Malaysia: Prime Minister announces the Budget for 2018
On October 27, 2017, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak presented the budget for 2018, outlining government plans to combat rising costs and limit the country's fiscal deficit. Some of the key fiscal tax measures are summarized as follows: Tax
See MoreLatvia and Pakistan sign an agreement on avoidance of double taxation
Pakistan and Latvia on October 25, 2017, after the second round of negotiations, concluded an agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation with regard to income tax and prevention of tax evasion and avoidance (ADTA). Avoiding the double taxation
See MoreKorea: National Assembly set to increase e-cigarette taxes
On 20 October 2017, the Assembly Strategy and Finance Subcommittee of Korea passed a revised bill to increase the excise tax levied on a pack of 20 heat-not-burn (HNB) e-cigarettes sticks to 529 won from the current 126 won. The tax increase will
See MoreTaiwan: The Ministry of Finance publishes the CFC implementation rules
The Ministry of Finance has announced the implementation of CFC (controlled foreign company) rules on September 20, 2017. The main features of the CFC rules are summarized below: CFC definitions: Under the rules, a foreign company located in a
See MoreIndia: CBDT publishes rules for CbC reporting and Master File rule
On 1 November 2017, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified rules in respect of Country-by-Country reporting and furnishing of Master File. The significant features of the Country-By-Country Report and Master File rules are: The
See MorePakistan: FBR extends last date for filing tax returns up to November 15
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued Circular No. 08 for extension in date of filing of income tax returns to 15 November 2017 from 31 October 2017 for salary persons and business individuals. Similarly, the date of filing of income tax
See MoreIndia: HC declares anti-tobacco Act ultra vires
On 27 October 2017, the Gauhati High Court in a crucial judgment, declared the existing anti-tobacco law in the State as ultra vires. The Court of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Paran Phukan struck down the Assam Health (prohibition of manufacturing,
See MoreIndia: CBDT publishes the Final Rules for CbC reporting and the furnishing of the master file
On 31 October 2017, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) published the Final Rules for country by country (CbC) reporting and the furnishing of the master file. The Final Rule contain a few administrative changes and clarifications. However, the
See MoreMalaysia introduces tax exemption on payment paid for offshore services
The Income Tax (Exemption) (No. 9) Order 2017 (Exemption Order) was published in the Federal Gazette on 24 October 2017. The Exemption Order excludes non-residents from payment of income tax in respect of certain categories of income derived from
See MoreTaiwan: Cabinet approves draft amendments to Income Tax Act
The Executive Yuan (Cabinet) approved draft amendments to the Income Tax Act on 12 October 2017. The draft proposals include the following: Corporate income tax rate increases from 17% to 20%. Standard dividend withholding tax rate raises from
See MorePhilippines: Government seizes illicit cases of cigarettes without tax stamps
According to the Department of Finance (DoF) The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on 16th October 2017 banned hundreds of mastercases of illicit cigarettes in Nueva Ecija. The DoF said, “The warehouse
See MoreIndia: Clarification guidelines for establishing place of effective management
The Central Board of Direct Taxes recently issued a circular (No. 25 of 2017) on 23 October 2017. This circular clarifies that, as long as the regional headquarter operates for subsidiaries/group companies in a region, within the general and
See MoreNew Zealand: The Council strengthens smokefree policy
Auckland Council has strengthened their Smokefree Policy to make all al fresco dining on footpath and Beaches areas smokefree. The new policy, which will come into effect from November 2017, requires all cafés and restaurants with licenses to
See MoreIndia extends due date for filing of CbC report for the accounting year 2016-17 to 31.03.2018
On 25 October 2017, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued Circular No. 26/2017 of 25 October 2017 stated that it will extend the due date for multinationals to furnish a country-by-country (CbC) report for the accounting year 2016-17
See MoreLatvia and Vietnam sign an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation
On October 19, 2017, an intergovernmental agreement on the elimination of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to income tax was concluded between the Republic of Latvia and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The
See MorePakistan: SME and export sectors are exempted from regulatory duty
On 16 October 2017, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has said that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and export-oriented units are exempted from paying regulatory duty levied through SRO 1035(I)/2017 on the import of raw material and
See MoreBelgium approves DTA with Japan
On 19 October 2017, the Cabinet of Belgium approved the Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) with Japan for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. Once in force and effective, the new treaty
See MorePakistan: Ministries of the NHS directs government to make cigarettes inaccessible to the citizens
Recently, the ministries of national health services (NHS) and the finance department have been asked to implement the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Agreement on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to make cigarettes inaccessible to citizens by
See More