Panama ratifies Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters
On 21 February 2017, the multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters was ratified by Panama, as amended by the 2010 protocol, by way of Law No. 5, as published in Official Gazette No. 28225B of 23 February
See MoreBrazil publishes rules for filing individual income tax returns
Normative Instruction 1,690/2017 has been released in the Official Gazette on 22 February 2017 and also entered into force at same date. The Normative Instruction 1,690/2017 introduces the rules for filing of individual income tax returns for income
See MoreHong Kong: Financial Secretary announces the Budget for 2017-18
The Financial Secretary announced the 2017-18 Budget on 22 February 2017. In his Budget speech, the Financial Secretary proposed a number of tax measures. All of proposed measures require legislative amendments before implementation. Highlights of
See MoreSouth Africa: Finance Minister presents the Budget for 2017-2018
The Finance Minister of South Africa presented the Budget for 2017-18 to the Parliament on 22 February 2017. The main tax proposals of the Budget are given below. The 2017/18 tax year sees the introduction of a new top marginal income tax bracket
See MoreBolivia: Proposal to increase income tax for financial sector
The Finance Minister has announced a proposal on 7 February 2017 for rising income tax in the financial sector by 3% (from 22% to 25%). The proposal had been submitted to the
See MorePakistan: FBR Proposes rules for common reporting standard
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) released SRO 101(I)/2017 on 17 February 2017, which proposes draft amendments to the Income Tax Rules 2002 to implement the Common Reporting Standard for financial institutions for the automatic exchange of
See MorePanama: National Assembly of Panama approves Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance
On 14 February 2017, the multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters was approved by the National Assembly of Panama, as amended by the 2010
See MoreUAE: Planning to introduce VAT by 2018
During the World Government Summit Ministry of Finance officials from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced they are to implement VAT by 1st January 2018. Also, the Finance Undersecretary has reiterated the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member
See MoreVietnam: A new legal framework for the international sale of goods
Recently, Vietnam ratified the UN agreement on contracts for the international sale of goods (CISG), which took effect on 1 January 2017. With this ratification expanding and complementing Vietnam’s existing domestic legal framework for the sale
See MoreBrazil: MOF issues new threshold for automatic appeals
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) released a regulation 63/2017 (Portaria 63/2017) in the official journal on 10 February 2017. This has increased the threshold of BRL 2.5 million (previously, BRL 1 million) for automatic complaints (recurso de ofício)
See MoreColombia updates tax obligations for self-withholding agents
The Colombian National Tax Authority (DIAN) recently issued a press release regarding new tax obligations applicable to self-withholding agents as from 1 January 2017. It recalls that the tax reform revoked the fairness tax so self-withholding
See MorePuerto Rico clarifies withholding tax on payments for services rendered
The Department of Treasury issued Bulletin 17-02 on 3 February 2017 regarding payments received for services. These payments for services are subject to the withholding of sales and use tax at a rate of 7%. The provisions are effective immediately
See MoreSwitzerland: Tax Administration announces safe harbor inter-company interest rates for 2017
The Swiss Federal Tax Administration (SFTA) published safe harbor interest rates on intra-group loans in Swiss Franc as well as in foreign currencies. On 13 February 2017, SFTA released a circular in relation to safe haven interest rates. According
See MoreIsrael: Tax incentives on capital investment in hi-tech industry introduced
An amendment to the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments has been published by Israel on 29th December 2016, which was part of the changes made in the framework of the 2017-2018 Law on Economic Arrangements. Corporate income tax (CIT)
See MoreZambia: Finance Minister presents national budget for 2017
The Minister of Finance has presented national budget for 2017 to the National Assembly on 11th November 2016. The budget of 2017 highlights some important issues which are given below: Direct tax PAYE threshold increased from K3,000
See MoreIsrael: Transfer pricing amendments has been proposed
The Parliament approved the bill regarding country-by-country (CbC) reporting on 1st February 2017. It must be published in the collection of laws for becoming law. This bill will become effective as from 1st March 2017. It was submitted to the
See MoreSlovak Republic: Bill on CbC reporting approved
The Parliament approved the bill regarding country-by-country (CbC) reporting on 1st February 2017. It must be published in the Collection of Laws for becoming law. This bill will become effective as from 1st March 2017. It was submitted to the
See MoreAustralia: DPT Bill includes updated transfer pricing guidelines
On 9 February 2017, the Australian Government introduced legislation into the Parliament to implement the new Diverted Profits Tax (DPT), which will prevent multinationals shifting profits made in Australia offshore to avoid paying tax. The Diverted
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