Other Briefings
Thailand Rolls Out New Inheritance Tax
Thailand’s government has announced the implementation of the country’s first inheritance tax in seven decades is to start in January 2016.
Singapore’s Social Security Requirements – What a Foreign Employer Should be Aware of
Singapore has one of the world’s most transparent and honest retirement systems. Its mandatory social security system, the Central Provident Fund (CPF), strives to provide eligible contributors with a safe and secure retirement.
No New Tax Measures from the Philippines for President Aquino’s Final Year
According to recent statements from the Philippine government, the country will not be introducing any major new tax measures during President Benigno Aquino’s final year in office. However, the government will continue to search for efficiencies in the areas of tax administration and collection in order to boost tax receipts.
Norway Enters into Formal Partnership with ASEAN
Norway has become the first European country to enter into a formal partnership with the ASEAN trading bloc. The northern European country has been accepted as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner, a move that was announced at the recent ASEAN meeting in Kuala Lumpur.The ASEAN free trade area includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Thailand’s New Investment Promotion Policies Open a New Door to Foreign Investors
After 15 years of sticking to the same regulations, Thailand has finally announced that will update its investment policy. The Thai Board of Investment (“BOI”) has announced a new seven-year investment promotion strategy, making significant changes to a number of BOI investment promotion policies. The new policies, which came into effect this year and will last until the end of 2021, aim to restructure the Thai economy to a more focused form of investment promotion.
ASEAN Regulatory Brief: FATCA, GST, and a New DTA Protocol
In this ASEAN Regulatory Brief, we look at some of the important regulatory changes taking place in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia during the second half of August.
Singapore Releases Updated e-Tax Guide on GST and Attribution of Input Tax
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has recently released an updated version of its e-Tax Guide on Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the Attribution of Input Tax. The new guide, which is intended for businesses that are GST-registered and make both taxable and exempt supplies, explains how a partially exempt business should attribute its input tax and also clarifies when input tax may be considered to be “directly attributable” to a supply.
Singapore’s New Amendments to the Companies Act: the Annual Audit Exemptions for Small Firms Explained
Qualifying small companies in Singapore can now benefit by foregoing a yearly financial burden – annual audits. The new regulations arise from the amendment of Singapore’s Companies Act in October, 2014 – the most sweeping change made since the law’s original promulgation in 1967.
The Future of ASEAN-India Trade Looks Bright
Trade between ASEAN and India has seen strong growth over recent years. In 2014, total trade amounted to US$77 billion, a significant increase over the US$44 billion seen during 2009-10. Over the past decade, bilateral trade has increased at an average annual rate of a blistering 23 percent.
Indonesia Expands List of Pioneer Industries Eligible for a Tax Holiday
Indonesia’s Ministry of Finance (MOF) has announced that it will extend its list of “pioneer” industries that qualify for tax holidays. Such companies are eligible to receive a 70 percent exemption from income tax for between five and 15 years, as well as additional financial incentives. The proposed changes should take effect later this month.
