Category: Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone News: BAN calls for better taxation – not more

The Budget Advocacy Network (BAN) has called on the country’s revenue authority to push for better taxation not more taxation. In its Transfer Pricing Report, BAN identified that such efforts hold the potential to stimulate further growth and investment whilst also allowing for increased levels of tax collection. The huge… – Continue reading

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

Business Brief – Double Tax Agreement – Residence – change of HMRC practice

Following an agreement between the UK and Jersey, HMRC has published an important change of interpretation on residence for treaty purposes. HMRC’s view now is that the better interpretation of residency article in the UK-Jersey Double Tax Agreement 1952 (“UK Jersey DTA”) is that it includes a tie breaker provision… – Continue reading

HMRC changes view on the company residence tie-breakers in certain double tax agreements

HMRC has reached an agreement with Jersey concerning the interpretation of the company residence tie-breaker in the Jersey-UK 1952 double tax agreement. This change also affects the interpretation of 15 other double tax agreements (DTAs) which have identical or very similarly worded company residence tie-breakers. The issue concerns dual residents… – Continue reading

Change in UK Treatment of Dual-Resident Companies May Affect U.S. Tax Planning

On November 30, 2015, the UK tax authorities at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) reached an agreement with Jersey about the interpretation of the company residence tie-breaker provision of the Jersey-UK income tax treaty. After reviewing other income tax treaties that contain similar provisions, HMRC will now take the view… – Continue reading

UK government amends view on DTA residence articles

UK tax authority HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced a change of view on the interpretation of the company residence articles in 16 double taxation agreements (DTAs), reports Tax News. The change was prompted by an agreement with Jersey on the interpretation of the company residence tie-breaker article in… – Continue reading

UK Gov’t Amends View On DTA Residence Articles

UK tax authority HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced a change of view on the interpretation of the company residence articles in 16 double taxation agreements (DTAs). The change was prompted by an agreement with Jersey on the interpretation of the company residence tie-breaker article in their 1952 DTA…. – Continue reading

East Africa: Rwanda Taxman Moves to Catch Tax Evaders

Rwanda has commissioned an audit into recent merger and acquisition deals involving foreign firms in its latest effort to clamp down on tax avoidance among multinational corporations. This comes amid growing concern that multinational companies move profits from the countries where they are generated and, in so doing, reduce national… – Continue reading

New SwissLeaks analysis reveals how tax haven secrecy harms developing countries

30 September 2015 -New, detailed examination of the SwissLeaks files by Christian Aid working with the US-based Financial Transparency Coalition (FTC) graphically reveals the harm tax haven secrecy does to the economies of developing countries. The SwissLeaks scandal involves thousands of secret accounts at HSBC’s Swiss subsidiary HSBC Private Bank… – Continue reading

G7 fails to stop the dirty money trail, tax evasion

Dirty money resulting from crime, corruption and tax evasion is estimated to cost over one trillion dollars every year. It exacerbates poverty and inequality, and should be regarded as one of the most pressing issues globally. An Oxfam report found that G7-based companies and investors cheat Africa out of tens… – Continue reading

We stayed, you didn’t: Post-conflict Africa grapples with tensions of returnees from the diaspora

Although the importance to Africa’s diaspora is largely discussed around remittances, many Africans are also coming back to join the public service. SOMALIA’S parliament just approved a new parliament, a crucial step on the road to voting on a new constitution and presidential elections scheduled for 2016. A key role… – Continue reading

HSBC files: Swiss bank hid money for suspected criminals

Documents detail customers who faced allegations including drug-running, corruption, doping and money laundering This article is the subject of a legal complaint made on behalf of Anura Perera. HSBC’s Swiss bank concealed large sums of money for people facing allegations of serious wrongdoing, including drug-running, corruption and money laundering, leaked… – Continue reading

Tax Evasion Threatens Africa’s Socio- Economic Transformation: UN Expert

The quest of African countries to carry out economic stability and transformation is threatened by illicit financial outflows through tax evasion and avoidance, a UN expert observed here on Thursday. He said the draining of tax revenues and scarce foreign exchange resources stifled growth and socio-economic development and weakened governance…. – Continue reading