Lithuania: Increase in excise duty on alcohol
Lithuania's Prime Minister has confirmed that the only tax change currently planned is a change to excise duty on alcohol, which will be phased in over three years. The proposal was recently supported by the ruling coalition's Political Council, to
See MoreDTA between Laos and Luxembourg enters into force
According to preliminary media reports, the double taxation agreement (DTA) signed between Laos and Luxembourg will enter into force on March 21, 2014. The agreement, which was originally signed on 14 June 2013, will take effect from 1 January
See MoreItaly – Italian Football Clubs Renew Tax Protocol
The Italian Revenue Agency has signed a protocol with the Italian national soccer federation (FIGC), which will renew regulation and control over the tax affairs and fiscal compliance of the professional clubs that come within the federation’s
See MoreItaly: new rules on taxation of digital economy services partially repealed
Law Decree No. 16/2014 was published in the Official Gazette No. 54. Under article 2(1)(a) of the Law Decree, some of the new rules on taxation of digital economy services have been repealed. These rules required advertising services purchased
See MoreIrish coalition honoring tax promises
The Irish Prime Minister has suggested that Ireland has now implemented more than 90 percent of the tax measures and spending cuts needed to bring its public finances under control. Ireland’s 12.5 percent corporate tax rate has played a central
See MoreIreland – Finance Minister Talks Fiscal Policy
According to the Irish Finance Minister the core objective of the Medium Term Economic Strategy (MTES) is full employment by 2020. In connection with this strategy Ireland will continue to prioritize taxation measures that ensure the recovery
See MoreIreland – Evaluation of R&D tax credit regime
Ireland’s Department of Finance in 2013 undertook a comprehensive review of the Irish research and development (R&D) tax credit regime, to determine that the R&D tax credit provides “value for money” for taxpayers. The review had 5 key
See MoreGuernsey expects to sign a DTA with Austria
According to the Guernsey Government, Guernsey expects to sign a double taxation agreement (DTA) with Austria on May 14, 2014. No further details are currently
See MoreGermany reverses plans on Railway Eco Tax Break Repeal
The German Economy and Energy Minister has reversed plans to strike out the renewable energy tax (EEG-Umlage) rebate for train operators. The EEG-Umlage is intended to finance the transition in Germany towards the use of renewable sources of
See MoreFrance- Transfer Tax hiked
According to the French Tax Administration 66 out of the 101 departments in France have elected to increase their house transfer tax rate from March 1 2014. The house transfer tax is imposed on transactions involving older property. Other expenses
See MoreFrance To Simplify Tax System
The French General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) has found that 192 taxes in France each yield less than EUR150m (USD208m), and has advocated abolishing two-thirds of them. The report has been prepared by the IGF on behalf of the French Budget
See MoreFrance cuts VAT rate on digital news
The French government has updated the Tax Code to reduce the VAT rate on digital news and journals from the standard 20% rate to the reduced rate of 2.1%. This puts digital news on a par with printed newspapers and magazines. This change is in
See MoreEU – Status update of financial transaction tax
The European Commission on 5 March 2014 posted an update of the status of the proposed financial transaction tax. According to the Commission a February 2013 proposal for “enhanced cooperation” reflected the scope and objectives of original
See MoreEU – Excise tax rates for alcohol, tobacco and energy for 2014
Recently, the European Commission posted updated (as of 1 January 2014) indirect tax rates for excise duties on alcohol, tobacco, and energy. Updated rates are available on the EC
See MoreEU – European Commission Looks At Green Tax Options
An increase in taxes on the causes of air and water pollution in the European Union could generate revenues of EUR35bn (USD47.2bn) in real terms in 2016 alone, the European Commission has claimed in a new report. A new study from the European
See MoreEU – European Commission takes action to close the gender pay gap
On 8th March, 2014 the European Commission adopted a Recommendation asking Member States to improve pay transparency for women and men in a bid to help close the gender pay gap. The pay gap – the average difference between women and men’s hourly
See MoreDTA between Hungary and Kosovo enters into force
On March 12, 2014, the double taxation agreement (DTA) signed between Hungary and Kosovo entered into
See MoreDTA between Austria and Taiwan
On February 20, 2014, Austria and Taiwan initialed a double taxation agreement (DTA) following three days of negotiations. No further details are currently
See More