Luxembourg – Real Estate CGT Deferral Abolished
Luxembourg has issued draft legislation to scrap the regime permitting the deferral of the taxation of real estate capital gains provided that these are reinvested in another property within Luxembourg. The draft legislation takes account of the
See MoreLuxembourg set for bigger losses on 2015 EU electronic VAT rule change
Luxembourg considers that it could lose €800 million per year as a result of the change in the rules used to determine the place of supply of consumer electronic services. This change in the EU VAT regulations is due to take effect from 1 January
See MoreJapan and US Hold Talks On TPP
Talks were held between Japan and the US on 9 and 10 April 2014 to consider the remaining issues relating to the terms of the planned Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. The main problems between the US and Japan concern Japan’s
See MoreItaly: New Risk-based System of Tax Enforcement
The Italian Revenue Agency is attaching great importance to its examination of taxpayers in certain areas under a newly devised risk-based system. The risk-based approach is designed to take into account the area of the country where the taxpayer
See MoreItaly Confirms Tax Cuts
The Italian Government has issued a three-year Economic and Financial Document (DEF), which includes both individual and corporate income tax reductions. The individual income tax reductions will benefit lower income taxpayers. With effect from 1
See MoreIreland – Online Portal to Administer Home Tax Break
Ireland’s revenue agency is using an online portal to manage a new property improvement tax relief called the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI). This provision is intended to give value-added tax (VAT) relief, but the HRI is to be managed through an
See MoreIreland – Corporate Tax Rate Effectively Below 11 Percent
A recent technical note issued by the Department of Finance indicates that Ireland has maintained an effective corporate tax rate of about 11 percent since 2003. Enterprises operating in Ireland are liable to corporation tax at 12.5 percent on
See MoreIndia: Hyderabad Tribunal rules on transfer pricing aspects of corporate guarantee
The Hyderabad Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has issued a ruling that concerns certain transfer pricing issues from a corporate guarantee issued to a bank by associated enterprises of a borrower. The case is Four Soft Pvt Lrd. The case
See MoreHong Kong – Urged To Retain Prudent Fiscal Policies
The IMF has expressed support for the work of Hong Kong’s Working Group on Long-Term Fiscal Planning, which is looking at the fiscal strategy in the long term. The Group is investigating the question of balancing government revenues and spending
See MoreFrance’s FTT Experience Should Warn Europe of Risks
France’s financial market regulator AMF has calculated that the introduction of a financial transactions tax (FTT) in 2012 led to a ten percent decrease in the volume of shares traded on the stock market. This study was based on an analysis of the
See MoreFrance Confirms EUR10bn Tax Cuts For Corporates
The French Prime Minister has set out plans for reducing wage costs for businesses in addition to the CICE tax credit that has already been introduced. The CICE tax credit has provided relief through a credit of 6 percent of gross payroll for
See MoreEgypt issues VAT reform plans 2014
Egypt has issued plans to replace the existing general sales tax (GST) with a full Value Added Tax. This move has been expected for some time. Egypt’s current GST law is estimated to be hitting the country’s economy by around 1% of GDP as there
See MoreCyprus – Company incorporated, but not tax resident of Cyprus
Circular 2014/3 of March 2014 gives guidance in respect of the tax return requirements in the situation where a company is incorporated in Cyprus but is not tax resident in the country. According to the Circular companies in this position must be
See MoreChile proposes tax reform
Chile is embarking on a tax reform that will affect both direct and indirect taxes. A Bill is under discussion in the National Congress and this covers important changes to the existing tax laws. The Bill aims to raise the corporate tax rate from
See MoreBulgaria’s Finance Ministry to draft Tax Fraud Prevention Strategy
Bulgaria is to produce a tax fraud prevention strategy. The Finance Ministry is combining its efforts with those of other government control authorities to look at the most effective strategies for combating illegal behavior. The new rules will be
See MoreBrazil- Taxes on Drinks Ahead Of World Cup Increases
To take full benefit from the large number of visitors to the country this year, Brazil is to increase taxes on certain categories of drink such as beer, energy drinks and some fruit juice before the beginning of the soccer World Cup which is to be
See MoreAustrian Unions drive for lower income tax rates
The President of the Austrian Federation of Trade Unions (ÖGB) has suggested that the income tax on low income employees should be significantly reduced. He suggested that the government should decrease the starting rate of income tax from the
See MoreVietnam – VAT export and invoice changes
Some changes have been made to Vietnam’s VAT regime in respect of VAT invoices and the VAT on exports. The aim of the changes is to require adequate documentation to be maintained in respect of the transaction, including proof of export. There
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