Other Briefings
Indonesia Raises Import Tax on a Range of Goods
The Indonesian government has announced that it is raising the import tax rate on a large number of goods, including food, clothing, and other consumer products. The move comes as the country continues to search for a method of jumpstarting its weak economy, which has been experiencing its slowest growth in six years. The government is also hoping that the new tax rates will help support and grow local industries.
Prevention Not Cure: Understanding Online IPR in ASEAN
E-commerce in ASEAN today is relatively underdeveloped. However, a study undertaken by AT Kearney predicts that as purchasing power parity in the region increases and internet penetration spreads, online retail in ASEAN markets could rise by around 25 percent annually.
Singapore Updates Regulations for Voluntary Disclosure of GST Errors
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore has released new information relating to the regulations for correcting errors made in submitted GST F5/ F7/ F8 forms.
Philippines Expands E-filing of Tax Returns, Mulls Personal Income Tax Reduction
Over the past year, the Philippines has been making great strides in improving its business environment. Chief among these improvements has been the government’s efforts to simplify the country’s tax system. The Southeast Asian nation is now continuing its efforts to improve the system of e-filing tax returns and the promotion of its use by businesses throughout the country.
Grounds for Investment: Opportunities in Southeast Asia’s Coffee Industry
Southeast Asia has an ideal climate for coffee cultivation. While Vietnam has traditionally led the way for coffee production in ASEAN, other countries in the ten-nation bloc are steadily growing as coffee exporting nations. In this article, we provide an overview of the coffee industry in these countries.
ASEAN Regulatory Brief: M&A, GST, and Bilateral Trade
In this ASEAN Regulatory Brief, we look at some of the important regulatory changes taking place in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand during the second half of the month of July.
State by State: ASEAN and Arizona Trade
Arizona has a near US$2billion export trade business with the ASEAN nations, representing about 6 percent of the state’s total exports. These support some 11,896 American jobs in Arizona. Learn about Arizona’s present and future trade prospects with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The Philippines Signs IGA on FATCA with the United States
On July 15, the Philippines entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on tax information sharing with the United States in order to comply with the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
Assessing Foreign Investment Prospects in ASEAN Through the Business Optimism Index
In recent years, ASEAN has become a hotbed for foreign investment. In 2014, ASEAN member states combined for over US$2.3 trillion in total GDP. Each ASEAN nation, however, present their own unique advantages and challenges for foreign investment. The ASEAN Business Optimism Index, released each quarter by Dun & Bradstreet, provides in-depth insight into business sentiment for the quarter ahead as measured by sales volume, net profit, selling price, new orders, inventory, and employment across sectors and industries.
Malaysia Continues to Streamline its Goods and Services Tax
Malaysia is continuing its streamlining of its Goods and Services tax (GST). Among the recent changes are a revised GST guide on the country’s Warehousing Scheme, a new guide on filing GST-04 returns, and the possibility of expanding the list of goods not subject to GST.
