International updates - October 2015

October 07 2015

The latest international updates from our correspondents around the world.

Albania: New tax incentives for operating in free zones in Albania

Australia: Multinational entity (MNE) anti-avoidance Bill introduced

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Corporate Income Tax Bill under review

Brazil: Provisional Measure 685/2015 extended for another 60-day period

Canada: Filing deadline approaching for Canadian foreign affiliate dumping rules

Chile: Withholding tax, treaties and provision of PE certificates

Cyprus: Ship management companies in Cyprus: An option worth considering

Germany: Retroactive changes to RETT rules to apply from 2009

India: Applicability of MAT to foreign investors

Ireland: Irish Revenue Commissioners issue guidance on the VAT treatment of portfolio management services in wake of Deutsche Bank

Luxembourg: Luxembourg amends participation exemption regime

FYR Macedonia: FYR Macedonia extends application of preferential VAT rate to first sale of residential buildings

Malta: Amendment to the highly qualified persons rules

Middle East: PE formation in KSA: Operating across borders

New Zealand: New Zealand proposes new GST rules for supplies of cross-border services

Poland: Amendments made to Polish property tax regime

Serbia: Amendments to the Serbian Excise Duties Act

South Korea: Proposed tax law amendments in 2015

Spain: Spain takes the lead as tax changes reflect economic upturn

Switzerland: Spontaneous exchange of tax rulings

Turkey: Transfer pricing of intra-group services with a special focus on recharacterisation as know-how

US Inbound: IRS international practice units

Topics

Feature Special Focus Sponsored

more across site & shared bottom lb ros

More from across our site

Transfer Pricing

‘Clear limitations’: Italian advisers differ on intra-group financing TP ruling

Partners are divided on Italy vs PDM D’s analytical depth, evidentiary standards, and what the judgment signals for future intra-group financing cases

Sam Sholli, March 19 2026

Direct Tax

Back office

Back office to backbone: tax risks of evolving global capability centers

As GCCs increasingly become strategic hubs, multinationals face heightened risks around permanent establishment and place of effective management

Mehul Jain, March 19 2026

Direct Tax

wopke hoekstra.jpg

‘Kept the family together’: EU tax chief praises US/OECD pillar two deal

While all options presented ‘drawbacks’, European Commission tax leader Wopke Hoekstra said the controversial US carve-out deal has ‘many benefits’

Sam Sholli, March 18 2026

Direct Tax

FAQs

The pillar two side-by-side agreement: key questions answered

From tech preparations to competitiveness concerns, Tax Systems’ Russell Gammon addresses the most pressing client considerations arising from the SbS deal

Russell Gammon, March 17 2026

Direct Tax

Alex Cobham, Paul Monaghan

Tax campaigners clash on pillar two as side-by-side deal costs emerge

Despite estimates that the US/OECD agreement will cost countries billions, the Fair Tax Foundation’s Paul Monaghan believes the deal is a ‘necessary evil’

Sam Sholli, March 16 2026

Direct Tax

A taxing week: WTS enters fierce battle for global tax advisory supremacy

The firm’s eye-catching UK launch is a major statement of intent, but it will face stern opposition in its quest to be the top global tax player

Tom Baker, March 13 2026

Direct Tax

London- HM Revenue and Customs building on Whitehall, UK Governm

This week in tax: HMRC defers tax agent registration for financial services businesses

The postponement came after industry representatives flagged implementation issues with the registration regime; in other news, firms made key tax partner additions

Sam Sholli, March 13 2026

Transfer Pricing

HMRC almost doubles revenue from TP cases in one year

Despite the increased yield, the time taken to resolve enquiries was at a six-year high, new HMRC statistics have revealed

Sam Sholli, March 12 2026

Direct Tax

High court 2000.jpg

Dan Neidle defeats £8m libel claim brought by ‘tax avoidance promoter’

The High Court’s dismissal of barrister Setu Kamal’s legal challenge represents the first successful strike-out under a new law on SLAPPs

Sam Sholli, March 11 2026

Indirect Tax

US tariffs

Opinion: Tariff turbulence is a wake-up call for IP attorneys

IP lawyers, who say they are encouraging clients to build up ‘tariff resilience’, should treat the risks posed by recent orders as a core consideration in cross-border licensing

Sanjana Mishra, March 11 2026