ECJ: Advocate General decision on VAT exemption for management of special investment funds
The referring Court had asked for a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in the case ATP Pension Service A/S v Skatteministeriet. This case concerned the application of VAT exemption in the case of the management of an
See MoreUnited Kingdom – Changes of tax refund-procedure not compatible with EU law
The Court of Justice for the European Union (CJEU) issued a judgment on 12 December 2013 concluding that EU law precludes UK measures effect of which is to deprive taxpayers and that happened without notice and retroactively. It was focused on
See MoreNetherlands – Proposed tax agreement with Curaçao
Representatives of the governments of the Netherlands and Curaçao on 12 December 2013 reached an agreement on a new regulation for the avoidance of double taxation between the two countries (referred to as the BRNC). As announced by the Dutch
See MoreLuxembourg: PM presented details of future Tax Reform
Xavier Bettel, the new Prime Minister of Luxembourg has presented a Government Declaration outlining details of plans to reform taxation in the Grand Duchy to the country’s Chamber of Deputies. The Government wants to set up a consultative tax
See MoreHungary: Summary of changes to the tax law provisions
Hungary’s changes to the tax law are likely to become effective from 2014. The changes would comprise of the following corporate tax provisions: Favorable participation exemption rules in case of 10% acquisitions of share have been
See MoreBulgaria- Amendments in VAT Act 2014
Amended Bulgarian VAT act have been published by Bulgarian tax office which are in effect since January 1, 2014. The changes are- the reporting point is to be treated as the end of the month for recurring monthly intra-community supplies, free
See MoreUK: Shares issued under interest free loan agreement are taxable income
On 15 November 2013, it was reported that the United Kingdom First Tier Tribunal found that the receipt of shares from a borrower in an interest free loan agreement between United Kingdom companies was taxable income. The case in which this decision
See MoreSpanish Bioindustry Welcomes R&D Tax Breaks
During a recent event organized by the Spanish Bioindustry Association Asebio, Spain's State Secretary for Finance presented details of the tax incentives introduced within the framework of the Entrepreneur Support Act, which is designed to promote
See MoreSpain Plans to Cut Taxes in 2015
Spain is planning to cut income taxes in 2015 considering significant changes to its corporate taxes as the economy gradually recovers. A gradually improving economy and an expected fall in unemployment allow the government to bring income tax rates
See MorePhilippine: Welcome ejection from Italian ‘Black List’
The Philippines Government has signed a double taxation agreement (DTA) with Italy to taken off the “black list” of countries that Italy evaluates to be tax havens on 9 December 2013. On December 5, 1980 DTA originally signed between
See MoreIreland: Revenue published details of tax settlements
Ireland's Revenue organization has published data on 88 cases of the settlements arrived at with defaulting taxpayers throughout the last year. The first lists each person upon whom a fine or punishment was forced by a court. The second part covers
See MoreGermany: Proposed coalition agreement
The German Conservatives (CDU/CSU) and their ex-opposition party the Social Democrats (SPD) signed a 185 page agreement on the formation of a “grand coalition” on 27 November 2013 which was resulted from five weeks of strong negotiations. The
See MoreNetherlands – Electronic filing required for VAT returns
It has been reported that entrepreneurs subject to value added tax (VAT) but not “established”―for VAT purposes―in the Netherlands must file their VAT returns / EC sales lists electronically (and not on paper forms) from 1 January
See MoreNetherlands Hails Tax Amnesty A Success
On 13 November 2013 it was reported that the Dutch Financial State Secretary has hailed the Government's temporary relaxed voluntary disclosure scheme as a success. The State Secretary emphasized the fact that since its introduction, almost 500
See MoreLuxembourg: New circular declares VAT exemption for risk management services
“Administration de l’Enregistrement et des Domaines”, the Luxembourg VAT Authorities issued a Circular (Circular n° 723 ter) on 7th November 2013, confirming that risk management services for funds could be VAT exempt. The guidance from the
See MoreLuxembourg wants acceleration of negotiation on Savings Tax
Luxembourg has called on the European Commission (EC) to accelerate negotiations with third party countries, to make sure that progress is made on plans to modify the Savings Tax Directive. The Savings Tax Directive is designed to ensure that income
See MoreLuxembourg Considers Tax Rise
The assessment of current negotiations on the formation of a new Government of Luxembourg is that there is a pledge to redressing the public finances if necessary with recourse to tax measures. However Luxembourg is starting from a favorable
See MoreIreland: Tax hike hits Irish savings
According to one well known financial institution (the Nationwide Building Society), the Irish Finance Minister has decided to raise the Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) and it represents a very bad news for Irish savers. The extent of
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