1. OECD issues guidance on BEPS Action 13 (Country-by-Country Reporting) The OECD issued guidance on the interpretation and application of the Country-by-Country reporting model legislation of October 2016 BEPS Action Point 13 Final Report. The guidance aims to facilitate the implementation of the Country-by-Country reporting standard into national legislation, and to help jurisdictions in introducing […]

European Commission confirms upgrade of its Task Force Tax Planning Practice The European Commission has upgraded the Task Force Tax Planning Practices into a new Unit within the Directorate General Competition, the deputy Director General for State aid Gert-Jan Koopman confirmed for Bloomberg. European Commission’s Task Force led by Max Lienemeyer is responsible for the […]

1. Meeting of G20 Finance Ministers takes place in Baden Baden Germany The G20 Ministers for Finance and Heads of the Central Banks met in Baden Baden in Germany on 18 March 2017. A communique outlining their position on the ongoing work priorities, including taxation matters was subsequently published. The OECD Secretary-General presented a Report […]

  ECOFIN Council Meeting to discuss generalised reverse charge in VAT The Council of the European Union sitting as ECOFIN shall discuss tomorrow the proposals to establish a generalised reverse charge mechanism in VAT alongside proposals that would reduce the VAT rates for electronic publications.  The generalised reverse charge mechanism in VAT follows up on […]

1. European Economic and Social Committee supports Double Taxation Dispute Resolution proposal The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) unanimously supported the European Commission proposal for Council Directive to improve double taxation dispute resolution mechanisms in the EU. The Committee agreed with the European Commission that double taxation is one of the biggest tax obstacles […]

1. European Parliament votes to amend the EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD) The European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Civil Liberties Committees have voted to amend the EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive (“AMLD”) to allow access of EU citizens to the beneficial ownership registers. The vote today was passed by 89 to 1, with […]

  1. Council of the EU reaches deal on ATAD2, European Commission welcomes agreement that fights BEPS (hybrid mismatches) involving non-EU countries

  20 February 2017 1. C-592/15: BFI vs. UK – VAT Exemption for Cultural Services The case concerned the correct interpretation of art. 13A para. 1(n) of the 6th Directive 77/388/EEC, i.e. whether this provision is sufficiently precise for the respective VAT exemption of cultural services to apply directly to Member States or allows discretion […]