US tax cases – the review of the year Joel Williamson and Gregory Barton of Mayer, Brown & Platt in Chicago, look at ten US tax cases handed down during 1997 with implications for international tax planning of which multinationals need to take note
EU tax cases – extracting the essence How should the EU Merger Directive be interpreted? Is national tax legislation subject to EU enshrined freedoms? Pascal Faes, Van Bael & Bellis, Brussels, considers how the European Court of Justice shed light on these and other issues in 1997
Corporate self assessment takes shape On March 17 1998 the UK budget was unveiled following extensive consultation with corporate taxpayers. Freshfields’ International Tax Group examines how the budget will affect transfer pricing, controlled foreign companies and double tax relief
The fine art of sharing Steve Hasson of Price Waterhouse, London looks at the tax issues surrounding the set up and running of a management dream – shared service centres. Particular emphasis is given to the transfer pricing implications
China curtails confusion China dismayed foreign investors by withdrawing import tax exemptions in 1996. New exemptions have now been introduced, but as Guanxi Zheng of Stikeman, Elliott, Hong Kong explains, restrictions apply
TNT – setting the tax standard Managing change, external advisers and management expectations; these are just some of the challenges facing Tim Brierley, head of fiscal services at TNT Post, Amsterdam, who talks to Phillippa Cannon about setting high standards
Exploring the taxation of oil and gas (part one) In the first part of International Tax Review’s survey of oil and gas tax regimes, Vibe Amundsen and Ian Sutherland of Ernst & Young, Oslo and Calgary highlight essential information for investors in Norway and Canada
Singapore underlines attractions Singapore has introduced a budget designed to reinforce the country’s role as a prime location for financial services and logistics. Chris Kinsella of Coopers & Lybrand, Singapore reports on the specific measures and their impact