Latest news & developments
UK’s EU Referendum vote: PwC webcast – Friday, June 24
This week, the UK will vote to either leave or remain in the European Union (also known as “Brexit”). Regardless of the outcome of the UK’s EU referendum, there will be consequences for the European economy and business in general. To ensure our clients understand these issues, PwC will host a webcast examining the issues,
European Parliament approves amended Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive
On 8 June 2016, the European Parliament (EP) approved 91 amendments to a draft report of the Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive. The amendments to the draft Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive include, amongst others, proposals for a 15% rate for the application of the switch-over rule, an EU blacklist of tax havens and sanctions against uncooperative jurisdictions, additional limitations
Belgian transfer pricing documentation requirements submitted to Parliament
On 2 June 2016, the Belgian Government introduced in Parliament a draft Program Act containing the blue-print of how Belgium aims to implement the outcome of the OECD’s BEPS Action 13 into Belgian tax law. In essence, Belgium will introduce formal transfer pricing documentation requirements thereby requiring multinational entities (MNEs) with operations in Belgium – subject to certain conditions
OECD releases public discussion draft on the multilateral instrument to implement the tax treaty related BEPS measures and asks the public for input
On 31 May 2016, the OECD released its public discussion draft on Action 15 (Development of a Multilateral Instrument to Implement the Tax Treaty related BEPS Measures) of the BEPS Action Plan. Action 15 of the OECD’s BEPS Action Plan called for the development of a multilateral instrument in order to allow countries to swiftly amend their
Country-by-Country Reporting approved, Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive vote postponed
On 25 May 2016, the EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) approved the implementation of the Country-by-Country Reporting (CbCR) rules for multinational companies. However, the vote on the Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD) proposal of the European Commission was postponed to the next council’s meeting, taking place on 17 June 2016. The directive implementing the
Belgian Net Asset Tax compatible with EU law
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled on 26 May 2016 that the Belgian Net Asset Tax (NAT) as applicable to foreign investment funds, is compatible with EU law. The CJEU’s decision in Case 48/15 (SPF Finances v. ING International SA) is rendered in the framework of a request for a preliminary
Preparing your business for imminent new reporting obligations
Belgian entities of foreign- or Belgian-headquartered multinational groups with annual revenues exceeding 50 million euros need to assess whether they will be subject to the transfer pricing documentation obligations that will be introduced soon. Given the increased scrutiny, it’s also imperative to check the consistency of transfer pricing arrangements with actual conduct. Three layers of
EU Commission Notice on notion of State aid
On 19 May 2016, the EU Commission (EC) published its final Notice on the notion of State aid. The Notice updates the EC’s Notice on the application of the State aid rules to various measures including those relating to direct business taxation (98/C 384/03), which essentially sets out the EC’s view on how State aid
