UK Pushes for conclusion of the Canada-EU FTA
The UK is hoping for a swift conclusion to negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and Canada, as this could be of considerable benefit to UK companies. The EU is Canada’s second largest trading partner after the US, based on
See MoreFrance – Sin Taxes should target health care goals
In France a committee of the Senate has suggested that the behavioral taxes on certain goods such as tobacco and spirits should be more directly linked to government public health targets. These taxes could be renamed public health contributions to
See MoreFrance – Employers demand Corporate Tax Cuts
Anxious to kick-start talks on a reform of corporation tax, the President of the French employers' federation Medef, has called on the Government to lower the corporate social solidarity contribution (C3S) together with the headline rate of
See MoreExchange of information agreement between Belgium and Grenada ratified by Belgium
Belgium has ratified the Exchange of Information Agreement it has signed with Grenada. The OECD has been encouraging the conclusion of agreements on the exchange of tax information to improve tax transparency and help to combat tax
See MoreEU – Expanded scope of Savings Taxation Directive
According to information released on 21 March 2014 the European Council has given the go ahead to the amended Savings Tax Directive. Luxembourg agreed to the proposed changes and this removed the final obstacle to the adoption of the revised
See MoreEU Report Tracks Protectionist Trade Measures
The European Commission has issued the latest edition of the publication entitled Trade and Investment Barriers Report (TIBR). This looks at the amount of progress made in removing barriers to trade by local companies with third countries and
See MoreDTA between Hungary and Algeria under negotiation
Hungary has issued a decree authorizing the relevant Ministries to commence negotiations for a double tax treaty with Algeria. No further details are available in respect of a date for commencement of
See MoreDTA between Denmark and Ghana signed
Denmark and Ghana signed a Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) on 24 March 2014. The agreement allocates taxing rights between the two countries in respect of taxes on income and capital gains. A mechanism is provided for the elimination of double
See MoreCzech Republic – Tax legislation anticipated
The Czech Republic is to shortly make available for consultation a new legislative plan. This plan will include proposals for regulating some of the concepts contained in the Civil Code. These changes will affect the concept of trusts and will also
See MoreCzech Republic – Ministry of Finance announces proposed future tax measures
The Czech Republic has issued information on proposals for future amendments of the tax law. These amendments would come into effect from 1 January 2015 or 1 January 2016 and would be mainly targeted at the fight against tax evasion and artificial
See MorePortugal: Necessary requirements for Financial Services
In Portugal, a restrictions on the deduction of interest has announced that effects from 2013. Net financial costs are only deductible up to the higher of EUR 1 million (EUR 3 million before 1 January 2014) or 30% of profit before depreciation, net
See MoreTreaty between Indonesia and Latvia under negotiation
Indonesia and Latvia have announced that they intend to intensify negotiations for a double taxation agreement. No details of the likely content of the agreement are currently
See MoreBulgaria: Information regarding Transfer Pricing Documentation
An Appendix 4 has been added to the return in accordance with commencing on the tax return for 2013, to be used by taxpayers to report related party transactions and transactions with entities situated in a jurisdiction with a preferential tax
See MoreUK Court of Appeal rules on payment of corporation tax on VAT repayments
In a case concerning an online retail group in the UK the Court of Appeal has determined that the taxpayer must pay corporation tax in respect of VAT repayments received. The consequence of this victory for the tax authority is that many taxpayers
See MoreSpain – New tax measures for corporate debt refinancing and restructuring
Royal Decree Law 4/2014 which is effective from 9 March 2014 contains provisions in respect of corporate debt restructuring. Among the issues covered in the law are the treatment for tax purposes of capital increases through the capitalization of
See MoreEU Leaders Reach Deal on Savings Tax Directive
The revised Savings Tax Directive has been formally adopted by the EU member states. This amended Directive helps to combat tax evasion by increasing the scope of automatic tax information exchange in respect of savings income, thereby helping to
See MoreUnited Kingdom – Conservatives keen to ease IHT
The UK Prime Minister has confirmed that his party still holds the view that the inheritance tax threshold should be raised to GBP 1 million, and that this is likely to be addressed in the party’s manifesto for the next election which is to take
See MoreUnited Kingdom: Supreme Court Rules in Travel Agent VAT Case
A recent UK case involved the issue of whether the taxpayer was acting as an intermediary or was subject to the special VAT scheme for travel agents. The UK legislation is based on EU rules that require member states to apply the special scheme for
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