Slovak Republic enacts sugar tax, targets sweetened nonalcoholic beverages
The Slovakian Parliament enacted the Act on Tax (sugar tax) targeting sweetened nonalcoholic beverages on 11 September 2024. This follows after the Slovak Republic’s Ministry of Finance initiated a public consultation on draft legislation in
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OECD: Economic Survey of Malaysia
On 27 August 2024 the OECD published its latest Economic Survey of Malaysia. The survey notes that Malaysia’s economy has grown significantly since the 1960s, with a higher per capita income than other countries in the region. Malaysia is
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Australia publishes guidance on GST for food, drinks, health products
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has provided guidance to help taxpayers navigate the goods and services tax (GST) classification of food, beverages, and health products, clarifying whether these items are subject to tax or GST-free. ATO has
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Italy extends plastic and sugar tax suspension
Italy has enacted Law No. 67 of 23 May 2024, now published in the Official Gazette, which converts Decree-Law No. 39 of 29 March 2024 into law with specific amendments. The key measure in this legislation is the continued suspension of the
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Slovak Republic consults public regarding draft bill to tax sugary beverages
The Slovak Republic’s Ministry of Finance has proposed a draft bill for public consultation on taxing sugary beverages and drinks with sweeteners. The tax on sweetened soft drinks (TSSD) is classified as an indirect tax on consumption. This
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UN Tax Committee Discusses Health Tax Guidance
On 22 March 2024 the UN Tax Committee discussed the latest output from the work program of the health subcommittee which is producing a handbook on health taxes for developing countries. Health taxes can apply to tobacco, alcohol, sugar-sweetened
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WHO: Launch of Technical Manual on Alcohol Tax Policy and Administration
On 5 December 2023 a webinar was held to launch the WHO technical manual on alcohol tax policy and administration. See: WHO technical manual on alcohol tax policy and administration . Rudiger Krech, the director of health promotion at the WHO,
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UN Tax Committee considers transfer pricing and treaty issues
The 27th session of the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters took place from 17 to 20 October 2023. Subcommittees dealing with various areas of taxation presented updates to the Tax Committee on their
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Kuwait: IMF Report Recommends Implementation of VAT and Excise Taxes
On 5 June 2023 the IMF published a report following consultations with Kuwait under Article IV of the IMF’s articles of agreement. Kuwait’s economy has begun to recover after the pandemic with economic growth estimated at 8.2% in 2022 as a
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South Africa introduces reduced income tax rates
On 16 January 2023, the National Treasury of South Africa published a media statement regarding the publication of the country's 2022 tax acts in the Official Gazette. Personal Income Tax Personal income tax rebate has been amended, i.e., a
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Uzbekistan: Tax Changes for 2023
It was reported on 5 January 2023 that the 2023 budget allocations have kept the basic tax rate of profit tax at 15%. The personal income tax rate remains 12%, and the property tax rate continues at 1.5%. The levels of tax collection and government
See MoreUN: Handbook on Health Taxes to be Drafted
At the meeting of the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters from 18 to 21 October 2022 the health tax subcommittee gave further details of its developing work. The subcommittee is focusing on producing a Handbook on
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Oman: Implementation of Digital Tagging of Excisable Goods
The Oman Tax Authority has announced new timelines for the phased implementation of its Digital Tax Stamps project – an initiative designed to help regulate the import, trade and sale of excisable products, as well as to optimise the collection of
See MoreCentre for Global Development – Health Taxes During the Recovery
On 19 April the Centre for Global Development (CGD) held a discussion on how the IMF and World Bank can use their knowledge of health taxes to help lower- and middle-income countries recover more quickly from the pandemic. The panel consisted of
See MoreNigeria: President signs Finance Bill 2021 into Law
On 31 December 2021, the President, Muhammadu Buhari, signed the Finance Bill 2021 into Law at an event at the state house. The Act introduces various changes to 12 different laws in Nigeria. On 21 December 2021, Senate passed this Finance Bill
See MoreIMF: Excise Taxes to Fight Obesity
On 10 December 2021 the IMF issued a note entitled How to Apply Excise Taxes to Fight Obesity. Measures to fight obesity have been complex to design owing to the complexity of food supply chains and the difficulty of targeting consumption of
See MoreItaly: Council of Ministers Approves Budget for FY 2022
28 October 2021, Italian Council of Ministers has issued a release declaring its approval of the Budget for FY 2022. The key tax measures include plastic tax and sugar tax is postponed until 2023, the VAT rate on feminine hygiene products is
See MoreUK: Soft Drinks Industry Levy Statistics
On 30 September 2021 the UK government published the latest statistics on revenue collected from the soft drinks industry levy (SDIL). The UK introduced the SDIL in April 2018 after public consultation with the industry and other interested
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