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The EU’s council of finance ministers (ECOFIN) has made progress over differences of opinion on reform of the Stability and Growth Pact, which would reduce budgetary pressure on member states to either reduce spending or increase taxes.

Connie Mack, chairman of the US President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform, asked last Wednesday for greater input from taxpayers on the debate on ways to amend the US tax code.

Two senior US government tax officials, Barbara Angus and Gregory Nickerson, have left public service to set up their own tax consultancy firm. Angus & Nickerson opened for business in Washington, DC on February 7 2005.

At the outcome of the cabinet meeting on December 23 2004, the Belgian government announced plans to introduce legislation in June 2005 that will allow companies to deduct a notional (deemed) interest deduction on equity and retained earnings (not stated in the accounts) in calculating the taxable base. This measure will alleviate the different tax treatment between debt and equity, that is, borrowing or equity financing. At present, companies have more to gain from debt than equity financing, because loan interest is tax-deductible and dividend distributions are included in calculating the company's taxable base. In addition, Belgian tax law knows no general thin-capitalization rules.

Sixth VAT Directive – Exemption for games of chance – Determination of the conditions and limitations to which the exemption is subject – Liability of games organised outside public casinos – Respect for the principle of fiscal neutrality – Article 13B( f) – Direct effect.

Sixth VAT Directive – Article 2(1), Article 4(1) and (2) – Economic activity – Transaction forming part of a chain of supply involving a defaulting trader or a trader using an unauthorised VAT number – Carousel fraud.

The tax bill for 2005 was approved on November 13 2004 and published in the official gazette on December 1 2004

The "butterfly reorganization" is the name in Canada for the type of reorganization by which a Canadian corporation, call it the distributor, can distribute property to one or more of its corporate shareholders on a tax-deferred basis

The UK government is maintaining its attack on corporate tax avoidance with the introduction of three new measures

The Venezuelan tax authorities (SENIAT) closed down 80 McDonald’s fast-food restaurants for three days ending on February 5 2005 as part of a tougher approach on tax evasion throughout the country