Portugal: 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 MoreUK: National audit office reports unrecovered tax debt of GBP15.1bn
National audit office of UK has reported that that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is owed at least GBP15.1bn in unpaid debt. The report also adds that the Government should revise this responsibility and thus the recovery of tax credit over payments
See MoreUK: publishes draft legislation to eliminate stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax on Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)
HMRC has published for consultation a draft Statutory Instrument and a Tax Information and Impact Note on 17 February 2014. It was intended to abolish of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax on transfers of interests in Exchange Traded Funds
See MoreSpain: National court decides intra-group debt transaction as fraud of law
The Spanish National Court decides the case of Sabic Innovative against the tax administration (Appeal 367/2010) as fraud of law. The Court ruled that the intra-group debt transaction is usually tax-driven and did not have an economic or business
See MoreSlovak Republic: plans to raise its tax revenue by 0.3% of GDP in 2014
Slovak Republic has planned to raise its tax revenue in 2014 than previous year forecast. The government forecast to collect 189 million Euros ($259 million) or about 0.3 percent of GDP which is more than it forecast in the budget as the government
See MoreSingapore – Budget 2014 to be presented on 21 February 2014
Singapore's annual budget is prepared for each financial year, which begins on 1 April of every calendar year and ends on 31 March of the next calendar year. The budget includes the revised government revenue and expenditure projections for the
See MoreRussia: Clarification regarding tax treatment
On 18 December 2013 the Russian Ministry of Finance (MoF) published Letter No. 03-08-05/55702, clarifying the tax treatment of contractual penalties paid by a Russian company to a Ukrainian company for violation of the contractual terms. According
See MoreRussia: Clarification regarding residence rules of partnership income
The Russian Ministry of Finance (MoF) allotted Letter No. 03-08-05/1229,on 17 January 2014, clarifying whether income received by a US partnership may be subject to tax according to the Russia–United States Income and Capital Tax Treaty (1992).
See MorePhilippines: Importers Require Tax Authority Accreditation
The Philippines' Department of Finance has issued a department order requiring all importers to be accredited by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) before they can obtain an import permit from the Bureau of Customs (BOC). This measures aims to
See MorePeru – Reduced rate of general sales tax
Peru’s tax administration issued a resolution concerning the reduced rate of general sales tax on 1 February 2014. The general sales tax is charged on the purchase price of certain goods and services. The resolution will be effective from 1 March
See MoreMalta intends to amend taxation rules
Malta is intending to amend the rules relating to the taxation (and withholding tax) on amounts distributed by corporations from profits. One of the amendments will change the definition of a recipient in respect of withholding tax on distributions
See MoreMalaysia: Flat corporate tax rate introduced for SMEs which merge
On 14 February 2014, the International Trade and Industry Minister announced a flat rate of 20% for 5 years for Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which have merged to form larger entities. Currently, SMEs only enjoy the reduced corporate tax rate of
See MoreKenya: Tax Appeals Tribunal Bill 2013 signed into law
The Tax Appeals Tribunal Bill 2013 was signed into law on 2 December 2013. The Act is not yet in effect and awaits the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury to publish its commencement date. When the Bill is passed the Tax Appeals Tribunal
See More