Thailand Government agrees to keep 7% VAT rate for one more year

29 June, 2014

The government of Thailand has announced to keep the country’s VAT rate on 7% for one more year. The Previous Thai governments had planned to raise the VAT to 10% but now this has been postponed for one more

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Mexico: Tobacco tax rate increase rejected

29 June, 2014

The health secretary has rejected the tax proposal to increase tax on tobacco and it has been decided that tax will remain same as previous years.  In the Special Tax on Production and Services (IEPS) a pack of 20 cigarettes is taxed at 160% of

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Japan: Corporate tax rate will be lowered below 30%

28 June, 2014

Japan’s Prime Minister announced on 24 th June 2014, that the government will lower Japan's corporate tax rate from 35% to below 30 %. The Government targets to return to a principal fiscal balance in 2020. However the final corporate tax rate

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Saudi Arabia: Simplifying Expat Worker Fees

28 June, 2014

The Council of Ministers of Saudi Arabia revealed a decision to ease the levy on employer of expat workers. According to the new measures companies with nine or fewer employees will be able to employ up to four expat workers without paying the

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Brazil: Reduces Different Import Tax Rates

27 June, 2014

The Foreign Trade Chamber (CAMEX) of Brazil has declared that the 10% import duty will be cut from wheat, capital and electronic goods till 15 August 2014, and this decision came into effect from 24 June 2014. CAMEX also introduced, 2 Resolutions-

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Canada: Report of MAP program during 2013-2014

27 June, 2014

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has issued an annual report regarding Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) Program that gives an outline of the MAP Program during April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014. The CRA inspires taxpayers to focus on double taxation or

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Spain: Cabinet approves reduction to income tax rates

26 June, 2014

The Spanish Cabinet on June 20, 2014, approved the downsizing the corporate and individual income tax rates to encourage investment and employment. Under the revised plans, the corporate tax rate will fall from 30% to 28% in 2015 and to 25 percent

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IMF alerts Slovak Republic on VAT rate cut

26 June, 2014

Slovakia has increased its VAT rate from 19% to 20% in 2011. IMF has warned that reducing the rate back to 19% would expense 0.3% GDP in tax takes for the country. As the economic picture has enhanced slightly, many countries have started to think

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Canada: Ready to execute 2014 Budget measures

26 June, 2014

The Ministry of Finance in Canada has introduced the receipt of Royal Assent for legislation to apply center elements and a series of tax credit reforms in the 2014 Budget. The legislation extends the 15% Mineral Exploration Tax Credit for share

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Russian Parliament adopts Law to permit FATCA Disclosures

25 June, 2014

The Russian parliament has allowed a bill to permit financial institutions to observe with the United States’ Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). US Congress has passed FATCA in 2010, which will be effective on July 1, 2014 and it is

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France Reveals Revised HGV Tax

25 June, 2014

The French Ministry of Ecology has announced that the plans for a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) "eco" tax will be abandoned.  Instead of this a truck transit toll will be imposed from 1 January 2015. The charge will be applied to all HGVs over 3.5

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Canada: CRA publishes “PTM-05R” on requests for contemporaneous documentation

25 June, 2014

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has issued a memo on transfer pricing on applications for contemporaneous documentation of the auditor entitled “PTM-05R” on March 28, 2014 and it replaces preceding PTM on the same subject dated 13 October 2004.

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Slovak Republic: IMF advises to keep current VAT rate

23 June, 2014

International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) advice to Slovakia to preserve the 20% VAT rate and focus more on boosting state revenues rather than further cutting of expenses. The IMF assumes that the plan to reduce VAT to 19 % would responsible for 0.3%

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Czech Republic: Announcement of new anti-tax evasion force

23 June, 2014

The Ministry of Interior has declared the a new anti-tax evasion unit, naming "Cobra" regarding the sign of a protocol agreement on exchange information for customs, tax, and police chiefs and promised results by the end of the year. Finance

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Italy: Simplification of Individual Tax Filing by incorporating the provision of pre-compiled tax returns

23 June, 2014

Italian cabinet approved a draft tax simplification law decree on June 20, 2014. It was confirmed by the Minister of Constitutional Reforms and Relations Maria, Elena Boschi that from 2015 tax returns will be pre-compiled for 30 million Italian

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Qatar: Tax Exemption rejected for overseas Investors

22 June, 2014

Advisory Council of Qatar has rejected a proposal to exempt foreign investors from income tax and capital gains on local equity market investments. On February 19, 2014, the State Cabinet had approved a draft law by the Financial and Economic

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Pakistan: Budget for 2014-2015 has been presented to the parliament

22 June, 2014

The Pakistan Government has presented to parliament the nation's 2014-2015 Budget, which includes proposals aimed increasing tax compliance rates, increasing progressive direct taxes, and lowering the burden of indirect taxes. The 2014 budget set

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Peru: Extension of VAT withdrawal regime on certain construction activities

22 June, 2014

The Peruvian tax office has confirmed that the VAT regime of Peru will be extended to cover activities like installation of electricity lines, urban construction works, and public building

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