Luxembourg Abandons 'Unrealistic' Withholding Tax Model
14/05/2013
Luxembourg's Finance Minister Luc Frieden has made clear that the withholding tax model "has no future," as an instrument under the Savings Tax Directive with which to combat tax evasion and ensure tax compliance.

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Liechtenstein Set For Talks On Automatic Information Exchange
15/05/2013
Underlining the commitment of the new Liechtenstein Government to pursuing a white money strategy, Prime Minister Adrian Hasler made it clear that the Principality is "open" to the idea of an automatic exchange of information and is willing to enter into talks.

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Germany's CSU Eyes Middle Class Tax Cuts
16/05/2013
In the run up to German elections, the Christian Social Union has underlined the need to introduce tax relief for hard-working employees in Germany and to allow the federal states greater fiscal autonomy in the future, to foster tax competition.

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NZ Consults On GST Treatment Of Bodies Corporate
13/05/2013
The New Zealand Inland Revenue Department is seeking feedback on the goods and services tax treatment of bodies corporate.

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Zurich Divided Over 'Fat Cat Tax' Initiative
13/05/2013
Opponents of the Young Socialists' "fat cat tax" initiative have warned that the levy will not only affect a small group of multimillionaires, but will also penalize savers, pensioners, and businesses in the Swiss canton of Zurich, if adopted in the upcoming vote.

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Guernsey Expands Tax Cooperation Network
15/05/2013
Guernsey has confirmed the signing of its seventh double tax agreement since the beginning of 2012, with Luxembourg, adding to its network of agreements with provisions for the exchange of information on request in line with international best standards.

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France, Germany Renew Joint Tax Drive
13/05/2013
Following a recent gathering of the Franco-German Economic and Financial Council in Berlin, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble and his French counterpart Pierre Moscovici issued a joint declaration, underlining their commitment to increased cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the area of tax harmonization and combating international tax evasion.

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Tunisia Embarks On Comprehensive Tax Reform
16/05/2013
Tunisian Finance Minister Elyes Fakhfakh has announced that the Government has now launched its planned reform of the country's tax system.

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Québec Unveils Mining Tax Regime
14/05/2013
The Québec Government has unveiled its plans for a new mining tax system as part of a wider initiative to make the Canadian provinces "one of the most prosperous places in the world."

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British Bankers' Association Slams FTT
14/05/2013
The chairman of the British Bankers’ Association, Sir Nigel Wicks, has written to the Governor of the Bank of England warning that the European Commission has “seriously underestimated the cascading effect” of a planned Financial Transaction Tax in part of the European Union, and urging the Bank “to consider whether there may be broader threats to monetary policy, financial stability and the wider economic interests of the EU arising from the introduction of this tax as currently devised.”

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NZ To Address FATCA Compliance Cost Concerns
15/05/2013
The New Zealand Government has said that it is aware of compliance concerns regarding the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act tax information exchange agreement currently being negotiated with the US.

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Jersey Tightens Money Laundering Law
15/05/2013
Jersey's Financial Services Commission has released the results of an industry consultation on proposed revisions to the Money Laundering (Jersey) Order 2008.

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Netherlands Presents 2012 Fiscal Figures
14/05/2013
The Dutch Finance Ministry has recently published details of its National Financial Annual Report 2012, in which the Government reports on economic, budgetary, and political developments in 2012.

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South Korea To Provide Tax Incentives For Start-Ups
10/05/2013
South Korea's Minister of Strategy and Finance Hyun Oh-seok has promised that the Government will introduce a range of measures, including tax incentives, to encourage and help the start-up businesses that, it is hoped, will provide good jobs and be an engine for future growth in the economy.

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Barroso Calls For Progress On Anti-Evasion Initiatives
13/05/2013
The European Commission is to present legislative proposals for extending the scope of automatic exchange of information, Jose Manuel Barroso has confirmed.

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US, UK, Australia To Provide Tax Information To Others
14/05/2013
It has been announced that the tax administrations from the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom have developed a plan to share tax information involving trusts and companies holding assets on behalf of residents in jurisdictions worldwide.

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Canada Seeks Trade Deal With Ghana
15/05/2013
The Canadian Government has signalled its intent to improve trade and investment relations with Ghana through the pursuit of new agreements.

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China Told To Comply With WTO Tariff Ruling
14/05/2013
A World Trade Organization Arbitrator, on May 3, 2012, issued his decision regarding the "reasonable period of time" for the implementation of Dispute Settlement Body recommendations and rulings in the dispute over outlawed Chinese countervailing and anti-dumping duties on Grain Oriented Flat-Rolled Electrical Steel from the United States.

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