUSTRALIA is onboard for the international effort to upgrade a creaking 100-year-old global tax system. AUSTRALIAN Tax Commissioner Chris Jordan told a Senate committee on Tuesday the present tax architecture was developed in the early 1920s for the now defunct League of Nations. It also depended on the physical presence… – Continue reading