Chancellor tells German newspaper if Britain were closed off from markets it may abandon European-style social model The chancellor, Philip Hammond, has suggested Britain could transform its economic model into that of a corporate tax haven if the EU fails to provide it with an agreement on market access after… – Continue reading
The Russian government will no longer consider Hong Kong a Chinese-affiliated tax haven that doesn’t share tax information. Russia will strike Hong Kong from its list of offshore jurisdictions following ratification of a double tax treaty signed by the two parties last January and ratified by Russia in July, according… – Continue reading
The comprehensive Double Taxation Convention between Uruguay and the United Kingdom has taken effect from 1 January 2017. The United Kingdom and Uruguay signed a convention to avoid double taxation and prevent fiscal evasion related to taxes on income and on capital on 24 February 2016 in Montevideo. The document… – Continue reading
This, like previous initiatives, seems nothing more than a thinly veiled revenue measure. A new amnesty scheme is being considered to allow those who hold wealth abroad to bring it back into the country without facing a penalty other than paying a nominal amount of tax on the value of… – Continue reading
Portuguese income tax law provides for a 20% reduced rate and, in respect to income obtained abroad, a full tax exemption, for certain types of income derived by individuals having the status of Non-Habitual Portuguese Residents (NHPR). Any individual that in a certain year becomes tax resident in Portugal will… – Continue reading
The 2017 Budget Law introduced (starting from fiscal year 2017) favourable provisions for people wishing to become tax residents in Italy. It is aimed at wealthy individuals who wish to bring in new capital resources. The regime is inspired by the non-domiciled resident regime which is in force in the… – Continue reading
India is unlikely to amend its tax treaty with the Netherlands as it did with Mauritius, Singapore and Cyprus and this could shape the investment strategy of foreign portfolio investors (FPI) and private equity (PE) funds investing in India, said three people in the know. “There were talks to amend… – Continue reading
The Slovak Government and Parliament made several changes to the tax system with effect from 1 January 2017. The recently adopted amendments concern – among others – corporate and personal income tax, value added tax, special levy in regulated industries, as well as social security and health insurance contributions. Here… – Continue reading
A plan by Nordea Bank AB to merge with subsidiaries in Denmark, Finland and Norway has prompted Sweden to revise its laws to minimize the risk of a tax imbalance when a foreign company’s shares and other financial instruments are merged with those of domestic company. Effective Jan. 1, the… – Continue reading
Authored by IFC Media Recent global events from the release of the Panama Papers to a series of high-profile inversions have given international tax regulators both rhetorical ammunition and public support to execute a global crackdown on multinational tax planning. The goal is to increase total taxes paid by global… – Continue reading
The amended double taxation agreement between the UK and the Isle of Man has entered into force, effective from 5 January 2017, following the latest arrangements signed on 8 March 2016. The bilateral agreements between the UK and the Isle of Man concern cooperation in tax matters through the exchange… – Continue reading
The UK and Switzerland have terminated tax arrangements under the Savings Tax Directive and will instead share information in tax matters automatically under the Common Reporting Standard. The UK Government said, under the switch to the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard, UK taxpayers will no longer be able to pay a… – Continue reading
On 23 November 2016, the Swiss Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the Multilateral Agreement on the exchange of Country-by-Country Reports (CbCRs) and draft federal implementing legislation. The proposal is aimed at implementing the minimum standard of the G20 countries and the OECD to combat base erosion and profit shifting… – Continue reading
Sources said this amendment will allow speedy prosecution and imprisonment of account holders as enumerated in the Panama Papers, Liechtenstein and HSBC Geneva lists. Moving to register criminal charges and impose stricter penalties against those who have stashed black money abroad, India has started revising tax treaties with partner countries… – Continue reading
The German Government has adopted draft anti-avoidance legislation intended to make it more difficult for domestic taxpayers to avoid tax through the use of “mailbox companies in tax havens.” The draft bill, approved by the Cabinet on December 21, contains more stringent reporting obligations for German taxpayers with foreign financial… – Continue reading
The Central Board of Direct Taxes in India issued Circular Number 41 on December 21, 2016 providing clarifications on applicability of ‘indirect transfer’ provisions under the Indian Income Tax Act, 1961 to investors of Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) – earlier known as Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) in India. The circular… – Continue reading
Starting April 1, 2017, India will have the right to tax capital gains arising on Indian equity shares sold by a Singapore resident. The governments of India and Singapore have amended the double taxation avoidance treaty between the two countries, in line with the changes India recently made to a… – Continue reading
Georgia and Liechtenstein are increasing economic cooperation by avoiding double taxation, meaning that people or businesses working between the two countries will be free from income and capital taxes. The deal was signed in May 2015 in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi but entered into force today. Double taxation is the levying… – Continue reading
Cyprus has been formally removed from India’s tax blacklist and will now not be considered as ‘non-cooperative’ jurisdiction for income tax purposes. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued a notification, rescinding it’s executive order blacklisting the island nation from November 1, 2013. Cyprus, a popular tax haven,… – Continue reading
The Government is planning unilateral action to crack down on tax dodging by multinational companies, including changing the law, amid growing concern about fairness. Revenue Minister Michael Woodhouse said proposals outlined in a cabinet discussion document tabled last month would see Inland Revenue properly armed to tackle the problem and… – Continue reading
Pakistan Business Council (PBC) has approached Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to stop the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) from recovery proceedings of Super Tax against non-resident companies on dividend income from their investments in Pakistan. Sources told Business Recorder here on Tuesday that the PBC has urged the Finance Minister… – Continue reading
Ecuador signed an agreement with Italy to define the tax obligations of the citizens of the two countries, in order to avoid double taxation on income taxes and equity and prevent tax evasion, the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry said. “This protocol modifies the agreement signed in Ecuador and Italy in 1984… – Continue reading
Ireland’s Ministry of Finance, the EU and several other governments have emphatically rejected claims by Oxfam International that the countries are tax havens, with Ireland insisting its corporate tax laws are “fully compliant” with international best practices when it comes to transparency and information exchange. The Irish government said the… – Continue reading
Changes in the way international taxation is collected, thanks to recommendations made by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) could “pose a major challenge to the sustainability and profitability” of many iGaming operations in Malta. This information came to light through a report issued by Country Profiler on… – Continue reading
General On 30 November 2016, Kazakhstan adopted certain amendments to its Tax Code (the Tax Amendments). Most of the Tax Amendments take effect on 1 January 2017. Below we summarize some of the most important Tax Amendments: VAT Registration Threshold Under the Tax Amendments, the existing VAT registration threshold (i.e.,… – Continue reading
Recent social and economic developments have had a powerful impact on many Ukrainian citizens and businesses and have led them to look for a better life beyond the borders of Ukraine. Obviously, Ukrainians moving abroad is not something new. Periods of economic crisis in almost every state are usually accompanied… – Continue reading
MUSCAT -The Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) between Switzerland and Oman aiming to increase economic ties officially came into force last month, according to the Swiss government. Its provisions will be applicable from January 1, 2017, according to the government. The agreement was originally signed on May 22, 2015 before going… – Continue reading
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and China signed third protocol to the avoidance of double taxation agreement that would allow a Chinese bank and a state-owned investment fund to avail income tax exemption on interest income from loans for energy projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman… – Continue reading
NEW DELHI: India and the US have reached a deal for the first bilateral advance pricing agreement, a move that will enable American firms to ascertain tax liabilities beforehand, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today. The two nations have resolved over 100 cases of tax disputes involving a tax of… – Continue reading
Italy is considering a proposal to introduce a territorial system of taxation to attract high net worth individuals, including successful individuals in the sports, arts, and fashion and design sectors, who could be interested in moving to Italy to take part in these thriving sectors. The new measure is contained… – Continue reading
A new report says little has changed after a number of global tax scandals… Ireland is entering unfair tax deals with developing countries according to a new report on ‘sweetheart deals’ in the EU. Of the 18 countries in the study, Ireland is found to have on average “introduced the… – Continue reading
Controversy over giant corporations paying dwarfed tax bills has put finance chiefs in the media and public spotlight When giant companies with devilishly complex tax arrangements are accused of unethical behaviour, the stock response is “we act within the rules”. If the public and politicians don’t like it, the argument… – Continue reading
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) welcomes the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD)’s release last week of a multilateral convention which allows for swift implementation of a series of tax treaty measures encompassed in the OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project. The release follows the conclusion… – Continue reading
Draft legislation for the public sector IR35 reforms was published yesterday and several firms have responded concernedly to the publication of the documents. IR35 legislation reforms were proposed recently during the Autumn Statement. Julia Kermode, chief executive of The Freelancer & Contractor Services Association, commented on the publication of the… – Continue reading
Common reporting standard: Implementation in Asia The Common Reporting Standard (“CRS”) is an internationally agreed standard for automatic exchange of financial account information (“AEOI”) on financial account information, endorsed by the OECD and the Global Forum for Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes. The CRS framework requires financial… – Continue reading
When introducing the draft legislation for the Diverted Profits or so-called “Google Tax”, Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison claimed it would: …reinforce Australia’s position as having amongst the toughest laws in the world to combat corporate tax avoidance. Australia is the second country to introduce this type of tax, after the… – Continue reading
The OECD’s ground-breaking multilateral tax treaty, which will potentially amend thousands of bilateral tax treaties, will add “another layer” to treaty administration—but actual changes to bilateral agreements will be clear to both tax administrations and multinational companies, the organization’s tax chief said. Taxpayers and tax administrations “will know what the… – Continue reading
The UAE’s Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of the UAE are working with banks and other financial services companies in the country to prepare for the Common Reporting Standard (CRS), which will come into effect starting 2018. The CRS is a system developed by the Organisation for Economic… – Continue reading
For myriad reasons, Malta has over the years established itself as an ideal jurisdiction to hold intellectual property rights. The country offers many tax benefits on income derived from Intellectual Property. Apart from the tax exemption on income derived from patents, copyrights and trademarks as will be further explained below,… – Continue reading
The double taxation agreement (DTA) between Switzerland and Liechtenstein will enter into force on 22 December 2016. The DTA contains a provision on the exchange of information upon request according to the internationally applicable standards. The DTA will contribute to the development of good economic relations between Switzerland and Liechtenstein…. – Continue reading
On November 22, 2016, the Minister of Finance of Ukraine handed an official letter on Ukraine’s accession to the BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting) plan to the Secretary-General of OECD. Being the final stage in the process of joining the project, Ukraine is to become a member of the… – Continue reading
Minister of State (Finance) Santosh Kumar Gangwar on Tuesday said action against tax evasion/black money, including in respect of black money stashed away abroad, is an ongoing process and such action under direct tax laws includes searches, surveys, enquiries, assessment of income, levy of penalties and filing of prosecution complaints… – Continue reading
New Delhi– India on Friday signed a revised double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) with Cyprus, an official statement said here. “A revised agreement between India and Cyprus for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion (DTAA) with respect to taxes on income, along with its protocol,… – Continue reading
Just a handful of dodgy tax structures being used by Australians cost tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue, according to the Australian Taxation Office. That could mean many millions more are missing, and is why the ATO is cracking down on people misusing trusts. The agency has long… – Continue reading
The new Singapore-Lao People’s Democratic Republic Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) entered into force on 11 November 2016. The DTA provides clarity on tax matters and eliminates double taxation relating to cross-border transactions between the two countries. A DTA between Singapore and another jurisdiction serves to prevent double taxation… – Continue reading
Members of Taiwan’s executive and legislative branches gave their unanimous support to a proposed bill that would help pave the way for Taiwan to sign double taxation avoidance agreements with Hong Kong and Macau during a policy coordination meeting Nov. 14 in Taipei City. Drafted by the Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs… – Continue reading
Members of Taiwan’s executive and legislative branches gave their unanimous support to a proposed bill that would help pave the way for Taiwan to sign double taxation avoidance agreements with Hong Kong and Macau during a policy coordination meeting Nov. 14 in Taipei City. Drafted by the Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs… – Continue reading
Adoption of legislation for a common consolidated corporate tax base by 27 EU member states would resolve current patent box conflicts and end transfer pricing disputes that cost multinational companies hundreds of millions of dollars in double taxation, according to EU and industry officials. Speaking at a Nov. 15 conference… – Continue reading
The Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday approved a bilateral agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of physical evasion of taxes on income and capital benefits between Nigeria and Singapore. The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun disclosed to State House Correspondents, after the FEC meeting… – Continue reading
Background The Federal Inland Revenue Service [FIRS] has begun Transfer Pricing [TP] audits and has been requesting TP documentation and other documents from taxpayers relating to their related party transactions. These actions are in line with its powers under the Income Tax (Transfer Pricing) Regulations No. 1 of 2012 [Regulations]… – Continue reading
