Germany: Publishes social security contributions thresholds for 2017
The Federal Council approved the regulation concerning the thresholds for social security contributions for 2017 on 25 November 2016, which had been previously approved by the Federal Cabinet on 12 October
See MoreBulgaria: Proposal to keep health insurance contribution rate at 8% for 2017
The Bulgarian Council of Ministers has submitted a proposal to the National Assembly on 31st October 2016 concerning the Act on the budget of the National Health Insurance Fund for 2017. In accordance with the proposal, the compulsory health
See MoreUK: Date of Autumn Statement announced
The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer is to announce the Autumn Statement on 23 November 2016. The Autumn Statement is sometimes used to introduce new tax measures or to announce intended legislation for the following year's budget. Often draft
See MoreUK: Consultation on taxation of benefits in kind under salary sacrifice schemes
On 10 August 2016 the UK issued a consultation document looking at possible effects of changing the way benefits apply when a benefit in kind is provided in relation to a salary sacrifice or flexible benefit scheme. The government is considering a
See MoreUK: Consultation on tax and national insurance on termination payments
Following a consultation earlier this year and consideration of the responses received HMRC has published a further consultation paper containing draft legislation on the taxation of payments received on termination of employment.. The government
See MoreUK: Consultation on reforms to the intermediaries legislation for the public sector
The intermediaries legislation was introduced in the UK to ensure that people doing the same work for the same pay were liable to the same tax and national insurance contributions whether employed directly or working through an intermediary such as
See MoreUK: Updated guidance on PAYE penalties confirms continuation of penalty easement
HMRC has issued updated guidance on penalties for late filing and non-filing of PAYE returns and how to avoid them. The revised guidance confirms that employers filing their full payment within three days after the due date will not have to pay a
See MoreUK: Guidance on income tax exemption for trivial benefits in kind
Draft legislation on the income tax exemption for trivial benefits in kind is to be included in the UK Finance Bill 2016. Draft regulations have also been published to extend this exemption to benefits in kind provided to former employees and to
See MoreUK: Consultation on changes to National Insurance Contributions
On 9 December 2015 the UK issued a consultation document proposing changes to Class 2 and Class 4 national insurance contributions. These are payments made by self-employed people in respect of entitlement social security benefits including the
See MoreMalaysia: Budget 2016
The Malaysian Prime Minister announced Malaysia's 2016 budget on 23 October 2015 highlighting some tax measures including corporate and personal income taxation changes. Corporate taxation A special reinvestment allowance of 60% of qualifying
See MoreKazakhstan: Bill regarding social health insurance sent to Senate
A bill about compulsory social health insurance contributions has been introduced and was sent to Senate on 8th October 2015. This bill is about a new social health insurance system to be launched from 2017. In calculating social health insurance
See MoreKazakhstan: President signs a Law on pensions
The President has signed a law on 4th August 2015 to amend the process of obligatory pension contributions and budget funded state pension payments. The main amendments are given below: Employers Employers are obliged to withhold from salary and
See MoreTurkey: Personal Tax Allowances Increased
Law no. 6645 has been published in the official gazette on 23rd April 2015. The law amends the individual income tax law. Article 8 of this law raises the minimum living allowance rate approved for the third child to 10% from 5%. The basic
See MoreUK: Budget Announcements for 2015/16
The UK budget announcements were delivered on 18 March 2015. The detail of the announcements is as follows: Business tax measures As already announced the UK corporation tax rate is 20% from 1 April 2015. The budget announcements include the
See MoreVenezuela: Monthly minimum salary increases
The President has declared an increment in the monthly minimum salary (MMS) from VEF 4,889.11 to VEF 5,622.47 on 21st January 2015, and it should have been applicable as from 1st February 2015. But, the Decree announcing the increase has not yet
See MoreOECD: report on encouraging entrepreneurship
In December 2014 the OECD published a study entitled “The Missing Entrepreneurs 2014: Policies for Inclusive Entrepreneurship in Europe”. This looks at the possibilities for entrepreneurship and self-employment for groups in Europe that are
See MoreSpain: Amendment of Social Security Contribution Rules
Spain amended the social security contribution rules through the Ministerial Order ESS/86/2015 of 30 January 2015. The Order implements the social security contribution rules established in the Budget Law for 2015, including unemployment, protection
See MoreGCC average salaries in 2015 are set to rise 5% as per latest pay forecast
Salaries of GCC countries are set to rise next year as per the pay forecast of Hay Group, the global management consultancy. The forecast is based on over 1,600 organizations representing 1 million employees in the GCC countries. It shows that the
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