Poland – VAT reduction with respect to motor vehicles
On 20 February 2014, the Polish Senate adopted a bill introducing limited deductibility of input VAT on the purchase of certain motor vehicles and related expenditures. The draft amendments to the VAT Law are based on the EU authorization for the
See MoreGermany and EU Redesigning Energy Tax Rebate
The Federation of German Industry has said a quick resolution is expected in talks between Germany and the European Union concerning Germany's renewable energy tax rebate on offer to energy-intensive companies in Germany. The Commission is
See MoreFrance – DTA with China
An income tax treaty, and Protocol, between France and China was signed in late November 2013. The treaty and related Protocol—once ratified and in force—would replace the existing treaty and Protocol (1984). If the ratification processes are
See MoreEU and France reach Deal on Saint-Barthelme Savings Tax
The European Union (EU) and France have drafted an agreement on the application of savings tax legislation to the collectivity of Saint-Barthelme. The island of Saint-Barthélemy ceased to be a region of the EU with effect from January 1, 2012.
See MoreBulgarian Government approved the signing of a DTA with Norway
The Bulgarian Council of Ministers approved the signing of a double tax agreement (DTA) between Bulgaria and Norway on 19 February 2014. Once signed, in force and effective, the new treaty will replace the Bulgaria - Norway Income and Capital Tax
See MoreSpain: 2014 Budget is in Effect
The 2014 Budget published by the Spanish government is now in effect as of 1 January 2014. The budget includes a long-term strategy targeting employee training, advance payments regulation and changes to corporate income tax. The main tax changes
See MoreItaly withdraws WHT on inbound payments
An instruction from the Italian Revenue Agency for all Italian banks to withhold a 20 percent tax on all payments from abroad received by Italian individual taxpayers, has been withdrawn with effect from 1 February 2014 as it is being examined by
See MoreFrance – Creation of new program for APAs and MAPs
The French tax authorities have announced the creation of a new program—Mission d’expertise juridique et économique internationale (MEJEI) - which will be responsible for both advance pricing arrangements (APAs) and mutual agreement procedures
See MoreBelgian Finance Minister Preserves Savings Tax Perk
The Belgian Finance Minister has clarified that the 15 percent favorable rate of withholding tax, levied on income derived from regulated savings deposits, is to remain in place despite a recent ruling from the country's Constitutional Court,
See MoreGermany and Costa Rica sign a double tax agreement
On February 13, 2014, the Costa Rican government announced that it has signed an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation on income and capital with Germany. The agreement aims to eliminate situations of conflicting double taxation between the
See MoreBelgium changes Film Tax Shelter
Following consultation with business and parliamentary discussions the Belgian Council of Ministers has approved plans to modify the tax regime benefiting the film industry. Production companies in Belgium are required under the current regime to
See MoreUpdate of DTA between Belgium and China
On 27 January 2014, Belgium’s finance ministry announced changes to the effective dates of the Double Tax Agreement (DTA) with China. The finance ministry had previously announced that the agreement would come into effect on Jan. 4, 2014 and
See MoreProtocol between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands is in force
The DTA Protocol signed between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands entered into force on January 31, 2014. The provisions of the Protocol have effect: in the United Kingdom: in respect of income tax and capital gains tax, for any year of
See MoreECJ: Deduction of input VAT on pension fund management costs
In a Revenue and Customs Brief HMRC has set out its position on VAT on pension fund management costs. This follows decision of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in the case of Fiscale Eenheid PPG Holdings BV regarding an employer's entitlement to
See MoreUK and Zambia sign a DTA
On 4 February 2014 the United Kingdom (UK) and Zambia signed a Double Taxation Agreement. The Agreement will replace the existing Double Taxation Agreement between the UK and Zambia which was signed in 1972. The new agreement generally follows the
See MoreSpanish capital gains tax rules found to be discriminatory by Supreme Court
In a decision on 25 October 2013 in the Brambles France case (appeal No 1374/2011), Spain's Supreme Court ruled that the capital gains tax on non-residents may be discriminatory in some cases. The case involved a French company that sold its shares
See MoreJersey ratifies TIEA with Slovenia
Jersey ratified the tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) with Slovenia on February 4, 2014. The law to ratify the TIEA signed between Jersey and Slovenia was tabled before Jersey's parliament for its approval on December 23, 2013. Jersey and
See MoreSlovenia initials US FATCA Agreement
On January 28 2014 Slovenia's Ministry of Finance announced that Slovenia and the United States have initialed the text of a bilateral inter-governmental agreement (IGA) for the implementation of the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
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