EU: Applications for customs duty relief
For enterprises which want to claim relief from customs duty regarding imports of specific goods into the European Union (EU), the following due date for filing applications is 31 July 2013. This relief from import duty normally applies to imported
See MoreECJ: Decision in the Ocean Finance case
The case of Paul Newey (trading as Ocean Finance) concerned a UK loan broker arranging loans between lenders and borrowers within the UK. Mr. Newey set up a Jersey company called Alabaster (CI) Ltd and gave this company the right to use the trading
See MoreUN: Economic and Social Council to consider Manual on Transfer Pricing
A substantive session of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations is taking place in Geneva from 1 to 26 July 2013. A draft resolution tabled for the meeting the Economic and Social Council notes the work of the Committee of Experts on
See MoreCroatia joins European Union
Croatia became the 28 member of the European Union on July 1, 2013. For customs purposes, goods in free circulation in Croatia at the moment of accession are in free circulation throughout the enlarged EU, subject to transitional provisions in
See MoreECJ gives a preliminary ruling on the place of supply of storage services
RR Donnelly Global Turnkey Solutions Poland supplied services related to the storage of goods to companies located inside and outside the EU. The Polish government considered that the services were liable to VAT in Poland because they were services
See MoreOECD: Treatment of termination payments in tax treaties
A discussion document on the treatment of termination payments in tax treaties was issued by the OECD on 25 June 2013. The document discusses various categories of payment made to employees on or after the termination of their employment and
See MoreECJ rules on relevance of contractual terms in VAT supply
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has reached a decision in the case of HMRC v Paul Newey t/a Ocean Finance (C-653/11). This case concerned the relevance of contractual terms to the identification of the supplier and recipient of services for the
See MoreECJ: Advocate General issues opinion on VAT and educational services
A question was referred to the ECJ by the Supreme Court of Poland in respect of VAT on educational services. The Advocate General has now issued an opinion on the case, which is however not binding on the ECJ which will issue its decision at a later
See MoreECJ: Finland refers a question on VAT on electronic publications
The Supreme Administrative Court of Finland on 23 April 2013 asked for a ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in respect of the neutrality principle and its implications for the Finnish VAT on books in electronic form. The question put
See MoreUN Manual: E-version of Transfer Pricing Manual officially launched by United Nations
Recently on 29th May 2013 a special meeting of the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on the subject of “International cooperation in tax matters” was held at New York. At this meeting the United Nations officially launched the
See MoreOECD: Draft Handbook on Transfer Pricing Risk Assessment
The Steering Committee of the OECD Global Forum on Transfer Pricing undertook a project on transfer pricing risk assessment in November 2011. The objective of that project was to produce a practical handbook for providing clear and detailed steps
See MoreUN: Expert Group Meeting on Extractive Industries Taxation
Revenue from minerals is one way in which a developing country can finance its national development and pursue social goals. Currently however not enough tax and other revenue is being obtained by developing countries from mineral exploration and
See MoreOECD report on Tax Administration for 2013
The document Tax Administration 2013 has been issued by the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration. This report includes statistics on tax administration from 52 tax administrations covering advanced and emerging economies. The document is
See MoreUN_ECOSOC meeting to discuss international tax issues
A meeting of the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is to take place on 29 May 2013 to discuss the issue of international cooperation in taxation issues and the structural arrangements put in place to encourage this cooperation. Tax
See MoreOECD Approves Changes to Transfer Pricing Guidelines on Safe Harbours
The OECD has approved the amended section of the OECD transfer pricing guidelines concerning safe harbours. The draft revised guidelines developed by the OECD were initially published for public consultation in June 2012. Following the receipt of
See MoreOECD Working Paper looks at distortive effects of Swiss tax system
A Working Paper written by Andrés Fuentes and published by the OECD looks at features of the Swiss tax system and examines the extent to which certain aspects of the system may have a distorting effect on the Swiss economy. Generally Switzerland
See MoreGermany: Amendments to the taxation of portfolio dividends
A new law in respect of dividend taxation was published in the Federal Gazette on 21 March 2013. This law has been introduced following a decision of the European Court of Justice in 20 October 2011 which required a review of the taxation of
See MoreBrazil: Tax subtraction from donations and sponsorships
Decree No. 7,988/2013 was published in the Official Gazette of 18 April 2013 and in force as of that date. Individuals and legal entities under the actual profit regime can deduct sponsorships and donations made to the National Program for
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