Canada: Increased HST rate in New Brunswick
In New Brunswick the rate of harmonized sales tax (HST) for companies that do business in the province is to increase from 13% to 15% with effect from July 1, 2016. New Brunswick announced this HST rate increase in its 2016
See MoreVenezuela: Tax plan to fight tax evasion, avoidance and fraud announced
The President has announced six general economic measures including a tax plan naming "Tax Revolution" in order to fight tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax fraud on February 17, 2016. One of the declared tax measures is the outline of an electronic
See MoreSri Lanka: World Bank study highlights low tax collection
The World Bank published a Systematic Country Diagnostic on Sri Lanka on 1 February 2016. This looks at the key obstacles to sustained progress in ending poverty and increasing prosperity. The study identifies the low tax to GDP ratio as an
See MoreUK: deemed domicile for income tax and capital gains tax
The UK is currently conducting a consultation on measures changing the rules for non-UK domiciled individuals. The changes are to be included in the Finance Bill 2016 and are to take effect from 6 April 2017. Draft legislation has been introduced to
See MoreHungary: IMF report recommends tax changes
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a concluding statement describing the preliminary staff findings following consultation with Hungary under Article IV of the IMF’s articles of agreement. The Hungarian economy is performing well
See MoreBangladesh: NBR drafts new income tax law
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has drafted a new income tax law that seeks to keep corporate tax rates equal for all companies and narrow down the list of tax breaks and exemptions. The drafted new law is expected to replace the
See MorePortugal: Further budget measures 2016
On 5 February 2016, further budget measures were announced. The most important measures are summarized here. Corporate income tax (i) Patent box: The patent box regime will be amended to incorporate the "modified nexus approach" in line with BEPS
See MoreVenezuela: Increase in value of tax unit gazetted
Resolution SNAT/2016/011 was issued by the National Integrated Service for the Administration of Customs Duties and Taxes on 11th February 2016 and has been published in the Official Gazette. The Resolution increases the tax unit value (TU) from VEF
See MoreLatvia: Amending tax law on Micro-Enterprise entered into force
The amendment tax law regarding Micro-Enterprise has entered into force on January 1, 2016. Under the amendments, with effect from 1 January 2017, Micro-enterprise whose annual turnover- EUR 0 – 7,000 the rate is 5%; EUR 7,000.01 – 100,000,
See MoreWorld Bank to review efficiency and equity of Latvia’s tax system
The World Bank and Latvia’s Ministry of Finance have signed the Latvia Tax Policy and Equity Reimbursable Service Agreement (RAS) with the objective of reviewing the tax system in Latvia and finding ways to improve its efficiency, competitiveness
See MoreTurkey: Clarifications to Corporate Tax Law General Application Communiqué declared
The website of the Revenue Administration published Corporate Tax Communiqué No. 9 (regarding clarifications to the Corporate Tax Law General Application Communiqué of 3 April 2007) on February 11, 2016. This measure has not yet been published in
See MoreRussia: Amendments to CFC rules adopted by lower chamber
The lower chamber of the parliament has passed in the third reading the draft Federal Law No. 724609-6 amending the thin capitalization rules on 29th January 2016, which was submitted to the lower chamber of the parliament on 14th December 2015. It
See MoreUK: Review of VAT Grouping Provisions
A policy paper published on 14 January 2016 announced the launch of a review of VAT grouping provisions in the UK following the Larentia + Minerva and Marenave case and the Skandia case in the European Court of Justice (ECI). Currently the UK
See MoreUK: Guidance on income tax exemption for trivial benefits in kind
Draft legislation on the income tax exemption for trivial benefits in kind is to be included in the UK Finance Bill 2016. Draft regulations have also been published to extend this exemption to benefits in kind provided to former employees and to
See MoreNetherlands: IMF paper comments on the tax system
On 11 February 2016 the IMF issued a staff report and selected issues paper in connection with discussions with the Netherlands under Article IV of the IMF’s articles of agreement. The selected issues paper covers the possibility of further tax
See MoreCzech Republic: Amendment allows allocation of VAT reverse charge mechanism
In regard to the value added tax (VAT) rules, there is a new provision that allows buyers and sellers to agree to an allocation of the reverse charge mechanism, without considering the value of the goods. This amendment is effective from 1st
See MoreUK: Reverse charge mechanism for wholesale supplies of telecommunications services
Owing to the threat of intra community missing trader fraud the UK government has drawn up a statutory instrument to introduce the reverse charge mechanism for accounting for value added tax (VAT) on wholesale supplies of telecommunications services
See MoreUK: Businesses trading below the VAT registration threshold
Revenue and Customs Brief 4 (2016) sets out simplifications available to businesses trading below the value added tax (VAT) registration threshold (which in the UK is currently GBP 82,000) and making supplies of digital services to consumers in
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