US: House Passes Permanent Ban On Internet Access Taxes
The House Tuesday passed a bill that would make permanent the ban on taxing Internet access. The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to this bill that Congress has temporarily extended three times over the past 16 years. The bill not only ban
See MoreSlovak Republic: Amendments to the VAT Act
The VAT act amendments would generally apply with effect from January 1, 2015. The main changes are given below: The place of supply of telecommunication, broadcasting and electronic services provides to non-taxable persons. The special scheme
See MoreRomania: Under pressure on VAT recovery process
Romania has formally requested by the European Commission to improve its Value Added Tax (VAT) recovery process. The caused for opinion from the European Commission, the step before proceedings at the European Court of Justice, states that the
See MoreSpain Fined Over State Aid in Basque Provinces
Spain has been ordered by the European Court of Justice to pay a penalty amounting to EUR 30 million for failing to recover state aid granted by three Basque Provinces and ruled to be contrary to EU law. The state aid provisions of EU law are
See MoreNew Zealand to increase Tobacco Taxation
New Zealand is to reduce the duty-free allowances for tobacco and raise its excise duty in a move described as an attempt to reduce the amount of smoking. The move will also increase government revenue from excise tax on tobacco, at least in the
See MoreEU – Customs tariff duties suspension on industrial and agricultural products
The European Commission has issued a notice to economic operators in relation to the suspension of autonomous common customs tariff duties on certain industrial and agricultural products. A list of the products affected by the measure is available
See MoreEU Member States React To EU FTT Declaration
Some EU member states have commented on the intention of a number of member states to go ahead with the introduction of a financial transactions tax (FTT) under the EU’s enhanced cooperation provisions. The member states that are not participating
See MoreTurkey: Improves VAT compliance procedures
Turkey is to make a number of changes aimed at improving the value added tax (VAT) compliance regime. These changes include the possibility for large taxable persons to receive VAT refunds faster. the VAT legislation is to be consolidated into a
See MoreSouth Africa Consults on Alcoholic Beverage Taxes
South Africa has issued a discussion paper for comment on taxation of alcoholic drinks. This document looks at the issue of whether a uniform tax should be imposed on alcoholic drinks rather than a separate excise duty for different types of
See MoreEU – Update on financial transaction tax
The ECOFIN Council, consisting of economic and finance ministers of EU countries, has looked at a proposal for a financial transaction tax (FTT) directive. The member states involved in the measure want to implement a revised version of their
See MoreEU – European Bankers Warn Of FTT Fallout
The European Banking Federation (EBF) considers that the introduction of a financial transaction tax (FTT) by some European Union member states will create uncertainty for business in the whole EU. Even if the FTT is implemented by only some of the
See MoreEU To Reduce Bureaucracy for Trade Sanctions
The European parliament has given its approval to new rules that will permit a rise in customs duties on the EU’s trading partners by means of an executive decision. This will enable the Commission to more efficiently enforce EU rights under
See MoreEU Member States Criticized for Lack of Transparency in FTT
At the EU’s ECOFIN meeting of economic and financial ministers on 6 May 2014 a joint statement was issued by ten of the member states that are going ahead with the financial transactions tax (FTT) In all, eleven EU member states have decided to
See MoreEU Emissions Trading Changes Extended To EFTA
A new regulation has been inserted into the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) agreement to incorporate changes already made under the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme. The changes were originally put through by the EU in April 2013 to ensure
See MoreEU: CJEU dismisses UK’s challenge to EU Financial Transaction Tax
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has dismissed an attempt by the UK to challenge the legality of the Council decision of 22 January 2013 in respect of enhanced cooperation by a group of EU member states to introduce a financial
See MoreMexico – VAT certification by maquiladoras
The maquiladora regime provides some favorable tax provisions but caution is needed with administrative procedures in respect of VAT. As a result of changes introduced in the 2014 tax reform maquiladoras must take certain actions to ensure they are
See MoreTurkey: threatens 38% VAT on Twitter ads
Turkey’s Finance Ministry suggests that VAT on domestic advertising should be doubled from 18% to 36%. This would recover some local tax revenues from non-resident social networking sites that otherwise pay little tax in the country. Other
See MoreTanzania: Reconsiders gas windfall tax proposal
Tanzania may decide against a windfall tax on production, which had been considered as part of the National Natural Gas Policy (NNGP). It is now considered that a windfall tax might not be appropriate in the initial stages of natural gas extraction,
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