Americas
Singapore and Uruguay sign tax treaty
Singapore and Uruguay signed a tax treaty on January 15, Singapore’s Inland Revenue Authority has announced. The agreement clarifies . . .
Treaties
Africa
The Seychelles commits to automatically exchange tax information
The Seychelles has committed to automatically exchanging tax information, according to an August 28 joint press release issued by HM Treasury and David Gauke MP. Release
Americas
UK and Canada sign protocol to tax treaty
The UK and Canada, on July 21, signed a protocol and interpretative protocol to the countries’ double tax convention. The agreement provides for a zero rate of withholding tax on dividends to registered pension funds and updates treaty provisions on business profits, the mutual agreement procedure and arbitration, exchange of information, and assistance in collection. Protocol and Interpretative Protocol (PDF 63K), Release
Asia-Pacific
Australia seeks stakeholder input on common reporting standard for automatic exchange of tax information
The Australian Treasury, on June 19, released a discussion draft on a common reporting standard for the automatic . . .
Africa
Switzerland and Ghana sign tax treaty protocol
Switzerland and Ghana, on May 22, signed a protocol amending their agreement for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income, capital and capital gains. Press Release
Asia-Pacific
Russian government approves tax treaty with Hong Kong
The Russian government has approved a draft tax treaty with Hong Kong, Russian news . . .
Africa
UK announces plans to begin tax treaty negotiations with several nations
In a paper released November 13, the UK’s HMRC has announced that it will begin tax treaty negotiations with Nepal, Romania, Trinidad, Tobago . . .
Europe
TIAA between Isle of Man and Italy enters into force
The Isle of Man on June 23 announced that a tax information exchange agreement with Italy entered into force on June 10 . . .
Africa
South Africa-Mauritius tax treaty enters into force
The South African goverment has announced that a new tax treaty with Mauritius was gazetted on June 17 and thus entered into force on May 28. The treaty, signed May 17, 2013, replaces. . .
Asia-Pacific
Switzerland and Oman sign new tax treaty
Switzerland and Oman on May 22 signed a double taxation agreement, Switzerland’s Federal Department of Finance has announced. The agreement sets the tax rate on dividends in the source country at 5 percent . . .
Asia-Pacific
China/Hong Kong protocol clarifies tax treatment of investment funds
China and Hong Kong tax officials on April 1 signed the fourth protocol to their tax arrangement, clarifying the conditions under which an investment fund would be qualified for Hong Kong resident status, Hong Kong’s Inland Revenue Department. . .
Europe
UK and Sweden sign double tax treaty
The UK’s HM Revenue and Customs on March 30 announced that the UK and Sweden signed a double tax treaty on March 26. The agreement . . .
Africa
Malta and Mauritius sign double tax treaty, text available.
The governments of Malta and Mauritius on October 15 signed an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. See, treaty.
British Virgin Islands
TIEA between Japan and British Virgin Islands to enter into force
Japan’s Ministry of Finance has announced that on Sept. 11 the mutual notification procedures were completed for entry into force of the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the British Virgin Islands for the Exchange of Information relating to Tax Matters, signed June 18. As a result, the agreement will enter into force on Oct. 11. Release
Africa
Singapore and Rwanda sign tax treaty, text available
Singapore and Rwanda, on August 26, signed an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation. The agreement provides for a withholding tax rate of 7.5 percent on dividends and 10 percent on interest (zero in the case of a governmental institution), royalties, and professional fees. It also provides for the exchange of information for tax purposes. The agreement will enter into force after its ratification by both countries. Release, Singapore-Rwanda treaty
Africa
Gabon signs Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters
Gabon, on July 3, signed the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters.. Gabon is the 66th nation to sign the convention. Release.
Americas
US Senate Foreign Relations Committee approves eight long-pending tax treaties, Rand Paul not present for the vote
In a surprising development, the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on November 10 approved without amendment proposed income tax treaties with Chile, Hungary, and Poland; proposed tax protocols with Japan, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland; and a proposed protocol amending the multilateral mutual administrative assistance treaty. . .
Asia-Pacific
Europe
Switzerland announces entry into force of treaties with Australia, Hungary, and China
Switzerland’s Federal Department of Finance on November 14 announced that the ratification procedures for new double tax treaties with Australia, Hungary, and China have been concluded and all three treaties have entered into force. The new treaties with Australia and Hungary entered into force . . .
Americas
Switzerland announces entry into force of tax treaties with Iceland and Cyprus and protocols with Estonia and Uzbekistan; signing of TIEA with Brazil
The Swiss government on November 24 announced that double tax agreements signed by Switzerland and Cyprus, Iceland, Estonia, and Uzbekistan have entered into force. The goverment also announced that Switzerland signed . . .
Asia-Pacific
Hong Kong and Romania sign tax treaty, text available
Hong Kong’s Inland Revenue Department has announced on its website that Hong Kong signed at tax treaty with Romania . . .
Europe
Switzerland and Norway sign protocol to tax treaty adding arbitration clause
Switzerland and Norway have signed protocol to amend their 1987 double taxation agreement to introduce an arbitration . . .
Asia-Pacific
Hong Kong and Germany complete second round of tax treaty negotiations
Hong Kong and Germany completed their second round of tax treaty negotiations on March 6, according to Hong Kong’s Inland Revenue Department. This would be the first comprehensive double . . .
Europe
TIEA between Switzerland and Isle of Man enters into force
The Isle of Man Treasury announced on October 21 that the “Agreement for the Exchange of Information Relating to Tax Matters” signed by the Isle of Man and Switzerland on August 28, 2013, entered into force on October 14. Release.
Americas
Belgium
Jersey signs TIEA agreement with Belgium
Jersey and the Kingdom of Belgium signed a tax information exchange agreement on March 13. Press Release
Albania
Switzerland and Albania sign protocol to tax treaty
Switzerland and Albania on September 9 signed a protocol to amend their November 1999 double taxation . . .
Asia-Pacific
China ratifies multilateral convention on tax avoidance – People’s Daily
China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee on June 1 ratified the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters the People’s Daily reports. See, People’s Daily.
Monaco
Monaco signs the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters
Monaco on October 13 because the 84th jurisdiction to sign the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. Release.
Asia-Pacific
Germany and Israel sign revised tax treaty
Germany and Israel, on August 21, signed a revised and modernized double taxation convention, updating their agreement which was last modified in 1977.
The agreement reduces withholding tax on interest and . . .
Asia-Pacific
Australia asks public for advice on its tax treaty negotiation program
Australia’s Treasury has invited stakeholders to comment on Australia’s tax treaty negotiation program, including which countries Australia should seek to negotiate with and what outcomes are desirable when negotiating tax treaties with other countries. Release
Andorra
Luxembourg and Andorra sign treaty to avoid double tax and prevent tax evasion
Luxembourg Finance Minister, Pierre Gramegna, and Jordi Cinca Mateos, Finance Minister of the Principality of Andorra, signed an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion between the two countries, according to a June 2 Luxembourg Ministry of Finance press release.
Council of the European Union
EU-Switzerland agreement on automatic exchange of information signed
The European Union and Switzerland on May 27 signed an agreement to commence automatic exchange of bank account information from 2018. Switzerland also launched a consultation
. . .
Asia-Pacific
Hong Kong launches consultation on automatic exchange of financial account information
The Hong Kong government on April 24 announced a consultation on legislation to implement automatic exchange of financial account information (AEOI) in tax matters. The legislation is based on prevailing international standards but has . . .
Europe
Italy and Switzerland sign protocol agreeing to exchange tax information, roadmap for dialog
taly and Switzerland on February 23 signed a protocol to their double tax treaty agreeing to the OECD standard for the exchange of information on request, the Swiss government has announced. The countries also signed a roadmap for continued dialog on financial and tax matters . . .
Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific
India-Thailand tax treaty in effect in India, text available
The India government, in a notice dated December 1, announced that a tax treaty with Thailand . . .
Asia-Pacific
Japan-Qatar tax treaty to enter into force December 30
Japan’s Ministry of Finance has advised that on November 30 Japan and Qatar exchanged diplomatic for the entry into force of the Japan-Qatar tax treaty, signed . . .
Americas
Isle of Man and Cayman Islands sign TIEA
The Isle of Man signed a tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) with the Cayman Islands on September 22 . . .
