US 2014 tax season to open on January 31

20 December, 2013

The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has declared that it plans to open the 2014 tax filing season on January 31 instead of the original opening date of January 21. The new opening date for individual to file their tax returns for 2013

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Hungary-VAT Act changes of 2014

20 December, 2013

Most of the changes to the VAT rules of Hungary are designed to bring Hungarian VAT further in line with the EU VAT Directive. According to the changes to the VAT rule the reverse charge mechanism will be extended to include property construction.

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China: Financial policies for Shanghai pilot free trade zone

20 December, 2013

The People’s Bank of China on 2 December issued opinions regarding financial support for the development of China (Shanghai) pilot free trade zone. The guidance has five areas of focus: Expansion of cross-border use of RMB; Acceleration of

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EU: Tax Mandate Adopted by Switzerland

20 December, 2013

It was reported that the Swiss Federal Council has adopted the instruction for negotiations on 20 December 2013 regarding a reconsideration of the tax savings agreement with the European Union. The EU ensures that the changes of this agreement are

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Extension to the temporary exemption for commodities transactions in Peru

20 December, 2013

The tax authority of Peru published Resolution No. 355-2013/SUNAT in the Official Gazette on 12 December 2013. The Resolution would extend the temporary exemption for commodities transactions from the application of the withholding income tax regime

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New Zealand’s tax developments in 2013

19 December, 2013

Tax and policy developments in New Zealand for the year of 2013 were: Distributed the OECD tax “action plan” in response to concerns around profit shifting by multinationals, launch of the legislation containing changes to the tax treatment of

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Switzerland released report on Corporate Tax Reform

19 December, 2013

The Swiss Federal Council has released a final report of corporate tax reform III on 19 December 2013. The Swiss federal government proposes to replace the holding, domiciliary, and mixed company regime in the next five to seven years and to enact a

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Spain: New law regarding deferred tax assets

18 December, 2013

A new law (RDL 14/2013) exchange into Spanish tax law the EU directives and regulations regarding the deferred tax assets. The law will enter into force from 1 January 2014, and this will affect Spanish financial institutions in the light of the

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US – IRS Issue Guidance for Tax-Exempt Entities

18 December, 2013

The United States Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have announced they are issuing initial guidance regarding qualification requirements for tax-exemption as a social welfare organization under section 501(c)(4) of

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US: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Prompted to Increase Online Payment Agreements

18 December, 2013

A new report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), has found that, while rising numbers of taxpayers are using the internet for their tax arrangements, the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has still missed

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Switzerland: Ruled against the replacement of VAT with Energy Levy

18 December, 2013

Value-added tax (VAT) in Switzerland to be replaced with a tax on energy has been rejected by The Swiss Federal Council. The council argued that in order to replacement of VAT because the rate of the energy tax will be very high and abolishing VAT

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Switzerland: Rejects some key tax initiatives

18 December, 2013

The Swiss people rejected some major tax initiatives, which would have had a reflective impact on both the economy and the attractiveness of the Confederation Fair Play would have limited executive pay to several of 12 times the wages of the lowest

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South Africa – VAT changes for short-term insurance

18 December, 2013

South Africa’s tax authorities have issued a ruling addressing the value added tax (VAT) treatment of supplies made and received by short-term insurers. The following issues are focused in the Ruling. Clarification on the time of supply in the

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Portuguese Parliament (AR) adopts the Budget for 2014

18 December, 2013

The country’s State Budget for 2014 (OE 2014) is adopted by the Portuguese Parliament (AR). The budget deficit is reduced to 4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) is ensured by the fiscal consolidation measures, in connection with the

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Portugal: VAT rate need not be reduced on restaurant trade

18 December, 2013

There is no need for a cut from the standard 23% rate to the reduced 13% rate. This is indicated by the latest positive estimates of Portuguese VAT restaurant receipts points. VAT rate on restaurant services in Portugal raised from 10% to 23% in

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Oman: Tax remittances

18 December, 2013

Oman government shall impose tax on the remittances sent by foreign workers to their home countries. This is advised by the economic and financial committee of Oman. In order to ease growing pressure on the state budget, two percent tax is to be

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Norway releases 2014 Budget

18 December, 2013

On 14 October 2013 Norway released the 2014 Budget with proposals on new interest deductibility restrictions and reduction of the corporate income tax rate. The Budget includes proposed significant restrictions on the deduction of interest paid to

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Netherlands Welcomes Court Ruling on Business Succession Tax Break

18 December, 2013

The Netherlands Supreme Court has ruled in recent proceedings that the country's business succession rules, provided for in the inheritance and gift tax law, are not contrary to the principle of equality. Under Dutch business succession regulations,

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