Hong Kong signs tax treaty with Estonia
The Hong Kong government today announced that Hong Kong and Estonia have signed a comprehensive tax treaty. ... - Continue reading
Category: Withholding Tax
Mexico 2020 tax reform: big changes proposed for foreign companies doing business in Mexico
On September 8, the executive branch of the Mexican government introduced Mexico 2020 tax reform, proposing far-reaching changes to the Mexican income tax, value-added tax, and Federal Tax Code. ... - Continue reading
Foreign investors inject $143.6 million in t-bills since July
KARACHI: Foreign portfolio investors invested $143.633 million in treasury bills from July onwards as the present government started betting on overseas funds into debt securities to finance budget deficit and refinance maturities. The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) latest data showed that outflow from portfolio investors amounted to $5.808 million… – Continue reading
The 2020 Dutch budget and tax plan: key takeaways for multinational enterprises
The Dutch government on September 17 presented the 2020 Dutch budget and tax plan, proposing modifications to the taxation of multinational firms. ... - Continue reading
FBR issues 253,000 notices to non-filer industrialists
KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued around 253,000 notices to industrialists and businessmen, asking them to file returns, as the revenue body is expanding its broadening of tax base drive, officials said on Tuesday. An official said the FBR has so far issued 253,700 notices to consumers… – Continue reading
FBR demands Rs992m from TV channel in alleged tax evasion case
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has served a notice on ARY Communications Limited (ARY) and raised a tax demand of Rs992 million – alleging that the entity had evaded tens of millions in taxes through misrepresentation, concealment and misuse of exemptions, thereby causing a substantial loss to the… – Continue reading
Georgia: a low-tax European country with much to offer investors
Georgia, an Eastern European Country, was ranked 6th in the World Bank Group’s 2019 “Doing Business” survey. ... - Continue reading
Anomalies in withholding tax deduction detected
KARACHI: The tax authorities have detected anomalies in the deduction of withholding tax by the concerned officials, which it said was causing revenue losses to the national exchequer and needed immediate remedial measures, a statement said on Tuesday. “Withholding agents are not deducting the withholding tax according to the changes… – Continue reading
Brazil: Brazilian Tax Review – August 2019
After 20 years of negotiations, the European Union and Mercosur have moved forward with the free trade agreement between the two blocs. ... - Continue reading
Worldwide: New Double Taxation Treaty Between US And Spain
On July 16, 2019, the US Senate ratified a new protocol that amends the 2013 Double Taxation Treaty signed between the US and Spain. ... - Continue reading
New Zealand-Swiss tax agreement tightens net on avoidance
WELLINGTON, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) — Opportunities to dodge tax are shrinking with the completion of a new tax agreement between New Zealand and Switzerland, New Zealand’s Revenue Minister Stuart Nash said on Thursday. Nash and Swiss Ambassador to New Zealand David Vogelsanger signed documents to update the Double Tax Agreement… – Continue reading
More tax revenues from POGOs seen
Other service providers of offshore gaming industry are expected to remit the monthly withholding taxes of foreign workers to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on or before August 10. ... - Continue reading
Taxation of gifts to non-residents: A word of caution
The proposal intends to tax gift of money exceeding ₹50,000 made by residents to non-residents that were earlier claimed to be outside the ambit of India taxation ... - Continue reading
Australian tax office addresses transfer pricing, debt-equity rule interaction
Tax authority of Australia takes measures on tax issues ... - Continue reading
Canada: Canada Close To Ratifying The Multilateral Instrument
Bill C-82, An Act to implement a multilateral convention to implement tax treaty related measures to prevent base erosion and profit shifting, has received royal assent. ... - 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
Ex-TV newsreader accused of tax evasion
A former television newsreader has denied she deliberately withheld more than $1.8 million in GST payments during a lucrative career of property development in Melbourne. Simone Semmens, who is on bail, faced a County Court of Victoria trial on Monday after pleading not guilty to 10 charges of dishonestly withholding… – 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
FBR to abolish 25 withholding taxes
“The FBR is contemplating upon options to reduce numbers of WHT by 50 percent bringing it down from existing 50 to 25 in totality in the upcoming budget,” top official sources in FBR confirmed to The News here on Wednesday. Official data shows that there are some withholding taxes where… – Continue reading
Cyprus: Cyprus–Kazakhstan First-Time Double Tax Treaty: Cyprus Ratifies
On 24 May 2019, Cyprus ratified the first-time double tax treaty it had signed with Kazakhstan on 15 May 2019 (the DTT). Certain legal procedures now need to take place in both states following which the DTT will ‘enter into force’. The DTT will be ‘in effect’ as from the… – Continue reading
New ranking reveals UK’s role in breakdown of global corporate tax system
Decades of tax wars among the world’s richest countries are unravelling the century-old global corporate tax system, new research finds. Forty per cent of today’s cross-border direct investments reported by the IMF – $18 trillion in value – are being booked in just 10 countries that offer corporate tax rates… – Continue reading
Evaders to remain out of net till tax machinery gets fixed
LAHORE: The failures in documentation have more to do with the attitude of the tax machinery than all other factors. The system has been designed in a way to loot some with double taxation and spare those who pay no taxes. Take for instance the withholding tax collected on electricity,… – Continue reading
BIR issues RMO on Amnesty for Tax Delinquents
In our April 21 article, we discussed Revenue Regulations (RR) 4-2019, the implementing rules and regulations covering the Tax Amnesty on Delinquencies (TAD) under Republic Act 11213, the “Tax Amnesty Act of 2019.” The regulations took effect on April 24, 2019. Under the TAD, any person may enjoy the benefits… – 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
BIR to probe firms with illegal aliens
THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will run after 19 service providers that employ unregistered foreign workers, and have initial tax discrepancies totaling P1 billion. In a statement on Monday, the tax bureau said it had created a task force to probe companies that employ foreigners for possible violations of… – Continue reading
Bangladesh lost $5.8m due to BATB’s profit shifting: rights group
Bangladesh has lost $5.8 million in tax revenue in 2016 due to profit shifting in forms of royalties, fees and IT charges by British American Tobacco Bangladesh, according to a recent report of Tax Justice Network. The UK-based tax rights group in the report said from 2014 to 2016 BAT… – Continue reading
PSX recommends CGT exemption for foreign investors in next fiscal year
—Says exemption to facilitate capital inflow by relaxing account opening, registration process ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) in its proposals for budget 2019-2020 has recommended exemption of capital gain tax (CGT) on disposal of securities by foreign investors. Budget proposals for next fiscal year 2019-20, available with Pakistan Today,… – Continue reading
Amnesty for tax delinquents
In our previous articles, we’ve discussed Republic Act (RA)–1213, the “Tax Amnesty Act of 2019” (Tax Amnesty Act), particularly the fact that President Duterte vetoed several provisions, specifically the General Tax Amnesty (GTA). The GTA was supposed to cover all national internal revenue taxes (i.e., income tax, withholding tax, value-added… – Continue reading
List of Countries That Have a DTAA with India
India has one of the largest networks of tax treaties for the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion. The country has Double Tax Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) with over 85 countries under Section 90 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The purpose of such tax treaties is to… – Continue reading
Property tax collection rises 31pc in July-Jan
KARACHI: Property tax collection by provinces surged 31.34 percent to Rs7.38 billion during the first half of the current fiscal year of 2018/19, official data showed on Friday. Finance ministry’s data showed property tax collection amounted to Rs5.624 billion during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year. Sources in… – Continue reading
Prize bonds to be made registered instrument to broaden tax base
ISLAMABAD: The government decided to convert almost all the prize bonds into registered instruments in a move to keep record of investors and curb tax evasion and money laundering, sources said on Friday. Presently, prize bonds can be purchased from open market and used as an instrument to evade taxes…. – Continue reading
Portugal: Portuguese Golden Visa – Investment Route And The Non-Habitual Residents Regime
Background Portugal is being re-discovered as a destination to relocate to, with iconic cities such as Lisbon and Porto, and stunning coastal areas, for example, the Algarve. It also offers very easy access to the rest of Europe. Portugal is increasingly recognised as an international hub with 71 Double Taxation… – Continue reading
BIR wins P12 billion tax evasion case
The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has sentenced a gold trader of up to 10 years in jail for filing false income tax returns (ITR) for the years 2005 to 2009. The Court’s Third Division also ordered Rex Chua Co Ho to pay the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) deficiency… – Continue reading
Withholding tax collection rises 14 percent to Rs1.128 billion
KARACHI: The withholding tax collection from non-cash banking transactions has posted 14 percent growth; following introduction of an amendment through the Finance Supplementary Act, 2018. The collection of withholding tax from non-cash transactions, which is applicable only on non-filers of income tax returns, increased to Rs1.128 billion in December 2018,… – Continue reading
FBR plans action against concealed property investment
KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) stepped up efforts to net undisclosed property investments as the newly-constituted authority to curb real estate tax evasion brought the amnesty for the sector to an end, sources said Saturday. They said the amnesty to whiten undocumented money used for transactions of immovable… – Continue reading
Switzerland: The Brazil And Switzerland Double Tax Treaty: Why Is It So Significant?
Background The Brazilian and Swiss Governments signed a Double Tax Treaty (DTT) on 3 May 2018. Switzerland is one of the biggest investors in the Brazilian market and Brazil and Switzerland have already signed an Automatic Exchange of Information Agreement, which came into force on 1 January 2018. This new… – Continue reading
China’s IIT Reform: Seven Key Points from the Draft Implementation Rules
Many taxpayers in China have had questions about how the government would change the individual income tax (IIT) law since the amendment was passed earlier this year. Recently, however, the tax authorities released a draft of the amendment’s implementation rules and measures for comment. While the draft implementation rules and… – Continue reading
PenSam to step up scrutiny of partners as €55bn tax scandal unfolds
The head of one of Denmark’s biggest pension funds has spoken out to condemn a wide-scale tax fraud uncovered by a media investigation. Danish national broadcaster DR, newspaper Politiken and other European media outlets in the last three months have published articles detailing a withholding tax scam – dubbed ‘Cum-Ex’… – Continue reading
FBR reopens audit cases of non-filers
KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) re-opened audit cases related to non-filing of tax returns after legal changes were introduced under the latest mini-budget, officials said on Friday. The officials said the cases were automatically selected before the budget for the current fiscal year of 2018/19 as the taxpayers… – Continue reading
Has the New Inland Revenue Act paralysed the Double Tax Treaty Network of Sri Lanka? Part 2
7.What are Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreement (MAAAs) The new IRA defines the “Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreement” to mean a tax information exchange agreement or other international agreement for mutual administrative assistance in relation to taxation matters. Section 75 (5) of new IRA “Mutual administrative assistance agreement” means a tax information… – Continue reading
China to introduce more measures to facilitate foreign investment
BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) — The Chinese government will roll out more measures to facilitate the delivery of major foreign-invested projects, lower tariffs on some imported goods and streamline customs clearance procedures at a faster pace, as was decided at the State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Li… – Continue reading
Withholding Taxes – What, why, when?
The tax regime in Sri Lanka historically imposes WHT on both domestic as well as cross border payments. WHT on domestic payments eases revenue collection (e.g.: PAYE) while WHT on cross border payments are adopted by most countries to ensure that the fair share of tax is retained in the… – Continue reading
Walmart Says It Has Completed Its Tax Obligations In Flipkart Acquisition
Walmart-Flipkart deal will help the government mop up over $1.3 Bn (10,000 Cr) in taxes The payment by Walmart ends the uncertainty regarding $16 Bn transaction tax dues NCLAT wants to know india business models from Walmart, Flipkart US retail giant Walmart has said it has completed all the tax… – Continue reading
Nigeria-Singapore income tax treaty to take effect Jan. 1
A bilateral double taxation agreement between Nigeria and Singapore generally is to take effect Jan. 1, 2019, although in Singapore, provisions regarding income taxes other than withholding taxes are to take effect Jan. 1, 2020. The treaty, also known as a DTA, is to affect how each country’s income tax… – Continue reading
Double tax deal to boost Chinese investment
Experts yesterday agreed that a double taxation agreement (DTA) with China due to come into force on January will boost Chinese investment in the Kingdom. Speaking at a seminar in Phnom Penh, Clint O’Connell, head of tax at DFDL, said the agreement will attract more Chinese investors to Cambodia. “It… – Continue reading
UK withholding tax on interest paid to non-residents
The UK does still have one significant disadvantage namely the 20% withholding tax imposed by UK domestic law on “yearly interest” that arises in the UK is paid to persons whose “usual place of abode” is outside the UK. The UK is normally regarded as an attractive location for the… – Continue reading
IRS spent $380M on FATCA, but still can’t enforce it
The Internal Revenue Service spent nearly $380 million to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, but so far isn’t prepared to enforce the law, according to a new report. The report, from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, examined the IRS’s efforts to implement FATCA, which was included… – Continue reading
France Exits EU’s Excessive Deficit Procedure
France has made adequate fiscal consolidation efforts to exit the EU’s excessive deficit procedure, the EU Council recently agreed, while calling on Hungary and Romania to adopt tax or expenditure measures to shore up their finances. The findings came alongside the release of “country specific recommendations” for each of the… – Continue reading
FBR to suggest SC to abolish WHT on consumers using Rs1,000 card
Islamabad : With suspension of all taxes on mobile phone cards for next 15 days on the orders of Supreme Court (SC) with effect from Wednesday midnight, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is contemplating upon different options including suggesting the apex court to abolish withholding tax (WHT) of 12.5… – Continue reading
Cyprus: Luxembourg Double Tax Treaty Effective As From 1 January 2019
The first-time Double Tax Treaty (DTT) between Cyprus and Luxembourg signed on 8 May 2017 is effective as from 1 January 2019 based on a recent update of the Cyprus Ministry of Finance. The DTT provides for a 0% withholding tax (WHT) rate on interest and royalties. For dividends, a… – Continue reading
