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The Australian government is planning to simplify the country's tax reporting system following pressure from business and accounting groups. The Treasury is proposing changes to the Business Activity Statement, which requires businesses to report their turnover and tax collected monthly or quarterly to the tax office. Reforms include allowing organizations with annual sales below A$1 million to file the Statement every 12 months.

3-5 years pqe Opportunity to join one of the prestigious tax teams in the London office of this well established US firm. Broad variety of tax matters (both corporate and finance related) to handle and will be part of a highly regarded practice both sides of the Atlantic. Strong academics and solid experience in corporate tax is essential. (£US rates)

Government tax specialist Ken Henry will take up his new role as Australian secretary to the Treasury on April 27. Henry is being promoted from his position as executive director of the Treasury's Economic Group, where he had responsibility for domestic macroeconomic policy advice, economic forecasting, and advice on international economic issues, which includes Australia's relationship with multilateral financial institutions.

Deacons has lured a tax specialist to the firm to expand its Australian practice. Academic Miranda Stewart, a senior lecturer in tax law at the University of Melbourne, will work part time for Deacons as special counsel. She specializes in corporate and business income tax, international tax and comparative tax systems, focusing on the US.

Articles 5(3) and 13B(b) of the Sixth VAT Directive – value added tax treatment of grant of usufructuary right in respect of immovable property for a term of 10 years – whether a member state may treat such a transaction as exempted ‘leasing or letting of immovable property’ within the meaning of Article 13B(b) of the Sixth Directive.

British consumers may be spared levies on blank recording devices, such as discs or tapes, in a Department of Trade and Industry stance that sets it apart from its European counterparts. Levies on recording equipment may also be removed. A regional tax initiative comes under the EU copyright directive voted on last week and introduced to compensate for copyright infringement. According to the UK's Financial Times, the UK government will resist any attempts to introduce such a levy here, believing its copyright law to be tighter than other member states.

Deloitte & Touche has raided the French tax authorities, hiring the head of the transfer pricing audit team as a senior manager in the firm's French group. Jean-Luc Trucchi has been involved in transfer pricing since France introduced rules governing the area in 1996. He was the first head of the regulator's team.

Harmonisation of taxation laws – Council Directive 69/335/EEC – Indirect taxes on the raising of capital – Commercial Registry fees calculated by reference to the value of the transaction, irrespective of the actual cost.

The Brazilian government has ditched plans to introduce a broad tax reform, choosing to focus on specific areas instead. The administration will seek to unify legislation on the value added tax on merchandise and services, and will issue a tax on imports, according to local reports.

Chinese government agencies have removed taxation on software exports to increase the competitiveness of local products, according to reports. The State Administration of Taxation of China and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, have issued a notice permitting software companies to be claim compensation for taxes paid.