On April 25, an order was gazetted in Hong Kong to implement the tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) with the United States that was signed on March 25 this year, as part of preparations for the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act in Hong Kong. “This is the first TIEA… – Continue reading
Australia signed a tax-information sharing agreement with the U.S. Treasury Department on Monday ahead of a new U.S. law that will crack down on offshore tax avoidance. The accord, one of a number of so-called intergovernmental agreements (IGA) between Washington and individual countries, comes ahead of the implementation in the United… – Continue reading
India and Switzerland are discussing ways to share information on specific accounts relating to black money stashed in the European nation, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said here today. The Minister further said that he received a reply on his letter from his Swiss counterpart and will send India’s response in… – Continue reading
Bulgaria’s Cabinet has approved a draft proposal to update the memorandum on avoiding double taxation with Romania, replacing the current agreement signed in 1994, and mandated Finance Minister Petar Chobanov to negotiate and sign the new deal. The issue was first discussed during a joint meeting of the Bulgarian and… – Continue reading
Hong Kong (HKSAR) – Some 120 participants from the business sector joined a seminar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today (April 25) to learn more about the benefits and business opportunities under the “Comprehensive Double Taxation Agreement” (CDTA) signed between Hong Kong and Malaysia. Organised by the Hong Kong Economic and… – Continue reading
KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (Bernama) — The comprehensive double taxation agreement (CDTA) signed between Malaysia and Hong Kong is expected to further boost bilateral trade and investments between the two countries. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Malaysia and Hong Kong CDTA seminar here Friday, Director of Hong… – Continue reading
The implementation of stricter rules by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) surrounding tax treaty benefits could see these benefits not being granted as easily as they were in the past, says professional services firm Deloitte. “The discussion surrounding ‘inappropriate circumstances’ relating to the issues of treaty shopping… – Continue reading
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced that the new convention for the avoidance of double taxation signed between the United Kingdom and Spain will enter into force on June 12, 2014. The agreement provides for a 10 percent rate on dividends, except where those dividends are paid out of… – Continue reading
India, Cyprus will in the next few weeks finalize changes to their double taxation avoidance agreement New Delhi: India and Cyprus moved a step closer to settling a tax dispute that led to the Mediterranean island nation being blacklisted by New Delhi. The two countries will, in the next few weeks,… – Continue reading
BAKU (Azerbaijan), April 24 (Bernama) — Azerbaijan and Spain have signed a Convention on the Elimination of Double Taxation with Respect to Income and Property Tax and Prevention of Tax Avoidance, Azerbainjan’s Azertac reported. The agreement was signed by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel… – Continue reading
A Provisional Measure passed by the Senate allows tax to be levied on profit earned abroad by domestic companies, even if the earnings are not nationalized. Attorney Luiz Felipe Ferraz says the rule renders treaties void. São Paulo – Provisional Measure 627, from 2013, which alters the taxation regime for… – Continue reading
A Swiss delegation is likely to visit Pakistan by August-end to discuss the possibility of re-negotiating and upgrading treaty on Avoidance of Double Taxation between Pakistan and Switzerland. It is reliably learnt on Tuesday that Pakistan is set to re-negotiate and upgrade treaty on Avoidance of Double Taxation with Switzerland… – Continue reading
Move will let MNCs claim tax relief in their home country for adjustments made by Indian authorities, eliminate double taxation New Delhi: To minimize transfer pricing disputes, the Indian tax department is likely to sign advance pricing agreements with Japan and the UK in the next few weeks. This would give… – Continue reading
Maltese Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella met with Moldavian Deputy Prime Minister Natalia Gherman to sign a dual taxation treaty (DTT) and a joint declaration, according to a press release issued by the Maltese Government. The joint declaration confirms Malta’s support for Moldova’s bid for greater integration in the EU…. – Continue reading
Vietnam and Japan signed and exchanged a diplomatic note on the enactment of their agreement on double tax avoidance and tax evasion prevention, at a ceremony in Hanoi on April 15. Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son and Japanese ambassador to Vietnam Fukuda Hiroshi represented the two governments to sign… – Continue reading
After several rounds of negotiations, on 28 March 2014, a new Double Taxation Treaty (“new DTT”) was signed between the governments of the PRC and Germany to replace the old DTT which was signed by both governments on 10 June 1985. The new DTT incorporates new elements of a typical… – Continue reading
Mauritian conglomerate Ireland Blyth IBLP.MZ says uncertainty over new tax rules by key trading partner India has affected its business by putting off investors using the Mauritius financial center to invest in India. Nicolas Maigrot, chief executive of the group which has a wide range of interests in financial services,… – Continue reading
Article 27 of the new double taxation agreement between Spain and Cyprus provides that the agreement will enter into force three months after the exchange of official notifications between the governments concerned that all ratification procedures have been completed. We understand that notifications were exchanged in March, which means that… – Continue reading
India had received in $8.17 bn during April- January 2012-13 Foreign Direct Investment inflows from Mauritius have almost halved during April-January period of last fiscal to $4.11 billion on fears of impact of GAAR and possible re-negotiation of the tax avoidance treaty. India had received in $8.17 billion during April-… – Continue reading
Introduction Article 10 of the Russia-Cyprus double tax agreement grants taxing rights over dividends to the state of residence of the company paying the dividends (in addition to the state of residence of the recipient). The tax that may be imposed in the state in which the dividends originate is… – Continue reading
The Government of the Kingdom of Denmark and the Government of the Republic of Ghana have signed the Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital Gains In relation to the Danish Minister for Trade and Development… – Continue reading
A joint effort by India and the US to amicably decide on their respective shares of taxes from IT and ITeS companies operating in both countries is threatening to unravel, owing to a big, seemingly unresolvable gap between the transfer pricing (TP) margins individually determined by them. While New Delhi… – Continue reading
They have big money and experienced staff, and operate with effortless sophistication. These are some of the features of multinational companies that use complex instruments to avoid paying taxes especially in developing countries. Mindful of this, Uganda Revenue Authority is keeping on guard. The tax body has joined a global… – Continue reading
Given the proximity of Canada to the U.S., it is not surprising that many Canadians own real estate south of the border. Some, especially those who are retired snowbirds, also spend a good part of the year in the U.S. It is important to understand what the tax implications are… – Continue reading
Commission proposal to clamp down on companies cheating tax by opening subsidiary companies in different member states supported by vast majority of MEPs. On Wednesday Labour MEPs were part of a very small minority of 32 MEPs who voted against a resolution backing the Commission’s proposal to tighten the Parent-Subsidiary… – Continue reading
The National Treasury and the SA Revenue Service are discussing entering into an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) with the United States on a foreign tax compliant act, Sars said on Thursday. “The wording of a draft IGA has now been agreed upon and will be signed at governmental level as soon… – Continue reading
Canadians who spend their winters in the warmer climates of the United States may be attracting some unwanted attention starting this year. A new tax treaty between Canada and the United States has spawned a cozy relationship between the Canada Revenue Agency and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. The two… – Continue reading
Canada is clamping down on off-shore tax shelters used by private-equity funds, in a move that may curb investment in the oil and gas industry by KKR & Co. and Blackstone Group LP. (BX) The government has given private-equity firms and other interested parties until April 11 to respond to proposals tucked… – Continue reading
Corporate Tax Reform: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) held a briefing and webcast at its Paris headquarters Wednesday on its Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project and Pascal Saint-Amans, the director of the OECD’s tax centre confirmed that “Double Irish Dutch” sandwich tax schemes, which involve… – Continue reading
ActionAid Ghana (AAG) said Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) was depriving Africa of billions of dollars each year, more than is received in overseas development aid or foreign direct investment combined. It said IFFs were commonly associated with criminal activity like drug dealing, smuggling or human trafficking, adding that the United… – Continue reading
ZAMBIA, which has signed 22 double taxation treaties (DTT) with various nations has been urged to develop its own model that suits particular circumstances to maximise benefits. Double taxation is levying of taxes on the same income (or capital) of the same tax payer in the same period. According to… – Continue reading
Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said the conclusions adopted at the recent European Council meeting on the revised Savings Tax Directive have enabled “a green light from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.” He expressed his satisfaction that all 28 European Union (EU) member states reached an agreement at the latest… – Continue reading
A call to tax technology companies such as Apple and Google in the countries where they have substantial activities has re-ignited concerns companies may be taxed twice and stop business altogether. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which is working on a global plan to prevent companies from avoiding paying… – Continue reading
It would be surprising if Union finance minister P. Chidambaram’s threat to his Swiss counterpart — to declare Switzerland an uncooperative nation for not sharing information on the 562 Indians who allegedly stashed their black money in Swiss banks — is actually carried out. The threat has trade implications. These… – Continue reading
The Anti-Tax Evasion Act and the Finance Act 2014 have introduced an annual transfer pricing documentation filing obligation and new disclosure requirements for large companies. Since 2010, French companies that have an annual turnover or gross asset value exceeding €400 million, are related to a French or foreign entity exceeding one of… – Continue reading
Ghana and Denmark have signed a Double Taxation Agreement, moving the bilateral cooperation between the two countries to another level. A Double Taxation Agreement regulates the tax treatment of income or capital gains in situations where the same taxpayer is subject to tax in two states with respect to the… – Continue reading
OECD plan to make practice of shifting locations ineffective New rules aimed at preventing the type of aggressive tax avoidance schemes run by some of the largest multinational employers here will begin to be introduced in September, according to a draft report seen by The Irish Times . Structures that artificially shift… – Continue reading
RIYADH, March 24 (KUNA) — Saudi Arabia and Hungary have signed an agreement for double taxation avoidance and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital, and its related protocol. The deal was signed by Saudi Minister of Finance Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf and Hungarian… – Continue reading
Despite bilateral trade touching $83M in 2012, the two countries have greater ambitions given the untapped opportunities that the destinations offer. UAE Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri stressed that the bilateral relationship between the UAE and Luxembourg is witnessing significant progress across the economy, trade and investment… – Continue reading
NAIROBI, KENYA: Seychelles Foreign Affairs Minister Jean Paul Adam has commended President Uhuru Kenyatta for his transformational leadership, terming it an ‘inspiration’ to the whole region. Mr. Adam said Seychelles was looking forward to working more closely with the Jubilee administration for the benefit of the people of the two… – Continue reading
Both sides express interest in collaborating on small and medium enterprises and the renewable energy sectors Abu Dhabi: Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, has reaffirmed the importance of economic relations between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Malta during the visit of Dr. Christian… – Continue reading
In the end of February 2014, Cyprus and Norway signed a double tax treaty between the two governments. The treaty signed between the two countries is a step to the further development of trade and economic relations between the two countries. The Cypriot government aims at expanding the existing network… – Continue reading
Mar 21, Colombo: Sri Lanka will sign a revised agreement with Singapore for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income, the government media unit said. The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the President, in his capacity as the… – Continue reading
Vice Prime Minister Liviu Dragnea declared on Thursday after his meeting with the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region K.Y. Leung that Romania and Hong Kong will start negotiations for the signing of the double taxation agreement that was already discussed last summer during Prime Minister Victor… – Continue reading
NAIROBI (Xinhua) — The Kenyan government on Monday signed an agreement with the Seychelles to phase out double taxation on companies from the two countries. Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Treasury Henry Rotich said the elimination of double taxation will promote flow of investments, trade and labor between the two countries. “ Kenya has… – Continue reading
Look before you leap out of Israeli residence. Israel now has tax rates below the OECD average and no estate or inheritance tax. Israeli residents relocate abroad for a variety of reasons, sometimes business, sometimes personal. If the relocation is for a short period, they will typically claim various expense… – Continue reading
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Multinational businesses that often fight with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service over their worldwide taxes may be dropped from an IRS program meant to smooth corporate audits, a senior IRS official said on Tuesday. Speaking at a conference, Michael Danilack, a deputy U.S. IRS commissioner, raised concerns… – Continue reading
Changes to Ireland’s residency rules, designed to eliminate mismatches between tax treaty partners, have not yet affected the residency status of any company, Finance Minister Michael Noonan has confirmed. The reforms were introduced in Noonan’s 2014 Budget and included in this year’s Finance Bill. They are intended to prevent companies… – Continue reading
On February 5th, 2014, the Canada signed an intergovernmental agreement (“IGA”) with the U.S. regarding the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”). Under the terms of FATCA, Canadian financial institutions need to report directly to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) any information regarding bank accounts held by U.S…. – Continue reading
From “Tiger of the Indian Ocean” to “Cyber island”, Mauritius has turned now into a “Safe and Reliable Investment Hub” in terms of good governance as well as ethical, economic, political and social stability. Ranked 1st in Sub-Saharan Africa in the World Bank‘s Doing Business Report 2013, Mauritius offers a particularly favorable setting for doing business…. – Continue reading
