Singapore: New guidance on GST and income tax treatment of virtual currencies
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has published guidance on GST and income tax treatment for virtual currencies. For GST purposes, virtual currencies will be treated as a supply of services, which does not qualify for GST
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 MoreUkraine: Reduces corporate income tax and Value Added Tax (VAT) rates
Ukraine has reduced corporate income tax and VAT rates from 1 January 2014. The reduced rates are: For corporate income tax: 18% from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014; 17% from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015; 16% from 1 January 2016. VAT
See MoreUK refuses to reduce tourism VAT rate
The UK Government has refused to reduce tourism VAT rate with an argument that there is no connection between tax subsidies and the number of tourist. The Members of Parliament who supported the proposal of reducing VAT on tourism have said that the
See MoreNetherlands: Important changes in the treatment of VAT offences
From 1 January 2014, the eventual submission of a correct VAT return in the Netherlands will no longer prevent prosecution where the return has been filed late. Prior to 1 January 2014, the late, or non-filing of VAT returns was classified as a
See MoreLithuania : Loss carry forward limitations, extended incentives and reduced VAT rates
Losses carry forward limitations: Beginning in 2014, the ability of corporations in Lithuania to carry forward tax losses, for corporate income tax purposes, is limited. In calculating their corporate income tax for 2014 and subsequent tax periods,
See MoreCyprus – New VAT rates in 2014
Following changes to the tax legislation, from 2014 the rates of value added tax in Cyprus are as follows: The standard VAT rate is 19% (increased from 18%) effective from 13 January 2014. Also the reduced VAT rate is 9% (increased from 8%)
See MoreCanada: GST compliance changes
The Canadian budget for 2014 includes a range of changes to the Canadian Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) regime. The tax changes include the following: Extension of the GST exemption on certain health and disability
See MoreBelgium enforces electronic VAT return
The tax office of Belgium has confirmed that it is to require all taxable persons to file electronic VAT filings over the next year. Corporations will have to submit their monthly or quarterly VAT returns through the online portal of the Ministry
See MoreGermany: VAT rates on multiple rate supplies
The German Federal Ministry of Finance has clarified the procedures for German VAT rates on a single supply where there are different VAT rates applicable. Where a supplier is offering for a single price goods with multiple VAT rates attached, the
See MorePoland – VAT reduction with respect to motor vehicles
On 20 February 2014, the Polish Senate adopted a bill introducing limited deductibility of input VAT on the purchase of certain motor vehicles and related expenditures. The draft amendments to the VAT Law are based on the EU authorization for the
See MoreJapan: Confirms Consumption Tax Rate Changes by 2015
From April 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015, the rate of Japanese consumption tax will be increased from the current 5% rate to a higher 8% rate. The government is also considering a further increase from 8% to 10% from October 1, 2015. Also under
See MoreLuxembourg: VAT rate will increase
The Luxembourg Prime Minister has announced that, Luxembourg is set to raise its standard rate of VAT in 2015. The standard VAT rate is currently 15% and at present it is the lowest standard rate in the EU. The Prime Minister has indicated that the
See MoreFrance: Reduced VAT rate on digital newspapers and magazines
The French government is about to propose a VAT reduction for digital newspapers and magazines. The intention behind this move is to provide a level playing field for different forms of publication. The government wants to give the digital versions
See MorePeru – Resolution changes withholding rate for VAT
On 1 February 2014 Peru’s tax administration issued a resolution concerning changes to the withholding rate for value added tax (VAT). This rate applies to the supplier, who must withhold the tax in respect of a transaction that is liable for VAT.
See MoreSpain extends latest deadline for cash accounting
The opportunity for Spanish companies to join the new cash reporting VAT scheme has been extend to 31 March 2014. The Spanish VAT cash accounting scheme was announced last year to help small businesses better manage their cash flows. It enables
See MoreSingapore levies Goods and Services Tax on Bitcoin
The Singapore tax authorities have recently issued guidance that the virtual digital currency, Bitcoin, is subject to Singapore goods and services tax (GST) at 7%. Although some financial services are exempt from VAT Bitcoin is regarded as a service
See MoreFrance – New VAT rates for 2014
With effect from 1 January 2014, the rates of value added tax (VAT) in France have been changed and are now as follows: The standard VAT rate is increased from 19.6% to 20%. The intermediary VAT rate which is applicable to the food service
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