Category: Lease

7 Ways You’re Accidentally Committing Tax Fraud

Not every fraud artist is a sketchy identity thief or faux Nigerian prince from the dark corners of the internet. In fact, you might end up committing accidental tax fraud or accidental tax evasion yourself if you don’t pay careful attention during this tax season. ... - Continue reading

Canada: Don’t Let Your Dream Vacation Home Become A Tax Nightmare

Renting your foreign property may require you to disclose information to the Canada Revenue Agency (the "CRA"). A Foreign Income Verification Statement is required to be filed with the CRA where the adjusted cost base of the property exceeds CDN $100,000.  ... - Continue reading

OECD publishes model rules for tax reporting by gig economy platform operators

On 3 July, the OECD released model rules for tax reporting by platform operators that assist sellers in the sharing and gig economy. Following international efforts to address the tax challenges in the digital economy, this OECD guidance represents an important step towards transparency through the exchange of information. ... - Continue reading

Canada: Treaty Shopping: MIL, MLI And ALTA Things In Between

On February 12, the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) released its decision in The Queen v. Alta Energy Luxembourg S.a.r.l.1 (Alta Energy), a case that represents an attempt by the Canadian tax authority to relitigate the issue of whether Canada’s domestic general anti-avoidance rule (GAAR) can apply to curtail so-called “treaty shopping”.2   ... - Continue reading

Countries launch review of country-by-country reporting framework for multinational groups

An OECD-led group of 137 countries that work together on multinational group tax issues has released a consultation document and has requested public feedback to assist in a planned review of country-by-country reporting. The countries, known as the “Inclusive Framework on BEPS,” also scheduled a public consultation on the topic for March 17.
... - Continue reading

Australia provides arm’s length debt test guidance

The Australian Tax Office on 28 August, released its awaited draft guidance contained in Practical Compliance Guideline 2019/D3, on applying the arm’s length debt test contained in Division 820 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, Australia’s thin capitalization statutory provisions.   ... - Continue reading

Gaming Companies Call for Reaching USA-Croatia Double Taxation Avoidance Deal

ZAGREB, August 21, 2019 – Computer gaming is the most propulsive segment of the IT industry worldwide, and this trend is present in Croatia, too, where local gaming companies export all their products, however the biggest challenge in doing business is the absence of a Croatia-USA double taxation avoidance agreement,… – Continue reading

A Huge Tax Break Went to a Politically Connected Company in New Jersey Despite Red Flags

Holtec International told New Jersey regulators that Ohio was competing for its new headquarters. But officials there stripped the firm of past tax awards for failing to create the jobs it promised.n January 2014, as Holtec International explored sites for a new national headquarters and high-tech manufacturing center, the New… – Continue reading

Dutch-built super yachts are being re-sold to tax haven buyers

Luxury yachts built in Dutch shipyards are being sold to suspect buyers around the world through tax havens, Trouw and the Financieele Dagblad reported on Friday. The dubious yacht transactions were revealed through an investigation being carried out into the Paradise Papers by the two Dutch newspapers . The documents… – Continue reading

Monaco added to Italy’s ‘White List’

In early April 2017, an important taxation agreement between Monaco and Italy came into force… As a direct result, Monaco now appears on the Italian ‘White List’ of tax compliant jurisdictions. The Agreement creates both opportunities and challenges for companies or individuals that fall within its scope, and is an… – Continue reading

HK’s proposed dedicated tax regime for offshore aircraft leasing

The Hong Kong Government has put forward a proposal to amend its tax laws to establish a dedicated tax regime for aircraft owners/lessors based in Hong Kong and leasing to offshore (including PRC) lessees/airlines (see Timeline / References below) (“Proposed Regime”). Assuming there are no surprises or drafting issues in… – Continue reading

In Slovakia, 2017 brings new tax legislation

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

Panama snubbed SA on data exchange request

PANAMA, widely recognised as one of the world’s tax havens, declined a request by the South African government to enter into a bilateral arrangement for the exchange of information. However, the refusal was made before the huge leak of information about the offshore holdings of wealthy individuals and entities disclosed… – Continue reading

Once A Tax Haven, Gibraltar Now Says It’s Low-Tax

Gibraltar, a tiny British territory at Europe’s southern tip, is famous for its geography — a huge limestone rock — that appears on the Prudential logo. It’s a global center for offshore banking, with the trappings of wealth to prove it: Luxury high-rises tower over super yachts in Gibraltar’s marina. The… – Continue reading

Monitor offshore investments, IMF tells Mauritius

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has askedMauritius to set up a ‘macro-prudential authority’ to monitor the offshore investments from the island. One of the largest destinations of such offshore investments is the Indian stock market. The proposed authority will have a central role for the banking regulator, the Bank of… – Continue reading

Cyprus Yacht Registration – New Preferable VAT Treatment

A. INTRODUCTION On the 13th of March 2012, the Cyprus VAT Authority has launched a scheme making Cyprus one of the most attractive EU jurisdictions for yacht registration. According to this scheme, a Cyprus company can enter into a lease-sale agreement of a yacht with a third party, paying VAT… – Continue reading

Bloomberg BNA Provides Insights into 2016 U.S and International Tax Policy

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Bloomberg BNA today announced the publication of the Daily Tax Report’s 2016 Outlook on tax and accounting policy. Dozens of policy experts, along with current and former members of Congress, congressional staffers and federal agency officials provided insights on the year ahead regarding… – Continue reading

India: Foreign branches outside India; development charges on long-term leases

The KPMG member firm in India has prepared reports concerning the following developments (read more at the hyperlinks provided below). Income attributable to taxpayer’s foreign branches not taxable in India: The Bombay High Court held that income attributable to a taxpayer’s foreign branches, permanent establishments (PEs) outside India, is not… – Continue reading

Italian groups seek EU antitrust probe into McDonald’s

BRUSSELS – Three Italian consumer organizations have urged EU antitrust regulators to investigate McDonald’s (MCD.N) franchise system in Europe, a month after the opening of an EU inquiry into the U.S. fast food company’s tax deals with Luxembourg. Codacons, Movimento Difesa del Cittadino and Cittadinanzattiva filed their complaint with the… – Continue reading

United States: Extenders Bill Puts An End To Tax-Free REIT Spinoffs But Includes A Number Of Favorable Changes To The Taxation Of REITs

On December 18, 2015, the President signed the Omnibus Appropriations Act (the “Act”) into law.1 Notably, the Act contains a number of substantive changes to the tax laws applicable to “real estate investment trusts” (“REITs”). Although several changes will adversely affect certain REITs, on balance REITs and their investors fared… – Continue reading

Tax amendments – 2015

INTRODUCTION The Taxation Laws Amendment Act, 2015 and the Tax Administration Laws Amendment Act, 2015 have both now been passed by Parliament, but await signature by the President. Once again, and now for the second year running, the number and scope of the changes to the various fiscal Acts (mainly… – Continue reading

Cyprus: Tax Incentives For Expatriate And High Net Worth Individuals Relocating To Cyprus (In Russian)

INTRODUCTION In the context of changes in the international system of taxation of the company in the choice of jurisdiction for the implementation of operational activities closely fit to the question of economic feasibility, to protect their interests. The strategic location of Cyprus, the presence of the country’s full membership… – Continue reading

Base erosion and profit shifting: limiting tax deductions for interest costs

Earlier this week the heads of state of the 20 largest global economies have agreed to adopt the 15 BEPS action points in their respective countries. Ample reason to take a closer look at the details and implications of one of the most far-reaching upcoming tax adjustments. Action 4 of… – Continue reading

United States: Tax Alert: G20 Leaders Approve OECD Proposals For Comprehensive Global Reform Of The International Tax System, Including Redefinition Of “Permanent Establishment”

Measures Will Impact Financial Services, Investment Fund, Aviation Leasing and Other Sectors G20 finance ministers last week finally approved the wide-ranging “BEPS” reforms to the international tax system. The measures include a proposed new OECD treaty definition of “Permanent Establishment” under which the mere negotiation of contracts could create a… – Continue reading

Canada: Navigating BEPS: What The Tax Function Of Today Needs To Know For Tomorrow

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has described its newly unveiled Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action Plan as a “change of paradigm.”1 A few very large global groups aside, a more apt description may be a minefield for the unwary. BEPS has received considerable air time… – Continue reading

Opening Bell: Ireland told not to rely on low taxes to grow, NAMA’s dispute with Dunnes, Draghi’s statement on Ireland

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) chief economist has warned that Ireland cannot rely on low corporation taxes to fuel growth. “Ireland is going to have to seek real investment based on comparative advantages other than tax,” Prof Catherine Mann told a conference hosted by the Irish Department… – Continue reading

Liberia amongst top countries operating in financial secrecy

In a report leased by the international group Financial Secrecy, the group that carries out analysis of how far the legal systems of countries facilitate financial secrecy, Liberia is ranked amongst the top 30 countries in the world that deals in secrecy. While the Government of Liberia continues to boast… – Continue reading

Benefits of UAE-Based Offshore Companies

Offshore companies are established for a variety of reasons including a company’s necessity to restructure, create an international business entity as well as protect the assets of the company. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is home to three authorities that register International or offshore companies. The three UAE authorities that… – Continue reading

Is a Canada Revenue Agency landlord avoiding taxes via offshore havens?

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) rents office space from a Vancouver-based property developer – a company that exploits offshore tax havens in Liechtenstein, the British Virgin Islands and Channel Islands. Larco Investments Ltd. owns three buildings in Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton where they rent office space to the CRA. Larco… – Continue reading

NORWAY: BUDGET 2016; MORE ABOUT PROPOSED TAX REFORM

The Norwegian conservative government on 7 October 2015 published both the proposed state budget for 2016 and a “white paper” containing proposals for tax reform. The proposed tax reform in the white paper is a follow-up action from a report on tax reform, presented by the Tax Commission in late… – Continue reading

Facebook paid £4,327 corporation tax despite £35m staff bonuses

Staff at Facebook’s UK arm took home an average of more than £210,000 last year in pay and bonuses, while their employer paid just £4,327 in corporation tax. Facebook made an accounting loss of £28.5m in Britain in 2014, after paying out more than £35m to its 362 staff in… – Continue reading

Treasury release draft law for implementation of the Common Reporting Standard

In brief On 18 September 2015, Treasury released exposure draft legislation in relation to the implementation of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Common Reporting Standard (CRS) for the automatic exchange of financial account information. The CRS is intended to reduce international tax evasion and represents the next… – Continue reading

Some of Plymouth’s most well-known landmarks are owned by offshore companies

SOME of Plymouth best-known landmarks are owned by secretive offshore companies based in tax havens, it has been revealed. Swathes of land all over the city belongs to faceless firms based in places like Luxembourg and the Cayman Islands, The Herald can reveal. They include everything from historic former military… – Continue reading

Revealed: St Austell property owners registered in offshore tax havens

Tens of millions of pounds worth of property in St Austell is owned by companies based in offshore tax havens. They include large parts of Fore Street in the town centre; the beaches at Carlyon Bay, and dozens of individual buildings throughout St Austell and the clay country. NHS Kernow’s… – Continue reading

The Netherlands – Budget 2016

On September 15, the Dutch government released its Budget 2016, containing the Tax Plan 2016 which includes certain amendments to Dutch tax law. The government will discuss the plans the coming weeks in parliament. Further to these discussions, some elements of the Tax Plan 2016 may change. Most proposals will… – Continue reading

The secretive London family at war over its millions

Questions over tax — hotly denied — feature in a row centring on one of the capital’s biggest art collectors One of London’s wealthiest but most secretive families is locked in a bitter feud over the ownership of its empire, which spans high-end London properties to African tobacco-trading businesses. A… – Continue reading

Tax rate on intellectual property profits would be cut to approximately 10% and appreciated intellectual property could be repatriated free of current tax under bipartisan innovation box proposal

On July 29, 2015, Charles Boustany (R-LA) and Richard Neal (D-MA) released a bipartisan discussion draft of proposed Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) amendments that would cut the United States income tax rate on corporate profits generated from patents and certain other intellectual property to approximately 10% (the “Tax Rate… – Continue reading