Free Trade Between the EU and Japan
The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) concluded between the EU and Japan on 17 July 2018 will enter into force on 1 February 2019, which is surprisingly ahead of the planned date.
Jersey: new economic substance requirements
On 23 October 2018, Jersey’s Minister for External Relations presented draft legislation that would introduce increased substance requirements on certain Jersey resident companies.
Changes in the Implementation of Double Tax Treaties Applicable From 2019 Onwards
On 1 January 2019, the new Treaty for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital that the Czech Republic signed in 2016 with Turkmenistan will start to be implemented.
Spain: draft bill for tax measures
On 23 October 2018, the Spanish government released three draft bills to implement some of the tax measures proposed in the 2019 budget.
UK: taxation of digital services
Key measures impacting non-UK owned groups announced in the 29 October 2018 budget include the introduction of a 2% digital services tax as from April 2020, applicable to groups with global revenue from such activities exceeding £500 million a year and income generated in the UK exceeding £25 million.
Netherlands: confirmation of CJEU decision in fiscal unity cases by Supreme Court
The Dutch Supreme Court issued a decision on 19 October 2018 confirming the February 2018 decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on the compatibility of the Dutch fiscal unity regime with EU law.
Effect of a new Czech and Korean double tax treaty
The new version of the double tax treaty between the Czech Republic and the Korean Republic is currently under discussion . The new double tax treaty shall replace the initial version of the treaty dating back to 1992 and substantially changes some areas. The new version provides a wider definition of a permanent establishment and changes the withholding tax rates on interest and dividends.
A New Draft Act to Prevent the Double Taxation of Transactions with Taiwan
The Czech Republic has not concluded the standard international double tax treaty with Taiwan, as it has with the majority of other countries (as the Czech Republic does not acknowledge the territory of Taiwan as a state, it cannot conclude the contract).
EU: Non-cooperative jurisdictions list
The Council of the European Union announced on 2 October 2018 that Liechtenstein and Peru have been removed from the "grey" list of non-cooperative jurisdictions and Palau from the "black" list.