Spain: Publishes draft Corporate Income Tax Regulations
The Spanish Ministry of Finance released a draft regulation on Corporate Income Tax on March 18, 2015. Included in the regulations are some transfer pricing changes that are summarized below; Country-by-country reporting: A group of
See MoreEuropean Commission Presents Tax Transparency Package
On 18 March 2015 the European Commission issued a range of measures aimed at tacking corporate tax avoidance and harmful tax competition. Corporate tax avoidance distorts economic decisions and prevents fair competition. The complexity of tax rules
See MoreUK: Budget Announcements for 2015/16
The UK budget announcements were delivered on 18 March 2015. The detail of the announcements is as follows: Business tax measures As already announced the UK corporation tax rate is 20% from 1 April 2015. The budget announcements include the
See MoreUK: Pension changes for individuals who already have an annuity
The UK has announced that measures announced last year to give more choice to individuals on how to use their pension fund will be extended to people who already have an annuity. With effect from April 2016 the restrictions on buying and selling
See MoreUK: Launches business rates review
The UK government has published a consultation paper on the review of the business rates, the local tax on business based on property values. Responses may be sent in by 12 June 2015. The business rates in the UK are charged on non-domestic
See MoreECJ requested to give a preliminary ruling on pension surtax
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) was requested by Finland’s Supreme Administrative Court (KOH) on 6 March 2015 to give a preliminary ruling in respect of the pension surtax. Finland has imposed a surtax of 6% on large pensions since 2013. The
See MoreOECD Working Paper makes recommendations on Slovak tax policy
The OECD has published a Working Paper entitled “Moving beyond the flat tax: tax policy reform in the Slovak Republic”. The paper looks at the Slovak tax system and how it has developed in recent years, and makes various policy
See MoreECJ: Preliminary ruling in case on VAT exemption for welfare and social work
On 12 March 2015 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) gave its preliminary ruling in the case of “go fair” Zeitarbeit OHG (C-594/13). The ECJ had been requested by the German Bundesfinanzhof to respond to questions in respect of the VAT exemption
See MoreBelgium: IMF comments on fiscal policy
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) issued a staff report on 12 March 2015 in connection with the consultations held with Belgium under Article IV of the IMF’s articles of agreement. Belgium’s government is pursuing policies of
See MoreCyprus and Bahrain sign DTA
Cyprus has signed a Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) with Bahrain on 9 March 2015. The treaty will follow the OECD Model Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation on Income and on
See MoreUK: Draft legislation to be introduced restricting bank loss relief
The UK budget measures are to be announced on 18 March 2015 and after that date the Finance Bill 2015 will be published. Among the measures to be included in the Finance Bill 2015 is a provision to restrict the amount of loss relief that can be
See MoreUK: Consultation on Hybrid Mismatch Arrangements
An issue that is ongoing but will not be included in the UK Finance Bill 2015 is the introduction of measures to combat hybrid mismatch arrangements. A consultation on the subject was announced in October 2014 and in December 2014 a consultation
See MoreUK: draft legislation on country by country reporting
The UK Finance Bill 2015 that will be published soon after the budget announcements of 18 March 2015 is to contain legislation in respect of country by country reporting for purposes of transfer pricing documentation. The UK is committed to being
See MoreUK: Diverted Profits Tax to be introduced in April 2015
The UK budget proposals for 2015 are to be announced on 18 March 2015, following which the Finance Bill 2015 will be published. One of the most important tax provisions to be introduced in 2015 will be the diverted profits tax which is to apply from
See MoreECJ: Advocate General issues an opinion on exit tax and freedom of establishment
On 26 February 2015 the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) issued an opinion on an issue concerning a particular type of exit tax and the EU principle of freedom of establishment. The Financial Court of Düsseldorf referred a
See MoreSpain: Council of Ministers approves second chance mechanisms
The Council of Ministers has approved on 28 February, 2015 the “Royal Decree Law on second chance mechanisms and the reduction in the financial burden, and other measures of a social order”. The Royal Decree includes several measures on
See MoreIMF comments on Latvian fiscal policy
IMF staff released a statement on 2 March 2015 at the conclusion of their visit to Latvia under Article IV of the IMF’s articles of agreement. The statement comments on Latvia’s fast progress to recover from the financial crisis and its prudent
See MoreCyprus and Barbados: DTA negotiations
Cyprus and Barbados have confirmed that they are in negotiations towards a double tax agreement (DTA), which could be signed very
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