UAE: MoF still works with VAT regulations
The Ministry of Finance is still in the process of preparing the executive VAT regulation, in coordination with the concerned authorities. The Finance Ministry is committed to working with the highest levels of transparency and disclosure
See MorePakistan: Ministries of the NHS directs government to make cigarettes inaccessible to the citizens
Recently, the ministries of national health services (NHS) and the finance department have been asked to implement the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Agreement on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to make cigarettes inaccessible to citizens by
See MoreIreland: Budget for 2018
On 10 October 2017, the Irish government presented details of the Budget 2018. This budget delivers the Government’s long standing target of balancing the books in structural terms next year by reaching the Medium Term Budgetary Objective better
See MoreZambia: Budget for 2018
Finance Minister of Zambia presented the 2018 National Budget for the year 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018 to the National Assembly on 29th September 2017. Budget for 2018, which lays out the various expenditure and revenue measures aimed at
See MoreEuropean Commission proposes far reaching VAT reform plans
The European Commission published plans on 4 October 2017 that would fundamentally change the current VAT system applied by EU Member States. The proposals are aimed on the one hand at cutting back on VAT fraud, and on the other at simplifying
See MoreEuropean Commission Communication on taxation of digital business
Following on from a call for action from four EU finance ministers, the European Commission published a report on 21 September 2017 setting out the issues on how to tax digital business and some possible solutions. These included, by way of short
See MoreCanada: CETA Trade Agreement enters into force
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and European Union came into force on September 21, 2017. The CETA is a progressive free trade agreement that covers virtually all sectors and aspects of Canada-EU trade in order
See MoreUAE: Excise tax on tobacco, energy and soft drinks enters into effect
The Ministry of Finance was published the implementing regulations to the Excise Tax Law. This Excise Tax Law regarding production of excise goods in the UAE, import of excise goods in the UAE, release of excise goods from a designated zone and
See MoreUK: Statistics on uptake of patent box relief
On 14 September 2017 the UK government published statistics in relation to the patent box legislation introduced from 1 April 2013. These statistics can be used by the government to assess the benefit to the economy from uptake of the tax relief,
See MoreCanada: Finance Department announces public consultation on draft tax legislative proposals
The Finance Department released a public consultation on September 8, 2017 regarding draft legislative and regulatory proposals on the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) and excise duty as well as income tax. GST/HST and Excise
See MoreUK: Main 2017 tax changes affecting corporation tax
The budget insert for the CT600 company tax return, initially issued in March 2017, has been updated to include further information on changes affecting the return. The changes cover announcements made in the 2016 Autumn Statement and measures in
See MoreUK: Tax paid by the banking sector
On 24 August 2017 HMRC issued statistics relating to the UK taxes paid by the banking sector. The sector is defined for this purpose as businesses potentially eligible to pay the bank surcharge. These statistics are of interest to government and
See MoreIMF report looks at US economic prospects and tax reform
On 26 July 2017 the IMF issued a staff report following the conclusion of consultations with the US under Article IV of the IMF’s articles of agreement. The report suggests that in the medium term reforms should include a more efficient tax
See MoreOECD: Revenue Statistics in Asian Countries
On 20 July 2017 the OECD published the latest edition of its publication Revenue Statistics in Asian Countries. This covers trends of revenue statistics in Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea (Rep), Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore between 1990
See MoreSaudi Arabia: Shura Council approves VAT Law
Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council has approved the proposed VAT Law on 13 July 2017. The approval follows the launch of a public consultation for the draft law in June by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Zakat & Tax (GAZT). The text passed by
See MoreRomania: Planning progressive Income Tax
The Government of Romania is planning to replace the flat tax on corporate income with a tax on turnover and this could be effective as early as 2018. The company revenues in Romania are currently taxed at a rate of 16%, but this could be replaced
See MoreIndia: Government removes additional excise duty on tobacco, cigarettes under GST
After the GST implementation in India, the finance ministry has removed an additional excise duty on tobacco, pan masala and cigarettes with effect from 1 July 2017. The revenue department also withdraws the central excise notification dated
See MoreTanzania: 2017 Budget effective from July 1, 2017
The Minister for Finance and Planning (MoFP) on 8 June 2017, issued to the National Assembly the estimates of government revenue and expenditure for 2017. The government plans to organise and spend TZS 31,712.0 billion in the 2017/18 budget. The
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