France Adopts Emergency Economic Measures in Response to "Yellow Vest" Protests
(Jan. 14, 2019) On December 24, 2018, the French government adopted a law of “emergency economic and social measures” in response to protests by the “Yellow Vest movement” (mouvement des gilets...
View ArticleGermany: Federal Fiscal Court Revokes Nonprofit Status of ATTAC
(Mar. 20, 2019) In a decision published on February 27, 2019, the German Federal Fiscal Court (Bundesfinanzhof, BFH), Germany’s supreme court for tax and customs matters, held that the activist group...
View ArticleItaly: New Law Aiding Reconstruction Following Earthquakes Takes Effect
(May 10, 2019) On April 19, 2019, new legislation on public procurement and on aiding the recovery of areas hit by earthquakes entered into force in Italy. (Decree Law No. 32, Urgent Provisions for...
View ArticleEuropean Union: European Court of Justice Rules on German Highway Toll for...
(July 11, 2019) On June 18, 2019, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) held that the German highway toll for passenger vehicles is incompatible with European Union (EU) law, in particular with the...
View ArticleNew Zealand: Tax Authority Rules That Salaries Paid in Cryptoassets Are...
(Sept. 5, 2019) On June 27, 2019, New Zealand’s tax authority, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), issued a binding public ruling (BR Pub 19/01) applicable to the payment of remuneration to employees...
View ArticleAustria: Digital Tax for Large Internet Companies Introduced
(Nov. 6, 2019) On October 22, 2019, the Digital Tax Act 2020, which levies a 5% digital tax on domestic online advertising services provided by large multinational companies, was published in the...
View ArticleGermany: Tax Rate for Female Sanitary Products Reduced
(Jan. 3, 2020) On January 1, 2020, a new reduced tax rate of 7% for female sanitary products went into effect in Germany. The tax reduction was enacted as part of the Annual Tax Act. (Annual Tax Act...
View ArticleJapan: Alcohol Regulation Tentatively Eased for Disinfectant Production due...
(June 15, 2020) Between the middle of March and the beginning of May 2020, government agencies in Japan instituted regulations to ease restrictions on the production, storage, sale, and use of alcohol...
View ArticleJapan: Revised Enforcement Rule of the Electronic Books Preservation Act...
(Oct. 5, 2020) The amended Enforcement Rule of the Electronic Books Preservation Act (Enforcement Rule) will come into force on October 1, 2020. (Ministry of Finance (MOF) Ordinance No. 43 of 1998,...
View ArticleItaly: Government Decrees Further Measures to Fight the Covid-19 Pandemic
(Dec. 30, 2020) On November 30, 2020, Italy’s government issued Decree-Law No. 157, which includes further measures to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. Extension of Terms for the Payment of Certain Taxes...
View ArticleRussian Federation: New Bill Defines Cryptocurrency, Proposes Tax Regulations
(Jan. 11, 2021) On December 1, 2020, the government of the Russian Federation introduced to the State Duma (the country’s parliament) Bill No. 1065710-7 on Amendments to Parts One and Two of the Tax...
View ArticleKenya: Parliament Considering Amendment to Digital Service Tax Rules
(June 11, 2021) The Kenya Parliament is considering a bill—the Finance Bill, 2021—that, if adopted in its current form, would expand the definition of the terms “digital market place” and “digital...
View ArticleSwitzerland: CO2 Act Amendment Rejected by Voters
(June 25, 2021) In a referendum held on June 13, 2021, Swiss voters rejected by a vote of 51.59% to 48.41% an amendment to the Federal Act on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (CO2 Act). Voter...
View ArticleInternational: G20 Members Sign Pact Agreeing to Sweeping Overhaul of Global...
On October 31, 2021, at the G20 Summit in Rome, the members of the G20 signed a pact agreeing to a 15% minimum global tax rate for large corporations.The G20 pact followed on an agreement reached on...
View ArticleItaly: Urgent Measures Taken to Boost the Economy and Counteract Mafia...
On November 7, 2021, Decree-Law No. 152 (D.L. No. 152) on urgent provisions to implement the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and prevent Mafia infiltration entered into effect in Italy....
View ArticleSweden: Parliament Adopts Reduced Tax on Diesel and Gas
On March 24, 2022, the Swedish parliament voted 274–14 to adopt a reduced energy tax on diesel and gasoline, with only members of the Green Party and one unaffiliated member opposing. According to the...
View ArticlePanama: National Assembly Passes Bill Regulating Cryptocurrency
On April 28, 2022, Panama’s National Assembly announced that it had passed Bill No. 697, which regulates the commercialization and use of cryptoassets. The bill provides that individuals located in...
View ArticleGermany: Tax Relief Measures Adopted to Offset High Energy Costs Due to War...
On March 23, 2022, and April 27, 2022, the German government agreed on several tax relief measures to offset the financial consequences of rising energy costs resulting from the Ukraine crisis. Most of...
View ArticleIsrael: Supreme Court Holds Fluctuating Market Value of Virtual Assets Does...
On July 29, 2021, Israel’s Supreme Court rejected a request by two applicants, whose assets had been seized as guarantee for payment of tax, to appeal a decision by the Tel Aviv-Yafo District Court...
View ArticleIsrael: Rules Decreasing Limits on Permissible Cash Transactions Enter into...
New rules issued by the Israel Tax Authority (ITA) decreasing the ceilings for cash permitted for use in transactions went into effect on August 1, 2022. The ceiling categories were established under...
View ArticleSaudi Arabia: New Ministerial Resolution Regulating Tourism Industry Issued
On August 24, 2022, the official Saudi Press Agency announced the issuance of Royal Decree No. 18 of August 23, 2022, promulgating a resolution passed by the Council of Ministers on the previous day....
View ArticleEgypt: New Law Allows Egyptian Expats to Import Personal Cars with No Customs...
On October 27, 2022, Egyptian President Abu al-Fatah al-Sisi ratified Law No. 161 of 2022 regulating the import of personal vehicles by Egyptian expats. The new law, which is the first of its kind in...
View ArticleNigeria: Startup Bill Enacted
On October 19, 2022, Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, signed into law the Nigeria Startup Act, 2022. In its explanatory memorandum and the objectives and application section, the act expresses...
View ArticleCanada: Supreme Court Holds Equitable Remedies Not Available to Correct...
On June 17, 2022, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) released their decision in Canada (Attorney General) v. Collins Family Trust 2022 SCC 26. In an 8–1 decision, the court dismissed the availability of...
View ArticleGermany: Federal Fiscal Court Holds Cryptocurrency Transactions Subject to...
In a decision published on February 28, 2023, the German Federal Fiscal Court (Bundesfinanzhof, BFH) held that profits gained from cryptocurrency (currency token) transactions within the one-year...
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