Hong Kong Tax Alert 4 September 2020 2020 Issue No

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Hong Kong Tax Alert 4 September 2020 2020 Issue No Hong Kong Tax Alert 4 September 2020 2020 Issue No. 12 Hong Kong concludes comprehensive double taxation arrangement with Serbia On 27 August 2020, Hong Kong signed a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement (CDTA) with Serbia. This brings the number of CDTAs Hong Kong has concluded with other jurisdictions to 44. Appendix to this alert summarizes the status of Hong Kong’s current CDTA network and CDTAs currently under negotiation or pending ratification. This alert summarizes the salient points of the provisions of the CDTA with Serbia as applicable to Hong Kong residents. Promoting trade and investment The CDTA sets out clearly the allocation of taxing rights between Hong Kong and Serbia helping investors to better assess their potential tax liabilities from cross-border transactions. In addition, with the aim of facilitating trade and investment, the CDTA also contains provisions which reduce or eliminate applicable taxes in respect of certain income streams between the two jurisdictions. The below table summarizes the applicable rates for relevant income streams when received from Serbia by a Hong Kong resident as beneficial owner. Income Dividends Interest Royalties Capital gains on Fees for specified streams disposal of shares services Tax rate Domestic rates 15/20%1 15/20%1 20% 0/15%/20%1 20%6 Rates under the 5/10%2 0/10%3 5/10%4 0%5 0% CDTA Notes 1. Dividends, interest and capital gains received from Serbia by a non-resident individual are taxed at a rate of 15%; however capital gains realized on disposal of shares by a non-resident individual who has held the investment continuously for at least ten years prior to the transfer are exempt from taxation in Serbia. Non- individual recipients of these income items will be taxed at 20%. 2. A 5% rate applies if the beneficial owner is a company which holds directly at least 25% of the capital of the company paying the dividends throughout a 365 day period that includes the day of the payment of the dividends (for the purpose of computing that period, no account shall be taken of changes of ownership that would directly result from a corporate reorganization, such as a merger or divisive reorganization of the company that holds the shares or that pays the dividend). 3. A 0% rate applies if the interest is paid by the Government of the Republic of Serbia or political subdivisions or local authorities thereof, or the National bank of Serbia, and the recipient is the HKSAR Government, Hong Kong Monetary Authority or the Exchange Fund. 4. A 5% rate applies if the royalties are paid for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work including cinematograph films or films or tapes used for radio or television broadcasting; a 10% rate applies if the royalties are paid for the use of, or the right of use, any patent, trademark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for the use of or the right to use, industrial, commercial or scientific equipment, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience. 5. Capital gains on the disposal of shares in a Serbian company or comparable interests of any kind, including interests in a partnership or trust, derived by a Hong Kong resident investor will generally be exempt from tax in Serbia under the CDTA. The only exception to this is if, at any time during the 365 days preceding the alienation, these shares or comparable interests derived more than 50% of their value directly or indirectly from immovable property situated in Serbia. 6. Fee payments related to market research services, accounting and audit services, and other legal and business advisory services are subject to a withholding tax. Under the CDTA, if the fee payments are not attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed base that a Hong Kong resident maintains in Serbia, the payments will not be subject to the withholding tax. Avoidance of double taxation Where the income of a Hong Kong resident is subject to tax in both Hong Kong and Serbia, the Hong Kong resident can credit the tax paid in Serbia on the relevant income against the Hong Kong tax liability arising on the same income. The available tax credit is, however, limited to the Hong Kong tax charged on the same income. Prevention of treaty abuse Preventing the artificial avoidance of a permanent establishment The CDTA has adopted the recommendations made by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in their “Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action 7 Final Report (Preventing the Artificial Avoidance of a Permanent Establishment Status)”. The anti-avoidance provisions of the CDTA include counteracting the splitting up of construction contracts, anti-fragmentation provisions and lowering the threshold for dependent agency permanent establishment. Other provisions against treaty abuse The CDTA contains the following specific provisions against treaty abuse: (i) an introductory statement or preamble specifying that the CDTA is intended to eliminate double taxation without creating opportunities for non-taxation or reduced taxation through tax evasion or avoidance; (ii) the principal purpose test (PPT) provisions whereby the granting of tax benefits under the CDTA would be denied if it is reasonable to conclude, having regard to all relevant facts and circumstances, that obtaining the benefits was one of the principal purposes of any arrangement or transaction. The PPT would not however apply where it is established that granting the tax benefits in the circumstances would be in accordance with the object and purpose of the relevant provisions of the CDTA.; and (iii) an explicit clause stating that the terms of the CDTA shall not override the anti-avoidance provisions contained in the domestic tax legislation of one side. Effective date of the CDTA The CDTA will only come into force in the tax year following the calendar year in which the relevant ratification procedures are completed. If the ratification procedures can be completed in 2020, the CDTA shall then have effect as follows: a) For Hong Kong: for any year of assessment beginning on or after 1 April 2021 b) For Serbia: for any income year beginning on or after 1 January 2021 Hong Kong Tax Alert 2 Appendix I – Latest status of the Hong Kong’s CDTA network 43 CDTAs signed and ratified Country / jurisdiction Effective in Hong Kong Effective in the other contracting from the year of assessment party from the year of assessment 1. Austria 2012/13 1 January 2012 2. Belarus 2018/19 1 January 2018 3. Belgium 2004/05 1 January 2004 4. Brunei 2011/12 1 January 2011 5. Cambodia 2020/21 1 January 2020 6. Canada 2014/15 1 January 2014 7. Czech Republic 2013/14 1 January 2013 8. Estonia 2020/21 1 January 2020 9. Finland 2019/20 1 January 2019 10. France 2012/13 1 January 2012 11. Guernsey 2014/15 1 January 2014 12. Hungary 2012/13 1 January 2012 13. India 2019/20 1 April 2019 14. Indonesia 2013/14 1 January 2013 15. Ireland 2012/13 1 January 2012 16. Italy 2016/17 1 January 2016 17. Japan 2012/13 1 January 2012 18. Jersey 2014/15 1 January 2014 19. Korea 2017/18 1 January 2017 20. Kuwait 2014/15 1 January 2014 21. Latvia 2018/19 1 January 2018 22. Liechtenstein 2012/13 1 January 2012 23. Luxembourg 2008/09 1 January 2008 24. Macau SAR 2021/22 1 January 2021 25. Mainland China 2007/08 1 January 2007 26. Malaysia 2013/14 1 January 2013 27. Malta 2013/14 1 January 2013 28. Mexico 2014/15 1 January 2014 29. Netherlands 2012/13 1 January 2012 30. New Zealand 2012/13 1 April 2012 31. Pakistan 2018/19 1 July 2018 32. Portugal 2013/14 1 January 2013 33. Qatar 2014/15 1 January 2014 34. Romania 2017/18 1 January 2017 35. Russian Federation 2017/18 1 January 2017 36. Saudi Arabia 2019/20 1 January 2019 37. South Africa 2016/17 1 January 2016 38. Spain 2013/14 1 April 2013 39. Switzerland 2013/14 1 January 2013 40. Thailand 2006/07 1 January 2006 41. United Kingdom 2011/12 1 or 6 April 2011 42. United Arab Emirates 2016/17 1 January 2016 43. Vietnam 2010/11 1 January 2010 1 CDTAs signed but pending ratification ► Serbia 13 CDTAs under negotiation ► Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cyprus, Georgia, Germany, Israel, Lithuania, Maldives, Mauritius, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway and Turkey Hong Kong Tax Alert 3 Hong Kong office Agnes Chan, Managing Partner, Hong Kong & Macau 22/F, CITIC Tower, 1 Tim Mei Avenue, Central, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2846 9888 / Fax: +852 2868 4432 Ian McNeill Deputy Asia-Pacific Tax Leader +852 2849 9568 [email protected] Non-financial Services Financial Services David Chan Paul Ho Tax Leader for Hong Kong and Macau Tax Leader for Hong Kong +852 2629 3228 +852 2849 9564 [email protected] [email protected] Business Tax Services / Global Compliance and Reporting Business Tax Services / Global Compliance and Reporting Hong Kong Tax Services Hong Kong Tax Services Wilson Cheng Tracy Ho May Leung Paul Ho Sunny Liu +852 2846 9066 +852 2846 9065 +852 2629 3089 +852 2849 9564 +852 2846 9883 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ada Ma Grace Tang Karina Wong China Tax Services +852 2849 9391 +852 2846 9889 +852 2849 9175 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Cindy Li +852 2629 3608 [email protected] China Tax Services US Tax Services Ivan Chan Lorraine Cheung Sam Fan Michael Stenske +852 2629 3828 +852 2849 9356 +852 2849 9278 +852 2629 3058 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] International Tax and Transaction Services
Recommended publications
  • COMETR Competitiveness Effects of Environmental Tax Reforms
    &RPSHWLWLYHQHVV (IIHFWV RI (QYLURQPHQWDO 7D[ 5HIRUPV Publishable Final Report to the European Commission, DG Research and DG Taxation and Customs Union (Summary report) NERI, University of Aarhus (Denmark) Cambridge Econometrics (UK) ESRI (Ireland) IEEP, Univ. of Economics (Czech Republic) PSI (UK) WIIW (Austria) 2007 (& 6L[WK )UDPHZRUN 3URJUDPPH IRU 5HVHDUFK $FWLYLW\ $UHD 6FLHQWLILF 6XSSRUW WR 3ROLFLHV &RQWUDFWÃQRÃSCS8-CT-2004-501993 ,QVWUXPHQW Specific Targeted Research or Innovation Project 7KHPDWLFÃ3ULRULW\Ã8 - Underpinning European integration, sustainable development, competitiveness and trade policies (including improved means to assess economic development and cohesion) 3HULRGÃFRYHUHGÃEntire project durationÃ(month 1 – 30)Ã 'DWHÃRIÃSUHSDUDWLRQÃ31 August 2007 6WDUWÃGDWHÃRIÃSURMHFWÃ1 December 2004 'XUDWLRQ 2.5 years 3URMHFWÃFRRUGLQDWRU Professor Mikael Skou Andersen 3URMHFWÃFRRUGLQDWRUÃ RUJDQLVDWLRQ National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus (NERI), Grenåvej 14, DK-8410 Rønde )URQWÃSDJHÃSKRWR Offshore windmills (DK), Samsø Energy Academy. 5HYLVLRQÃ1.0 3URMHFW &RQVRUWLXP &RQWUDFWRUV &RQWDFW SHUVRQ 1(5, 8QLYHUVLW\ RI $DUKXV 0LNDHO 6NRX $QGHUVHQ 32 %R[ PVD#GPXGN '/ 5RVNLOGH '(10$5/ &DPEULGJH (FRQRPHWULFV 6XGKLU -XQDQNDU &RYHQW *DUGHQ 6XGKLU-XQDQNDU#FDPHFRQFRP &DPEULGJH &% +6 8/ (FRQRPLF DQG 6RFLDO 5HVHDUFK ,QVWLWXWH 6XH 6FRWW :KLWDNHU 6TXDUH VXHVFRWW#HVULLH 6LU -RKQ 5RJHUVRQ V 4XD\ 'XEOLQ ,5(/$1' ,QVWLWXWH IRU (FRQRPLFV DQG -LULQD -LONRYD (QYLURQPHQWDO 3ROLF\ LHHS#LHHSF] 8QLYHUVLW\ RI (FRQRPLFV LQ 3UDJXH : &KXUFKLOOD
    [Show full text]
  • The Ottoman Policy Towards Non-Muslim Communities and Their Status in the Ottoman Empire During the 15Th & 16Th Centuries: Interaction of Civilizations Mughul, M
    2137 THE OTTOMAN POLICY TOWARDS NON-MUSLIM COMMUNITIES AND THEIR STATUS IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE DURING THE 15TH & 16TH CENTURIES: INTERACTION OF CIVILIZATIONS MUGHUL, M. Yakub* PAKİSTAN/PAKISTAN/ПАКИСТАН ABSTRACT This paper focuses on Ottomans liberal policy and tolerance towards the non- Muslims and other religious communities during 15th, 16th century. In particular, it explores the key role of Sultan Mohammad-II in consolidating and harmonizing different cultures and religions across Europe and Asia. The paper also addresses the Islamic attitude towards inter-religious relations, which was at that time quite unknown in rest of Europe, where they were burning its heretics at the stake, whereas races and religions coexisted under the Ottoman rule. It will highlight how the advent of Ottoman Rule in Eastern Europe brought the Muslim and European Civilizations face to face, which ultimately created an interaction among them. Finally, it will describe the image of the millet system introduced during this period, which brought all non-Muslim communities within the Turkish commonwealth, and allowed them to govern itself by its own laws and live in peace in the Ottoman Empire. Key Words: Ottoman, policy, Empire, Constantinople, Turkish, history. INTRODUCTION The Ottoman Empire1 would be defined as a mosaic of different cultures and religions, which provided peace and harmony among members of society without distinction between Muslim and non-Muslim, race, and color. The story of Ottoman history involves not only the Ottoman dynasty but the many peoples who ruled the Empire and were ruled by it: Turks, Arabs, Serbs, Greeks, Armenians, Jews, Bulgarians, Hungarians, Albanians, North Africans and others.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Environmental Taxes in Serbian Tax System
    МЕЂУНАРОДНИ ЧАСОПИС ЗА ЕКОНОМСКУ ТЕОРИЈУ И ПРАКСУ И ДРУШТВЕНА ПИТАЊА EKONOMIKA Vol. 62, october-december 2016, № 4 ЕКОНОМИКА Часопис излази четири пута годишње Година LX, I-III 2014, број 1 ИЗДАВАЧ: Друштво економиста “Економика” Ниш ISSN 0350-137X, EISSNСУИЗДАВАЧИ: 2334-9190, Економски факултет у Приштини, UDK Факултет 338за услужни (497,1) бизнис - Сремска Каменица, Институт за економику пољопривреде - Београд, Факултет за пословне студије и право P. 75-84 - Београд, Факултет за трговину и банкарство, Универзитет Алфа - Београд, Савез економиста Србије - Друштво економиста Ниш. ГЛАВНИ И ОДГОВОРНИ УРЕДНИК: 1 Проф. др Драгољуб Симоновић Miloš Stojanović ПОМОЋНИЦИ ГЛАВНОГ И ОДГОВОРНОГ УРЕДНИКА SCIENTIFIC REVIEW ARTICLE Мр Зоран Симоновић (економија) Др Александар Ђурић (право) 2 УРЕДНИШТВО: Marina ĐorđevićПроф. др Снежана Ђекић Проф. др Драго Цвијановић doi:10.5937/ekonomika1604075S Економски факултет - Ниш Институт за економику пољопривреде - Проф. др Славомир Милетић Београд University of Niš Економски факултет - Приштина Проф. др Драган Момировић Received: October 30, 2016 Др Александар Андрејевић Факултет за пословно индустријски Факултет за услужни бизнис - Сремска менаџмент - Младеновац Каменица Проф. др Живота Радосављевић Faculty of EconomicsДр Душица Карић Факултет за образовање дипломираних Accepted: November 22, 2016 Универзитет Алфа - Београд правника и дипломираних економиста за руководеће кадрове - Нови Сад РЕДАКЦИЈСКИ КОЛЕГИЈУМ Академик Зоран Лакић, Подгорица (Црна Гора) Акадeмик Станислав С. Јанецко, Кијев (Украјина) Академик
    [Show full text]
  • Christians and Jews in the Ottoman Empire: the Abridged Edition
    EXCERPTED FROM Christians and Jews in the Ottoman Empire: The Abridged Edition edited by Benjamin Braude Copyright © 2014 ISBNs: 978-1-58826-889-1 hc 978-1-58826-865-5 pb 1800 30th Street, Suite 314 Boulder, CO 80301 USA telephone 303.444.6684 fax 303.444.0824 This excerpt was downloaded from the Lynne Rienner Publishers website www.rienner.com Contents Preface vii List of Abbreviations ix Note on Transliteration x 1 Introduction 1 Benjamin Braude 2 Transformation of Zimmi into Askerî 51 İ. Metin Kunt 3 Foundation Myths of the Millet System 65 Benjamin Braude 4 The Rise of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople 87 Kevork B. Bardakjian 5 Ottoman Policy Toward the Jews and Jewish Attitudes Toward the Ottomans During the Fifteenth Century 99 Joseph R. Hacker 6 The Greek Millet in the Ottoman Empire 109 Richard Clogg 7 The Dual Role of the Armenian Amira Class Within the Ottoman Government and the Armenian Millet 133 Hagop Barsoumian 8 Foreign Merchants and the Minorities in Istanbul During the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries 147 Robert Mantran 9 The Transformation of the Economic Position of the Millets in the Nineteenth Century 159 Charles Issawi v vi Contents 10 The Millets as Agents of Change in the Nineteenth-Century Ottoman Empire 187 Roderic H. Davison 11 The Acid Test of Ottomanism: The Acceptance of Non-Muslims in the Late Ottoman Bureaucracy 209 Carter V. Findley 12 Communal Conflict in Ottoman Syria During the Reform Era: The Role of Political and Economic Factors 241 Moshe Ma‘oz 13 Communal Conflict in Nineteenth-Century Lebanon 257 Samir Khalaf 14 Unionist Relations with the Greek, Armenian, and Jewish Communities of the Ottoman Empire, 1908 –1914 287 Feroz Ahmad 15 The Political Situation of the Copts, 1798 –1923 325 Doris Behrens-Abouseif Selected Bibliography 347 About the Contributors 355 Index 357 About the Book 374 1 Introduction Benjamin Braude Thirty years ago the first edition of this book appeared.
    [Show full text]
  • Social Implications of Green Growth Policies from the Perspective Of
    Dis cus si on Paper No. 15-012 Social Implications of Green Growth Policies from the Perspective of Energy Sector Reform and its Impact on Households Peter Heindl and Andreas Löschel Dis cus si on Paper No. 15-012 Social Implications of Green Growth Policies from the Perspective of Energy Sector Reform and its Impact on Households Peter Heindl and Andreas Löschel Download this ZEW Discussion Paper from our ftp server: http://ftp.zew.de/pub/zew-docs/dp/dp15012.pdf Die Dis cus si on Pape rs die nen einer mög lichst schnel len Ver brei tung von neue ren For schungs arbei ten des ZEW. Die Bei trä ge lie gen in allei ni ger Ver ant wor tung der Auto ren und stel len nicht not wen di ger wei se die Mei nung des ZEW dar. Dis cus si on Papers are inten ded to make results of ZEW research prompt ly avai la ble to other eco no mists in order to encou ra ge dis cus si on and sug gesti ons for revi si ons. The aut hors are sole ly respon si ble for the con tents which do not neces sa ri ly repre sent the opi ni on of the ZEW. Social Implications of Green Growth Policies from the Perspective of Energy Sector Reform and its Impact on Households by Peter Heindl* Centre for European Economic Research ZEW Mannheim, Germany Andreas Löschel University of Münster February 2015 This paper is also available as: OECD Issue Note - Social Implications of Green Growth Policies from the Perspective of Energy Sector Reform and its Impact on Households - Abstract - This paper reviews the literature on distributional effects of energy and carbon taxation with focus on microsimulation models.
    [Show full text]
  • World Bank Document
    Public Disclosure Authorized THE WORLD BANK SERBIA Public Disclosure Authorized Country Economic Memorandum Serbia’s New Growth Agenda Labor market for growth Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized 1 Acknowledgments This note, written by Trang Nguyen and Gonzalo Reyes, is part of the Serbia Country Economic Memorandum (CEM), prepared under the leadership of Ekaterina Vostroknutova, Trang Nguyen, and Lazar Sestovic. The note draws on work on productivity led by Elwyn Davies and on skills led by Katia Herrera. Trinidad Saavedra provided research support related to the labor force survey data. Valuable comments from Johannes Koettl and Maria Davalos are greatly appreciated. All names are from the World Bank. The team would like to thank all public and private-sector counterparts in Serbia for their collaboration, discussions, and the feedback provided during preparation of the note. The team is grateful to Linda Van Gelder, Stephen Ndegwa, Gallina Vincelette, Carlos Silva, Cem Mete, Marco Hernandez, Jamele Rigolini, and the Western Balkans Country Management Team (all World Bank) for their guidance and support throughout. 2 Contents Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Labor Market Overview ...............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Taxation and EU Environmental Policies
    EEA Report No 17/2016 Environmental taxation and EU environmental policies ISSN 1977-8449 EEA Report No 17/2016 Environmental taxation and EU environmental policies Cover design: EEA Cover photo: © AlexSava (www.istockphoto.com) Small photos: © JacobH (www.istockphoto.com) Layout: Pia Schmidt Legal notice The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of the European Commission or other institutions of the European Union. Neither the European Environment Agency nor any person or company acting on behalf of the Agency is responsible for the use that may be made of the information contained in this report. Copyright notice © European Environment Agency, 2016 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2016 ISBN 978-92-9213-755-7 ISSN 1977-8449 doi:10.2800/296823 European Environment Agency Kongens Nytorv 6 1050 Copenhagen K Denmark Tel.: +45 33 36 71 00 Web: eea.europa.eu Enquiries: eea.europa.eu/enquiries Contents Contents Authors and acknowledgements .............................................................................................. 4 Executive summary .................................................................................................................... 5 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 6 2 Market-based instruments
    [Show full text]
  • Guide for Investing in Serbia at Your Glance
    Error! No text of specified style in document. Guide for investing in Serbia At your glance January 2020 Investing in Serbia | At your glance Table of Contents 1. Serbia: Country profile 4 Exports and Imports ...................................................................... 6 Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs) .................................................... 8 FDI by industries ..........................................................................10 Key industries in Serbia ................................................................11 2. Tax legislation 14 2.1 Corporate income tax 14 Significant tax adjustments ...........................................................15 Filing formalities and deadlines ......................................................16 Withholding taxes ........................................................................16 Network of applicable DTT’s ...........................................................17 List of jurisdictions with preferential tax systems .............................18 Multilateral Convention .................................................................18 2.2 Value added tax 18 Taxable and exempt transactions ...................................................18 Place of supply of goods ................................................................20 Place of supply of services .............................................................20 Triggering VAT liability ..................................................................21 Requirements for claiming input
    [Show full text]
  • Institute of Economic Sciences Belgrade, Serbia, 2021
    Institute of Economic Sciences Belgrade, Serbia, 2021 Study of Tobacco Tax Avoidance and Evasion in Serbia, 2019 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Institute of Economic Sciences from Belgrade, Serbia, is coordinating a regional network of researchers in Southeastern Europe on tobacco taxation. The project is funded by the University of Illinois at Chicago’s (UIC) Institute for Health Research and Policy to conduct economic research on tobacco taxation in Serbia. UIC is a partner of the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use. The views expressed in this document cannot be attributed to, nor do they represent, the views of UIC, the Institute for Health Research and Policy, or Bloomberg Philanthropies. The authors are grateful for comments from UIC. Suggested citation: Đukić, M., Jovanović, O., Vladisavljević, M., Jolović, N., & Zubović, J. (2021). Study on tobacco tax avoidance and evasion in Serbia, 2019. Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia. Belgrade, February 2021 2 | P a g e Study of Tobacco Tax Avoidance and Evasion in Serbia, 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................................................................................................................... 2 LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................................. 4 LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................ 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • TOBACCO TAX EVASION in SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE Tax Evasion Prevalence and Evasion Determinants
    TOBACCO TAX EVASION IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE Tax Evasion Prevalence and Evasion Determinants Institute of Economic Sciences Belgrade, Serbia, 2021 Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... 1 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 4 2. Data and Definitions of Main Variables: Evasion and Avoidance ..................................... 9 3. Descriptive Statistics ........................................................................................................ 10 3.1. Consumption of HR and MC and illicit trade .......................................................... 10 3.2. Tax evasion in SEE countries and other country characteristics .............................. 12 4. Methodology: Estimation of the tax evasion model in the SEE region ............................ 15 5. Results from the estimation of the tax evasion models .................................................... 17 5.1. MC tax evasion.......................................................................................................... 17 5.2. HR evasion model ..................................................................................................... 18 5.3. Overall tax evasion model ......................................................................................... 19 6. Discussion and Conclusions ............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Doingbusiniesguide2010-Srb.Pdf
    Guide to doing business and investing in Serbia 2010 Edition The information in this book is based on taxation law, legislative proposals and current practice, up to and including measures passed into law as of 1 May 2010. It is intended to provide a general guide only on the subject matter and is necessarily in a condensed form. It should not be regarded as a basis for ascertaining the tax liability in specific circumstances. Professional advice should always be taken before acting on any information in the booklet. Guide to doing business and investing in Serbia 1 Contents Partner letter 4 6. Business Entities 28 6.1. Legal framework Office location in Serbia 5 6.2. Choice of entity 1. Country Profile 8 6.3. Joint stock company (a.d.) 1.1. Introduction 6.4. Limited liability company (d.o.o.) 1.2. Government Structure 6.5. Partnerships and joint ventures 1.3. Legal System 6.6. Branches 1.4. People 6.7. Representative offices 1.5. Economy 7. Labour Relations and Social Security 30 2. Business Environment 10 7.1. Labour market 2.1. Business climate 7.2. Labour relations 2.2. International agreements 7.3. Working conditions 2.3. Regulations for businesses 7.4. Social security system 3. Foreign Investments 14 7.5. Foreign personnel 3.1. Foreign investments 8. Accounting and Audit Requirements 34 3.2. Regulatory legislations 8.1. Accounting 3.3. Foreign Investment Law 8.2. Chart of accounts 3.4. The Law on Foreign Trade Transactions 8.3. Audit requirements 3.5. Foreign exchange 9.
    [Show full text]
  • REPORT «Improvement of Taxation Systems in the BSEC Member States
    Doc. GA39/ЕC37/REP/12 REPORT* «Improvement of Taxation Systems in the BSEC Member States» Rapporteur: Mr. Dimitar ATANASOV (Bulgaria) * The text discussed and adopted at the Thirty-Seventh Meeting of the Economic, Commercial, Technological and Environmental Affairs Committee in Tbilisi on 12 October 2011 and approved at the Thirty-ninth General Assembly in Yerevan on 23 May 2012. 1 I. INTRODUCTION 1. Taxes have paramount role in budget revenue of every country. State cannot exist without taxes since they represent a basic instrument of revenue mobilization in the context of the rule of private property and market relations. It is obvious that any state needs to have necessary funds to perform its functions. It is also obvious that the source of these funds could only be only those means that governments collect from physical and legal persons in conformity with the existing laws. The taxation system is a set of specified taxes, principles, forms and methods of fixing taxes, change or cancellation, payment and application of measures to ensure their payment, tax control, and accountability for violating of tax laws. 2. The tax system includes: establishment of rights and obligations of taxpayers, establishment of rights and responsibilities of tax authorities, establishment of the objects of taxation, registration of taxpayers and assigning them an identification number, specification of taxes and benefits, establishment of the structure of tax authorities, etc. 3. As is known, taxes were introduced together with division of society into classes and emergence of states as a contribution of citizens to maintaining of public authorities. To this end, minimum tax burden is determined according to the public spending necessary to perform essential government functions: administration, defence, justice, public order - the more the functions entrusted to the state, the more the taxes collected.
    [Show full text]