News

Hong Kong Intends to Join the OECD’s Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement

Published: 09/02/2018 | news

Tags:

#BEPS #Hong Kong

On February 2, 2018, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region officially formalized the process of ratifying the OECD’s Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (MCAA). That means that the jurisdiction will join soon the existing multilateral network of data exchange between the tax authorities of many countries and territories around the world. The Hong Kong Tax and Fees Department introduced the Ordinance on Automatic Exchange of Information on Financial Accounts (AEOI), which will optimize the process of obtaining information by the countries with which the jurisdiction agrees to exchange. This refers to the exchange both under the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and the intercountry reporting exchange under the BEPS Plan. After joining of Hong Kong the Multilateral Agreement, the authorities of the country will be able to pass a rather formal procedure for finalizing the relations with other participants through the OECD secretariat. If we compare this process with the conclusion of separate bilateral agreements with a number of the countries, it is much faster and easier. It is important to note that until the end of this year, the old (bilateral) rules for...

Hong Kong Legislation on Significant Controllers Register Will Enter into Force in March 2018

Published: 05/02/2018 | news

Tags:

#Hong Kong #Legislation

On January 24, 2018, the Companies (Amendment) Bill 2017 was passed, which mandates incorporated companies of Hong Kong to keep a Significant Controllers Register (SCR). The new legislation will enter into force on March 1, 2018. The Hong Kong Companies Registry has set up a special section on SCR on its website containing, amongst others, a detailed Guideline on the Keeping of SCR and specific forms for the companies to use. The main requirements for the new SCR regime are listed below. Who are required to keep a SCR? All companies “formed and registered” in accordance with the the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance, including dormant companies, financial institutions, charitable organizations, companies limited by guarantee and any other types of companies incorporated in Hong Kong, except for the listed companies, and foreign companies registered under Part 16 of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance, must keep a SCR. What should be contained in the SCR? The SCR must contain information on the significant controllers of the applicable company, namely registrable persons (i.e., a natural person or a specified entity such as a government and international organisation) and/or...

Malta made changes in law regarding tax credits

Published: 04/09/2017 | news

Tags:

#Malta

Since the beginning of this year, Malta has issued a number of official notices, providing for the changes in the law regarding tax credits. Thus, the Official Notice No. 140 amended the Regulations on Tax Credits for Micro Enterprises and Private Entrepreneurs (Tax Credits for Micro Enterprises and the Self-Employed Regulations). In accordance with the revised provisions, the definition of "eligible costs" now includes family enterprises in the definition fixed by the Family Business Law. Yet, a clause was added to the Regulation, according to which since 2018, the family business can be granted a tax credit for an amount not exceeding 50,000 euros. The loan must be used during any 3-year...

The register of data on beneficiaries of Hong Kong companies will be non-public

Published: 01/09/2017 | news

Tags:

#Corporate law #Hong Kong

On June 23, 2017, the official government publication of Hong Kong published a draft amendment in the Ordinance on the companies (Companies (Amendment) Bill 2017). One of the changes it covered was the introduction of a requirement for the companies registered in Hong Kong to collect, store and provide up-to-date information on their beneficiaries for the verification. This refers to the so-called "Registers of people with significant control over the companies". This innovation was adopted within the framework of the international policy on combating money laundering and financing of terrorism and it is designed to bring the corporate jurisdiction legislation in the line with the standards of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering. By analogy with the definition given by the FATF, in anti-laundering legislation of Hong Kong, "significant controllers" are defined as individuals and legal entities that: directly or indirectly own more than 25% of the company's shares; directly or indirectly have more than 25% of the voting rights of the company; directly or indirectly have the right to appoint or remove the majority of the members of the company's board of...

Hong Kong has adopted amendments in Ordinance on companies

Published: 01/09/2017 | news

Tags:

#Hong Kong

On June 23, 2017, the official Hong Kong government publication published a draft amendment in the Ordinance on the Companies (Companies (Amendment) Bill 2017). The changes were adopted as the additional measures in combating with money laundering and financing of terrorism, and they are designed to bring the corporate legislation of jurisdiction in compliance with the international standards of the FATF (Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering). The project provides for the introduction of two requirements for Hong Kong companies, one of which is the maintenance of public registries of the beneficiaries or "persons with significant control over the companies" (Register of People with Significant control). "Significant controllers" refer to the persons owning directly or indirectly of more than 25% of the company's assets, as well as entitled to exercise significant influence over its activities. The second change concerns the introduction of the mandatory licensing for the providers of trust and corporate services. The license, which has validity for 3 years, will need to be received within 90 days, starting from January 1, 2018. The administrative liability will be...

DTA entered into force between Russia and Hong Kong

Published: 08/08/2016 | news

Tags:

#Double taxation #Exchange of tax information #Hong Kong #Russia

Comprehensive agreement for the avoidance of double taxation (CDTA) was signed in January of this year between Hong Kong and Russia, which came into force on 29 July 2016. According to the sources, this agreement shall remain in force for Hong Kong each year since its signing to double taxation, which took place on or after April 1, 2017. The CDTA is informed about what is required to support efforts to expand the tax obligations undertaken by the two countries in the framework of the «Belt and Road», which is a project of the Chinese government for the economic development aiming at the integration of trade and investment between the approximately 60 countries in Eurasia. In the absence of the CDTA program, of Hong Kong companies income, which conduct their entrepreneurial activities with the help of permanent missions in Russia and taxed in both places if their earnings was received in Hong Kong. On this basis, in the new agreement, double taxation is eliminated, and now any Russian tax paid by the companies on their earnings, will be allowed to tax payable in Hong Kong. Besides, in accordance with this agreement, the rate in Russia on income tax on royalties,...

EU signed tax agreement with IOTA

Published: 01/08/2016 | news

Tags:

#EU #Exchange of tax information

The Intra-European Organization of Tax Administrations (IOTA ) has signed tax agreement with European Commission to develop the solution of more effective way to common targets which this two brunches are working on and also one kind of them activity to prevent double tax avoidance. According to announce of IOTA 26 of July the main brunches of co-working in agreement frames include battle against swindle, information exchange, alternate support, support of tax departments to increase the level of maintenance by taxpayers. The agreement was signed between IOTA and the Taxation and Customs Union Directorate General (DG TAXUD) of the European Commission 7 of July. Edery said: «Commission has get a support IOTA from the day it start exist and attentively watching it progress. We have common target to support European states in development and modernization of tax administration. Based in Budapest, IOTA is a non-profit intergovernmental organization, created to promote using the best practice in tax administration direction and more effective co-working with 46 tax authorities’ members. Author: Olena Kutova senior lawyer of the Finance...

Italian-Swiss TIEA goes into force

Published: 27/07/2016 | news

Tags:

#Exchange of tax information #Italy #Switzerland

The Italiam Ministry of economy and finance claimed that protocol about tax information of double tax agreement between Italy and Switzerland wich was signed 23 of February, 2016 goes into force 13 of July, 2016. The agreement protocol comprises all kind of taxes, point out that country can't deny to represent asking information only because this information has in keeping on bank or any other financial constitution. Much less the country need to empty of all own inner legal proceedings before than protocol can ask information from other. Also need to indicate person or persons who are the object of asking request, period of time need to ask the information, descrabing of information need to and the reason of request if its known, the name and adress of suppose owner of information. This specifications was added for avoiding any want of judgment, general compromative information, and he also added that the second list of specifications don't using for placing obstacles on the way of effective agreements between these countries. This protocol also approves that this contributions will use retrospectively to the data that existed prior to or after the date of...

Parliament of Holland approves gambling tax

Published: 18/07/2016 | news

Tags:

#Holland

The lower house of Dutch parliament approved rule, which can regulate and provide online gambling taxation. Remote Gambling Bill has plan to open Dutch gambling market for foreign outer gambling companies which provide taxation about 29 percent of gamble gross revenue, the same way of taxation have had already gamble land-based operators. According to previous version of draft law, tax for online gambling fixed about 20 percent. The acting coalition included remark to legislation in the beginning of this year for agreement this tax. Nevertheless, the final version of this law approved by the law house 7 July contains measure of decreasing about 25 percent at the end of three years period. In this proposing for the first time was planned to go into force this rule in 2015, but now they were waiting for voting in the Senate. In case of approving by upper house, expect that the process of application submission a new license for gambling in the first half of the next year, and that this new regime will fully up in the middle of 2017 year. Author: Olena Kutova senior lawyer of the Finance Business Service company ...

Hong Kong: a new tax benefit for companies

Published: 09/06/2016 | news

Tags:

#Hong Kong #Tax exemptions

June 3, 2016 in the official government publication in Hong Kong were published changes in the tax law, introducing a tax break for companies that perform the function of the treasury center. The changes were adopted by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on May 26, 2016. Now, the company engaged in Hong Kong treasury activities (namely intra-group financing business, the provision of treasury services and conducting treasury operations), under certain conditions, are able to take into account the the interest paid by them on loans as an expense for tax purposes. Under the changes, the Hong Kong companies, which meet the criteria of corporate treasury center will pay income tax at a reduced rate, in the amount of 8.25% (the standard corporate tax rate in Hong Kong is 16.5% rate). The reduced rate of corporation may be applied against to income from treasury activity, obtained from April 1, 2016 and later. The new rules on percent accounting in the composition of expenditure of companies involved intragroup funding, will also be applied in respect of amounts accrued for payment on April 1, 2016 or later. By introducing new benefits Hong Kong trying to increase...

Recent News