Italy Confirms Tax Cuts
The Italian Government has issued a three-year Economic and Financial Document (DEF), which includes both individual and corporate income tax reductions. The individual income tax reductions will benefit lower income taxpayers. With effect from 1
See MoreIreland – Online Portal to Administer Home Tax Break
Ireland’s revenue agency is using an online portal to manage a new property improvement tax relief called the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI). This provision is intended to give value-added tax (VAT) relief, but the HRI is to be managed through an
See MoreIreland – Corporate Tax Rate Effectively Below 11 Percent
A recent technical note issued by the Department of Finance indicates that Ireland has maintained an effective corporate tax rate of about 11 percent since 2003. Enterprises operating in Ireland are liable to corporation tax at 12.5 percent on
See MoreGermany and the EU Agree Energy Tax Break Revision
Germany is being allowed by the European Commission to continue to give energy tax incentives to 65 sectors under the renewable energy tax rules. There has been a long discussion as to whether the measures constitute illegal state aid under EU
See MoreFrance’s FTT Experience Should Warn Europe of Risks
France’s financial market regulator AMF has calculated that the introduction of a financial transactions tax (FTT) in 2012 led to a ten percent decrease in the volume of shares traded on the stock market. This study was based on an analysis of the
See MoreFrance Confirms EUR10bn Tax Cuts For Corporates
The French Prime Minister has set out plans for reducing wage costs for businesses in addition to the CICE tax credit that has already been introduced. The CICE tax credit has provided relief through a credit of 6 percent of gross payroll for
See MoreEU – VAT refund claims are due by 30 June 2014
Businesses incurring costs in many EU countries may recover the VAT on those costs even if they are not registered for VAT in that particular country. In many of the EU jurisdictions there is a 30 June deadline in any year for making the reclaim.
See MoreEU – Changes to VAT place-of-supply rules in 2015
There will be a change to the EU VAT place-of-supply rules, which determine where VAT is collected and remitted for some types of service, with effect from 1 January 2015. This change will affect businesses providing services such as
See MoreEU Tackles Single Market Tax Obstacles
The European Commission has begun two public consultations, on discriminatory tax rules that my affect the position of individuals in European Union (EU) member states. These consultations are aim to help efforts to take away tax obstacles to
See MoreEU: Court of Justice decision affecting US regulated investment companies
On 10 April 2014, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled in case C-190/12 concerning the Emerging Markets Series of DFA Investment Trust Company. The CJEU held that barring a non-EU investment fund, in this case a US investment
See MoreDTA between Portugal and Peru enters into force
It is reported that on April 12, 2014, the double taxation agreement (DTA) concluded between Portugal and Peru entered into
See MoreCyprus – Company incorporated, but not tax resident of Cyprus
Circular 2014/3 of March 2014 gives guidance in respect of the tax return requirements in the situation where a company is incorporated in Cyprus but is not tax resident in the country. According to the Circular companies in this position must be
See MoreBulgaria’s Finance Ministry to draft Tax Fraud Prevention Strategy
Bulgaria is to produce a tax fraud prevention strategy. The Finance Ministry is combining its efforts with those of other government control authorities to look at the most effective strategies for combating illegal behavior. The new rules will be
See MoreAustrian Unions drive for lower income tax rates
The President of the Austrian Federation of Trade Unions (ÖGB) has suggested that the income tax on low income employees should be significantly reduced. He suggested that the government should decrease the starting rate of income tax from the
See MoreSpanish Supreme Court confirms the minimum participation withholding rate for application of Spain-Netherlands tax treaty
The Spanish Supreme Court issued a decision on 6 March in relation to application of the double tax agreement between Spain and the Netherlands signed on 16 June 1971. The Court confirmed that the 5% reduced rate for withholding tax under the DTA
See MoreLuxembourg Confirms 2015 VAT rise
The Luxembourg government is to raise the rate of VAT 15% to 17% on 1 January 2015. The lower VAT rates charged on certain categories of expenditure will also rise from 12% and 6% to 14% and 8%, respectively. The third reduced VAT rate of 3%
See MoreLuxembourg – Capital Flight Expected
Luxembourg’s intention to begin automatic exchange of information from January 1, 2015, is considered likely to have a significant impact on the financial sector. The national statistics agency Statec considers that a proportion of around five
See MoreLithuania – VAT and excise tax updates
Lithuania is supplying additional explanatory notes on the VAT law so as to given guidance to taxpayers involved in mixed activities and to give practical case details on derivatives. If taxpayers refer to notes provided by the tax authorities this
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