EU – 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 MoreDenmark: MBA education liable to VAT
The MBA courses provided by Danish public universities are still subject to Danish VAT. The tax authorities wanted to challenge the VAT exemption on these additional educational services on the basis that the learning was not part of the legal
See MoreBelgium’s cdH Pledges Election Tax Cuts
The President of Belgium's Humanist Democratic Center (cdH) has unveiled details of the party's plans to lower taxes for individuals and corporations. The tax reductions would amount to around EUR10bn. The party which is currently a member of the
See MoreBelgium reduces VAT on Electricity
Recent VAT changes in Belgium include the latest change in VAT rate for supplies of electricity. The rate will change from 21% to 6% and will take effect from1 April 2014 until 31 December 2015 with an option to extend the rate into 2016 and
See MoreAlgeria – Negotiation of DTA with the United Kingdom
Negotiations have begun between Algeria and the United Kingdom towards a double taxation agreement (DTA), it was confirmed on March 2, 2014. No further details of the negotiations are currently
See MoreUnited Kingdom – India DTA protocol
As notified by the Indian Ministry of Finance on February 10, 2014, the Protocol amending the India-UK double taxation agreement (DTA) entered into force in the UK and India on December 27, 2013. The DTA Protocol is immediately effective in India,
See MoreUnited Kingdom – HMRC report on offshore tax evasion
The United Kingdom government is continuing to take action against artificial tax avoidance and tax evasion. In this connection the tax administration (HMRC) has issued a "corporate report," which sets out how HMRC addresses offshore tax evasion and
See MoreUK – Shadow Foreign Secretary calls for maximum tax devolution for Scotland
The UK’s shadow foreign secretary has stated that the further devolution of tax powers could strengthen the accountability of the Scottish Parliament. In April 2015 the devolution of Landfill Tax will be carried out and a new Land and Buildings
See MoreUK: Bitcoin VAT exemption
The UK tax administration HMRC would exempt transactions in Bitcoins from the 20% UK VAT net on each sale or on profit margins, although exchange commissions would remain liable. HMRC originally provided guidance in November 2013 that Bitcoins
See MoreSwitzerland Considers New Cross-Border Tax Deal with Italy
Swiss Finance Minister has pledged to re-negotiate the bilateral cross-border tax agreements with Italy, to ensure that the provisions are more favorable to the Swiss canton of Ticino in future. The agreement is important because of the number of
See MoreSpain – published social security contributions decrease
The Official Gazette published Royal Decree-Law 3/2014 on 1 March 2014. This law contains urgent measures to promote employment via the contracting of workers for an indefinite period. The Decree-Law sets out the circumstances in which a flat social
See MoreSpain’s opposition leader proposes low-income tax package
In the course of the State of the Nation debate in Congress, Spain's Socialist Party (PSOE) leader proposed that a tax package be introduced to protect low-income earners in Spain, and in particular to protect families. The proposal related to
See MoreSpain – CJEU finds Retail sales tax on diesel contrary to EU law
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has issued a judgment in the case of:Transportes Jordi Besora SL v. Generalitat de Catalunya, C-82/12 ruling that the Spanish tax on retail sales of diesel and petrol is contrary to EU law. The CJEU
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