Canada: Federal budget bill C-74 receives first reading
The Canadian federal government released first reading of Budget Implement Act (Bill C-74) on March 27, 2018. This bill includes measures from the 2018 federal budget and other measures including income tax amendments, such as, small business tax
See MoreSaudi Arabia: Circular regarding VAT treatment of contracts signed with government bodies
The Ministry of Finance in Saudi Arabia issued a circular on 22 March 2018 clarifying the treatment of VAT on contracts concluded between VAT registered suppliers and government bodies before, on, or after 1 January 2018. The circular emphasizes
See MoreGovernment of Iraq issued 2018 Federal Budget
The Iraqi Parliament passed its 2018 Budget Act (the Budget) on 3 March 2018. The Budget includes several measures to support economic growth and fiscal stability as Iraq recovers after the 2017 military defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
See MoreOECD: Further guidance on attribution of profits to permanent establishments
On 22 March 2018 the OECD issued a report entitled “Additional Guidance on the Attribution of Profits to Permanent Establishments, BEPS Action 7”. This latest guidance follows the issue of a discussion draft on 22 June 2017 containing guidance
See MoreSlovenia deposited its instrument of ratification of the MLI
The OECD announced on 22 March 2018 that the multilateral monvention to implement tax treaty related measures to prevent base erosion and profit shifting (MLI) will first enter into force on 1 July 2018, following Slovenia’s deposit of the fifth
See MoreOECD announces date of entry into force of multilateral instrument
On 22 March 2018 the OECD announced that the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting is to enter into force on 1 July 2018. The Convention allows the signatories to quickly and
See MoreEU: Proposals on taxation of digital activities
On 21 March 2018 the European Commission proposed rules on taxation of digital business activities in the EU. These tax measures propose to adapt the tax laws for the digital economy. The tax rules for digital businesses including social media
See MoreUK: update on corporate taxation and the digital economy
In March 2018 the UK has issued an updated position paper on corporate taxation and the digital economy, following an earlier consultation on the issue. The UK government considers that the engagement and participation of users is important for
See MoreOECD: Interim report on tax challenges of the digital economy
The interim report on tax challenges of the digital economy was published on 16 March 2018. The 2015 report on action 1 of the action plan on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) on tax challenges of the digital economy outlined the ways in
See MoreOECD: Tax disclosure rules for advisors and intermediaries
On 9 March 2018 the OECD has issued model disclosure rules requiring lawyers, accountants, financial advisors, banks and other service providers to inform tax authorities of any schemes they set up for their clients to avoid reporting requirements
See MoreOECD: Third round of peer reviews on dispute resolution mechanisms
On 12 March 2018 the OECD released the third round of peer reviews relating to improving tax dispute resolution mechanisms to make them more timely, relevant and effective. Action 14 of the action plan on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) was
See MoreAustralia: Implementing the OECD Hybrid Mismatch Rules
The Australian Government announced in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 Budgets that it would implement the Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development’s (OECD) rules aimed at eliminating double non-taxation benefits from hybrid mismatch
See MoreBelgium: Constitutional Court announces the fairness tax unconstitutional
On 1 March 2018, The Constitutional Court of Belgium announced the fairness tax unconstitutional, thus nullifying it (judgment n° 24/2018). According to the Court’s ruling, however, the fairness tax is maintained until financial year 2017 (tax
See MoreOECD and Egypt launch programme on implementation of BEPS standards
On 7 March 2018 the OECD and Egypt’s Ministry of Finance launched a programme entitled Enhancing domestic resource mobilisation in Egypt through a better tax and exchange of information system. The programme involves funding from the EU to support
See MoreCanada: CRA tightens its GST/HST Voluntary Disclosure Program
The Government is committed to cracking down on tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance to ensure a system that is responsive and fair for all Canadians. A revised Voluntary Disclosures Program (VDP) came into effect form March 1, 2018, to narrow
See MoreSingapore: The excise duties imposed on all tobacco products increased by 10%
On 19 February 2018, the Budget for 2018 was presented to Parliament by the Finance Minister. The Finance Minister, Heng Swee Keat, earlier the same day during the nation’s annual Budget speech announced that the Government will impose a 10%
See MoreItaly: Draft transfer pricing regulations and corresponding adjustments
On February 21, 2018 the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance released its draft transfer pricing rules to comply with the Article 8-10 OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project. The draft rules are declared in their website for
See MoreOECD: Project to examine differences between Brazil’s transfer pricing rules and the Guidelines
On 28 February 2018 the OECD and Brazil began a joint project to examine the similarities and gaps in approaches to valuation of cross-border transactions. The project aims to produce an assessment of possibilities to bring the transfer pricing
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