France – Employers demand Corporate Tax Cuts

30 March, 2014

Anxious to kick-start talks on a reform of corporation tax, the President of the French employers' federation Medef, has called on the Government to lower the corporate social solidarity contribution (C3S) together with the headline rate of

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France Urged To Review Social Housing Tax Break

23 March, 2014

Under the French tax law there is tax relief available in respect of social housing in certain overseas areas, in an effort to increase the supply of low cost residential accommodation. The French Court of Auditors has however called on the

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France – VAT on hotel accommodation may be damaging the tourism sector

23 March, 2014

In the opinion of some commentators the 1 January 2014 increase in VAT on hotel accommodation may be damaging the French tourism sector. The French hotel VAT rate rose from 7% to 10% in 2014 as part of reorganization of all French VAT rates – 

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France employers and unions considering draft accord

23 March, 2014

The French trade unions are considering a draft accord that sets out the terms and conditions for a EUR30bn (USD41.6bn) reduction in labor costs. The main employers' associations Medef, the CGPME, and the UPA have drafted the agreement, which urges

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France – Introduces new share saving plans

23 March, 2014

The French Government has published decree number 2014-283 of March 4, 2014, increasing the ceiling for investment in the tax-exempt share savings plan (PEA), and introducing a new share savings plan (PEA-PME) exclusively for investment in small-

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Switzerland urged to approve IHT agreement with France

16 March, 2014

The French Finance Minister has informed Switzerland that France will not renegotiate the revised inheritance tax (IHT) agreement the two countries have drafted if it is rejected by Swiss lawmakers. The revised Franco-Swiss IHT accord was signed in

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Ireland – Finance Minister Talks Fiscal Policy

16 March, 2014

According to the Irish Finance Minister the core objective of the Medium Term Economic Strategy (MTES) is full employment by 2020.  In connection with this strategy Ireland will continue to prioritize taxation measures that ensure the recovery

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France- Transfer Tax hiked

16 March, 2014

According to the French Tax Administration 66 out of the 101 departments in France have elected to increase their house transfer tax rate from March 1 2014. The house transfer tax is imposed on transactions involving older property. Other expenses

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France To Simplify Tax System

16 March, 2014

The French General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) has found that 192 taxes in France each yield less than EUR150m (USD208m), and has advocated abolishing two-thirds of them. The report has been prepared by the IGF on behalf of the French Budget

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France cuts VAT rate on digital news

16 March, 2014

The French government has updated the Tax Code to reduce the VAT rate on digital news and journals from the standard 20% rate to the reduced rate of 2.1%.  This puts digital news on a par with printed newspapers and magazines. This change is in

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France- Bank Account Regularization Requests

09 March, 2014

Almost 16,000 residents with undeclared foreign bank accounts have elected to regularize their tax situation in the last eight months, through a voluntary declaration of non-compliance. As of February 7, 2014 the tax authorities had received 15,813

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France and Germany to cooperate on tax projects

09 March, 2014

France and Germany have jointly declared that they will cooperate on key tax agendas in Europe and internationally. A working group is to be set up and the group will consider how to harmonize regulations on incoming and outgoing cross-border

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DTA between China and France

22 February, 2014

An income tax treaty, and Protocol, between China and France was signed in late November 2013. The treaty and related Protocol-once ratified and in force-would replace the existing treaty and Protocol originally signed in 1984. If the ratification

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France – DTA with China

21 February, 2014

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

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EU and France reach Deal on Saint-Barthelme Savings Tax

21 February, 2014

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.

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France – Creation of new program for APAs and MAPs

20 February, 2014

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

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France: Reduced VAT rate on digital newspapers and magazines

17 February, 2014

The French government is about to propose a VAT reduction for digital newspapers and magazines. The intention behind this move is to provide a level playing field for different forms of publication. The government wants to give the digital versions

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France – New VAT rates for 2014

09 February, 2014

With effect from 1 January 2014, the rates of value added tax (VAT) in France have been changed and are now as follows: The standard VAT rate is increased from 19.6% to 20%. The intermediary VAT rate which is applicable to the food service

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