UK: Additional Measures to Support Business
On 17 March 2020 the UK government announced further measures to support businesses hit by the health crisis. In announcing a package worth GBP 20 billion the Chancellor also confirmed that, as a result of government advice to people to avoid
See MoreEcuador: Internal Revenue publishes rules on dividend withholding tax
On 20 February 2020, the Internal Revenue Service published a Resolution NAC-DGERCGC20-00000013 of 20 February 2020 regarding rules of how to distribute the dividend withholding tax (WHT) by a resident company or a permanent establishment in
See MoreLuxembourg: Tax Authority issues new guidance on CFC rules
On 4 March 2020, the Luxembourg Tax Authority has issued Circular n°164ter/1 on the controlled foreign corporation (CFC) rules. Luxembourg enacted CFC rules as part of the implementation of the EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD) on 21 December
See MoreCOVID-19: Icelandic parliament passes legislation providing postponement of tax payments
On 13 March 2020, the parliament of Iceland has passed a legislation that provides for the postponement of tax payments. Legal entities are permitted to postpone the payment of half of the social security tax, that was originally due on 16 March
See MoreEgypt issues Law on renewing tax dispute settlement
On 3 March 2020, Egypt has issued Law 16 on tax disputes resolution in the official gazette. The Law has amended the previous Law 79 of 2016 and extended the provision of tax dispute settlement until 30 June 2020. The Law added a new
See MoreCOVID-19: Hong Kong announces tax relief measures
The Hong Kong government has announced a series of measures in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Taxpayers who encounter financial difficulties in settling their tax bills on time may apply to the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) for
See MoreSerbia: Ministry of Finance publishes safe harbor interest rates for 2020
The Serbian ministry of finance has published the Rulebook on arm’s length interest rates that are applicable for 2020, which apply to interest rates on loans and credits between associated parties. The Rulebook was published in the Official
See MoreCanada: Prime Minister announces a Plan to provide support for businesses during COVID-19 pandemic
On 13 March 2020, the Finance Minister, Bill Morneau, announced COVID-19 Economic Response Plan to help stabilize the economy and help Canadians affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic period. To support Canadian businesses during this
See MoreSouth Africa: Revenue Service publishes guide regarding capital gains tax
On 11 March 2020, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) published a guide regarding capital gains tax for companies. The guide provides a basic introduction to capital gains tax (CGT) and should not be used as a legal reference. The guide covers
See MoreECJ: Decision on State Aid and Turnover Tax
On 3 March 2020 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) issued a decision in Vodafone Magyarország Mobil Távközlési Zrt. The company was a subsidiary of Vodafone Europe B.V operating in the telecommunications market and set up under Hungarian law.
See MoreECJ decision on compatibility of progressive turnover tax with EU law
On 3 March 2020 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) issued a decision in the case of Tesco-Global Áruházak Zrt. The company, a part of the Tesco plc group, was a public limited company set up under Hungarian law operating in the wholesale and
See MoreOECD: Comments on CbC Reporting Consultation
On 9 March 2020 the OECD published comments received from interested parties on the consultation on country by country reporting. The consultation was launched in relation to the 2020 review of the CbC reporting rules provided for by the OECD as
See MoreWorld Tax Brief: March 2020
NamibiaIncentives: On 19 February 2020, the Minister of Finance tabled the first income tax amendment bill of 2020 in Parliament that repeals the tax incentives applicable to registered manufacturers and export processing zones. See the
See MoreIMF Blog Outlines Fiscal Policy Responses to the Health Crisis
An IMF blog published on 5 March 2020 is concerned with fiscal policy responses to the outbreak of coronavirus. The blog emphasises that the priority for governments is health spending for prevention and cure, and to ensure that health services
See MoreChina extends tax filing deadline for March 2020
On 3 March 2020, the State Taxation Administration (SAT) of China issued Notice No. 37, that extended the tax filing deadline for March 2020, to 23 March 2020 from 16 March 2020, nationwide. The regions where are still in the top-level response to
See MoreIMF Report Discusses Australia’s Economic Situation
On 4 March 2020 the IMF published a report following the conclusion of discussions with Australia under Article IV of the IMF’s articles of agreement. Economic growth recovered gradually in 2019 with a contribution from net exports. Growth is
See MoreNamibia introduces a bill to repeal tax incentives for manufacturing and export processing zones
On 19 February 2020, the Minister of Finance tabled the first income tax amendment bill of 2020 in Parliament that repeals the tax incentives applicable to registered manufacturers and export processing zones (“EPZ”). For manufacturers, this
See MoreHong Kong: Financial Secretary presents the budget for 2020/21
On 26 February 2020, the Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced the 2020/21 budget outlining the Hong Kong SAR Government’s plan for the economy and proposals for taxation developments. He proposed the following tax concessionary measures,
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