ECJ rules on VAT exemption for postal services
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled in the case of European Commission v Sweden in respect of the VAT exemption for postal services. The European Commission referred Sweden to the ECJ on 10 March 2014 under Article 258 of the Treaty on
See MoreChina: Publishes new annual corporate income tax return package
State Administration of Tax issued Annual Corporate Income Tax Return Package of People's Republic of China (Type A, 2014). The new return package will come into force on Jan 1st, 2015 and first to be adopted by resident CIT taxpayers in the 2014
See MoreUK: Main Rate of Corporation Tax Falls to 20% and is Unified
The main rate of Corporation Tax for 2015 is 20% (With the exception of oil and gas companies with ring fence profits) from 1 April 2015. The Corporation Tax will be charged at a single rate known as the main rate. The small profits rate was
See MoreGhana: IMF supports fiscal reforms
The IMF has approved a USD918 million loan in support of Ghana’s economic reform program. Ghana is described as one of Africa’s frontier emerging markets, with a trade in commodities that allowed it to weather the storms resulting from the
See MoreECJ: VAT input tax deductions on supplies made free of charge
On 22 April 2015 the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) issued an opinion in the case of Sveda UAB. The case was referred to the ECJ on 17 March 2014 for a preliminary ruling and the Court was requested to provide an answer to
See MoreECJ: decision on disbursements and the VAT taxable amount
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) delivered its ruling in the case of Wojskowa Agencja Mieszkaniowa w Warszawie on 16 April 2015. The case concerned the inclusion of disbursements in the taxable amount for computing value added tax. The case was
See MoreTurkey: General Communique on corporate tax exemption released
The General Communique No. 8 regarding Corporate Income Tax has been published in the Official Gazette on 21st April 2015 and it changes General Communique No. 1 on Corporate Income Tax. This also gives information desired for the implementation of
See MorePoland: New thin capitalization rules
The thin capitalization rules changes in Poland and this rule enacted as an amendment to Poland’s corporate income tax law, and signed by the president on 17 September 2014 and from 1 January 2015 the “thin capitalization” rules has been
See MoreCanada: Highlights of Pre-election Federal Budget 2015
The Finance Minister delivered the Government’s 2015 pre-election federal budget on 21st April 2015. The tax highlights in the 2015 budget are given below: From the beginning of 2015, the limit for annual contributions to a tax-free savings
See MoreUS: The Department of Treasury announces plans to implement country-by-country (CbC) reporting
The US Treasury Department has announced plans to implement a country-by-country (CbC) reporting requirement starting for fiscal years beginning in 2016 as set out in the guidance issued by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
See MoreSpain: Parliament approves draft law amending the General Tax Law
The Spanish Parliament approved the submission to Parliament of the draft law amending the General Tax Law (LGT) on 17 April 2015, following the opinion of the State Council. The key objectives of the reform of the Tax Code are to enhance the fight
See MoreHong Kong: IRD Gazettes Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015
The Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015 was gazetted on 17 April, 2015. The Bill seeks to amend the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) to implement the concessionary revenue measures proposed in the 2015-16 Budget. These include: (a)
See MoreIMF: Using Fiscal Policy to Support Sustainable Growth
In the most recent Fiscal Monitor released on 15 April 2015 the IMF discusses how sound fiscal policy can promote growth and employment. Various factors can help economic recovery including the low oil price, growth-friendly monetary policy and a
See MoreOECD Releases Taxing Wages 2015
The latest OECD report Taxing Wages 2015 shows that the taxation of wages rose slightly for workers in the countries of the OECD between the years 2010 and 2014. Most of the countries have not raised their rates of income taxation but the increase
See MoreNamibia: Budget proposals for 2015-16
The Namibian budget speech for 2015-16 was delivered on 31 March 2015. In the budget it was proposed to reduce the corporate income tax rate for non-mining companies from 33% to 32%. There will be no change in the corporate tax rate for mining
See MoreIndia: High Court Decision on Cross-border Loan Transaction
The Delhi High Court in the case of: CIT v. Cotton Naturals India Pvt. Ltd. [ITA No. 233/2014 (AY 2007-08) (Delhi High Court) concerning the benchmarking of the rate of interest on an inter-company loan made to a foreign related party—held that
See MoreEgypt Publishes Preliminary Budget for 2015-2016
The Ministry of Finance issued a preliminary statement on 18 March 2015, for the 2015-2016 Budget. The statement highlighted the following changes: The standard corporate tax rate will be reduced to 22.5%. The new rate is expected to apply for
See MoreBrazil: IMF report assesses fiscal policy
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a press release following the consultation with Brazil under Article IV of the IMF’s articles of agreement. The report notes that economic growth has decreased in recent years with sluggish
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