Canada: 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 MoreUS: IRS publishes interest rates for fourth quarter
The Internal Revenue Service on 8 September 2017 announced that interest rates will remain the same for the calendar quarter beginning October 1, 2017. The rates will be four percent for overpayments (three percent in the case of a corporation); one
See MoreUK: HMRC reveals details of employment remuneration tax avoidance schemes
HMRC has published details of tax avoidance schemes that are being used by employers, agencies and other intermediaries to avoid payment of income tax and national insurance contributions. These and other types of tax avoidance scheme are published
See MoreUK: HMRC to continue risk-based approach to PAYE filing penalties
HMRC notes in the August 2017 issue of its Employer Bulletin that it has reviewed the use of the risk-based approach to PAYE penalties for late filing and has decided to continue the same approach in the tax year from 6 April 2017. Late filing
See MoreIMF report comments on economic position of Japan
The IMF issued a report on Japan’s economic position on 31 July 2017 following the conclusion of discussions under Article IV of the IMF’s articles of association. The report notes that Japan’s economy is growing above potential with positive
See MoreOECD: Meeting of Inclusive Framework on BEPS
On 22 June 2017 the third meeting of the inclusive framework on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) took place in the Netherlands with representatives of 83 countries and jurisdictions and 12 international and regional organizations. The
See MoreJersey: Inviting comments for proposed new tax penalties
A public consultation has been announced on 27th March 2017 by the Treasury and Resources department to request comments on proposed new tax penalties. The Taxes Office is asking for public views on proposed new financial penalties. This would be
See MoreUK: Finance Act 2016, Section 162(1) and Schedule 20 Regulations 2016
On 19 December 2016, the Finance Act 2016, Section 162(1) and Schedule 20 (Appointed Day) Regulations 2016 were made. The Regulations appoint 1st January 2017 as the day on which section 162(1) of and Schedule 20 to the Finance Act 2016 (c. 24)
See MoreUK: Revised professional code of conduct to combat tax avoidance
On 1 November 2016 HMRC announced that seven leading tax and accountancy bodies in the UK have revised their Professional Conduct in Relation to Tax (PCRT) to emphasize that members of these professional bodies should not encourage tax avoidance
See MoreUK: Report highlights HMRC tax investigations of high net worth individuals
The UK’s National Audit Office has noted that the tax authority HMRC is currently pursuing around a third of the UK’s wealthiest people for a total of around GBP 1.9 billion in underpaid tax. The National Audit Office (NAO) is a watchdog that
See MoreUK: Consultation on tackling the hidden economy
On 26 August HMRC launched three new consultations containing proposals to tackle the hidden economy. Comments are invited from interested parties by 21 October 2016. Hidden economy: extended power to collect data from money service
See MoreOECD: Discussion draft on branch mismatch structures
On 22 August 2016 the OECD released a discussion draft on branch mismatch structures under Action 2 of the OECD report on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS). Comments are invited from interested parties by 19 September 2016. The discussion
See MoreUK: Strengthening tax avoidance sanctions and deterrents
The UK government issued a discussion document on strengthening tax avoidance sanctions and deterrents on 17 August 2016. In recent years the UK government has taken steps to tackle tax avoidance by introducing tougher measures and structural
See MoreUK: Consultation on tackling disguised remuneration
On 10 August 2016 HMRC issued a consultation document on tackling disguised remuneration. This consultation follows the issue earlier in the year of an overview of the proposed changes and a technical note setting out the background and intended
See MoreUK: Research report on intermediaries legislation
On 12 July 2016 HMRC published the results of research undertaken to understand the implications for employers and engagers if they are given responsibility for operating the intermediaries legislation. The intermediaries legislation combats tax
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 MoreOECD: Taxing Wages 2016
The OECD has published Taxing Wages 2016 which shows that tax on income from labor remained at 35.9% for OECD countries in 2015, the same as in the previous year. Before that the tax burden on labor had been rising for some years. The publication
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