Australia: ATO consults draft GST instruments
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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Malaysia postpones new sales and service tax amid tariff concerns
Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance announced that its planned expansion of the sales and service tax, initially planned for implementation on 1 May 2025 as outlined in Budget 2025, will be postponed. The ministry said the sales and service tax will
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UN: ECOSOC tackles cross-border digital taxation
The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has discussed a potential UN framework to address cross-border service taxation, including withholding and digital services taxes, in a special tax meeting on 28 March 2025. The Special Meeting of the
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Canada announces 2025 budgets for New Brunswick, Saskatchewan
Canada’s provincial states New Brunswick and Saskatchewan have announced their budgets for 2025. New Brunswick 2025-16 budget Finance Minister René Legacy presented the provincial 2025-26 budget for New Brunswick on 18 March 2025. It
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Australia: Non-compliant small businesses must file monthly GST report
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has announced that small businesses failing to comply with regulations will be required to transition from quarterly to monthly goods and services tax (GST) reporting. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) said
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US: Trump Administration restarts probes into foreign digital service taxes
The US President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum titled "Defending American Companies and Innovators From Overseas Extortion and Unfair Fines and Penalties” on 21 February 2025. The memorandum includes renewing Section 301 investigations
See MoreCanada mandates digital tax registration for big businesses next year
Canada’s government has mandated that large businesses whose online revenues are above specific thresholds must register for a Digital Services Tax (DST) programme account by 31 January 2025, and file and pay their first DST returns by 30 June
See MoreUS: Louisiana adopts flat income tax rates, ends corporation franchise tax
The Governor of Louisiana signed multiple tax reform bills into law on 4 December 2024, marking a significant tax reform in the state. The state is determined to eliminate uncompetitive taxes like the franchise and inventory taxes, and broaden tax
See MoreMalaysia updates service tax rules, includes new taxable services and expands group relief
The Royal Malaysian Customs Department has released the Service Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024 which broadens intra-group relief to include maintenance and repair services while also revising the range of taxable services. Amendments to
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New Zealand introduces tax policy work programme
New Zealand’s Minister of Revenue has introduced a tax policy work programme on 13 November 2024, which aims to simplify tax and reduce compliance costs, address integrity risks, and improve fiscal sustainability to rebuild the economy. The
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Iceland consults tax law and excise duty changes
Iceland’s Finance and Economic Affairs Minister has proposed a draft bill for public consultation on 15 October 2024, putting forward various taxes and duties on lodging, VAT, income, state treasury income, public tax collection, alcohol, tobacco,
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Australia: ATO implements additional annual GST return for large taxpayers
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has introduced a new supplementary annual goods and services tax (GST) return for large taxpayers who have undergone a GST assurance review on 3 October 2024. The new GST tax measure is part of a pilot
See MoreOECD urges Malaysia to reintroduce GST to meet deficit target
According to a recent report published in the OECD Economic Surveys on Malaysia for 2024 on 27 August 2024, the OECD recommended Malaysia reinstate the goods and services tax (GST) at a low rate, coupled with targeted social transfers for vulnerable
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Slovak Republic plans to extend excise duty exemption for small renewable energy producers
The Slovak Republic Parliament has agreed to consider a draft bill that amends the Law on Excise Duty on Electricity, on 22 August 2024, addressing the regulations concerning electricity generated from renewable sources by small energy
See MoreAustralia 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
See MoreMalaysia revises service tax policy for logistics services
The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD) released an update to the Service Tax Policy 4/2024 (Amendment No 1) on 23 August 2024 concerning logistics services, which went into force on 1 March 2024. All logistics services under Group J (First
See MoreIMF Report Looks at China’s Economy
On 2 August 2024 the IMF released a report following consultations with China under Article IV of the IMF’s articles of agreement. The report notes that China’s economy has remained resilient even though there is continuing weakness in the
See MoreIMF Looks at the Contribution of China’s Service Sector to Economic Growth
An IMF country focus published on 2 August 2024 noted that reforms to further open China’s service sector can promote sustainable growth and help create jobs. The report notes that China’s growth has been rapid in recent decades and will remain
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