Hong Kong – Tax provisions in budget 2014-2015
The Hong Kong budget for 2014-2015 contains tax proposals affecting the financial services sector. Among these are measures that would: Propose a review of the requirements under the Inland Revenue Ordinance for interest deductions in the
See MoreHong Kong – Stamp duty change for residential property transactions
Hong Kong’s Legislative Council has passed a bill to amend the stamp duty imposed on residential property transactions. The measures are effective retroactively from 27 October 2012. The new measure includes: Enhanced special stamp duty rates;
See MoreHong Kong- Budget considers Fiscal Sustainability Over Longer-Term
Competitiveness was the theme of Hong Kong’s 2014/15 budget, but a significant portion of the budget speech looked at the maintenance of Hong Kong's healthy public finances in the face of increased spending on education, social welfare and
See MoreGerman federal state of NRW will issue new tax assessments to taxpayers to clarify their actual tax burden
From March 2014, the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) will issue new tax assessments to taxpayers to clarify their actual tax burden for 2013, expressed as a percentage of gross income. The tax assessments will provide details of
See MoreFrance and Germany to cooperate on tax projects
France and Germany have jointly declared that they will cooperate on key tax agendas in Europe and internationally. A working group is to be set up and the group will consider how to harmonize regulations on incoming and outgoing cross-border
See MoreEU – Irish Opposition Questions EU on Corporate Tax Probe
Ireland's Fianna Fáil party has expressed its concern over the slow progress being made by the European Commission in its preliminary probe of the country's corporate tax regime. Six months after the report of the preliminary probe the European
See MoreEU: Parliament Backs Standard VAT Return
The EU Commissioner for Taxation has welcomed the European Parliament's strong support, expressed on February 26, 2014, for a Standard VAT Return. The Standard VAT Return is one of the Commission's key proposals to reduce the burden of compliance
See MoreCyprus – Tax guide 2014
A tax guide for 2014 has been published in Cyprus. The Tax Guide aims to provide a comprehensive introduction on the main aspects of the Cyprus Tax System for non-resident investors and corporations. The guide is of use to potential investors in
See MoreCanada: Tax Break for 2015-16 financial year
Canada's Finance Minister has said that his "number one priority" is reducing the taxes faced by Canadian families. Tax cuts are to take preference over plans to lower the country's debt or boost government spending. After the tax cuts are achieved,
See MoreCanada: Draft Legislation Concerning Taxation of Canadian Banks With Foreign Affiliates
On February 27, 2014, Canada’s Department of Finance released draft legislative proposals relating to the taxation of Canadian banks with foreign affiliates. The proposals contain modifications to those released for consultation on November 27,
See MoreAustria: Tax Increases
The National Council of Austria has adopted with minor changes the Government's Tax Amendment Act, providing for a number of tax increases. The Tax Amendment Act increases the standard consumption tax, the motor vehicle tax, and the tobacco tax. The
See MoreSpain: Tax Reform Package Designed
The tax reform committee in Spain will soon present proposals for a comprehensive tax system reform. It is expected that the committee will recommend simplification of the system and corporate taxation and individual income tax rate reductions,
See MorePortugal: Tax law changes affecting corporate and individual taxpayers
The recently enacted changes following the 2014 budget proposals include some key changes to the corporate taxation regime as well as other tax law provisions: Reduction in the rate of corporate income tax, from 25% to 23%, for 2014; Expanded
See MoreNamibia: Budget for 2014/15
The 2014-15 Budget was presented by the Minister of Finance on 19 February 2014, and includes the following measures: Corporate taxation: The non-mining corporate income tax rate will be reduced from 33% to 32%. VAT: The VAT registration
See MoreDenmark: Modifications to cash payment incentive for research and development
The Danish parliament adopted Bill (L 103) on 29 January 2014, under which companies may apply for a maximum cash incentive amounting to 24.5% of DKK 25 million for qualifying R&D costs from 2014. The cash incentive is to be computed on a
See MoreAustria’s Finance Minister clarifies FTT Start in 2016
Austria’s Finance Minister has clarified that a European Union (EU) financial transactions tax (FTT) will not come into effect until at least 2016. Austria’s State Budgets for 2014 and 2015 will reflect the delays and will not make provision for
See MoreVietnam: Individual Income Tax Guidance for 2013
General Department of Taxation in Vietnam has confirmed the guidance in January 2014 on personal income tax for 2013 providing methodologies on how to calculate taxable income and tax liabilities for net and gross employment contracts. Tax
See MoreUS: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) loses appeal on the reforms of legislation for tax preparers
The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has lost its appeal on the reforms of rules for tax preparers against the ruling by the court that ordered to stop enforcing regulatory requirements on tax return preparers. The ruling is important
See More