Denmark: Modifications to cash payment incentive for research and development

24 February, 2014

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

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Austria’s Finance Minister clarifies FTT Start in 2016

24 February, 2014

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

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Vietnam: Individual Income Tax Guidance for 2013

23 February, 2014

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

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US: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) loses appeal on the reforms of legislation for tax preparers

23 February, 2014

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

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UK: National audit office reports unrecovered tax debt of GBP15.1bn

23 February, 2014

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

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Spain: National court decides intra-group debt transaction as fraud of law

23 February, 2014

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

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Slovak Republic: plans to raise its tax revenue by 0.3% of GDP in 2014

23 February, 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

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Russia: Clarification regarding tax treatment

23 February, 2014

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

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Russia: Clarification regarding residence rules of partnership income

23 February, 2014

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).

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Philippines: Importers Require Tax Authority Accreditation

23 February, 2014

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

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Peru – Reduced rate of general sales tax

23 February, 2014

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

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Malta intends to amend taxation rules

23 February, 2014

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

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Malaysia: Flat corporate tax rate introduced for SMEs which merge

23 February, 2014

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

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Kenya: Tax Appeals Tribunal Bill 2013 signed into law

23 February, 2014

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

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Kazakhstan: Finance Ministry permits to sign DTA with Slovenia

23 February, 2014

On 3 February 2014, the government of Kazakhstan gave clearance for the Ministry of Finance to sign the income and capital tax treaty with Slovenia. The agreement of the text of the draft double taxation agreement was originally announced on 13 June

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Czech Republic – Coalition government’s tax policy

23 February, 2014

The agreement establishing the new government in the Czech Republic indicates that there are currently no plans to raise income taxes. With respect to corporate income tax, however, the coalition agreement mentions that a “sector tax” with

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Colombia – New criteria for determining large taxpayer issued

23 February, 2014

Colombia’s tax administration has issued guidance establishing new criteria for determining who qualifies as a “large taxpayer”. Being identified as a “large taxpayer” may affect specific arrangements for paying taxes, and may affect both

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Bulgarian government will maintain low rates of direct taxes

23 February, 2014

On February 11, 2014, a forum entitled: Government-Business: Economic Restart National Forum: was organized at the initiative of the Bulgarian Prime Minister. The forum was organized in four different panels that discussed the following

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