UK rental prices for the three months to April rose by 10 per cent British expats living in the UAE are taking advantage of rising rents in the UK to purchase investment properties, according to Offshore bank, Skipton International. The bank says it has seen a lot of interest from… – Continue reading
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) – a law passed in 2010 to tackle the abuse of using offshore financial accounts for the purpose of evading US taxes – is now in effect after a two-year delay. As it requires foreign financial institutions worldwide to identify and report to… – Continue reading
The head of a US technology firm that yesterday announced 100 new jobs in the Republic has rejected the “misperception” that Ireland is deemed a tax haven in the US. Qualtrics chief executive Ryan Smith said his firm’s decision to expand its Dublin headquarters was not influenced by the Irish… – Continue reading
NEW DELHI: The finance ministry on Thursday issued the draft scheme of proposed rules for computation of arm’s length price for international and specified domestic transactions between related entities undertaken on or after April 1, 2014. The use of multiple-year data and the “range” concept in the transfer pricing regime… – Continue reading
LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) – One hallowed feature of Britain’s finances is a tax break for individuals called “non-domiciled status.” The break, which is more than 200 years old, is designed to attract foreign investors by allowing them to keep wealth they make abroad out of the reach of the… – Continue reading
A special European Parliament committee meant to examine tax breaks for multinationals is being stonewalled at every turn, prompting some MEPs to consider taking the legal route to get real powers, reports the EU Observer. Parliament president Martin Schulz is being blamed for the committee’s weak mandate. Fabio de Masi,… – Continue reading
Change to the Procedural Requirements at the Bank of Israel The Bank of Israel has recently implemented measures that are designed to minimize legal and reputational risks for Israeli banks. The Bank of Israel circulated a draft directive for all Israeli banks by virtue of which all foreign (non-Israeli resident)… – Continue reading
Hanocal Holdings, a Dutch subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi-based International Petroleum Investment Company, has filed a lawsuit against the South Korean government through the World Bank’s International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes. This is the second time that Korea is facing international arbitration under the “investor-state dispute settlement” process…. – Continue reading
The Armenian National Committee of America has welcomed the signing of the US-Armenia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) but has said that a renegotiated double tax agreement is a priority in order to fully realize the two nations’ bilateral trade and investment potential, reports Tax News. The TIFA was… – Continue reading
Belgium and the Russian Federation announced in March 2007 that they would negotiate a new double tax treaty (the “Treaty”). Nearly seven years after discussions began on 20 November 2008, the Treaty was finally signed on 19 May 2015 in Brussels. This newsflash is based on an unofficial version of… – Continue reading
The Ukrainian legislation for transfer pricing came into force in 2013, with implementation of respective amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine (“CCU”). However, at present the transfer pricing rules (provided for the CCU) are not applied accurately. In light of the above, in order to clarify the transfer pricing… – Continue reading
The Ukrainian legislation for transfer pricing came into force in 2013, with implementation of respective amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine (“CCU”). However, at present the transfer pricing rules (provided for the CCU) are not applied accurately. In light of the above, in order to clarify the transfer pricing… – Continue reading
Located along the Northeast corridor of the United States, Rhode Island is a mere 180 miles from New York City. The small coastal state is known for its knowledge economy based on its elite universities and hospitals. In 2013, Rhode Island’s GDP was US$53.2 billion. The largest contributor to the… – Continue reading
The UK’s introduction of the diverted profits tax (DPT) has dismayed tax practitioners and their multinational clients. Rushed through parliament (ahead of its dissolution before the general election) and in effect as of April 1, the DPT seemed intended to appease public anger at multinationals failing to pay their ”fair… – Continue reading
To staff their board of directors with the best and most diverse talent, multinational companies commonly elect boards with international representation. It is also common for companies to convene periodic board meetings outside the United States. This may be done, for example, to provide board members with an opportunity to… – Continue reading
New Delhi, May 22: The government plans to phase out exemptions and lower the effective tax rates to global levels to encourage better compliance and leave more money in the hands of the people. Speaking to reporters on the completion of one year of the Narendra Modi-government, finance minister Arun… – Continue reading
It has become a $2 trillion question. Why don’t companies have to make clear exactly how much of their profits are generated offshore each year and not taxed in this country? Why must investors engage in jujitsu to estimate these figures and the risks associated with them? Companies, like individuals,… – Continue reading
ISLAMABAD – The PML-N government is mulling to bring amendments in law to empower Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to purchase urban land at about 25 per cent over and above rates declared in transfer deeds in order to stop tax evasion. Currently, the people involved in the real estate… – Continue reading
On 15 May 2015, Singapore has implemented a new enhanced regulatory framework for Singapore Corporate Services Providers. The strengthened regime for Singapore Corporate Services Providers is expected to help further boost the reputation of Singapore as a trusted international financial and business centre with robust regulatory frameworks against money laundering… – Continue reading
Tax Treaty Details Become Available The details of the Income Tax Treaty between Mauritius and the Republic of Congo have become available. The treaty will come into force after the two countries exchange ratification instruments. The provisions of the treaty will have effect from 1 January of the calendar year… – Continue reading
Details of new Tax treaty Become Available The details of the new Income Tax Treaty between Netherlands and Germany have become available following its ratification by Netherlands on 15 May 2015. The new treaty was signed on 12 April 2012. Once in force and effective, the new treaty will replace… – Continue reading
Tax Information Exchange Agreement Signed On 19 May 2015, Switzerland and Grenada signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement. Each country shall notify the other, in writing, of the completion of the procedures required by its law for the bringing into force of the Agreement. The Agreement shall enter into force… – Continue reading
State agencies have had their reasons to keep the cases silent. However, this has angered the public and economists. Silence gives the public another reason to believe that many names on the black list of FIEs (foreign invested enterprises) conducting transfer pricing have not been exposed. Nguyen Duc Kien, deputy… – Continue reading
The Treasury Department announced draft changes for the U.S. Model Income Tax Treaty — the baseline text used by the Treasury Department when it negotiates tax treaties. The current U.S. Model was last updated in 2006. The proposed changes in the draft provisions are intended to combat so-called Base Erosion… – Continue reading
The Cayman Islands Department of International Tax Cooperation has extended the deadlines for Cayman Reporting Financial Institutions (RFIs) to provide notification and reporting and to the Tax Information Authority for U.S. FATCA Reportable Accounts. RFIs now have until Friday, May 29, 2015 to submit notifications. The new reporting deadline is… – Continue reading
The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has informed Malaysian financial institutions (MYFIs) that their filing deadline in respect of the 2014 reporting year under the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) has been deferred from June 30, 2015. FATCA requires all FIs outside the United States to submit regular information… – Continue reading
The city’s most famous real-estate marketer has said he’s “leaning toward” supporting a levy on people who buy and then sell homes over a short period of time. “I suggest we look at a declining tax that sees a percentage of profits taxed if a home is sold—whether it’s three… – Continue reading
At the heart of the case is the Ecclestone family’s Bambino trust, which is based in the offshore tax haven of Liechtenstein Bernie Ecclestone is taking legal action against HM Revenue & Customs over claims that he owes the tax authority more than £1bn after it tore up a settlement… – Continue reading
Bern, 29.04.2015 – At its meeting today, the Federal Council decided to put into effect in two stages the Federal Law of 12 December 2014 on the implementation of the Financial Action Task Force recommendations, revised in 2012. On 12 December 2014 the Federal Assembly approved the Federal Law on… – Continue reading
The Cayman Islands Government today issued a report stating that it will continue its current method of providing beneficial ownership information to law enforcement, tax and regulatory authorities, as the method adheres to global standards. As explained in its Consultation Report on Maintenance of Legal and Beneficial Ownership Information, Government’s… – Continue reading
The Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (“FSC”) has welcomed the new Standard of Regulation that has been issued by the Group of International Finance Centre Supervisors (“GIFCS”). The FSC is a member of GIFCS and actively participated in the working group which drafted the standard. The FSC has been regulating this… – Continue reading
The finance ministry, after due consultations with the SIT on black money and various financial probe agencies, has decided that a team of senior officials will hold bilateral meetings with foreign jurisdictions either in India or at the locations of their counterparts to thrash out issues quickly, reports the India… – Continue reading
A US criminal investigation into how Swiss banks such as Julius Baer allegedly helped wealthy Americans to hide their money is likely to stretch into next year, the US ambassador to Switzerland signalled in a newspaper interview, reports Reuters. The criminal probe into a handful of banks has paved the… – Continue reading
President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued a number of federal decrees ratifying a number of agreements concluded with the governments of friendly countries. The decrees have been published in the recent issue of the federal official gazette, reports the Gulf Today. Sheikh Khalifa issued Federal… – Continue reading
The Compliance Commission (the Commission) has revised its Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Examination Forms which were last revised in 2010. The examination forms were revised to clarify: The requirement for a written Risk-based AML/CFT policies and procedures document; Examination of financial institutions with a branch or branches;… – Continue reading
Rio Tinto’s head of tax – who was recently hauled before the Senate inquiry into corporate tax avoidance about the lack of tax the miner pays – will now be also advising the Abbott government on how to improve the tax system and increase transparency in relation to the tax… – Continue reading
The Cayman Islands Government today issued a report stating that it will continue its current method of providing beneficial ownership information to law enforcement, tax and regulatory authorities, as the method adheres to global standards. As explained in its Consultation Report on Maintenance of Legal and Beneficial Ownership Information, Government’s… – Continue reading
FSC restructuring plans for 2015 he Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (FSC) has recently announced restructuring plans for 2015. The restructure will take effect on 1 January 2015, focussing on supporting efficient and effective delivery of the FSC’s regulatory objectives and with a particular focus on strengthening existing sector-specific expertise. This… – Continue reading
Georgia and Poland held negotiations in Warsaw this week over an agreement on avoiding double taxation on income and capital. At the bilateral meeting the sides initialed the renewal agreement, which is based on the OECD Model Convention 2014 and envisages the introduction of new standards of cooperation in taxation… – Continue reading
Canada’s health-care stocks are sizzling, as Concordia Healthcare Corp. and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc.’s buy-and-streamline strategy has pushed the industry’s earnings and margins ahead of U.S. peers. The drugmakers are the two top-performing stocks in the Canadian equity benchmark this year, boosting total returns for the members of the Standard… – Continue reading
NUMBER OF THE WEEK: 40 percent. The average combined federal and state tax rate paid by most U.S.-based firms, according to a Wall Street Journal op-ed by James Freeman today, entitled “The Tax Takeover Craze.” Freeman claims this is “roughly double the average in Europe and Asia,” and is the… – Continue reading
An investigation is underway after the blunder by the island’s tax body Income Tax Division released more than 500 taxpayer’s email addresses Isle of Man is home to many rich and famous trying to slash their tax bills The Isle of Man – a renowned tax haven for the rich… – Continue reading
It is quite clear that the more recent past has seen a notable shift in the debate from various supranational initiatives implemented over the years, designed to curtail the activities of smaller offshore financial centres, towards the real issues of tax transparency, regulatory cooperation and managing systemic risk in the… – Continue reading
OECD, G20 team up to plug loopholes that allow companies evade taxes in jurisdictions they operate to prevent tax base erosion There is now a serious global attempt to ensure that multinationals pay taxes in the jurisdiction in which they carry out their business. The attempt is being made keeping… – Continue reading
Jersey’s positive role in helping to drive forward and shape the international transparency landscape has been praised by a senior OECD tax expert at this year’s Jersey Finance Annual London Private Client Conference. Addressing an audience of more than 400 senior private client tax, trust and wealth management professionals at… – Continue reading
Jersey’s positive role in helping to drive forward and shape the international transparency landscape has been praised by a senior OECD tax expert at this year’s Jersey Finance Annual London Private Client Conference. Addressing an audience of more than 400 senior private client tax, trust and wealth management professionals at… – Continue reading
1. Global focus on transfer pricing There has been a recent surge in regulatory attention around the world towards pricing arrangements within multinational corporate groups. Regulators are concerned that these pricing arrangements may be used as a means of profit shifting and therefore tax avoidance. The price at which an… – Continue reading
In 2014, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) began making recommendations to Member States for the implementation of certain actions aimed at limiting base erosion and profit shifting, known as “BEPS”. The project includes 15 actions, representing 15 areas of regulation that allow states to monitor data which… – Continue reading
German tax law allows deferring the tax on certain disposal gains by transferring the hidden reserves in the disposed assets to similar newly acquired or newly produced assets (“Replacement Assets”). The tax deferral requires an allocation of the Replacement Assets to a German permanent establishment. The ECJ has recently ruled… – Continue reading
Egyptian tax on shares sold by non-residents In 2014, the Egyptian Income Tax law was changed to introduce a 10% Egyptian tax charge on the net gain realised on a disposal of shares in an Egyptian company. This tax charge is intended to apply to non-resident as well as resident… – Continue reading
