Indonesia: VAT registration threshold increased

26 January, 2014

Indonesia has increased its VAT registration threshold from IDR 0.6bn to IDR 4.8bn per year in taxable turnover with effect from 1 January 2014. The stated goal is to reduce the VAT compliance burden for small and medium sized businesses. The

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Egypt: Reconsidering a VAT system

23 January, 2014

Egypt is considering the introduction of a value added tax (VAT) system to replace the current sales tax. It is understood that this has been identified as a priority; the likely VAT rate will be around 10% with higher rates for such items as

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Egypt: Introduction of VAT law

19 January, 2014

It has been reported that Egypt will introduce Value Added Tax to replace the existing General Sales Tax by the end of 2014.  The new VAT will be a broad based tax, covering a much wider range of goods and services; the new provisions will also

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Cyprus: VAT rates increased

19 January, 2014

Cyprus has increased the standard value added tax rate from 18% to 19%, while the 8% reduced rate was increased to 9%, from 13 January 2014. The standard rate applies to 80% of goods and services, percent, while reduced rate applies to accommodation

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Polish 2014 VAT Law brings in widespread changes

13 January, 2014

On 13 January 2014 it has been reported that there has been a major overhaul of the Polish VAT compliance regime following the approval of the 2014 Polish VAT Act.  The changes are aimed at bringing the Polish Value Added Tax regime more into

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Ukraine: Introduces a value-added tax exemption

08 January, 2014

In a statement on January 8, 2014, Ukrainian Prime Minister confirmed that he had ordered the preparation of draft legislation to amend the country's tax code to lower the cost of natural gas for consumers. The price for consumers will be reduced by

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Belgium: Increase in resident VAT registration threshold

04 January, 2014

Belgium has proposed an increase in the resident EU VAT registration threshold. This will rise to EUR 15,000 from the current EUR €5,580 at a date in early 2014 to be confirmed. The European Commission to reduce the compliance paperwork and

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Hungary: VAT rules change

03 January, 2014

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled against current Hungarian rules on on the loss of the VAT exemption for exports. Under the present rules, exporters of goods from Hungary must ensure that goods leave Hungary within 90 days to qualify

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Portugal: Azores raises VAT

02 January, 2014

The Azores (a Portuguese independent region) has increased its standard Value Added Tax (Imposto sobre o Valor Acrescentado) rate from 16% to 18%, with effect from 1 January 2014. Further, the reduced VAT rate of 9% (IVA intermedio) on water, fuel,

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Ukraine: Rates and Accounting rules for Tax 2014

31 December, 2013

On 19 December 2013, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed Law No. 3757 that introduce tax rates and tax accounting rules for 2014. The corporate income tax rate is reduced to 18% (from 19%) with further decreases to 17% (beginning 1 January 2015)

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Romania: Modify compulsory VAT cash accounting scheme to voluntary

31 December, 2013

The Romanian tax office is planning to change its controversial obligatory VAT cash accounting rule to a purely voluntary scheme. The present obligatory scheme was initiated at the early of 2013. This system, progressively common in other EU

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Denmark: Changes VAT return filings for small companies

27 December, 2013

The Danish Budget 2014 changes the VAT compliance regime for small companies therefore if the businesses with sales less than DKK 5 million, the time limit for filing VAT returns will be extended to 60 days from the current 40

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Norway and EFTA- changes in respect of customs credit for EEA businesses registered in Norway for VAT purposes

26 December, 2013

It was published on 26 December 2013 that, due to a reasoned opinion from the EFTA Surveillance Authority dated 19 September 2012, the Norwegian VAT representative scheme has already been changed. The changes relate to the removal of the requirement

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Switzerland: The Federal Council recommend to simplified VAT

25 December, 2013

The Federal Council has published of the total regulatory burden on 25 December 2013 are CHF10bn, CHF1.8bn on business which are directly related to VAT. The Federal Council clarified the VAT system with a uniform tax rate. Switzerland imposes three

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Czech Republic: New Reduced VAT rate

19 December, 2013

The Czech coalition government is taking into account to introduce a new, deducted VAT rate for medicines. The EU VAT Directive permits two reduced VAT rates below any member state’s standard VAT rate.  These rates may not go beyond 5%. 

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Cyprus: VAT rate increases

18 December, 2013

From the 13 January 2014 there will be some changes to the VAT rates in Cyprus as follows: Standard rate of VAT increased to 19% from 18%; Reduced rate of VAT increased to 9% from 8%; and The super reduced and zero rates will remain

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Malta: VAT 2014 changes approved

18 December, 2013

It was reported on 18 December 2013 that the Maltese budget for 2014 has been approved by Parliament. It includes a small number of changes to the VAT penalties and compliance regime, including: There will be no penalties for late filings of

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Turkey deducts VAT rate on e-books

17 December, 2013

By harmonizing the VAT rate imposed on e-books and traditional, printed books Turkey has become the updated country and it plans to rearrange e-books from the standard VAT rate of 18% to the same reduced rate 8% for books. The Turkish VAT deduct

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