This content is from: United Kingdom Tax havens pledge tighter anti-money laundering defences Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man have announced they will tighten their anti-money laundering regimes to bring them further into line with international best practices February 24 2002
This content is from: Singapore Singapore signs two double-tax treaties The Singapore government last week signed double tax treaties with Kuwait and Romania February 24 2002
This content is from: Australia Australian regulator warns investors over tax avoidance Australia’s tax authority is considering whether schemes that transfer tax credits associated with fully- or partly-franked shares from one investor to another could amount to tax avoidance February 24 2002
This content is from: Direct Tax Caribbean tax haven commits to OECD reforms Antigua and Barbuda has committed to making its tax regime more transparent and improving information exchanges with OECD member states, narrowly beating the end-of-February deadline February 22 2002
This content is from: United States EU VAT directive angers US The US is disappointed with a directive passed by the EU’s ECOFIN committee that will force US retailers selling digital products such as software and music to EU customers to levy VAT on the sales. Previously non-EU ... February 17 2002
This content is from: United States US lawmakers propose stock option reforms Lawmakers in the US have introduced a bill to the Senate that would force companies to record stock options on financial statements or lose a tax break February 17 2002
This content is from: United States US says EU overestimated tax damages by $3 billion The US trade authorities are claiming that the EU has overestimated the amount of trade sanctions it is claiming over a tax dispute by over $3 billion February 17 2002
This content is from: United States HLB expands its accountancy network International accounting and business services network HLB International has added two new members to its network February 17 2002
This content is from: Direct Tax Further aid needed for research and development in Europe The European Commission’s enterprise policy group has concluded that conditions for innovative and entrepreneurial enterprises need to be improved if the EU is to reach its goal of creating the most competitive knowle... February 17 2002
This content is from: Direct Tax PwC axes 200 tax jobs PricewaterhouseCoopers is cutting 200 jobs in its UK tax practice, becoming the second big five firm in a week to take such action February 12 2002
This content is from: Direct Tax KPMG cuts 150 tax jobs KPMG will make at least 150 redundancies from its UK tax practice, with the professional service firm’s London office expected to be worst affected February 10 2002
This content is from: United States Andersen to reform audit practice In the wake of the Enron scandal, troubled big five firm Andersen has announced it intends to reform its US audit practice February 10 2002
This content is from: United States US corporates to benefit from federal reforms A US Treasury department announcement on January 31 could lead to savings of billions of dollars for businesses in the country February 10 2002
This content is from: Direct Tax Big five firms support independence reforms Big five firms have spoken out in favour of rules that would stop them offering consulting services to audit clients February 10 2002
This content is from: United States Institutional investors urge accounting reform The Council of Institutional Investors has called for reform to the US auditing and corporate governance system, to protect against scandals such as Enron February 10 2002
This content is from: Belgium Miller & Chevalier to open in Brussels Washington-based regulatory firm Miller & Chevalier is to open an office in Brussels February 10 2002
This content is from: Direct Tax Bermudan firm expands in London Bermuda-based Appleby Spurling and Kempe has opened an office in London February 10 2002
This content is from: United States McDermott Will & Emery boosts Washington tax group McDermott, Will & Emery has hired a former Inland Revenue Service chief for its Washington office February 10 2002
This content is from: France Coudert targets Andersen and A&O for French tax push Coudert Freres is strengthening its tax practice after hiring two practitioners from Andersen and Allen & Overy February 10 2002
This content is from: Direct Tax European Commission hits out at tax evasion The European Commission has adopted proposals to help member states work together to fight tax and customs fraud more effectively February 10 2002
This content is from: Direct Tax Tax exemption for venture capital fund investments Foreign investors in venture capital funds investing in Israeli hi-tech companies are to benefit from an exemption from Israeli tax. But until detailed qualifying conditions are issued, a degree of uncertainty remains... February 06 2002
This content is from: Direct Tax Germany focus: Private equity and venture capital rules lack clarity Germany has been working on its rules for private equity and venture capital funds. Assessing whether asset managing or trading funds is the activity at hand is one of the key distinctions in this often cumbersome and... February 06 2002
This content is from: Direct Tax Germany focus: New deal for German transfer pricing Taxpayers and tax authorities have been dealt puzzling new hands of transfer pricing cards by Germany’s highest tax court. By Alexander Vögele and William Bader, KPMG Frankfurt February 06 2002
This content is from: Direct Tax Germany focus: ECJ drives VAT planning for German financial services Although the German authorities may be slow to adopt key decisions, ECJ judgments have a key impact on the VAT regime for financial services in Germany. By Wolfgang Oho and Carsten Schmidt, Andersen, Frankfurt February 06 2002
This content is from: Direct Tax Germany focus: German hedge funds – reformed but not resolved German hedge fund initiators usually still choose indirect investment structures. However, a number of open questions still remain about hedge fund vehicles created for the German market. By Dr Florian Schultz, Linkla... February 06 2002
This content is from: Direct Tax Dealmakers 2001 In our annual round-up of key transactions and the use of sophisticated tax planning tools, tax lawyers from five of the leading firms around the world give us an insider’s guide to executing the perfect deal February 06 2002
This content is from: Direct Tax China gives preference to hi-tech industries China has a stated policy to encourage investment in the hi-tech industries and, as a result, a variety of special concessions are on offer to foreign investors. By Yunfang Wendy Guo, KPMG, New York February 06 2002
This content is from: United States Shearman loses two tax partners Shearman & Sterling is losing two tax partners just months after securing lateral partner hires to strengthen its London, Munich and New York practices February 03 2002
This content is from: Germany Tax ruling threatens German insolvency-lawyer profits A ruling by the German tax authorities may force law firms to pay up to 25% tax on their income, pushing them to set up separate entities to carry out insolvency work February 03 2002
This content is from: Direct Tax Barbados escapes OECD blacklist Barbados will avoid being on a list of uncooperative tax havens that will be published shortly by the OECD, following discussions between officials from the Caribbean island and the Paris-based group February 03 2002
This content is from: Belgium Commission compromises on electronic invoicing A directive published by the European Commission on January 30 will allow organizations to invoice electronically February 03 2002
This content is from: Brazil Andersen tax drain gathers pace in Brazil Andersen in Brazil has lost another partner to a newly established local firm, set up by a former Andersen partner and around 20 of his colleagues in October 2001 February 03 2002
This content is from: Direct Tax US and Bahamas agree information exchange The Bahamian government has signed an information exchange agreement with the US authorities, making it easier for the two countries to pursue tax evaders and money launderers February 01 2002
