Estonia – Six new DTA in effect

09 February, 2014

From 1 January 2014, six new Double Tax Treaties (DTA) were added to Estonia’s income tax treaty network. The treaties are with Bahrain, Thailand, Cyprus, Mexico, Turkmenistan, and

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South Africa: Tax implications of assumption of contingent liabilities

03 February, 2014

The tax implications in relation to the assumption of contingent liabilities in partial settlement of the purchase price of assets acquired as part of a going concern have been addressed by the South African Revenue Service (SARS). The initial views

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Turkey: Specific Transfer Pricing Compliance

26 January, 2014

An annual transfer pricing report must be prepared by the date of the annual tax return. The transfer pricing rules also specify documentation that must be maintained. Listed companies may also be required to submit a report on controlled

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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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South Africa: Tax Administration Laws Amendment Act 39 of 2013 promulgated

19 January, 2014

The Tax Administration Laws Amendment Act, 2013, has been promulgated as Act 39 of 2013 on 16 January 2014. The Act amends the Transfer Duty Act, 1949; the Income Tax Act, 1962; the Customs and Excise Act, 1964; the Value Added Tax Act, 1991; the

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Russia: Ministry of Finance clarifies patent system taxation issues

19 January, 2014

The Ministry of Finance published Letter No. 03-11-09/55604 on 17 December 2013 which sets out the maximum and minimum thresholds of potential annual income to apply with regard to the patent system of taxation. The MoF also clarified that under

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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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Kenya: National Social Security Fund Act 2013 enacted

11 January, 2014

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Act was passed by Parliament on 24 December 2013 and applies from 10 January 2014. The NSSF Act will increase the social security contributions by both the employer and the employee, with a goal to increase

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Turkey: Special consumption tax changes for 2014

10 January, 2014

Turkey’s Council of Ministers have issued Resolution 2013/5761, that revises and/or specifies the special consumption tax (SCT) rates and amounts to be applied effective from 1 January 2014. These revise the SCT rates for vehicles, for beer and

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Nigeria: High Court affirms taxpayer appeal and orders disbandment of Tax Tribunal

10 January, 2014

Nigeria’s Federal High Court (FHC) delivered a key judgment on 30 October 2013 in a suit between TSKJ Contruces Internationals Sociadade Unipessoal LDA (TSKJ) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The FHC upheld TSKJ’s appeal against

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Japan-Oman: Sign DTA

09 January, 2014

Japan has signed a Double Taxation Agreement (DTAA) with Oman on 09 January 2014. The agreement provides a 10% withholding rate on dividends (5% with a 10% shareholding), interest and royalties in the source

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Nigeria establish TP Division and disclose TP forms

27 December, 2013

Transfer Pricing Division will be accountable for the implementation and administration of the Income Tax Transfer Pricing Regulations No.1 2012 (TP Regulations) and it has build by the Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The TP

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South Africa delays implementation of GST on foreign digital supplies

26 December, 2013

It has been published on 26 December 2013 that the plans to implement South African GST on digital supplies have been delayed from January 2014 until at least the start of April 2014. In a change to the Taxation Laws Amendment Act, the South African

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South Africa – VAT changes for short-term insurance

18 December, 2013

South Africa’s tax authorities have issued a ruling addressing the value added tax (VAT) treatment of supplies made and received by short-term insurers. The following issues are focused in the Ruling. Clarification on the time of supply in the

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Oman: Tax remittances

18 December, 2013

Oman government shall impose tax on the remittances sent by foreign workers to their home countries. This is advised by the economic and financial committee of Oman. In order to ease growing pressure on the state budget, two percent tax is to be

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Morocco: International Tax Dialogue To Making Fiscal Reorganization Work

17 December, 2013

A meeting of tax administrators from more than 95 countries throughout the world has been discussing the distribution of taxing powers between different levels of government. The global conference of the International Tax Dialogue in Marrakech,

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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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Uganda: Tax reforms recommended by International Monetary Fund

11 December, 2013

Uganda requires applying the tax reforms to lift its revenue collection and it was recommended by The International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to the IMF Uganda’s tax revenue collection is lower than other countries in the region and Ugandan

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