UK: Tax Reform Has Boosted UK’s Appeal to Business
The UK’s Exchequer Secretary has suggested that there is currently high business confidence in the tax system. One reason for this is that the UK has recently taken measures to improve the attractiveness of its tax system including reductions to
See MoreSwitzerland to Retain Flat Tax For Wealthy Expatriates
Switzerland’s National Council has voted against the proposed withdrawal of the flat tax regime for high wealth foreigners. The Council supported that argument that the flat tax makes Switzerland an attractive location for high wealth individuals
See MoreSwiss Bankers Ask France to Increase Amnesty Uptake
The President of the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA), has suggested that France should extend and enhance its tax regularization facility to allow more taxpayers to make a voluntary declaration to normalize their tax affairs. At the moment the
See MoreSouth Africa: Issues new VAT rules
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has on 2 May 2014 issued a new regulation setting out the circumstances under which indirect exports may qualify for zero rating and explaining when a Value-Added Tax (VAT) refund may be due on the export of
See MoreRomania Pursues Tax Debtors
Romania’s tax authority has commenced a pilot project aiming to ensure that medium sized businesses pay their tax arrears. Businesses are being contacted and given the options available for settling their liabilities. The intention is to
See MorePortugal Discloses Tax Rates For 2015
Portugal’s medium term economic strategy includes provisions to raise the rate of value added tax (VAT) and social security contribution (TSU). The government also intends to decrease the extraordinary solidarity contribution (CES) on
See MoreMexico: President submits secondary legislation to Congress
The Mexican Congress is considering a number of measures that will form the secondary legislation in respect of the energy reform. The new measure will put through the details of implementing the energy reform and permit investment by private
See MoreMalaysia – Transfer pricing documentation required for 2014 tax return
The Malaysian transfer pricing rules imposing the arm’s length principle are contained in section 140A of the Income Tax Act. The Inland Revenue Board has been increasing its scrutiny of the transfer pricing issues of large taxpayers and is
See MoreKazakhstan Announces Tax Breaks For Investors
The Kazakhstan government is introducing some new incentives for investors. These are reported to include a ten year corporate tax holiday for certain investments. The measures would also include a visa concession under which some investors could
See MoreJapan Planning Corporate Tax Cut Next Year
There are plans to lower the corporate tax rate following the work of the Tax Commission appointed by the Japanese government. The Commission suggested an eventual reduction of the corporate tax rate to around 25 percent, and the Deputy Economy
See MoreIreland: Retailers Call for Personal Income Tax Cuts
The retail industry body Retail Ireland is confident that the retail sector will experience a significant recovery in 2014 and has requested individual income tax cuts to increase the spending power of the public and ensure that the public has more
See MoreIreland Reports Resurgent Tax Receipts
Revenue collections to the end of April have risen by comparison to the same period in the previous year. The increased tax collection has helped to reduce Ireland’s fiscal deficit. The income tax collection has increased in 2014, mainly as a
See MoreIreland Eases Rules for LPT Concessions
Certain relief from Ireland’s Local Property Tax (LPT) is available for some disabled individuals. The Finance Minister has now announced that the scope of these reliefs is to be extended. The exemptions relate to property that are built or
See MoreHong Kong Ensures Low-Tax Policies
The Financial Secretary has said that spending will be limited to 20 percent of the GDP so that the low tax regime may be retained without problems in balancing the budget. The Working Group on Long Term Fiscal Planning which was set up in June 2013
See MoreGermany: Draft guidance amending corporate tax loss limitation rules
Germany has issued draft guidance to replace prior advice on the corporate tax loss limitation rules. The current guidance was issued in 2008 and although there have not been any changes to the basic provisions in this area the new guidance aims to
See MoreGermany strengthens VAT penalties
Germany is to impose stronger value added tax (VAT) penalties in relation to cases where the taxpayer has voluntarily disclosed incorrect amounts on the return. Companies detecting and correcting errors in their VAT returns has tended to be treated
See MoreChina: Announces the extensionof employment-boosting tax breaks
The Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation (SAT) has jointly issued an announcement that tax breaks to increase employment are to be extended until 31 December 2016. The tax relief applies to companies that increase employment
See MoreUS: Committee Selects US Tax Extenders to Make Permanent
The Chairman of the US Ways and Means Committee has conducted a hearing to determine which “tax extenders” that expired at the end of 2013 should be permanently extended. There were more than fifty tax breaks expiring at the end of 2013 and in
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