US: Hawaii introduces lodging tax for climate-change mitigation

04 June, 2025

The law adds a 0.75% "Green Fee" to the existing transient-accommodations tax of 10.25% and imposes a levy on cruise-ship passengers docking in the islands.  Hawaii Governor Josh Green has signed SB 1396 into law, making Hawaii the first US

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Malta extends property tax incentives until December 2025

03 June, 2025

The Maltese government has extended property tax exemptions on qualifying transfers until 31 December 2025. The Maltese government has extended property tax incentives through Legal Notice 93 of 2025, published on 27 May 2025. The exemption

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Australia: Tasmania unveils 2025–26 budget, abolishes stamp duty for first home buyers

03 June, 2025

The 2025-26 budget introduces no new taxes or changes to existing ones. Its key initiative is removing stamp duty for first home buyers in Tasmania on homes up to AUD 750,000. Guy Barnett, Treasurer and Deputy Premier of Tasmania, presented the

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UK: Scotland extends LBTT group relief provision

03 June, 2025

The legislation extends LBTT group relief to non-partition demergers and clarifies that the sub-sale relief period begins on the qualifying sub-sale date. Scotland’s government released legislation titled “The Land and Buildings Transaction

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Australia: ATO consults draft GST instruments

02 June, 2025

Comments are open until 25 June 2025. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has issued two draft legislative instruments, LI 2025/D6  and LI 2025/D7, for public consultation on the goods and services tax (GST) on 28 May 2025. The key measures

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Brazil: Economic Team to propose final alternative plan for IOF tax increases

30 May, 2025

Brazil’s government will present an alternative plan for the IOF tax increase within 10 days.   Brazil’s Congress lower house speaker, Hugo Motta, said in an X post on 29 May 2025, that the government will present an alternative plan for

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Canada: Government proposes GST rebate for first-time home buyers, repeal of consumer carbon price, middle-class tax cuts

30 May, 2025

Canada’s Finance Minister proposed the measures on 27 May 2025.  Canada’s Finance Minister, François-Philippe Champagne, has tabled a notice of Ways and Means Motion in Parliament on 27 May 2025, proposing GST relief for first-time

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South Africa: SARS clarifies revised carbon offset rules

29 May, 2025

The update modifies the eligibility criteria for renewable energy projects under the carbon offset allowance. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has released an Explanatory Memorandum on 15 March 2025 outlining amendments to the Carbon

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Brazil raises financial transaction tax on select insurance, credit, forex transactions

29 May, 2025

The Tax on Financial Operations (IOF) is a financial levy applied to individuals and businesses in Brazil, covering a range of financial transactions. Brazil has issued Decree No. 12.466 of 22 May 2025, which increases the financial transactions

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Spain considers legislation to improve access to housing

28 May, 2025

This legislation urges the government to advance initiatives addressing housing challenges, ensure legal certainty, mobilise vacant homes, make housing more affordable, expand public housing, and increase social and affordable rental

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UAE: MoF temporarily eases listing requirement for REIT exemption

28 May, 2025

The Decision outlines conditions for certain Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) to qualify for corporate tax exemption. The UAE Ministry of Finance has issued Ministerial Decision No. 96 of 2025 on Conditions to Exempt Certain Real Estate

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US: Washington adopts major business and occupation tax reforms

28 May, 2025

The law introduces significant changes to the B&O tax and extends the retail sales tax to computer-related services. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed two bills, Bill HB 2021 and Bill SB 5814, into law on 20 May 2025, introducing major

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EU: European Parliament endorses revisions to EU carbon border mechanism

27 May, 2025

The European Parliament has approved changes to the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), simplifying the rules and exempting 90% of importers. The European Parliament approved changes to the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism

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Brazil: MoF scraps higher tax on investments made abroad 

26 May, 2025

Finance Ministry dropped plans for a higher tax on overseas investments on Friday, following criticism that it signalled a return to capital controls. Brazil's Finance Ministry dropped a higher transaction tax on overseas investments on Friday,

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OECD: Carbon taxes and emissions trading most effective climate policies

23 May, 2025

The paper examines carbon mitigation policies, their impact on emissions, and methods to measure carbon intensity across sectors. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released a paper titled “The effects of climate

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US: Texas introduces new tax incentives for businesses, seeks to ban transactions and occupation taxes

22 May, 2025

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed three bills into law on 14 May 2025, introducing tax incentives for businesses and securities market operators.  Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed three bills into law on 14 May 2025, offering tax incentives for

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South Africa: MoF presents revised 2025 budget, scraps proposed VAT hike

22 May, 2025

Finance Minister delivered 2025 revised budget speech on 21 May 2025. Key tax changes include scrapping proposed VAT rate hikes, removing additional zero-rated items, and increasing the inflation-linked fuel levy. South Africa’s Finance

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Sweden: Ministry of Finance proposes reduced energy tax on electricity from 2026

21 May, 2025

Sweden’s Ministry of Finance has proposed lowering the energy tax on electricity to öre 41.1 per kilowatt hour on 19 May 2025. The draft is currently under consideration. If approved, the change would take effect on 1 January 2026. The

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