China: Shanghai Free Trade Zone implemented
The China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (SFTZ) is an important milestone in economic policy and may lead to broader financial and economic reforms. The SFTZ is geared towards services industries and promotes not only trading but also investment.
See MorePakistan: Cabinet approves the DTA Protocol with Austria
Pakistan’s Cabinet approved, on 20 January 2014, the Protocol to the DTA signed between Pakistan and Austria. This effectively completes the ratification on the Pakistan
See MoreCanada and Taiwan: DTA negotiations
Canada and Taiwan have confirmed that they are in negotiations towards a double taxation agreement (DTA), which could be signed during
See MoreIndia-Albania: New DTA enters into force
An income tax treaty between India and Albania entered into force on 4 December 2013 and is effective from 2014. This was confirmed by an Indian notification 6 January 2014.
See MoreChina: VAT refunds on e-commerce
Clarification has been issued of Chinese VAT refund processes for Chinese online retailers selling outside China. This guidance covers enterprises selling via their own website or through external platforms such as Amazon. The new guidance came
See MoreIndia – Belize TIEA enters into force
The Indian Government notified that the tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) between India and Belize entered into force on 25 November 2013. The notification was dated 7 January
See MoreSouth Korea and India will upgrade CEPA and revise DTA
South Korean President and India’s Prime Minister agreed on 16 January 2014 to upgrade their comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) and make effective a revised double taxation agreement (DTA) between the two countries. It is reported
See MoreNew Zealand: Welfare Reforms will reduce costs
The costs to the taxpayer from benefits have fallen due to benefit reforms. The latest valuation current lifetime liability of the New Zealand welfare system estimates the liability at NZD76.5bn, a fall of NZD10.3bn. The saving came from having
See MoreJapan- Main corporate income tax rate
A reconstruction surcharge of 2.55% applied in 2013 but does not apply after 1 April 2014.The effective corporate tax rate taking into account the local enterprise tax and local inhabitant tax will therefore be reduced to 35.64% (previously 38.01%)
See MoreIndonesia:Changes brought under the Circular SE-50/PJ/2013
Intra-group services Circular SE-50/PJ/2013 instructs tax auditors to check that the service has been provided and given economic benefit to the recipient. Shareholder services, duplicate services, incidental benefits, passive association or
See MoreAzerbaijan: 2013 Tax Revenues
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Taxes has reported 2013 tax receipts to be AZN6.66bn, an increase from the AZN6.025bn collected in 2012. The greatest contribution came from profit tax (AZN2.37bn), followed by value-added tax (AZN1.72bn), while individual
See MoreVietnam: Corporate income tax rate reductions and rule changes
The Vietnam corporate income tax rate will be reduced to 20% from 1 January 2016 (now 22%). For taxpayers with total revenue lower than VND 20 billion, the will be 17% effective 1 January 2016 (now 20% as of 1 July 2013). New guidelines published as
See MoreJapan-Oman: Sign DTA
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
See MoreHong Kong: Stamp Duty Increases Affect Property Sales
Increases in the rates of existing ad valorem stamp duty for both residential and non-residential property transactions appear to have cooled the real estate market. The Government increased such taxes from February 23, 2013 for that goal and it
See MoreVietnam: Decree on tax penalties
Vietnam has released a new Decree on 16 October 2013 on tax penalties along with the amended law on Tax Administration, which specifies tax administrative procedures. The Decree becomes effective on 15 December 2013 and applies to any violations
See MoreVietnam: APA regime procedures and rules
Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has issued detailed guidance in Circular 201/2013/TT_BTC dated 20 December 2013, for the advance pricing agreement (APA) regime, which was added to the income tax law in July 2013. The new guidance is effective from 5
See MoreHong Kong: Court of Final Appeal decision on unrealized revaluation gains
Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal (CFA) ruled that year-end unrealized revaluation gains on listed securities held for sale were not taxable in Hong Kong. In a case called Nice Cheer Investment Limited (NCIL), the CFA rejected the CIR’s
See MoreNew Zealand: Non-residents must register for GST from April 2014
The New Zealand Inland Revenue Department has set out mandatory requirement for non-resident taxable persons to register for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from 1 April 2014 if they provide local taxable supplies. The criteria to meet to register
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