World Bank: Impact of tax and spending measures on women
A World Bank policy research working paper with the title Mapping the Gender Dimension in Taxation and Budgeting: A Cross-Country Study of Laws, Policies and Practices was published on 4 December 2025. The research paper, written by H. Niesten, L
See MoreWorld Bank: Impact of non-tariff measures on global trade
A World Bank research paper with the title It’s Not (Just) the Tariffs: Rethinking Non-Tariff Measures in a Fragmented Global Economy, by D. Taglioni and H. Kee, was published on 22 October 2025. The research paper looks at the impact of
See MoreWorld Bank: Data-driven policies can transform tax compliance
An event held at the World Bank Group Office in Rome from 1 to 5 December 2025 was attended by experts from the World Bank, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and some Italian institutions. The participants examined the effect of data-driven risk
See MoreTaiwan: MoF extends electric vehicle tax exemption until 2030
Taiwan’s Ministry of Finance (MoF) states that in order to enhance the willingness of consumers to purchase completely electric-operated automobiles or motorcycles , the Legislative Yuan passed on its third reading the draft of the amendment to
See MoreTaiwan: Taipei Tax Bureau clarifies certain share, capital contribution transactions to be taxed as real estate deals
Taiwan’s The Taipei National Taxation Bureau of the Ministry of Finance stated that, in order to prevent individuals and profit-making enterprises from effectively transferring the real estate and land within China of the invested profit-making
See MoreHong Kong: IRD adjusts interest on tax reserve certificates
The Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department (IRD) announced, on 24 December 2025, that starting from 5 January 2026, the new annual rate of interest payable on Tax Reserve Certificates will be 0.2417% against the current rate of 0.2583%, i.e. the new
See MoreOECD updates GIR MCAA signatories list
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published an updated list of signatories, including their signing dates, to the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on the Exchange of Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE)
See MoreItaly announces statutory interest rate for 2026
Italy has published the Decree of 10 December 2025 in the Official Gazette, which sets a 1.6% statutory (legal) interest rate (down from 2.0%) with effect from 1 January 2026. The statutory interest rate applies to the taxation of interest income
See MoreTaiwan: Tax Authority updates rules for real estate sales by for-profit enterprises
Taiwan’s Central Area National Taxation Bureau of the Ministry of Finance has reminded for-profit enterprises that, from 1 July 2021, sales of real estate purchased after 1 January 2016 are subject to the Integrated Housing and Land Tax
See MoreRussia: Central bank cuts key rate by 50 bps as Inflation pressures ease
The Board of Directors of the Bank of Russia on 19 December 2025 decided to cut the key rate by 50 basis points to 16.00% per annum, citing easing underlying price pressures and the economy’s gradual return to a balanced growth path. Bank of
See MoreUN: Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee continues discussions on Framework Convention
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on the UN Framework Convention met in Nairobi for further discussions from 10th to 19th November 2025. Discussions focused on a draft template of a Framework Convention published for consultation in
See MoreNetherlands: MoF consults proposed amendments to mutual fund regulation
The Dutch Ministry of Finance initiated a public consultation on 15 December 2025 regarding draft legislation addressing practical issues arising from the 1 January 2025 changes to the mutual fund regime for the funds for mutual account (fonds voor
See MoreAustralia: ATO announces GIC, SIC rates for Q3 2025-26
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) announced the general interest charge (GIC) rates and shortfall interest charge (SIC) rates for the third quarter of the 2025-26 income year on 9 December 2025. For the quarter commencing on 1 January 2026,
See MoreLuxembourg implements 2026 Budget Bill
Luxembourg has enacted the 2026 budget bill following its adoption by parliament. The full budget bill was published in the Official Gazette on 19 December 2025. The government has finalised the Law of 19 December 2025, introducing targeted
See MoreIMF: How Partnership Underpins Revenue Mobilisation
The IMF/World Bank annual meetings were held from 13 to 18 October 2025. On 15 October 2025 a capacity development talk with the title How Partnership Underpins Revenue Mobilisation looked at how the IMF had supported capacity development in
See MoreIMF: Taxing for Take-Off
At the IMF annual meetings from 13 to 18 October 2025, an Analytical Corner introduced by Matthieu Bellon and Ross Warwick with the title State Capacity, Growth and Institutions: Taxing for Take-Off looked at the minimum level of revenue that is
See MoreIMF: Revolutionizing Public Finance Operations through Digitalization
During the IMF/World Bank annual meetings in October 2025, a panel discussion was held on 17 October 2025 on digitalisation. The panel included representatives of the administrations of Finland, Brazil and Madagascar who outlined their efforts to
See MoreUN: 31st Session of Committee of Experts on Tax Cooperation
The UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters held its 31st session from 21 to 24 October 2025. This was the first meeting of the new membership of 25 tax experts appointed for a four-year term from 2025 to 2029. The new
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