Hungary – Proposed year-end tax law changes
The Minister of the National Economy of Hungary has submitted to the Parliament the year-end proposals of tax law changes of the government. The proposed changes to the tax law include changes to the rules of permanent establishment so that
See MoreFATCA agreement between Hungary and United States
The Ministry of National Economy of Hungary announced on 28 October 2013 that Hungary and the United States signed a Model 1 intergovernmental agreement (IGA) regarding the FATCA legislation. The agreement would allow automatic exchange of
See MoreGermany – VAT groups
The federal tax court of Germany (Bundesfinanzhof – BFH) has changed its position on the rules for organizational integration of companies into value added tax (VAT) groups. As per the BFH, a consequence of a “merger into a single taxpayer” as
See MoreGermany – Discovering recipients of deductible payments
The federal tax court of Germany (Bundesfinanzhof – BFH) has held that the tax authorities may require taxpayers to identify the recipients of payments that are deducted as businesses expenses. Otherwise, the tax deduction can be
See MoreGermany-Switzerland Tax Deal: SPD Open to stimulating the Agreement
It has been published on 4 November 2013 that, Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) have indicated that the party might be prepared to renegotiate the bilateral tax agreement concluded with Switzerland, aimed at resolving the longstanding issue of
See MoreFrench Lawmakers Return to Tax on Energy Drinks
The National Assembly of France has adopted the social security finance bill 2014. The assembly also included an amendment for the introduction of a tax on energy drinks. There are also provisions to harmonize social levy rates imposed on savings
See MoreEuropean Commission – VAT Guidelines for Telecoms and e-Services
On 29 October 2013, the European Commission published guidelines to help companies to prepare for the new value-added tax rules regarding telecommunications and electronic services. The new rules are scheduled to become effective in 2015. Under the
See MoreEU: Stopping the Italian bank guarantee requirement for VAT credits
The European Commission is seeking to prevent Italy from demanding a bank guarantee from non-resident companies which are seeking to apply for a VAT credit via their Italian VAT returns. The European Commission infringement systems try to change the
See MoreEuropean Court of Justice (ECJ): Taxpayer rights in respect of a request for information
The following questions were put to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) by the Czech Supreme Administrative Court on 4 June 2012 relating to taxpayer rights in respect of a request for information. The European Court of Justice determined that EU
See MoreDenmark publishes proposed exit tax rules
The Danish Minister of Taxation published a draft bill on 7 October 2013, which amends the rules on exit taxation. The draft bill was the European Court of Justice (ECJ) decision of 18 July 2013, where Danish exit taxation rules were held to be
See MoreCzech Senate approves Income Tax Law amendment
On 10 October 2013, the Czech Senate approved a special law measure that includes a long discussed Income Tax Law amendment. For this amendment to be enacted it must be approved by a new Chamber of Deputies on its first session. The main changes are
See MoreBelgium: Tax simplification bill
The Belgian Council of Ministers has given approval of the tax simplification bill. According to the bill, any individual for signing a contract last year for the construction of a low energy home will benefit from the tax reduction applicable for
See MoreBelgium: Audits on corporate withholding tax
The Finance Ministry of Belgium has unveiled plans to tighten the rules next year for companies which fail to settle their professional wage-withholding tax obligations for compensation paid out to company directors. The requirements are not being
See MoreBelgium – Hospitality Tax Bill
The Belgian Senate has approved the bill submitted by the Belgian Finance Minister that is designed to reduce the tax burden on the country's hotel and catering industry (Horeca). The bill introduces a new fiscal and social regime for occasional
See MoreAustria – Legislates rapid reaction reverse charge on VAT fraud
Austria has the new mechanism to enable member states to change reporting and VAT obligations at short notice were brought into place. This instrument allows member states to gain consent from the European Commission within 30 days to apply the VAT
See MoreKorea (Rep.) – Poland: protocol treaty signed
Korea (Rep.) and Poland signed a protocol treaty to the Korea (Rep.) on 22 October 2013. Among other changes the protocol updates Article 9 of the original treaty in respect of associated enterprises and adds a new article to the treaty relating
See MoreCzech Republic-Switzerland tax treaty protocol enter into force
The protocol to the agreement regarding the avoidance of double taxation between Czech Republic and Switzerland has entered into force on October 11, 2013 and the real double taxation agreement was signed on December 4, 1995. The protocol covers
See MorePortugal: Temporary tax regularization regime unveiled
For the regularization of tax debt, Portugal’s Council of Ministers has approved an “exceptional and temporary regime”. For those taxpayers who choose to regularize their tax debts by 20 December 2013, the regime accords exemption from the
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