Hungary: VAT rate increases
The Hungarian VAT rate increases 2% to 27% and will be effective from 1 January 2012. This will give Hungary the highest VAT rate in the European Union, and one of the highest in the world. The rise comes as Hungary attempts to bring down its
See MoreFinland: Budget for 2012
Finland’s government unveiled details of its 2012 budget proposal on the 19 September 2011. The budget incorporated fiscal measures aimed at shifting the focus of taxation away from labour and entrepreneurship, towards environmental and
See MoreAustralia: Introduced Carbon tax bill
After months of controversy the Australian government has finally introduced the carbon tax bill into parliament. The legislation will be effective from July 1, 2012. After long scientific research and economic analysis the government has decided
See MoreSwitzerland Adjusts Tax Thresholds
Switzerland’s Federal Department of Finance (FDF) has adjusted the Confederation’s direct federal tax rates and deductions for the 2012 tax year. As regards tax deductions, the administration states that for the 2012 tax year, double income
See MoreBudget bill is changed again in Italy
Instead of the previous 5% tax to be levied on annual personal incomes higher than EUR90,000 (USD126,300), now people have to pay 10% on annual incomes over EUR150,000, an additional rate of 3% will now be applied on all personal incomes over
See MoreItaly: VAT rate increases
The Italian Parliament has agreed to an emergency 1% rise of VAT from 17 September 2011. Though the rise was originally submitted in June 2011, and was scheduled for January 2014. But due to instability in the financial market, the government took
See MoreMineral resources rent tax demanded by an Indian state
Orissa has more than 35% of India’s iron ore reserves. Considering the potentially huge amount of money to be made not just benefitting a small group of private mining companies, the Chief Minister of Orissa has asked the Indian Prime Minister to
See MoreTax exemptions for oil and gas projects granted in China
Both onshore and offshore oil and gas drilling projects have been granted import duty and value-added tax exemptions by the China’s Ministry of Finance. The exemptions have been granted to the importation, within established quotas, of equipment,
See MoreSwitzerland Amends Bond Withholding Tax
On 29 August 2011 it was reported that changes in withholding tax should allow Swiss companies to issue their bonds under competitive conditions in Switzerland, according to the Swiss federal government, which said that the changes would also apply
See MoreFrance Disclosed 3% Tax on High Income Earners
Despite sluggish economic growth, as part of a package of fiscal measures to meet its ambitious deficit reduction targets, the French Prime Minister has introduced an exceptional tax of 3% imposed on the annual income of the top earners in France.
See MoreFrance: Tax measures for 2011 year-end finance bills announced
The French Prime Minister announced some budget and tax measures that aim to reduce France’s deficit, on 24 August 2011 at a press conference. The French Cabinet will examine some of these proposed measures on 31 August and include in the draft of
See MoreVAT cuts on new houses in Spain
The Spanish government has announced to reduce the rate at which the sales tax is applied to the sale of new housing. The intention behind this reduction is to stimulate the country’s stagnant housing market and support the construction
See MoreLower Corporate Taxes Committed by the South Korean Government
The Finance Ministry of South Korea agreed to the government’s long-standing plan to reduce corporate taxes from next year. The government is expected to lower the rate of corporate tax on businesses from the current 22% to 20% for a taxable
See MoreIncome tax cuts suspended in Sweden
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the euro zone the Swedish government set aside on hold the planned tax cuts. According to the government declaration two measures announced in the November 2010 budget will be put on hold. One is tax cuts for
See MoreNew transfer pricing form issued by Malaysia’s tax authority
Malaysia’s Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has issued a new form to collect information on transfer pricing compliance, and enforce transfer pricing rules for the corporate taxpayers. The IRB targeted the corporate taxpayers because they have
See MoreTransfer pricing gets intensive focus in Vietnam’s General Department of Taxation
During the late July 2011 Vietnam’s General Department of Taxation (GDT) and HCM tax authorities took several activities on transfer pricing (TP) which focused importantly on increasing awareness and strengthening the implementation of TP
See MoreIndian coal mining industry faces tax hit
Indian draft Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act added new provisions requiring non-coal mining companies to contribute 100% of their royalty to the proposed District Mineral Foundation, and coal mining companies to contribute 26%
See MorePropensity to increase tax revenue: Philippines parliament
Instead of enacting new laws, the Speaker of the Philippines House of Representatives, Feliciano Belmonte, urged to prioritize measures that would plug loopholes in the country’s tax system and rationalize the tax incentives law. Bills that would
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