Australia: Budget 2013
The Australian government released its budget for 2013 on May 2013. It includes plans for a number of revenue / tax expenditure changes including measures to combat profit shifting. According to the budget, business entities will be eligible for
See MoreLuxembourg’s Corporate Tax Plans made public
The Luxembourg Government has uncovered some details of its future corporate tax plans. Increasing the rate of business tax has been ruled out by the Government. They have however confirmed plans to further simplify and modernize tax procedures for
See MoreEgypt: New Tax Law
A new tax law was signed by the Egyptian president on 21 May 2013. The new tax law cuts the amount of tax paid by those on lower incomes and this is intended to improve their living conditions. According to the new law anyone who earns EGP 5,000 or
See MoreKorea: Foreign exchange profit taxable as dividend income
Korea’s high court has issued a judgment in a case where a taxpayer received an amount less than the principal investment on the sale of participations in Japanese funds, which was offset to some extent by foreign exchange gains from the strength
See MoreGermany: Taxation of portfolio dividends; gain, loss on mergers
A new law concerning the taxation of portfolio dividends has been introduced in Germany. Also, some amendments to the tax procedure rules have been proposed. According to the new law, portfolio dividends for shareholdings of less than 10%, measured
See MoreBrazil: Increase in revenue limit to opt for presumed profit method
The government of Brazil has again increased the gross income limit for companies to opt for taxation under the presumed profit regime. Companies electing to use the presumed profit method are taxed on a statutory rate applied to their gross
See MoreAustralia: Draft taxation determination on non-deductibility of support payments
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has discharged a draft Taxation Determination TD 2013/D3. The draft determination is appropriate to arrangements between a parent entity and its subsidiary entity. According to the draft TD 2013/D3, support
See MoreUK: HMRC analyses data on tax schemes
The UK tax authority HMRC has received information indicating the extensive use of tax schemes to hide assets in overseas locations and it is working with the governments of Australia and the US to analyze a large amount of data. The data indicates
See MoreCanada: Reforming Temporary Foreign Worker program
Currently, Canadians have raised concerns about the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. A review of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program has been incorporated in the Economic Action Plan 2013 and legislation has been enacted to change the rules. It
See MoreAustralia: Proposal to amend GAAR
The Australian government on 13th February 2013 introduced Tax Laws Amendment Bill 2013. According to Tax Laws Amendment Bill 2013, companies will have to ensure that the commercial and other factors motivating a decision are properly documented.
See MoreUkraine: Draft Law amendments regarding the formation of a tax group
Draft Law No. 2737 introduces amendments regarding the formation of a tax group. On 5 April 2013, amendments to the Tax Code were sent to be approved by the parliament. The legislation will allow companies in Ukraine to form a consolidated tax group
See MoreGermany: Amendments to the taxation of portfolio dividends
A new law in respect of dividend taxation was published in the Federal Gazette on 21 March 2013. This law has been introduced following a decision of the European Court of Justice in 20 October 2011 which required a review of the taxation of
See MoreUK: HMRC announces widespread compliance with real time information
Most UK employers are now required to report their information on wages and deductions under the Pay as you Earn (PAYE) scheme in real time. The UK tax authority HMRC announced last week that more than 680,000 employers have begun reporting PAYE in
See MoreUK: report on the role of large accountancy firms in tax avoidance
The UK’s Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) has issued a report entitled “Tax avoidance: the role of large accountancy firms” criticizing the close relationship between accountancy firms and the tax authorities. The practice of seconding
See MoreSweden: tax proposals in 2013 spring budget
The government of Sweden submitted to Parliament a budget bill on 15 April 2013 that proposes domestic tax changes. The measures include improving incentives to work, strengthening the income tax credit further and increasing the lower threshold for
See MoreBelgium: New tax measures for 2013
Belgium’s Council of Ministers recently reached agreement on new tax measures for 2013. The Belgian government has already confirmed plans to increase the minimum wage and to reduce employer contributions from April 1. These measures are intended
See MoreNorway: Interest deduction limitation proposed
On 11 April 2013 the Norwegian Ministry of Finance published a legislative proposal and invited public submissions on the introduction of an interest deduction limitation for loans between related persons. The proposed limitation applies where there
See MoreUS: Public comments requested on branch profits tax for foreign corporations
The US Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are requesting comments concerning regulations TD 8223 (Branch Tax), TD 8432 (Branch Profits Tax) and TD 8657 (Regulations on Effectively Connected Income and the Branch Profits
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