India, EU seal major trade deal: Cuts tariffs on most goods
India and the European Union signed a long-awaited trade agreement on 27 January 2026 at the 16th EU-India summit in New Delhi that will significantly reduce tariffs on most goods, aiming to boost bilateral trade and reduce reliance on the US amid
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US imposes 25% tariffs on Korean imports
US President Donald Trump announced in a Truth Social post on 27 January 2026 that tariffs on Korean autos, lumber, pharmaceuticals, and other goods subject to reciprocal measures will increase from 15% to 25%. The higher rate reverses the
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Japan, Philippines negotiates to revise income tax treaty
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, on 26 January 2026, that the first round of negotiations to update the Japan–Philippines Income Tax Treaty will begin in Manila today, 27 January 2026. The treaty was originally signed in 1980
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New Zealand: Inland Revenue updates guidance on Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework
New Zealand’s Inland Revenue has issued updated guidance on the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) on 16 January 2026. The Framework, developed by the OECD to increase the visibility of activities in the crypto-asset sector, will take effect
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Indonesia revises rules governing tax treaty application
The Indonesian Ministry of Finance issued Regulation No. 112 of 2025 (PMK-112/2025) on 30 December 2025, introducing a comprehensive update to the framework governing the application of tax treaties in line with international standards. The
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US: Trump threatens to hike tariffs on Korean imports
Korea (Rep.) moved quickly on 27 January 2026 to reassure the US that it still plans to carry out a major trade agreement, after President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs on Korean imports. Trump said the tariff increase was a response
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Korea(Rep.) consults Pillar 2 global minimum tax rules, side-by-side arrangement
Korea (Rep.)’s Ministry of Strategy and Finance has released Legislative Notice No. 2026-15 on 19 January 2026, initiating a public consultation and detailing draft amendments to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on International Tax Adjustment
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Taiwan: Tax Bureau extends income certificate filing deadline
Taiwan’s Central District National Taxation Bureau of the Ministry of Finance has announced that the filing period for 2025 income withholding and non-withholding certificates will run from 1 January 2026 to 2 February 2026, with the deadline
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Vietnam introduces technology-driven tax, revenue system
Vietnam has enacted Law No. 108/2025/QH15 on 10 December 2025, establishing a comprehensive legal framework for managing taxes and other state budget revenues. The law defines taxpayer rights and obligations, sets out the powers of tax and
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Bangladesh to gradually phase out excise duty, may extend tax return deadline
Bangladesh’s government plans to gradually withdraw its long-standing excise duty, National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan said on 25 January 2026. Speaking at a press conference at NBR headquarters ahead of International
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Lithuania: Government ratifies tax treaty with Pakistan
Lithuania’s government approved the ratification of the income tax treaty with Pakistan on 21 January 2026. Signed on 23 September 2025, this tax treaty aims to prevent double taxation and strengthen measures against tax evasion and profit
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Vietnam approves VAT law amendments, increases VAT exemption threshold for business households
Vietnam’s National Assembly has approved Law No. 149/2025/QH15 on 8 December 2025, amending and supplementing various provisions of the Law on Value Added Tax 2024 (VAT Law 2024). Government officials proposed these changes to alleviate
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Papua New Guinea enacts Income Tax Act 2025
Papua New Guinea’s new Income Tax Act 2025 came into effect on 1 January 2026. Issued on 20 October 2025, the new Income Tax Act modernises and simplifies the country’s tax framework, replacing the former regime under the Income Tax Act 1959.
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Japan: Cabinet moves to implement Pillar 2 Side-by-Side Package
Japan’s Cabinet has adopted a decision of 23 January 2026 to bring the country’s Pillar 2 global minimum tax framework in line with the OECD’s Side-by-Side Package released on 5 January 2026. The Cabinet decision outlines several key
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Australia: ATO issues guidance on Pillar 2 side-by-side package
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has updated its guidance on the global and domestic minimum tax on 23 January 2026, adding a new section to reflect the side-by-side package announced earlier in January 2026. The OECD has announced an
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Japan, UAE conclude seventh round of EPA negotiations
Japan and the UAE concluded the seventh round of negotiations for their Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in Tokyo, held from 19 to 22 January 2026. The meeting was attended, from the Japanese side, by TAKAHASHI Katsuhiko, Ambassador for
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Singapore: IRAS clarifies tax treatment of branch repatriated foreign dividends
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has issued Advance Ruling Summary No. 1/2026 on 2 January 2026, clarifying how foreign-sourced dividends received by a Singapore branch of an overseas company are treated for tax purposes. The
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Taiwan clarifies reporting of realised foreign exchange gains, losses
Taiwan’s Datun Office, National Taxation Bureau of the Central Area, Ministry of Finance, stated, on 23 January 2026, that in response to frequent fluctuations in international exchange rates, profit-seeking enterprises must report foreign
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