Bulgaria-US: FATCA agreement entered into force
In accordance with a declaration made in the Bulgarian State Gazette on 26th June 2015, the FATCA Model 1B Agreement (2014) between Bulgaria and United States has entered into force on 30th June 2015. An intergovernmental agreement (IGA) for the
See MoreSlovenia: Ministry of Finance Clarifies MAP under tax treaties
The Ministry of Finance published a document answering frequently asked questions (FAQs) concerning the mutual agreement procedure (MAP) under tax treaties on 17 August 2015. The answers provide, inter alia, the following clarifications: who may
See MoreBulgaria-Greece: Tax dispute established
Bulgaria has greeted a pledge from Greece to revoke its tax withheld on Greek business transactions in Bulgaria. Prior this year, Bulgaria had requested that the European Commission challenge Greece's decision to announce a 26% withholding tax on
See MoreHong Kong-Italy income tax treaty enters into force
The income tax treaty between Hong Kong SAR and Italy entered into force on 10 August 2015. The treaty was signed on 14 January 2013. The agreement generally applies from 1 January 2016 for Italy and from 1 April 2016 for Hong
See MoreBelgium: Parliament approved a new tax on banks and insurance companies
The parliament of Belgium approved a new tax on banks and insurance companies and will be effective as from assessment year 2016. The new tax will be imposed on credit institutions and insurance companies that exercise activities within the Belgian
See MoreDTA between Czech Republic and Senegal initialed
After completing a successful 3rd round of negotiations held in Prague, the Income Tax Treaty between Czech Republic and Senegal has been initialed on 13th August 2015. Further details of the treaty will be reported
See MoreUK Summer Budget 2015 Reduces Corporate Tax Rate for Future
UK summer budget 2015 announced on 7 July 2015 has reduced corporate tax rate from the current rate of 20% to 19%, effective from 1 April 2017, and to 18% effective from 1 April 2020. The rate reductions will be included as part of Finance Bill
See MoreSlovak Republic: VAT rate on meat products reduced
Slovakia cut 10% VAT rate on fresh meat products from the standard rate of 20%. Hopefully, this new rate will entry into force from 1st January
See MoreUK: HMRC comments on reduced VAT rate for installation of energy saving materials
On 31 July 2015 the UK tax authority HMRC published Revenue and Customs Brief 13 (2015) on the reduced rate of VAT on the installation of energy saving materials. The European Commission commenced proceedings in the European Court of Justice as in
See MoreCyprus and Iran sign Income Tax Treaty
The Republic of Cyprus and the Government of Iran signed an Income Tax Treaty on August 4, 2015 for the Avoidance of Double Taxation. The treaty will come into force after the two countries exchange ratification instruments. Under the treaty, the
See MorePoland: Amending bill adopted by government
The Council of Ministers adopted a bill amending the Corporate Income Tax Law and Individual Income Tax Law on 21 July 2015.The amending bill requires a taxpayer that is part of a multinational corporate group with annual income or expenses of at
See MoreECJ: Advocate General’s opinion on whether units of a municipality can be taxable persons
The Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has delivered an opinion in the case of Gmina Wroclaw. The municipality of Wroclaw applied to the Polish Finance Minister on the issue of whether a budgetary unit of a municipality could be
See MoreRomania: Government approved the FATCA agreement with US
The Government approved the draft law for the ratification of the Agreement between Romania and the United States to improve international tax compliance and implementation of FATCA on 10 June 2015. The agreement was signed in Bucharest on 28 May
See MoreItaly and Turkey: Social Security Agreement comes into effect
The Social Security Agreement between Italy and Turkey will come into force on 1st August 2015. The agreement was signed in 2012. According to new provisions in the agreement, employees allotted between Italy and Turkey may stay in their home
See MoreChanges to social security agreement between Chile and Netherlands
The amendments to the Social Security Agreement (1996) between Chile and the Netherlands were ratified by the Netherlands on 1st July 2015AA. The agreement was signed on 15th June 2005. It has been published in official Gazette No. 316 on 28th
See MoreDenmark: National Tax Tribunal Decision on foreign exchange losses on sale of shares
The Customs and Tax Administration published National Tax Tribunal Case No. 122-0208149 on 30 June 2015. The Tribunal held that foreign exchange losses realized on the sale of shares of a subsidiary resident in another Member State are not
See MoreUkraine: Electronic VAT administration begins from August 2015
The President of Ukraine signed the Law on Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine concerning improvement of the administration of value added tax 643-VIII on July 28, 2015. The new electronic system will enter into force on August 1, 2015. The
See MoreProtocol to treaty between Austria and Belgium approved by Belgium
On 5 June 2015 the Belgian Council of Ministers approved the amending protocol, signed on 10 September 2009, to the Austria - Belgium Income and Capital Tax Treaty (1971). The protocol will be subject to the approval of the parliaments of the
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