Netherlands: Plans to update tax treaties with developing countries
The Netherlands has a plan to significantly improve tax transparency and to combat international tax avoidance by updating double tax treaties with low- and middle-income countries. The Netherlands has signed with more than 90 nations. The
See MoreNetherlands to change statute of limitations period
A Bill to change the statute of limitations period and to simplify the electronic exchange of data was presented on 2 September 2013 to the parliament. The Bill is the result of earlier announcements by the government on 12 March 2013. Under the
See MoreLuxembourg and Uruguay initial a tax treaty
Luxembourg and Uruguay initiated a double tax agreement (DTA) on August 27, 2013. As Uruguay is considered to be one of the leading financial centers in South America a treaty with Luxembourg would open up possibilities for investors and funds from
See MoreItaly: VAT rise may be delayed to 2014
The VAT rise to 22% originally planned in Italy for 2013 may be delayed to 2014. Italy may however fail to meet the 3% budget deficit requirement for 2013 imposed by the European Commission if the VAT rate is not raised. The delay of 3 months is
See MoreItaly: First payment of municipal real estate tax abolished
Law Decree No. 102/2013, providing for urgent measures with regard to the municipal real estate tax (IMU), was published in the Official Gazette No. 204, Ordinary Supplement No. 66 on 31 August 2013. The first payment of the IMU for 2013,
See MoreGermany: New VAT invoice requirements
Germany has approved a new Act to implement changes to bring German VAT compliance rules into line with the EU VAT Directive and with a number of recent court cases. Under the new Act changes to German VAT invoices include: The obligation to
See MoreFrance: Temporary reduction on taxation capital gains on immovable property
The government of France issued guidelines BOI-RFPI-PVI-20-20-20130809 on 9th August 2013, providing new reductions on capital gains for the purpose of individual income taxation and social contributions. The reduced tax rate is 25%. Moreover, the
See MoreFrance: List of non-cooperative states or territories updated for 2013
The French government published a Ministerial Decree on 28 August 2013 updating the list of non-cooperative states or territories (NCSTs). The list will become effective from 1 January 2013. A major consequence for a country that is on the list of
See MoreFrance rules out plans for tax hikes in 2014
The French government has declared that taxes imposed on companies in France will not rise in 2014. France originally planned to raise an additional 6 billion Euros (5.1 billion pounds) in new taxes next year but acknowledged recently that
See MoreFrance adopts new tax measures to simplify administration
The Council of Ministers of France adopted a bill to implement a new set of measures to simplify administrative procedures for companies on 4 September 2013. The bill will now be subject to parliamentary discussion. The plans of the French
See MoreFinland: Tax Administration published information package on tax havens
On 3 September 2013, the tax administration of Finland published on their website an information package on tax havens. This focuses on the experiences of the Finnish tax administration with tax structures using tax havens, i.e. jurisdictions
See MoreECJ: Advocate General’s opinion on Hungarian retail turnover tax
The Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has issued an opinion in respect of a case involving a Hungarian retail turnover tax. The opinion of the Advocate General is issued as a guide for the ECJ but is not binding on the
See MoreCroatia – Portugal signed Double Tax Treaty
The Government of Croatia approved the signing of a double tax treaty (DTA) with Portugal for avoidance of double taxation and preventing tax evasion on August 29, 2013. This will determines the manner of data exchange between the two countries’
See MoreFrance announces plans for a Carbon Tax
The government of France has announced to initiate a “climate energy contribution”. The new plans will fall within the framework of finance bill 2014. The Government is expected to put forward further environmental tax initiatives in its
See MoreFrance updates list of tax havens
France has revised its list of tax havens to include Jersey, Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands as tax havens, meaning the three territories will be subject to tougher tax policies applied by France. France has however removed the Philippines
See MoreGermany: Draft regulation for the profit attribution to PEs issued for public discussion
The draft version of a new Regulation on the attribution of profits to permanent establishments (PE Regulation) has been issued on 5 August 2013 by the German Ministry of Finance for public discussion. The main goal of the PE Regulation is to
See MoreLithuania: Real estate tax exemption relating to agricultural activities
The tax law of Lithuania has been modified to arrange for an exemption from real estate tax for an entity’s real property when the entity is involved in agricultural activities. The amendment will become effective from January 2014. An exemption
See MoreIncome and capital tax treaty between Saudi Arabia and Luxembourg
The income and capital tax treaty between Saudi Arabia and Luxembourg was signed on 7 May 2013. The text of the treaty has become available now. The treaty will now undergo with some ratification procedures. The new treaty is expecting to become
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