Finland: Government Agrees To Tax Hikes For 2015 Budget
After weeks of one-on-one and full-cabinet negotiations, on August 28, 2014, the Finish Government has agreed on the 2015 budget proposal. The proposal is mainly based on decisions made in the General Government Fiscal Plan last spring and in the
See MoreHong Kong: SFC gazette on Revised Code on Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
Revised Code on Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) has been gazetted by the Securities and Future Commission (SFC). Hong Kong's REIT portfolios have been widened to offer investors a diverse choice, from retail properties to commercial and hotel
See MoreRussia: Interest derived by a foreign company is subject to CIT
The Finance Ministry has released Letter No. 03-00-08/2/29954 that describes the tax treatment applicable to interest paid by a Russian resident individual to a foreign company on the basis of loan agreement. In accordance with article 246 of tax
See MorePoland: Strengthen the thin capitalization rules
The Lower House of Parliament adopted the amended final version of thin capitalization rules after approval by the Higher House of Parliament on 29 August 2014 and it is very likely new legislation will enter into force from 1 January 2015. This
See MoreCanada: Budget to feature income tax cut
The Ministry of Finance could include federal income tax rates cuts. According to the Finance Minister, there will be a budgetary extra next year. For this reason, the Government will focus on reducing taxes to individuals and it will involve tax
See MoreLatvia proposed a twelve month tax break for Latvian Sanction-Hit Companies
In response to the Russian embargo on most food products imported from the European Union, Latvia's Economy Minister, Vjaceslavs Dombrovskis, has proposed a 12-month tax break for businesses impacted by Russian sanctions. The tax breaks could be
See MoreChina: General tax audit on service fees and royalties payment
The State Administration of Taxation (SAT) has urged the tax authorities at all levels to carry out general tax audits on large sum payments on service fees and royalties paid to non-residents, by issuing a directive on 29 July 2014 (Shui Zong Ban
See MoreUkraine: Certain corporate income tax incentives to be abolished
The Ukraine parliament adopted the Law No.4309A, on 31 July 2014 which was issued on 21 July 2014, with eliminating certain corporate income tax incentives. The main abolished incentives are summarized below: limiting privileged corporate income
See MoreSlovak Republic: Amendments to the VAT Act
The president of Slovak Republic has signed the law on July 25, 2014 regarding changes to the Value Added Tax Act and this law will enter into force with effect from January 1,
See MoreNigeria: Changes Income tax law for companies
According to section 55 of the income tax law for companies, the Federal Inland Revenue of Nigeria has declared a policy change and stated that non-resident companies will be required to file their returns. Non-resident companies have filed their
See MoreBRICS nations agree to create BRICS bank
Leaders of the BRICS group of emerging powers on Tuesday created a Shanghai-based new international development bank and multi-billion emergency lending pools. The development bank will have initial capital of $50 billion that could rise to $100
See MoreRussia – The Central Bank issued FATCA guidance
The Central Bank of Russia has issued Bulletin No. 64 (1542) on July 10, 2014 regarding the rules for implementing the FATCA legislation. Central Bank’s guidance is given below: “Punitive withholding” within the Russian territory is not
See MoreRussia: Declares tax treatment applicable to contractual penalties
The Russian Finance Ministry released Letter No. GD-4-3/12689 issued on July 3, 2014, whereby it declared the taxation of contractual penalties paid by a Russian company to a Cypriot company. The Ministry of Finance referred to article 309 of the
See MoreTanzania: regulations on transfer pricing released
The Transfer Pricing Regulations in Tanzania has finally been released through Government Notice No. 27 of 2014 and which is effective from 7 February 2014. The Income Tax Act 2004 already had a requirement in section 33 to transact between
See MoreUkraine: Tax authorities updated on certain transfer pricing issues
On 1 July 2014, the Ministry of Revenues and Levies of Ukraine has issued Order No.368 which approves an updated of "Generalized Tax Consultation on Application of Certain Provisions of the Tax Legislation on Transfer Pricing." The Order
See MoreRussia: MoF clarifies tax agents’ obligations of the securities depositories
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has issued Letter No. 03-08-13/22654 on May 14, 2014 for clarifying the tax agents' responsibilities of the securities depositories making transfers to Russian and foreign companies further to dividend distributions.
See MoreDeriving income tax by non-residents from contracts with Nigerian companies
The Federal High Court gave its decision in the case of Saipem Contracting Nigeria, Saipem (Portugal) Commercio Maritimo Su LDA and Saipem SA v. Federal Inland Revenue Services, Attorney General of the Federation and Shell Nigeria Exploration and
See MoreSaudi Arabia- Draft regulations concerning the computation and collection of Zakat
The Saudi Shura Council has approved on 9 June 2014 draft regulations concerning the computation and collection of Zakat on commercial and professional activities. The regulations accept Zakat payers to pay up to 20% of their Zakat to registered
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