Italy: VAT rate increases
The Italian Parliament has agreed to an emergency 1% rise of VAT from 17 September 2011. Though the rise was originally submitted in June 2011, and was scheduled for January 2014. But due to instability in the financial market, the government took
See MoreDouble Taxation Convention Signed between UK and Hungary
A new and comprehensive Double Taxation Convention was signed between the UK and the Republic of Hungary in Budapest on the 7 September 2011. The convention replaces the 1977 agreement by the general OECD Model Double Taxation Convention. The latest
See MoreFrance Disclosed 3% Tax on High Income Earners
Despite sluggish economic growth, as part of a package of fiscal measures to meet its ambitious deficit reduction targets, the French Prime Minister has introduced an exceptional tax of 3% imposed on the annual income of the top earners in France.
See MoreFrance: Tax measures for 2011 year-end finance bills announced
The French Prime Minister announced some budget and tax measures that aim to reduce France’s deficit, on 24 August 2011 at a press conference. The French Cabinet will examine some of these proposed measures on 31 August and include in the draft of
See MoreLuxembourg and Hong Kong DTA Protocol Enters Into Force
On 26 August 2011 the Hong Kong government announced the coming into effect of the Protocol to the bilateral agreement for the avoidance of double taxation with Luxembourg signed in November 2010. The Protocol had been ratified by Hong Kong on July
See MoreVAT cuts on new houses in Spain
The Spanish government has announced to reduce the rate at which the sales tax is applied to the sale of new housing. The intention behind this reduction is to stimulate the country’s stagnant housing market and support the construction
See MoreIncome tax cuts suspended in Sweden
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the euro zone the Swedish government set aside on hold the planned tax cuts. According to the government declaration two measures announced in the November 2010 budget will be put on hold. One is tax cuts for
See MoreUK-Belize Tax Information Exchange Agreement entered into force
From the 1 August 2011, a Tax Information Exchange Agreement between the UK and Belize entered into force. The agreement was signed in London on 25 March
See MoreTax Simplification Projects Announced in UK
In order to improve and simplify the tax system, the government of UK declared two new projects as part of its ongoing work, to review pensioner taxation and employee share schemes. On 13 July 2011 the government has confirmed that the UK’s Office
See MoreVAT Amnesty Launched in UK
UK is continuing its concentrated efforts to solve the issue of tax evasion. In this regard, UK is launching a new campaign focusing on those trading above the current value-added tax threshold, but who have not registered themselves for the
See MoreItalian business against VAT rate hikes
Rete Imprese Italia, representing artisans, traders, the tourist sector and other services in Italy, has emphasized to stop penalizing consumer spending which is obvious in the Italian government’s proposed three-year tax reforms framework.
See MoreFrance’s Draft Finance Act with 2011 Amendments
The French government has recently published the 2011 Amended Draft Finance Act. The significant changes to the legislation that may be applicable to expatriate employees and their employers include: Increase in the wealth tax rates, A new tax
See MoreNew CFC Rules Released in UK
The UK government has published its proposals for the reform of the Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) regime through a press release on 4 July 2011. The government intends to modernize the CFC regime in 2012, which it expects will better reflect the
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