Alliott Group’s monthly global tax digest for March

Welcome to March’s edition of TaxPulse

A monthly media round-up of news, views and comment pertaining to global taxation, provided by Alliott Group’s International Tax Services Group.

Asia Pacific Tax News

China unveils $298bn tax cuts to boost growth

Chinese number two Li Keqiang has outlined plans to cut billions of dollars in taxes in order to boost the world’s second-largest economy. Mr Li told 3,000 delegates at the National People’s Congress that China would aim to deliver nearly 2 trillion yuan ($298bn) of cuts in taxes and other company fees. A value-added tax for transportation and construction sectors will be reduced from 10% to 9%, and VAT for manufacturers will fall from 16% to 13%, he said.
BBC News    South China Morning Post   China Daily

Trans-Tasman e-invoicing

Electronic invoicing is a broad term that covers the exchange of invoices between a supplier and a buyer in an electronic format – for example, emailing an invoice in portable document format (PDF).

However, when we talk about e-invoicing (or digital invoicing), we mean the automated direct exchange of invoices between the supplier’s and buyer’s software systems.

Asia Pacific Tax News

China tax cut package to stimulate economy 

China will cut value-added tax rates for selected industries and provide tax rebates for others as part of its efforts to boost a slowing economy. Government officials said they would cut taxes “on a larger scale” in order to boost business activity. JPMorgan Chase & Co. economists estimate the total impact of the tax cuts will be around 2trn yuan ($300bn), or 1.2% of GDP. Tax cuts for graduates and low-income workers have also been announced in a stimulus drive to fend off the effects of the economic slowdown. Companies which hire people designated as “needy” will also qualify for a tax deduction of 6,000 yuan per person per year for three years.
Financial Times   Bloomberg   China Daily

January TaxPulse by Alliott Group

ASIA PACIFIC

Chinese leaders promise tax cuts to boost flagging economic growth

China’s top economic policymakers promised more tax cuts and increased funding for infrastructure at a key annual planning meeting last month, as US tariffs and weakening domestic consumption added to downward pressure on growth. China’s economy slowed to 6.5% year-on-year growth in the third quarter of 2018. “The pro-active fiscal policy should enhance efficiency, implement larger-scale tax cuts and fee reductions, and substantially increase the size of local government special bonds,” state news agency Xinhua said in a translation provided by Reuters.
CNBC   Financial Times   South China Morning Post

Report reveals biggest headaches for global mobility professionals

Alliott Group’s Global Mobility Services Group is one of the co-sponsors of the recently published ‘2018 Managing the Global Mobility Function’ benchmarking study published by the Forum for Expatriate Management.

We share some of the highlights of this thought leadership report.

E-Commerce and the Special Scheme for Distance Selling

According to a study conducted by the CRR (Centre for Retail Research), e-commerce generated net sales of €232.6 billion in Europe and Poland in 2016 and €265.7 billion in 2017.

In 2018, this market should exceed €300 billion. Although it proves a fantastic opportunity for online sellers, e-commerce can also be the source of significant tax risks, particularly VAT. Mickael Tatayas, Head of Alliott Group’s VAT/Indirect Services Group, explains the state of play in Europe and provides scenario examples.

Xero, Bill English and the power of data

NZ Herald reported this month how Sir Bill English’s skills are in demand by the Trump Administration as it moves to leverage US Federal data as a strategic asset to grow the economy.

The former PM and Finance Minister is taking American officials through the ground-breaking integrated government data system he spearheaded in New Zealand.

“I just spent a week in the States talking about integrated data,” he told a finance dinner on Wednesday.

Alliott NZ Top 30 NZ Accountants for second year

Auckland’s Alliott NZ Chartered Accountants is recognised as one of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand’s (CAANZ) Top 30 accounting firms in New Zealand for the second year running.

A compilation of New Zealand’s top accounting firms has shone a light on the contribution made by NZ accountants. Accounting firms in New Zealand were ranked for the second time and the Top 30 list was published yesterday in Sunday Star-Times, in partnership with Fairfax Media and CAANZ.

A key theme for CAANZ is exploring the increasingly important role of digital innovation, technological disruption and the future of reporting.

Taxing the digital economy fairly

David Gibbs, corporate tax partner at London accounting firm Alliotts (and chair of Alliott Group’s International Tax Services Group) explains in this short report that the OECD and the European Commission (EC) have both issued publications with their respective latest analysis and proposals to tackle the issue of taxing profits and income earned from within the digital economy.

So where are we now in terms of concrete proposals? Read David’s views below.