Sri Lanka proposes VAT and income tax reforms
Sri Lanka has announced a series of tax reforms through proposed legislation published on 21 February 2025. The changes, affecting VAT and income tax, will be implemented in phases from April 2025. A key measure is the introduction of an 18% VAT
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Kazakhstan establishes new Special Economic Zone in Aktobe
Kazakhstan has established a new Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Aktobe, set to operate until 31 December 2049. Under this initiative, companies involved in qualifying activities within the SEZ can benefit from up to 100% reductions in corporate
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Malaysia announces new deadlines for e-invoicing compliance
Malaysia’s Inland Revenue Board (IRBM) released updates regarding electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) guidelines on 21 February 2024. These include revised versions of the e-invoice guideline (version 4.2) and the e-invoice specific guideline
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Australia plans to increase tax incentives for alcohol producers
Australia’s federal government has announced plans to enhance tax incentives for brewers, distillers, and wine producers starting 1 July 2026. Currently, brewers and distillers get a full refund for any excise paid up to AUD 350,000 each year.
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Australia: ATO supports ANAO audit on AI governance
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has welcomed the publication of a report by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) on the Governance of Artificial Intelligence at the ATO on 24 February 2025. The ANAO's report provided 7
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Vietnam updates regulations on related-party transactions, transfer pricingÂ
The Vietnam government has issued Decree No. 20/2025/ND-CP amending Decree No. 132/2020/ND-CP on transfer pricing on 10 February 2025, addressing the treatment of lenders or guarantors as related parties. A borrowing or guaranteed enterprise is
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Pakistan introduces mandatory e-invoicing for businesses
Pakistan's Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) announced new rules requiring all registered businesses to electronically link their fiscal devices with the tax agency on 29 January 2025. Pakistan has rolled out a new electronic invoicing system,
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Brazil approves protocol to tax treaty with Singapore
Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies approved the ratification of a protocol amending the 2018 income tax treaty with Singapore on 13 February 2025. Signed on 17 April 2023, this is the first update to the treaty. key changes include revisions to the
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India, Qatar sign new income tax treaty
India and Qatar signed a new income tax treaty on 18 February 2025. The treaty will become effective upon the exchange of ratification instruments and once in effect, will supersede the 1999 tax treaty between the two countries. This announcement
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Hong Kong, Bahrain ratify investment protection agreement
Bahrain has ratified the Bahrain-Hong Kong Investment Protection Agreement (2024) through Law No. 6/2025 on 13 February 2025. The ratification was published in Official Gazette No. 3795 on the same date. The agreement aims to bolster mutual
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Australia: ATO issues guidance on critical minerals and hydrogen tax incentives
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has released a guidance on how to claim the Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive and the Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive on 21 February 2025. Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive How to claim
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Philippines, Cambodia sign new tax treaty
The Philippines Department of Finance in a release on 13 February 2025, announced that the Philippines and Cambodia have signed a double taxation agreement (DTA) to boost business confidence, increase trade, and spur economic growth between the two
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Malaysia grants tax exemptions on payments to/from Labuan firms
Malaysia has released the Income Tax (Exemption) Order 2025 in its Official Gazette on 13 February 2025. This order grants tax exemptions on specific payments made to or received from Labuan companies. A Labuan company is incorporated under the
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Australia suspends commercial broadcasting tax for a year
Australia’s federal government has enacted the Commercial Broadcasting (Tax) Amendment (Transmitter Licence Tax Rebate) Rules 2025 on 13 February 2025, which suspends the Commercial Broadcasting Tax (CBT) for one year from 9 June 2025 to 8 June
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US may suspend tax treaty with China under America First Policy
The US President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum on the "America First Investment Policy" on 21 February 2025. The policy seeks to boost foreign investment in the USÂ to create jobs and grow the economy, especially from allies, while
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Singapore: PM presents 2025 budget, CIT rebate and investment incentives amongst new tax measuresÂ
Singapore’s Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Lawrence Wong, presented the 2025 budget on 18 February 2025 outlining various tax changes which include corporate income tax (CIT) rebate and incentives to drive investments. The key tax
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Sri Lanka: 2025 budget pledges reforms largely aligned with conditions set out in IMF bailout
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Sri Lankan President and Finance Minister, presented the 2025 budget to the Parliament on 17 February 2025, introducing various tax and legal reforms to advance the new government’s policy agenda. These reforms are key to
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Japan, Bangladesh hold fourth round of EPA negotiations
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced, on 7 February 2025, that the fourth round of negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Japan and Bangladesh took place in Dhaka from 2 to 6 February 2025, in a hybrid
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