Spain: Tax Reform Package Designed

25 February, 2014

The tax reform committee in Spain will soon present proposals for a comprehensive tax system reform. It is expected that the committee will recommend simplification of the system and corporate taxation and individual income tax rate reductions,

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Cyprus and Norway: DTA signed

25 February, 2014

Cyprus and Norway have signed a Double Taxation Agreement on 24 February 2014, which will replace the current income tax treaty signed in 1951 by the UK and Norway. No further details of the agreement are currently

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Portugal: Tax law changes affecting corporate and individual taxpayers

24 February, 2014

The recently enacted changes following the 2014 budget proposals include some key changes to the corporate taxation regime as well as other tax law provisions: Reduction in the rate of corporate income tax, from 25% to 23%, for 2014; Expanded

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EU: Comments on global standard against tax evasion

24 February, 2014

The European Commission has issued a statement in support of an agreement by the G20 Finance Ministers on a new global standard to counter tax evasion and to improve tax transparency worldwide. The release states that the European Commission

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Denmark: Modifications to cash payment incentive for research and development

24 February, 2014

The Danish parliament adopted Bill (L 103) on 29 January 2014, under which companies may apply for a maximum cash incentive amounting to 24.5% of DKK 25 million for qualifying R&D costs from 2014. The cash incentive is to be computed on a

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Austria’s Finance Minister clarifies FTT Start in 2016

24 February, 2014

Austria’s Finance Minister has clarified that a European Union (EU) financial transactions tax (FTT) will not come into effect until at least 2016. Austria’s State Budgets for 2014 and 2015 will reflect the delays and will not make provision for

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UK: National audit office reports unrecovered tax debt of GBP15.1bn

23 February, 2014

National audit office of UK has reported that that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is owed at least GBP15.1bn in unpaid debt. The report also adds that the Government should revise this responsibility and thus the recovery of tax credit over payments

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UK: publishes draft legislation to eliminate stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax on Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)

23 February, 2014

HMRC has published for consultation a draft Statutory Instrument and a Tax Information and Impact Note on 17 February 2014. It was intended to abolish of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax on transfers of interests in Exchange Traded Funds

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DTA between UK and Albania entered into force

23 February, 2014

The Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) between UK and Albania has entered into force on December 30, 2013. The agreement follows the OECD Model Convention. It sets out reduced withholding tax rates as follows: 5 percent on dividends for companies

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UK refuses to reduce tourism VAT rate

23 February, 2014

The UK Government has refused to reduce tourism VAT rate with an argument that there is no connection between tax subsidies and the number of tourist. The Members of Parliament who supported the proposal of reducing VAT on tourism have said that the

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Spain: National court decides intra-group debt transaction as fraud of law

23 February, 2014

The Spanish National Court decides the case of Sabic Innovative against the tax administration (Appeal 367/2010) as fraud of law. The Court ruled that the intra-group debt transaction is usually tax-driven and did not have an economic or business

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Slovak Republic: plans to raise its tax revenue by 0.3% of GDP in 2014

23 February, 2014

Slovak Republic has planned to raise its tax revenue in 2014 than previous year forecast. The government forecast to collect 189 million Euros ($259 million) or about 0.3 percent of GDP which is more than it forecast in the budget as the government

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Saudi Arabian Cabinet authorizes DTA with Sweden and Egypt

23 February, 2014

On 10 February 2014, the Saudi Arabia Finance Minister was authorized to sign draft double taxation agreements with Egypt and

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Oman and Spain sign DTA

23 February, 2014

The double taxation agreement (DTA) signed between Oman and Spain was submitted to the Economic and Financial Committee of Oman's lower house of parliament on February 11,

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Netherlands: Important changes in the treatment of VAT offences

23 February, 2014

From 1 January 2014, the eventual submission of a correct VAT return in the Netherlands will no longer prevent prosecution where the return has been filed late. Prior to 1 January 2014, the late, or non-filing of VAT returns was classified as a

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United Kingdom and Anguilla sign protocol to TIEA

23 February, 2014

An exchange of letters and amending protocol to the Anguilla - United Kingdom Exchange of Information Agreement (2009) was signed between Anguilla and the United Kingdom on 13 December 2013 in London and on 20 December 2013 in Anguilla. The

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Malta intends to amend taxation rules

23 February, 2014

Malta is intending to amend the rules relating to the taxation (and withholding tax) on amounts distributed by corporations from profits. One of the amendments will change the definition of a recipient in respect of withholding tax on distributions

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Lithuania : Loss carry forward limitations, extended incentives and reduced VAT rates

23 February, 2014

Losses carry forward limitations: Beginning in 2014, the ability of corporations in Lithuania to carry forward tax losses, for corporate income tax purposes, is limited. In calculating their corporate income tax for 2014 and subsequent tax periods,

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