Belgium unveils tax reforms, includes tighter exemptions, broader exit tax
The Belgian government has presented an overview of its tax reforms to the parliament on 24 April 2025. This follows after Belgium’s five political parties agreed on a coalition government program on 31 January 2025, outlining various tax
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Netherlands releases draft tax plan measures for 2026
The Netherlands State Secretary for Finance has sent a list of tax measures on 25 April 2025, which are expected to be included in the annual Tax Plan and other tax legislation planned for the year, to the lower house of parliament. The Tax Plan
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Kazakhstan considers new tax code amendments, proposes sector-specific rates and VAT increase
Kazakhstan’s lower chamber of parliament is currently examining provisions of the new draft Tax Code, which received approval in its first reading on 9 April 2025. These provisions are based on the draft originally issued by the Ministry of
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South Africa: Parliament approves 2025 budget with controversial VAT hike
South Africa’s parliament approved the 2025 budget which was presented by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Wednesday, 2 April 2025, despite strong opposition to a controversial increase in value-added tax (VAT). To address government
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Israel: Parliamentary Finance Committee approves 2025 budget
Israel's Parliamentary Finance Committee approved the 2025 state budget on 23 March 2025. The bill proposes that the net state budget for 2025 will stand at about NIS 755.9 billion – the total budget for calculation of the expenditure limit
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South Africa: SARS issues guidance on VAT rate increase starting May
The VAT rate in South Africa will increase from 15.0% to 15.5% starting 1 May 2025, with a planned increase to 16.0% from 1 April 2026. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has released a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the
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Ghana: 2025 budget to ease economic pressures on households, businesses
Ghana's Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, presented the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy on 11 March 2025 outlining tax policies and proposals designed to restore fiscal discipline, boost revenue generation, and ease economic
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South Africa unveils 2025 budget: Raises VAT and corporate income tax
South Africa's Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, presented the 2025 Budget Speech on 12 March 2025. The minister has proposed raising the VAT rate and corporate and personal income taxes. However, no changes to personal income tax rebates or
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Lithuania considers increasing preferential VAT rate to 12%
Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas has confirmed that the Government is considering increasing the preferential rate of value-added tax (VAT) from 9% to 12%. The 21% standard VAT rate and the 5% super-reduced rate will remain
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Finland drops plan to raise VAT on chocolates and candies
Finland's Ministry of Finance has announced that it will not move forward with the planned increase in the VAT rate on chocolates and candies from 14% to 25.5% on 1 June 2025. In addition, the Ministry is preparing a legislative amendment to
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Kazakhstan proposes VAT rate increases and exemptions in tax code overhaul
The Kazakhstan government has introduced proposed amendments to its Tax Code on 11 February 2025, aimed at reshaping the country’s VAT framework. The key changes include raising the standard VAT rate from 12% to 16%, alongside a new reduced 10%
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Netherlands: MoF seeks alternatives to cover budget gap after scrapped vat hike on media, culture, and sports
The Netherlands Ministry of Finance issued a letter to the parliament outlining alternative measures to address the budget shortfall caused by cancelling the proposed VAT increase on media, culture, and sports from 9% to 21%. The VAT increase
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Slovakia Republic announces new VAT rates for energy supplies
The Slovak Republic’s tax authority has released guidance on new VAT rates for energy supplies, effective from 1 January 2025. Under the guidance, the standard VAT rate will rise from 20% to 23%, and the reduced rate (including electricity)
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Israel issues guidance on increased VAT rate
Israel’s Tax Authority has issued guidance on the increase in the standard VAT rate from 17% to 18%, effective 1 January 2025. The guidance provides an explanation of how to apply the correct VAT rate to transactions such as goods, services,
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Indonesia: President announces 12% VAT limited to luxury goods, services
Indonesia’s President has announced that the VAT rate will increase from 11% to 12%, starting 1 January 2025. However, the VAT increase will only be applicable to luxury goods and services like private jets, yachts, cruise ships, and luxury
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Slovak Republic publishes guidance on VAT rate reduction for accommodation services
The Slovak Republic’s Financial Administration has released guidance detailing changes to the reduced VAT rate for accommodation services, which took effect on 1 January 2025. The guidance outlines how the new rate applies to advance payments,
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Norway publishes overview of tax changes for 2025
Norway’s government has released an overview outlining key tax changes which took effect on 1 January 2025. Some of the main changes include: Natural resource tax for hydropower The natural resource tax for hydropower plants has been
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Indonesia announces relief to ease 2025 VAT hike impact
Indonesia’s government has announced a relief package to mitigate the effects of the upcoming VAT increase to 12%, set to take effect on 1 January 2025. Earlier, Indonesia’s Finance Minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati confirmed that the VAT rate
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