UK Budget announcements 2014
The UK budget announcements on 19 March 2014 include a significant change to the pension regime. Currently, most people must invest their pension fund in annuity after receiving a certain percentage of the fund as a lump sum tax free payment.
See MoreTreaty between India and Romania enters into force
The treaty between India and Romania which was signed on 8 March 2013 generally applies from 1 January 2014 for Romania and from 1 April 2014 for India. From this date, the new treaty generally replaces the India - Romania Income Tax Treaty in
See MoreSpanish SMEs Ask for VAT and Income Tax Support
The President of Spain's small business association CEPYME, has called on the Government to lower the rate of corporation tax levied on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Spain, as part of its plans to reform taxation. He also recommended
See MoreSpain: Spanish Experts Call For Huge Direct Tax Cut
A report from the Experts Committee on Tax Reform recently submitted to the Finance Minister has recommended that there should be reductions in direct taxes and in the social security contributions. These would be paid for partly by increases in
See MoreSpain to Bill Firms Directly For Social Security Contributions
The Social Security Administration in Spain is to commence directly invoicing employers in respect of monthly social security bills, instead of relying on employers to deduct the contributions from wages on a monthly basis. The invoice will be
See MoreRomania: Finance Minister proposes the introduction of a tax exemption
Romania’s Finance Minister plans to introduce an exemption from tax on reinvested profit. This exemption would be intended to encourage foreign direct investment and could increase the GDP growth by as much as 0.5%. Another plan is to reduce
See MoreProtocol to treaty between Belgium and United Kingdom signed
Belgium and the UK have signed a second protocol to their double tax treaty. The protocol clarifies that certain amendments made by the first protocol to the treaty apply to regional taxes and to the communities. The protocol also confirms that
See MorePoland Announces Six-Year Tax exemption for Shale Industry
The government of Poland has put forward a proposal for an exemption from special taxes for the shale gas industry until the year 2020, and this is now being considered by parliament. This follows a complaint from the Supreme Audit Office that the
See MoreMalta improves late VAT payment regime
Malta’s VAT authority is to lessen fines on late VAT payers, and improve communications with taxable persons looking to bring their non-compliant affairs up-to-date. The daily penalty for late returns and payments of €15 will be scrapped. The
See MoreLuxembourg and Laos sign a DTA
The double taxation agreement (DTA) between Laos and Luxembourg entered into force on March 21, 2014. The agreement which was signed on 4 November 2012 is in line with the OECD Model Tax Convention. The provisions of the agreement will take effect
See MoreLuxembourg and Israel sign a DTA
Luxembourg and Israel signed a new double taxation agreement on 11 March 2014. No further details of this new agreement are currently
See MoreItaly – Details of Italian Tax Cuts Agreed
Italy's new Prime Minister, has provided extra detail on cuts to reduce the tax burden in Italy which that are intended to provide an immediate boost to the country's economy. Resources totaling EUR10bn (USD13.9bn) have been allocated by the
See MoreItalian Tax Cuts Should Favor Employees
In Italy the association of sole traders and small businesses has recommended that measures should aim at reducing Italy's individual income tax (IRPEF) burden. The total tax collections from labor have reached EUR296.4bn, of which almost EUR161.5bn
See MoreItalian Supreme Court rules on tax residence concept
The Italian Supreme Court gave its decision on 17 January 2014 in case No. 1811 concerning the issue of whether the Maltese company should be considered resident in Italy for tax purposes. The case particularly concerned the provision that a company
See MoreIreland – Think Tank considers that income tax cut should benefit all
A think tank has looked at the possible benefits of lowering Ireland’s income tax rates. There is currently a debate in Ireland on reducing either the 41 percent higher rate of the 20 percent basic range of income tax. Reducing the higher 41
See MoreIreland: opportunities for US firms
The Irish Prime Minister has described the 12.5 percent corporate tax rate as a "cornerstone of the offering of attractiveness that Ireland has," telling the US Chamber of Commerce that his country is open for business. Although a few years ago
See MoreGermany: Proposals to adjust personal income tax brackets
The leader of Germany’s Social Democrat party (SPD) has backed proposals to adjust the personal income tax brackets in an effort to undo stealth taxation that has resulted from the effects of inflation. This is considered to have unfairly hit
See MoreGermany and Georgia sign a double taxation agreement
On March 10, 2014, Germany and Georgia signed agreements on financial cooperation and a protocol on amending the agreement on avoidance of double taxation. The amendments in the double taxation avoidance agreement mainly concern the article in
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