US – Tax Foundation Says IRS Mandate Should Shrink
The Tax Foundation (TF) in the US has recently recommended that, as the primary function of the Internal Revenue Service should be to collect tax revenue, it would be best to move the functions of refundable tax credits outside the tax code and
See MoreUS Committee Considers Middle Class Tax Burden
In the US the Senate Finance Committee has been considering policy initiatives that could help to support and expand the middle class. These measures could include improvements to the education system, initiatives to increase the level of savings
See MoreUK Budget announcements 2014
The UK budget announcements on 19 March 2014 include a significant change to the pension regime. Currently, most people must invest their pension fund in annuity after receiving a certain percentage of the fund as a lump sum tax free payment.
See MoreUganda – Tax collection shortfall linked to corporation taxes
Uganda has reported a deficit in tax collection for the half year of 2013/2014. This deficit appears to result from problems in the tax administration’s tax collection methodology and the main cause of the problem is attributable to corporation
See MoreThailand: Tax Revenue deficit
Ongoing political unrest in Thailand could lead to a fall in tax collection and missed targets, according to the Fiscal Policy Office. Collections in the opening months of 2014 have however risen a little above the predicted amounts. The Fiscal
See MoreSwiss Parliament Passes Media Tax
Switzerland has introduced a new media tax which replaces the license fee previously charged in respect of radio and television. This is charged on large companies and households whose annual income or turnover exceeds EUR 500,000. The introduction
See MoreSpain: Spanish Experts Call For Huge Direct Tax Cut
A report from the Experts Committee on Tax Reform recently submitted to the Finance Minister has recommended that there should be reductions in direct taxes and in the social security contributions. These would be paid for partly by increases in
See MoreSingapore: Income tax treatment of limited partnerships
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has published an e-tax guide outlining the tax treatment of limited partnerships (LPs). An LP is a partnership that does not have a separate legal personality. It must have at least one general
See MoreRomania: Finance Minister proposes the introduction of a tax exemption
Romania’s Finance Minister plans to introduce an exemption from tax on reinvested profit. This exemption would be intended to encourage foreign direct investment and could increase the GDP growth by as much as 0.5%. Another plan is to reduce
See MorePoland Announces Six-Year Tax exemption for Shale Industry
The government of Poland has put forward a proposal for an exemption from special taxes for the shale gas industry until the year 2020, and this is now being considered by parliament. This follows a complaint from the Supreme Audit Office that the
See MorePhilippines achieves Higher Tax Ratio In 2013
The fiscal deficit in the Philippines decreased in 2013 as there was a rise in the tax to GDP ratio in that year. The ratio of tax to GDP increased by 0.4 percent as compared to the previous year and reached a ratio of
See MoreNigeria – verification exercise for VAT and WHT
The Nigerian tax authority the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is to perform a verification exercise in respect of withholding tax and value added tax. The exercise which will continue from 12 March 2014 until 11 April 2014 is to look at these
See MoreNew Zealand: Plans for an active income exemption for branches are to be deferred
On 14 March 2014, New Zealand’s Minister of Revenue stated that consideration of an active income exemption for branches is to be deferred for the time being. The reason for the deferral is to allow the government's main tax policy focus to be
See MoreNew Zealand: Changes to Financial Reporting Requirements
The Financial Reporting Act, which changes financial reporting obligations for most companies, comes into effect on 1 April 2014. Small and medium-sized companies in New Zealand will need to make sure they understand how the changes made by the
See MoreItaly – Details of Italian Tax Cuts Agreed
Italy's new Prime Minister, has provided extra detail on cuts to reduce the tax burden in Italy which that are intended to provide an immediate boost to the country's economy. Resources totaling EUR10bn (USD13.9bn) have been allocated by the
See MoreItalian Tax Cuts Should Favor Employees
In Italy the association of sole traders and small businesses has recommended that measures should aim at reducing Italy's individual income tax (IRPEF) burden. The total tax collections from labor have reached EUR296.4bn, of which almost EUR161.5bn
See MoreIreland – Think Tank considers that income tax cut should benefit all
A think tank has looked at the possible benefits of lowering Ireland’s income tax rates. There is currently a debate in Ireland on reducing either the 41 percent higher rate of the 20 percent basic range of income tax. Reducing the higher 41
See MoreIndonesia to amend rules concerning tax holidays and allowances for investors
The Indonesian Deputy Minister of Finance has announced that the Government is planning to amend the rules concerning tax holidays and allowances for investors, possibly as early as April 2014. The changes to tax holidays are expected to include
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