Spain: Tax Reform Package Designed
The tax reform committee in Spain will soon present proposals for a comprehensive tax system reform. It is expected that the committee will recommend simplification of the system and corporate taxation and individual income tax rate reductions,
See MoreNew Zealand: 15 Percent Superannuation Tax Option
New Zealand resident individuals will have increased options if they decide to transfer their foreign superannuation before 1 April 2014. Previous rules enabled a “15% option” for those who made a lump-sum withdrawal or a transfer to another
See MoreMexico: Electronic Invoicing mandatory
From 1 April 2014, individual taxpayers involved in business, providing professional services etc. must issue electronic invoices. The Mexican tax administration service has made available a free mobile application to record income and expenses,
See MoreCyprus and Norway: DTA signed
Cyprus and Norway have signed a Double Taxation Agreement on 24 February 2014, which will replace the current income tax treaty signed in 1951 by the UK and Norway. No further details of the agreement are currently
See MorePortugal: Tax law changes affecting corporate and individual taxpayers
The recently enacted changes following the 2014 budget proposals include some key changes to the corporate taxation regime as well as other tax law provisions: Reduction in the rate of corporate income tax, from 25% to 23%, for 2014; Expanded
See MoreSouth Africa: Revenue Service increases Transfer Duty Refund System
The South African Revenue Service’s (SARS’s) will not process manual requests for Transfer Duty refunds after February 17, 2014. This is follows introduction of electronic submission for Transfer Duty declarations and an e-Account for Transfer
See MoreSingapore: New guidance on GST and income tax treatment of virtual currencies
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has published guidance on GST and income tax treatment for virtual currencies. For GST purposes, virtual currencies will be treated as a supply of services, which does not qualify for GST
See MoreNamibia: Budget for 2014/15
The 2014-15 Budget was presented by the Minister of Finance on 19 February 2014, and includes the following measures: Corporate taxation: The non-mining corporate income tax rate will be reduced from 33% to 32%. VAT: The VAT registration
See MoreMorocco & India: Amending protocol of DTA approved
The Moroccan Council of Government approved the amending protocol to the India and Morocco Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) on 20 February 2014 and it was signed on 8 August 2013, . The protocol applies mainly to the exchange of tax information
See MoreEU: Comments on global standard against tax evasion
The European Commission has issued a statement in support of an agreement by the G20 Finance Ministers on a new global standard to counter tax evasion and to improve tax transparency worldwide. The release states that the European Commission
See MoreDenmark: Modifications to cash payment incentive for research and development
The Danish parliament adopted Bill (L 103) on 29 January 2014, under which companies may apply for a maximum cash incentive amounting to 24.5% of DKK 25 million for qualifying R&D costs from 2014. The cash incentive is to be computed on a
See MoreAustria’s Finance Minister clarifies FTT Start in 2016
Austria’s Finance Minister has clarified that a European Union (EU) financial transactions tax (FTT) will not come into effect until at least 2016. Austria’s State Budgets for 2014 and 2015 will reflect the delays and will not make provision for
See MoreVietnam: Individual Income Tax Guidance for 2013
General Department of Taxation in Vietnam has confirmed the guidance in January 2014 on personal income tax for 2013 providing methodologies on how to calculate taxable income and tax liabilities for net and gross employment contracts. Tax
See MoreUS: Proposes tax break for investment in infrastructure fund
The US is planning a tax break for US companies if they invest in the fund to be set up by the proposed bipartisan Partnership to Build America Act. US companies would be able to repatriate a certain dollar amount in overseas and will be able to
See MoreUS: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) loses appeal on the reforms of legislation for tax preparers
The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has lost its appeal on the reforms of rules for tax preparers against the ruling by the court that ordered to stop enforcing regulatory requirements on tax return preparers. The ruling is important
See MoreUkraine: Reduces corporate income tax and Value Added Tax (VAT) rates
Ukraine has reduced corporate income tax and VAT rates from 1 January 2014. The reduced rates are: For corporate income tax: 18% from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014; 17% from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015; 16% from 1 January 2016. VAT
See MoreUK: National audit office reports unrecovered tax debt of GBP15.1bn
National audit office of UK has reported that that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is owed at least GBP15.1bn in unpaid debt. The report also adds that the Government should revise this responsibility and thus the recovery of tax credit over payments
See MoreUK: publishes draft legislation to eliminate stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax on Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)
HMRC has published for consultation a draft Statutory Instrument and a Tax Information and Impact Note on 17 February 2014. It was intended to abolish of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax on transfers of interests in Exchange Traded Funds
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