Thailand Government agrees to keep 7% VAT rate for one more year
The government of Thailand has announced to keep the country’s VAT rate on 7% for one more year. The Previous Thai governments had planned to raise the VAT to 10% but now this has been postponed for one more
See MoreIMF alerts Slovak Republic on VAT rate cut
Slovakia has increased its VAT rate from 19% to 20% in 2011. IMF has warned that reducing the rate back to 19% would expense 0.3% GDP in tax takes for the country. As the economic picture has enhanced slightly, many countries have started to think
See MoreSlovak Republic: IMF advises to keep current VAT rate
International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) advice to Slovakia to preserve the 20% VAT rate and focus more on boosting state revenues rather than further cutting of expenses. The IMF assumes that the plan to reduce VAT to 19 % would responsible for 0.3%
See MoreChina to cut VAT Rate to 3%
The Ministry of Finance and the State Tax Administration jointly released the “Announcement on Policy for Simplifying and Unifying VAT Rate” on June 13, 2014. From July 1, 2014, a uniform VAT Levy rate of 3% will be implemented for enterprises
See MoreUruguay-Temporary reduction of VAT on purchase by debit cards and credit cards
The government of Uruguay is planning to temporarily cut VAT by 4% on purchase by debit cards and by 2% on that for credit cards. The Economy Minister announced on 5 June 2014 that all debit card and electronic payment purchases with indexed units
See MoreMexico: Presented Further Maquila VAT Refunds
The finance minister of Mexico has introduced a 16% VAT on imports through maquila and it will start from 1 July 2014 and government expected it will providing quick VAT refund on import in the Mexico through a 100% tax credit. The government
See MoreGreece’s Prime Minister has promised to slash taxes
It has been promised by the Greece's Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras to cut taxes "everywhere” to substantiate the Government's goal as to reduce the corporation tax to 15 percent, the highest rate of income tax to 33 percent and slash the rate of
See MoreSouth Africa: Issues new VAT rules
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has on 2 May 2014 issued a new regulation setting out the circumstances under which indirect exports may qualify for zero rating and explaining when a Value-Added Tax (VAT) refund may be due on the export of
See MorePortugal Discloses Tax Rates For 2015
Portugal’s medium term economic strategy includes provisions to raise the rate of value added tax (VAT) and social security contribution (TSU). The government also intends to decrease the extraordinary solidarity contribution (CES) on
See MoreThailand may face VAT rate increase
The VAT rate in Thailand may need to be increased from 7 percent to 10 percent as the economic growth slows down. The 7 percent rate was intended as a temporary measure but has continued for some time. The measure had been extended by a government
See MoreVAT rate increases in Portugal
Among a range of austerity measures introduced in Portugal is a rise in the standard rate of VAT. The rate is to increase from 23% to 23.25%. This follows earlier rises in the rate in 2008 and 2011. The new measures also include an increase in
See MoreUkraine Increases Tax and Slashes Spending
Ukraine has approved tax reforms that will allow the country to access increased financial aid from the IMF. Ukraine requires the IMF funding to ensure the stability of its finances. For this reason some planned tax cuts will not be implemented and
See MoreLuxembourg Confirms 2015 VAT rise
The Luxembourg government is to raise the rate of VAT 15% to 17% on 1 January 2015. The lower VAT rates charged on certain categories of expenditure will also rise from 12% and 6% to 14% and 8%, respectively. The third reduced VAT rate of 3%
See MoreSlovenia- VAT rise from 22% to 24%
Slovenia has increased the standard VAT rate from 22% to 24% with effect from 1 May 2014 until 31 December 2014. This is intended to contribute to dealing with the 14.7% budget deficit to GDP that has arisen due to a bailout of banks in 2013.
See MoreRomania will not reduce VAT rate yet
Romania has announced that it cannot lower the current 24% VAT rate unless economic growth of more than 3 percent continues until 2015. Like some other EU countries, Romania raised its VAT rate on a temporary basis to deal with the consequences of
See MoreFrance – VAT on house improvement rises
France has confirmed that the reduced rate of VAT on home improvements is to rise from 7 percent to 10 percent. The previous 7 percent rate will however still apply in certain situations including work that began before 1 January 2014 and cases
See MoreAustralia considers GST rise
The rate of GST in Australia is currently 10%, however the possibility of raising the rate has been under consideration for some time. An increase in the GST rate could be used to fund reductions in tax on labor and in corporation tax, helping to
See MoreFrance – VAT on hotel accommodation may be damaging the tourism sector
In the opinion of some commentators the 1 January 2014 increase in VAT on hotel accommodation may be damaging the French tourism sector. The French hotel VAT rate rose from 7% to 10% in 2014 as part of reorganization of all French VAT rates –
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