UK: HMRC guidance on creative industry tax relief

01 August, 2013

HMRC has issued guidance on access to the creative industry tax relief. In addition to Film Tax Relief introduced in 2007 the UK has now introduced tax relief for animation and high end television with effect from 1 April 2013. Tax relief for video

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Switzerland: Pay first tranche of tax on unrevealed assets

01 August, 2013

Switzerland has paid the UK tax authorities £258m in unpaid taxes on hidden assets representing the first tranche specified under the UK and Switzerland tax agreement. Converted into Swiss francs, almost CHF900m (USD969m) was transferred in tax and

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Swiss Federal Tax Administration publishes instructions on tax agreements with Austria and UK

01 August, 2013

The Swiss Federal Tax Administration published on 16 July 2013, the latest version of the instructions on the agreements on cooperation in the area of taxation with other states and the federal international withholding tax act. The Agreements with

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UK: Finance Act 2013 receives the Royal Assent

28 July, 2013

The 2013 Finance Act became law on 17 July 2013. The main provisions include a reduction of the corporate tax rate from 22% to 21% in 2014/15 and to 20% in 2015/16. The Act also includes the legislation introducing the General Anti Abuse Rule

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Luxembourg’s AIFM Directive-Bill adopted

25 July, 2013

The European Union’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive has been amended by the draft legislation into Luxembourg law which was approved by the grand duchy’s Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday July 10, 2013. Luxembourg has become one

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India: Decision on benchmarking international transactions

25 July, 2013

Recently the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (“ITAT”) provides their decision regarding “standard analysis that every international transaction will have to be benchmarked and analyses separately by comparing it with independent uncontrolled

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France Begins Tax Break Simplification

25 July, 2013

The French Government has announced a number of tax simplification measures. The aim is to simplify administrative procedures in respect of taxation for both companies and individuals in France, and to reduce state spending on tax breaks. The

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EU: ECJ Rules on Denmark’s exit tax rules

25 July, 2013

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) on 18 July 2013 issued a decision in a case concerning Denmark’s exit tax. The case was brought by the European Commission. At the point where a person leaves Denmark an exit tax is calculated on the person’s

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Australia: Public disclosure of taxable income & tax payments

25 July, 2013

According to the provisions of legislation enacted in late June 2013, the Australian tax authorities will have to disclose publicly certain information relating to companies with a “reported total income” of greater than AUS $100 million. The

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Argentina: New investment regime for the oil and gas industry

25 July, 2013

The Executive power of Argentina issued Decree N° 929/2013 to encourage investments in the oil and gas regime through new system. The Decree was published in the Official Gazette on July 15, 2013. According to the Decree eligible entities of the

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South Africa: proposal to limit interest deductions involving cross-border related party debt

21 July, 2013

The South African National Treasury released proposed legislation, on 4 July 2013, that seeks to limit interest deductions relating to debt owed by South African subsidiaries to foreign parent companies. The purpose of the proposed legislation is to

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South Africa Consults On Budget Tax Reform Bill

21 July, 2013

On 4 July 2013 the National Treasury published the 2013 draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (TLAB) and the Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill for public comment. The draft legislation would give effect to most of the tax proposals announced in

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Netherlands: Additional Bill on taxation of rental income passed

21 July, 2013

The additional Bill on the taxation of rental income for 2013 was published in the Official Gazette on 12 July 2013. Rental income from housing in the regulated sector will become liable to a special levy based on the value of the house. In 2013,

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Malaysia: Deduction for Acquisition of Foreign Owned Company Rules

21 July, 2013

The Income Tax (Deduction for Cost of Acquisition of Foreign Owned Company) Rules 2013 were published in the official gazette on 4 July 2013.  The rules are however deemed to have come into operation on 3 July 2012. The Rules provide that for the

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Hong Kong: SAR allows to enter into independent tax information exchange agreements

21 July, 2013

The Legislative Council of Hong Kong SAR passed the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2013 on 10 July 2013. The Bill allows Hong Kong to enter into tax information exchange agreements (TIEAs). There is an increasing emphasis by the OECD and other

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China: Draft revisions to the tax collection and administration law

21 July, 2013

China’s Tax Collection and Administration (Law) which is the basic procedural law governs China’s tax administrative matters. It became effective from 1 January 1993. The Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council announced the

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UN: Economic and Social Council to consider Manual on Transfer Pricing

11 July, 2013

A substantive session of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations is taking place in Geneva from 1 to 26 July 2013. A draft resolution tabled for the meeting the Economic and Social Council notes the work of the Committee of Experts on

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Switzerland: Retain flat tax for foreigners

11 July, 2013

Switzerland’s Federal Council accepted a resolution rejecting the Swiss people’s initiative calling for an end to the flat tax regime currently benefiting wealthy foreigners in the Confederation on 1 July 2013. Switzerland’s flat tax regime is

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