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The European Union Excluded 8 Countries and Territories from the “Black List” of Offshore Zones

Published: 24/01/2018 | news

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#Black list #Grenada #Macau #Offshores #Panama #UAE

The European Union excluded 8 countries and territories from the “black list” of offshore zones, as it was reported on the official website of the Council of the European Union on January 23. The following countries were removed from the list: Barbados, Grenada, the Republic of Korea, Macau, Mongolia, Panama, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates. As it was noted in the message, the exсlusion was justified taking into account the expert assessment of the obligations undertaken by these jurisdictions to eliminate the shortcomings identified by the European Union. In each case, the commitments were backed up by the letters signed at a high political level. At the same time, the above countries and territories belong to a separate category now, subject to close monitoring. We remind that on December 5, 2017 the EU announced its intention to exclude 17 jurisdictions from the “black list” of offshore zones that do not take appropriate measures to ensure financial transparency and combat tax crimes. Thus, 9 of the planned 17 countries and territories remained on the list, namely American Samoa, Bahrain, Guam, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Palau, Saint Lucia, Samoa and Trinidad and...

Cyprus Imposes 19% VAT on Building Land

Published: 19/01/2018 | news

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#Cyprus #Taxes #VAT

From January 2, 2018 in Cyprus, the new VAT Law has entered into force, providing for changes in the main VAT Law No.95(I)/2000. The document introduces VAT at a standard rate for the sale of building land, as well as leasing/rental of business premises on the conditions specified in the law. It also introduces the reverse charge mechanism for VAT-subject supplies of land and property under a loan restructuring/force-sale arrangement, which will mostly influence financial institutions. Imposition of VAT at the standard rate of 19% on building land The standard VAT rate of 19% will be applied in the following cases: transfer of ownership; transfer of indivisible land portion; transfer of ownership via contract or sale agreement or agreement which specifies that the ownership will be transferred in the future or leasing agreement with buyout option. The above shall apply to non-developed building land which is meant for the construction of one or more structures in the course of carrying out a business activity. More clarifications are still needed for the application of the law, such as the circumstances whereby a transfer is not considered to be a part of a person’s...

Ministry of Finance Reforms Institution of Financial Liability for Tax Violations

Published: 30/11/2017 | news

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#Cyprus #VAT

Recently the Ministry of Finances of Ukraine, together with the experts from the interactive tax platform TaxLink, has developed a bill “On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine regarding the improvement of the prosecution system for violation of tax laws”. The essence of the document is to reform the liability for tax violations provided by the current legislation. First of all, the bill introduces more effective mechanisms for the settlement of tax disputes in cases when the violation of tax law happened not due to the fault of the payer. In addition, it is proposed to introduce the principle of fault liability of taxpayers which is inherent in all branches of Ukrainian legislation, in contrast to the current liability of the payer without fault. Therefore, the last one will be considered guilty if found guilty that he was able to comply with the relevant rules and regulations, but did not take the necessary measures for this. In this regard, when considering the verification materials by the supervisory authority, the documents of the taxpayer may be subject to the examination that show his due diligence. Another significant innovation is the introduction of the system of...

Undistributed profit in Latvia is exempt from CIT

Published: 01/09/2017 | news

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#CIT #CIT #Dividends

On the 4th and 11th of July, 2017 the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia approved a number of draft laws providing for the significant changes in the tax legislation of the country which will enter into force on January 1, 2018. The most significant of them will be the application of the CIT 0% rate for the reinvested profits. In other words, the enterprise will be subject to the corporate income tax only if it pays dividends or other payments for the purpose of actual distribution of the profits (conditionally distributed profit). Therefore since 2018, the company's profits are exempted from CIT, but it has to pay 20% of the income tax from the amount of dividends. At the same time, the shareholders will not have to pay personal income tax (PIT). Although, according to the bill, the CIT rate is 20%, and the tax base should be divided by a factor of 0.8, the effective tax rate actually equals 25%. It is notably that CIT will be applied not only to the dividends in the traditional sense, but also to the "deemed dividends", which are considered a new concept in Latvian tax legislation, and comparable with the dividends to the costs. Here it is important to note that the last ones...

Panama signed the tax transparency pact for OECD

Published: 28/10/2016 | news

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#OECD #Panama

Panama in October became the 105th country to sign the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. The OECD, which sets global standards for the exchange of tax information and tax transparency, said that the signing shows that Panama is currently implementing its cooperation with the international community to ensure transparency. "Panama's decision to sign a multilateral Convention, is a confirmation of its commitment to take the necessary measures to comply with international expectations in the fight against tax evasion," said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría, during the signing ceremony with the Ambassador of Panama in France. "It also sends a clear signal that the international community is united we will continue our efforts for as long as there is nowhere to hide in their efforts to eradicate tax evasion on the shelf.." Global Forum on transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes is expected to publish in early November estimate of peer review, as the legal framework and practices in Panama coincide with existing international standards of transparency and exchange of information on request during the last three...

The European Parliament began inquiries in Panama

Published: 29/09/2016 | news

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#EU #Panama

The European Parliament began its investigation following the hearing Panamanian documents. Committee of the European Parliament to investigate money laundering, tax evasion (Panama) held its first full meeting on 27 September. It consists of 70 members, including the chairman and four deputies. It will investigate the allegations of wrongdoing and improper administration in the application of European legislation on money laundering, tax evasion and tax avoidance by the European Commission or Member States. Its creation was due to a leakage of 11.5 million documents relating to Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. Data relating to the ownership of bank accounts and offshore companies in 21 jurisdictions, and cover a period of almost 40 years, until the end of 2015. Parliament said that the journalist Frederic Obermayer suggested that Panama's documents represent only the tip of the iceberg, and argued that EU banks are actively helping their clients evade taxes. Parliament added that the Swiss journalist Oliver Zilmen described the use of the system, including intermediaries, such as, for example, Swiss lawyers who actually run companies, Russian money and banks in Cyprus...

Panama takes further action on tax transparency

Published: 14/09/2016 | news

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#Panama

Cabinet of Panama On September 6, 2016, approved the legislation providing for the corresponding nation latest international tax transparency initiatives. The legislation would improve fiscal transparency in both the private and public sector, and ensure that the information provided by financial institutions area. In addition, the legislation will allow the Ministry of Economy and Finance, in order to better gather the information necessary to share with other countries and make him improve the supervision of financial statements. The bill will be considered by the National Assembly before the end of the year. September 8, 2016, the World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved a USD300m loan to support Panama's efforts to improve financial management and maintaining international standards of tax transparency. Author: Sergey Panovmanaging partner Finance Business...

Australia investigates tax Panama documents

Published: 09/09/2016 | news

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#Australia #Panama

In response to the analysis of documents Panama appear serious financial crime task force Australia (SFCT) held a "week of action" against persons suspected of tax evasion. SFCT made 15 unannounced visits to the states of Victoria and Queensland, and executed three search warrants. SFCT was launched in July 2015 and is headed by Australian Federal Police and a representative of the tax office, the Australian Commission on Crime Australian transaction reports, Securities and Investment Commission of Australia. Minister revenues O'Dvayer Kelly said: "Our government built a profile on the basis of more than 1000 Australians found in the leak, and review the information provided to us by other tax jurisdictions, we found taxpayers and advisers related to tax evasion, illegal drugs and corruption." She said at a press conference: "Some of these Australian taxpayers include dignitaries also include professional intermediaries, which include people who work as accountants and lawyers. The information shown significant tax avoidance arrangements that promoters have to their customers. Some of them are very complex and have several levels of offshore companies, fake...

EC applies the Panama Papers Inquiry

Published: 14/07/2016 | news

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#EU #Panama

The European Parliament's Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance, and Tax Evasion (PANA) has announced the appointment of its chair and four vice chairs. The constitutive meeting of PANA took place on July 12, 2016. Wenrer Langen was elected chair, with Ana Gomes, Pirkko Ruohonen-Lerner, Fabio de Masi, and Eva Joly to serve as first to fourth vice chairs, respectively. The Committee consists of 65 members, excluding the chair and vice chairs. It will investigate alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application of European Union law with respect to money laundering, tax avoidance, and tax evasion by the European Commission or member states. Its establishment was prompted by the leak of the so-called Panama Papers, the leak of more than 11.5m documents belonging to law firm Mossack Fonseca. The data leaked relates to the ownership of bank accounts and companies in 21 offshore jurisdictions, and covers a nearly 40-year period, through to the end of 2015. The Committee is required to submit its final report by June 8, 2017, when its mandate from the European Parliament will expire. Author: Olena Kutova senior...

Changes in order payment of dividends by joint stock companies

Published: 03/06/2016 | news

Tags:

#Dividends #Ukraine

May 27, 2016 came into force The order payment of dividends by joint stock company, which is approved by the National Commission on securities and stock market from 12.04.2016 number 391. In particular, on the relevant general meeting of shareholders is defined by a specific method of payment of dividends concerning the entire issue of shares - through the depository system of Ukraine or directly to shareholders. Implementation of dividend payments by joint stock company is going through the payment of the entire amount in full or in part, certainly if it is provided by the general meeting of shareholders or the supervisory board of the company. At the same time, in the case of decision-making by the joint stock company to pay dividends to shares, the payment could made proportionally and simultaneously to all persons who are entitled to receive dividends. Regarding the payment of dividends directly to shareholders. Payment of dividends to shareholders who are entitled, namely the transfer of the amounts of funds to all shareholders shall be effected by the transfer of funds to the shareholders during the relevant time and date that does not exceed six...

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