Canada – Tax-related interest rates for 2014
It was announced by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) that tax-related interest rates for taxable credits and for tax overpayment and underpayments for the third quarter of 2013 (July 1- September 30) will remain unchanged for this year and the rates
See MoreRussia: VAT treatment of agency services in connection with alienation of ERUs
The Russian Ministry of Finance has noted that the VAT treatment of services generally depends on the place of their supply. Recently they issued Letter No. 03-07-08/4775 on February 20, 2013 regarding the VAT treatment of agency services supplied
See MoreSlovenia: Raises VAT Registration Threshold
Generally EU member states follow the compulsory VAT registration thresholds set in the EU VAT Directives. The EU permitted Slovenia to raise its compulsory VAT registration threshold from €25,000 to €50,000 per annum, so businesses with taxable
See MoreLuxembourg: Standard VAT rate will increase from 2015
The Luxembourg Prime Minister announced on 10 April 2013 that, the standard VAT rate will increase as from 2015, but the new rate has not yet been announced. The standard VAT rate is presently 15percent and is the lowest in the EU. The Luxembourg
See MoreColombian Congress Approves Tax Reform
New Colombian tax rules have come into effect from 1 January 2013. Purpose behind this tax reform was to decrease the country’s unemployment rate and address society’s high wealth differences. The reforms have decreased the corporate income tax
See MoreThailand to Keep VAT at 7%
It has been published on 10 August 2012 that Thailand’s government has decided to postpone the planned increase in the value added tax (VAT) rate by two years to help stimulate the consumer spending and private sector investment, which are
See MoreChina and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) update
According to an announcement made in October 2011, a Value-Added Tax (VAT) pilot program will be introduced in Shanghai in January 2012, replacing the business tax in selected industrial sectors. Following the early success of that pilot, it looks
See MoreFinland Unveils 2012 Supplementary Budget
On 28 March 2012, it was reported that the Finish government has recently unveiled details of its 2012 supplementary budget proposal, revising the tax revenue estimate upwards and providing for an increase in expenditure. It has also published
See MoreFrance to Hike VAT
The French President announced on January 3, 2012 that his government will hike value-added tax before the upcoming elections, to allow for a reduction in social security contributions paid by companies. The tax measures would be in place before
See MoreJapan’s Government Agrees Plan for Consumption Tax Hikes
It was reported on 2 January 2012 that Japan’s Prime Minister has been able to fulfill his government’s target to produce a detailed plan for future consumption tax rises, but only after his personal intervention at a meeting of the ruling
See MoreJapan: Raise of consumption tax rate
It was published on 31 December 2011 that, the Japanese coalition government has put forward long awaited plans to raise Japanese consumption tax to 10% by April 2015 in two steps. First there will be an increase from the current 5% consumption tax
See MoreReduced VAT in 2013 in Bulgaria
The Bulgarian government announced that it will reduce the nation’s value-added tax by 1% in 2013 with a target of reaching 16% by 2015. The government said that in order to freeze the excise duty hikes until 2015, a cut from the current 20% rate
See More2012 Budget issued by the Japanese government
The Government of Japan has approved and submitted a JPY90.3 trillion budget for the next fiscal year, beginning on April 1, 2012. The proposed budget will be presented to the country’s parliament early in 2012. The Japanese government has
See MoreBelgian Rules on import warehouse fiscal representatives
Thes European Court of Justice recently reviewed the VAT liability of fiscal representative to any VAT default by their clients. The Belgian VAT authorities offer a special import VAT deferment scheme for companies importing into Europe for the
See MoreUK: VAT registration threshold drops for foreign businesses
Following a recent European Court of Justice Case, Schmez C 97/09, the Value Added Tax registration threshold for foreign businesses has been forced to be withdrawn by the UK. The change will be effective from the end of 2012. According to this
See MoreIreland: VAT rate raise from 21% to 23%
The government of Ireland announce an increase of its standard VAT rate from 21% to 23% from January 2012. This increase is an acceleration of plans to raise the VAT rate to 23% by 2014. The government’s main target is to reduce the GDP deficit
See MoreChina’s pilot scheme on VAT in Shanghai
A pilot scheme to replace the existing business tax on the country’s service sector with value added tax (VAT) has been declared by China’s Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation. The project will be in Shanghai starting
See MorePhilippines: Thresholds for VAT exemptions increased
The threshold amounts for value added tax (VAT) on sales and leases of residential lots and houses has been increased to offset the rise in the consumer price index by the Philippines’ Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). According to the regulations
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