Switzerland: Tax resolution for Second-Tier Banks
Switzerland has approved the terms of a proposed settlement with the United States announced on 28 August 2013 regarding the exposure of tax information of US citizens with funds in Switzerland. This agreement would allow Swiss banks not currently
See MorePoland: Transfer pricing for business restructurings
Poland’s Finance Ministry issued decrees that bring the transfer pricing provisions of Poland’s tax law into line with international transfer pricing standards on September 3, 2013 and the decree effective from 18 July 2013. The decrees
See MoreNigeria: Treatment of recharges paid to local subsidiaries
The Tribunal of Nigeria’s Tax Appeal has issued decisions on August 26, 2013 regarding two non-resident taxpayers. The issue was if in Nigeria their taxable turnover could be determined by cutting amounts that they give payment to Nigerian
See MoreNigeria: Tax implications guidance of adopting IFRS
The Nigerian tax authority has published guidance on September 6, 2013 regarding the tax implications of adopting the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) that would change the current accounting regime. In 2010, The Nigerian
See MoreNew Zealand: Taking Tough Stance on Tax Avoidance
A former businessman has been punished recently over a total of 87 tax-related charges, and the Inland Revenue Department of New Zealand has warned that it will continue with its “zero tolerance” approach to tax evasion. This approach to
See MoreNetherlands: Simplification of individual tax assessment process proposed
A new tax assessment process is proposed by the Netherlands Ministry of Finance on 6 September. This will simplify and speed up the process to determine tax liabilities. A number of new rules for assessment, a rule for revising final assessments,
See MoreNetherlands to change statute of limitations period
A Bill to change the statute of limitations period and to simplify the electronic exchange of data was presented on 2 September 2013 to the parliament. The Bill is the result of earlier announcements by the government on 12 March 2013. Under the
See MoreKenya: VAT Act 2013 now effective
The VAT Act 2013 became effective on 2 September 2013. The value added tax (VAT) is to be charged at a standard rate of 16%. A number of exemptions have been included in the VAT legislation including exemptions for medicine and vaccines, wheat,
See MoreItaly: VAT rise may be delayed to 2014
The VAT rise to 22% originally planned in Italy for 2013 may be delayed to 2014. Italy may however fail to meet the 3% budget deficit requirement for 2013 imposed by the European Commission if the VAT rate is not raised. The delay of 3 months is
See MoreItaly: First payment of municipal real estate tax abolished
Law Decree No. 102/2013, providing for urgent measures with regard to the municipal real estate tax (IMU), was published in the Official Gazette No. 204, Ordinary Supplement No. 66 on 31 August 2013. The first payment of the IMU for 2013,
See MoreIndia: New Company Law enacted from 2014
The government of India enacted a new company law on 29 August 2013 which aims to make stronger the rights of shareholders and to increase corporate social responsibility. Companies will also be essential to improve the quality of their financial
See MoreGermany: New VAT invoice requirements
Germany has approved a new Act to implement changes to bring German VAT compliance rules into line with the EU VAT Directive and with a number of recent court cases. Under the new Act changes to German VAT invoices include: The obligation to
See MoreFrance: Temporary reduction on taxation capital gains on immovable property
The government of France issued guidelines BOI-RFPI-PVI-20-20-20130809 on 9th August 2013, providing new reductions on capital gains for the purpose of individual income taxation and social contributions. The reduced tax rate is 25%. Moreover, the
See MoreFrance: List of non-cooperative states or territories updated for 2013
The French government published a Ministerial Decree on 28 August 2013 updating the list of non-cooperative states or territories (NCSTs). The list will become effective from 1 January 2013. A major consequence for a country that is on the list of
See MoreFrance rules out plans for tax hikes in 2014
The French government has declared that taxes imposed on companies in France will not rise in 2014. France originally planned to raise an additional 6 billion Euros (5.1 billion pounds) in new taxes next year but acknowledged recently that
See MoreFrance adopts new tax measures to simplify administration
The Council of Ministers of France adopted a bill to implement a new set of measures to simplify administrative procedures for companies on 4 September 2013. The bill will now be subject to parliamentary discussion. The plans of the French
See MoreFinland: Tax Administration published information package on tax havens
On 3 September 2013, the tax administration of Finland published on their website an information package on tax havens. This focuses on the experiences of the Finnish tax administration with tax structures using tax havens, i.e. jurisdictions
See MoreECJ: Advocate General’s opinion on Hungarian retail turnover tax
The Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has issued an opinion in respect of a case involving a Hungarian retail turnover tax. The opinion of the Advocate General is issued as a guide for the ECJ but is not binding on the
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