Asia-Pacific
Hong Kong/UAE tax treaty enters into force
A tax treaty between Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates entered into force . . .
Treaties
Africa
Cameroon signs Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters
Cameroon, on June 25, signed the OECD Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, becoming the 65th signatory. To enter into force, the convention must be ratified by Cameroon. Release
Asia-Pacific
Niue signs Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters
Niue on November 27 signed the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, becoming the 92nd signatory. . .
Canada
UK and Canada agree to details of arbitration clause in tax treaty, text available
Canada and the UK have signed an agreement specifying the procedures for arbitration of tax disputes between the two nations, Canada’s Department of Finance . . .
Asia-Pacific
Switzerland’s Federal Council adopts dispatch on double taxation treaty with Oman
Switzerland’s Federal Council today announced that it has adopted a dispatch on a double taxation agreement signed with Oman on May 22. The agreement has been . . .
Asia-Pacific
Japan and Germany agree to terms of new tax treaty
Japan and Germany have reached an agreement in principle on a new tax treaty, Japan’s Ministry of Finance announced July 16. The new treaty will include an arbitration clause . . .
Europe
Switzerland consults on legislation to implement automatic exchange of tax information
Switzerland’s Federal Council on January 14 launched two consultations on legislation that would enable automatic exchange of tax information with other nations. One consultation concerns approval and implementation of the OECD/Council of Europe Convention . . .
Asia-Pacific
Revised treaty between Australia and Switzerland enters into force
A revised tax treaty and protocol between Australia and Switzerland, signed July 30, 2013, entered into force on October 14 , Australia’s tax authority has announced. Australian legislation enforcing the revised tax treaty received royal assent on September 24. See, release, Australia-Switzerland Tax Treaty (142 KB).
Isle of Man
Isle of Man signs TIEA with Swaziland
The Isle of Man has announced that it signed a tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) with the Kingdom of Swaziland on May 16.
The TIEA was signed by Eddie Teare MHK, the Isle of Man’s Treasury Minister, in the Isle of Man, and by Senator Martin G. Dlamini, Swaziland’s Minister for Finance, in Swaziland.
The Isle of Man has signed 42 tax agreements, including 32 TIEAs.
Featured News
OECD approves revisions to the Model Tax Convention
The OECD Council, on July 15, approved a 2014 update to the OECD Model Tax Convention. The update modifies Article 26 on exchange of information to allow for group requests. Changes are also made to the meaning of “beneficial owner” for purposes of the OECD Model Convention; to tax treaty issues related to emissions permits and credits; to the tax treaty treatment of termination of employment payments; and to Article 17 (Artistes and Sportsmen). No updates relate to the OECD’s BEPS project.
An updated Model Tax Convention will be published in next few months. See, 2014 Update to the Model Tax Convention, Release.
Asia-Pacific
Philippines-Qatar tax treaty enters into force
The Philippines-Qatar double taxation agreement, signed December 2008, has entered into force as. . .
Asia-Pacific
Hong Kong, South Africa tax treaty enters into force
A new tax treaty between Hong Kong and South Africa entered into force on October 20, Hong Kong’s Inland Revenue Department . . .
Asia-Pacific
Hong Kong, Italy tax treaty enters into force
A tax treaty between Hong Kong and Italy signed January 2013 has entered into force as of August 10, Hong Kong’s Inland Revenue Department has . . .
Americas
India, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Indonesia, and New Zealand sign OECD multilateral competent authority agreement
India, Australia, Canada, on June 3 signed the OECD common reporting standard multilateral competent authority agreement, paving the way for automatic exchange of information by the countries’ tax administration, according to press releases issued by the countries’s governments. Costa Rica, Indonesia, and New Zealand . . .
Americas
Spain and Canada sign protocol to tax treaty
Spain and Canada have signed a protocol their update their tax treaty, the Spanish government announced on November 18. The new protocol would update . . .
Asia-Pacific
China and Russia sign new tax treaty, text available
China and Russia on October 13 signed an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation. The agreement would replace a tax treaty signed by the countries in May 1994. Under the new agreement, dividends . . .
Africa
Mauritius and Morocco sign tax treaty
Mauritius and Morocco signed a tax treaty on November 25, the Mauritius goverment . . .
Estonia
Luxembourg and Estonia sign tax treaty, text available
The governments of Luxembourg and Estonia, on July 7, signed an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation. Text (PDF 1.05MB)
Asia-Pacific
Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia sign tax treaties
Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia, on May 13, signed an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and an agreement to prevent tax evasion, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry announced on its website. Press Release.
Americas
Malta and Curaçao sign double tax treaty
Malta and Curaçao signed a tax treaty on November 18, Malta’s Ministry for Finance . . .
Americas
El Salvador signs OECD Multilateral Convention
El Salvador on June 1 signed the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, the OECD has announced. The country is the 86th signatory to the agreement, which is designed combat offshore tax evasion through international cooperation. See, release.
Europe
Switzerland signs TIEA with Grenada
Switzerland’s Federal Department of Finance on May 21 announced that Switzerland and Grenada have signed a tax information exchange agreement (TIEA). The agreement, signed . . .
Africa
Hong Kong gazettes orders on tax treaties with South Africa, UAE, and Japan
Hong Kong on May 15 announced that orders were gazetted to implement tax treaties signed with South Africa and the United Arab Emirates and notes exchanged with Japan regarding interpretation of the 2010 Japan/Hong Kong treaty. The tax treaty with South Africa, signed October 2014, reduce. . .
Africa
The Netherlands’ renegotiated tax treaty with Malawi includes antiabuse provisions
The Netherlands and Malawi have signed a revised tax treaty that includes antiabuse provisions preventing the benefits of the treaty from being used solely to avoid tax, The Netherlands government said on April 23. Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen said that the antiabuse provisions, which relate to taxes on dividends, interest and royalties . . .
Europe
Switzerland and EU initial agreement on automatic exchange of information in tax matters
Switzerland and the European Union on March 19 initialed an agreement to commence automatic exchange of information from 2018 once the necessary legal basis has been created, Switzerland’s Federal Department of Finance has . . .
Asia-Pacific
Switzerland and Australia agree to automatic exchange of information in tax matters
Switzerland and Australia have signed a joint declaration expressing their intent to begin automatically exchanging information on tax matters using internationally agreed standards beginning in 2018, the Swiss government announced March 3. Collection of the data will begin in 2017. The agreement, signed in Canberra, is the first declaration on automatic exchange of information. . .
Croatia
UK and Croatia sign tax treaty
The UK and Croatia on January 15 signed a tax treaty in Zagreb, the UK’s HM Revenue and Customs has announced. The treaty would replace the UK/Yugoslavia Double Taxation Convention which both countries are currently . . .
Asia-Pacific
India seeks treaty revisions to make bilateral APAs possible with Germany, France, Singapore, Italy and South Korea
India is attempting to renegotiate tax treaties with Germany, France, Singapore, Italy, and South Korea to add corresponding adjustment provisions so that India can sign bilateral advance pricing agreements (APAs) involving these nations, writes Vrishti Beniwal in an August 26 Business Standard article, quoting unnamed Finance Ministry officials. See, Business Standard
Europe
Germany and Netherlands to exchange information on APAs and innovation box tax rulings
Germany and The Netherlands have agreed to immediately begin spontaneous exchange of tax information on some advance pricing agreements (APAs) and on Dutch innovation and patent box rulings, Germany’s . . .
Asia-Pacific
Ireland and Pakistan sign tax treaty, text available
Ireland and Pakistan signed a tax treaty on April 16, Irish Revenue and Customs has announced. The agreement . . .
Bulgaria
UK and Bulgaria sign double tax treaty
The UK’s HM Revenue and Customs on March 30 announced that the UK and Bulgaria signed a double tax treaty on March 26. The agreement will enter into force . . .
Asia-Pacific
Japan and Qatar agree in principle to tax treaty
Japan and Qatar have agreed in principle to the terms of a tax treaty, the Japanese government announced on December 17. Under the agreement, taxation in the source country on dividends is reduced to 5 percent for corporate shareholders . . .
Americas
Switzerland’s Federal Council adopts dispatch on double taxation agreement with Argentina
Switzerland’s Federal Council on October 15 adopted a dispatch on the double taxation agreement with Argentina and submitted the agreement to parliament for approval. Release.
Asia-Pacific
Israel signs Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters
Israel became the 91st signatory of the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters on November 24, the OECD . . .
Europe
Switzerland’s Federal Council approves tax treaty with Liechtenstein and protocol with Norway
Switzerland’s Federal Council on October 28 announced it has approved a new tax treaty with Liechtenstein and a tax treaty protocol with Norway . . .
Mauritius
Mauritius negotiating tax treaty with North Sudan
The Mauritius Revenue Authority on October 13 updated its website to indicate . . .
Asia-Pacific
Notes on tax information exchange between Japan and Hong Kong enter into force
Notes exchanged between Japan and Hong Kong confirming the understanding that information concerning additional . . .
Americas
US and Vietnam sign tax treaty
The US and Vietnam signed a tax treaty on July 7, the US government has . . .
Africa
Mauritius signs multilateral tax convention
Mauritius on June 23 signed the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, the OECD has announced. The country is the 87th signatory to the . . .
