International
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August 16, 2024
Taxation With Representation: Cleary, Kirkland, Skadden
In this week's Taxation with Representation, Mars Inc. sets a 2024 record with its $36 billion acquisition of Kellanova, Carlyle inks a $3.8 billion purchase with Baxter International Inc., and Performance Food Group Co. agrees to a $2.1 billion cash deal with Cheney Bros. Inc.
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August 15, 2024
Doctor Wants Contempt Fine Dropped In Foreign Asset Case
A doctor who incurred $1.1 million in liabilities for failing to report his foreign bank accounts is asking a Michigan federal court to waive his $20,000 civil contempt fine because the court restricted his only financial assets to paying the liabilities.
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August 15, 2024
Taxes Could Be Key To Cutting Crypto Emissions, IMF Says
The growing environmental impact of crypto-asset mining and related data centers could be mitigated with tax measures aimed directly at such facilities, the International Monetary Fund said Thursday.
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August 15, 2024
Germany Seeks Input On Tightened Transfer Pricing Rules
Germany is poised to make multinational corporations responsible for showing the economic necessity of intra-group, cross-border debt relationships when they deduct expenses for financing with borrowed capital, according to a consultation by the federal government.
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August 15, 2024
Finland To Have EU's 2nd-Highest VAT Rate Starting Sept. 1
Finland's general value-added tax rate will jump to 25.5% from 24% starting Sept. 1, the country's tax agency said Thursday, putting it behind only Hungary for the highest VAT rate in the European Union.
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August 15, 2024
Aussie Senate Economics Committee OKs 15% Min. Tax Bill
The Australian Senate's Economics Legislation Committee said it supports the passage of a three-bill package that would implement the OECD's 15% global corporate minimum tax on large multinational entities, sending it to the entire Senate for approval.
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August 15, 2024
UK Plastic Packaging Tax Revenue Dipped By 6%
The U.K. collected £268 million ($344 million) from its tax on certain plastic packaging manufactured in or imported into the country in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, down 6% from the £285 million the year prior, HM Revenue & Customs said Thursday.
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August 14, 2024
PwC Owes $11M For Tax Errors, Real Estate Group Says
PwC should pay £8.9 million ($11.4 million) in damages to a real estate group for miscalculating its tax liabilities and mispricing its properties, which prompted several additional assessments and penalties, according to a claim in a London court.
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August 14, 2024
Baker McKenzie Adds Tax Expert To Monterrey Office
Baker McKenzie has added a partner from Turanzas Bravo & Ambrosi to its Monterrey, Mexico, office who brings more than 15 years of experience practicing international trade law with a focus on taxation and customs-related litigation.
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August 14, 2024
Kenya Tax Court Finds Chinese Firm Dodged $7.8M VAT
A Kenyan tax court affirmed an assessment that found a China-based firm used a series of shell companies to dodge over 1 billion Kenyan shillings ($7.8 million) in value-added tax payments, the Kenya Revenue Authority said Wednesday.
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August 14, 2024
Swiss Seeking Input On Delays Of Crypto-Asset Info Exchange
Switzerland's executive body, the Federal Council, is looking for public input on when it should begin automatically exchanging financial information regarding crypto-assets with countries with which it already has set up general automatic exchange of information agreements, its finance ministry said.
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August 14, 2024
EU General Court Jurisdiction Expanded To VAT Cases
The General Court of the European Union will be able to make preliminary rulings in cases involving the EU's common system of value-added taxes starting Oct. 1, following an expansion of the court's jurisdiction.
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August 14, 2024
Other Price Rises Offset German Tampon VAT Cut, Study Says
Germany's reduction in the value-added tax on female sanitary products, such as tampons, has led to higher prices on panty liners, a Munich-based think tank said in a news release Wednesday.
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August 13, 2024
Walz Backed Tax Hikes Funding Plans For Children, Families
As Minnesota's governor, Democrat Tim Walz, now the presumed vice presidential nominee of his party, separated himself from most other governors by signing into law numerous tax increases funding progressive priorities such as a paid family leave plan and the nation's largest child tax credit.
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August 13, 2024
Firm Asks Court To Reconsider $1.5M Freeze In Tax Dispute
A Baltimore law firm that sued the IRS for freezing $1.5 million in its operating account to satisfy a client's tax debts told a Maryland federal court it was "dead wrong" in denying the firm's request to release the money without going to trial.
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August 13, 2024
Developing Countries Defend 3-Year Deadline For UN Tax Pact
Three years is enough time to finish writing a United Nations framework convention on international tax cooperation, Brazil, India, Nigeria and other developing countries said Tuesday in defense of a proposed timeline that was criticized by Canada, the U.S. and France.
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August 13, 2024
Canada Seeking Comments On Global Min. Tax, Capital Gains
Canada's government is seeking comments from the public on a wide range of tax proposals included in its 2024 budget, including the introduction of the OECD's global minimum tax on large multinational corporations and adjustments to the country's taxation of capital gains, the government announced.
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August 13, 2024
HMRC Collected £384M In Soccer Tax Crackdowns, Firm Says
HM Revenue & Customs has recovered £384 million ($494 million) in taxes through investigations into soccer clubs, players and agents over the past five years, including £67.5 million in the past year alone, a U.K. accounting firm said.
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August 13, 2024
Finland Seeking Input On Global Min. Tax Changes
Finland's Ministry of Finance is seeking input on proposed changes to the country's implementation of the OECD's 15% global minimum tax on large multinational corporations, including clarifications, though it said the changes wouldn't impact the core principles of the law.
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August 13, 2024
Int'l Tax Projects Must Seek Consensus, Finance Ministers Say
Any international tax policy project should focus on consensus-based solutions in order to keep competitive conditions fair, a group of finance ministers from German-speaking countries said Tuesday.
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August 12, 2024
US Seeks To Omit Fair Split Of Tax Rights From UN Tax Pact
The U.S. government proposed on Monday dropping the fair allocation of taxing rights as a principle to guide negotiators on the United Nations framework convention on international tax cooperation, saying that the agenda risks duplication, but the organization's African bloc and others opposed its move.
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August 12, 2024
UN Eyes Two Early Changes For Tax Pact In Latest Draft
Diplomats would draft two legally binding protocols under the United Nations framework convention on international tax cooperation while creating the convention itself under the latest draft guidance for negotiators after they select from a shortlist of possible topics, including the digital economy and wealth taxation.
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August 12, 2024
UK Railway Project Forced To Pay £6.2M Tax Bill
A public agency building a high-speed railway in the U.K. had to pay a £6.2 million ($8 million) tax bill for failing to comply with "off-payroll rules" for the contracted employees it engages, according to the agency's annual report.
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August 12, 2024
FedEx Misreads Chevron Ruling In $85M Tax Dispute, US Says
FedEx wrongly believes the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning the Chevron doctrine precludes the U.S. Treasury Department from promulgating regulations to stop tax cheats and prevent FedEx from claiming $84.6 million in tax credits, the U.S. government told a Tennessee federal court.
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August 12, 2024
2 Experts OK'd For Danish Tax Agency In $2.1B Fraud Case
Two experts will be allowed to testify in support of a suit by Denmark's tax agency accusing U.S. pension plans of participating in a $2.1 billion tax refund fraud scheme, a New York federal district court said, overruling the pension plans' objections.
![FILE - Wind turbines operate in Livermore, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. Biden, on his three-state western swing this past week, emphasized to donors and voters how the Inflation Reduction Act addresses climate change and promotes the creation of jobs as the economy moves toward renewable energy. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)](https://assets.law360news.com/1869000/1869900/1c47426a816a14e14538d162a45a97953c66f0fb-biden_inflation_29884.jpg)
Tax Pros Navigate Chaos, Rewards In Climate Law's 2nd Year
Energy tax attorneys have been knee-deep in project finance deals for the past year since the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 triggered a flurry of clean energy investments, but the work, they say, has been fulfilling as part of broader efforts to save the environment.
![CORRECT THE NAME OF THE WEBSITE - FILE - European Union flags wave in the wind as pedestrians walk by EU headquarters in Brussels, on Sept. 20, 2023. The European Union said Wednesday July 10, 2024 it's adding the porn site XNXX to its list of online services facing the strictest level of scrutiny under the bloc's digital regulations including measures requiring users to verify their ages. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)](https://assets.law360news.com/1869000/1869755/fa75f693b3ade4e0a3af40304516ed6b2cdd4041-correction_europe_porn_sites_04747.jpg)
Pros Lament Lack Of Ownership Clarity In New EU Law
The lack of a clear beneficial ownership definition in new European Union legislation designed to speed up the repayment of withholding taxes represents a missed opportunity — and could cause confusion for investors about whether they are in fact eligible for a refund, tax professionals say.
![FILE - The Treasury Building is viewed in Washington, May 4, 2021. The Treasury Department says it's sanctioning a group of companies and people linked to illegal fishing operations and human rights abuses in Chinese waters. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)](https://assets.law360news.com/1869000/1869295/257d98567082d9005e4b317583b9ca97350724aa-us_china_sanctions_22294.jpg)
Treasury's Loss Rules Take Broad Approach To Min. Tax Deal
The U.S. Treasury Department recently dashed the hopes of multinational corporations seeking regulations that would have carved out an international minimum tax agreement from interacting with long-standing domestic rules aimed at preventing companies from using the same economic loss twice.
Featured Stories
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Tax Pros Navigate Chaos, Rewards In Climate Law's 2nd Year
Energy tax attorneys have been knee-deep in project finance deals for the past year since the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 triggered a flurry of clean energy investments, but the work, they say, has been fulfilling as part of broader efforts to save the environment.
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Pros Lament Lack Of Ownership Clarity In New EU Law
The lack of a clear beneficial ownership definition in new European Union legislation designed to speed up the repayment of withholding taxes represents a missed opportunity — and could cause confusion for investors about whether they are in fact eligible for a refund, tax professionals say.
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Walz Backed Tax Hikes Funding Plans For Children, Families
As Minnesota's governor, Democrat Tim Walz, now the presumed vice presidential nominee of his party, separated himself from most other governors by signing into law numerous tax increases funding progressive priorities such as a paid family leave plan and the nation's largest child tax credit.
Expert Analysis
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Tips For Tax Equity-Tax Credit Transfers That Pass IRS Muster
Although the Internal Revenue Service has increased its scrutiny of complex partnership structures, which must demonstrate their economic substance and business purpose, recent cases and IRS guidance together provide a reliable road map for creating legitimate tax equity structures, say Ian Boccaccio and Michael Messina at Ryan Tax.
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Mirror, Mirror On The Wall, Is My Counterclaim Bound To Fall?
A Pennsylvania federal court’s recent dismissal of the defendants’ counterclaims in Morgan v. Noss should remind attorneys to avoid the temptation to repackage a claim’s facts and law into a mirror-image counterclaim, as this approach will often result in a waste of time and resources, says Matthew Selmasska at Kaufman Dolowich.
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3 Leadership Practices For A More Supportive Firm Culture
Traditional leadership styles frequently amplify the inherent pressures of legal work, but a few simple, time-neutral strategies can strengthen the skills and confidence of employees and foster a more collaborative culture, while supporting individual growth and contribution to organizational goals, says Benjamin Grimes at BKG Leadership.
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E-Discovery Quarterly: Rulings On Hyperlinked Documents
Recent rulings show that counsel should engage in early discussions with clients regarding the potential of hyperlinked documents in electronically stored information, which will allow for more deliberate negotiation of any agreements regarding the scope of discovery, say attorneys at Sidley.
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Loper Bright Limits Federal Agencies' Ability To Alter Course
The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to dismantle Chevron deference also effectively overrules its 2005 decision in National Cable & Telecommunications Association v. Brand X, greatly diminishing agencies' ability to change regulatory course from one administration to the next, says Steven Gordon at Holland & Knight.
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After Chevron: Delegation Of Authority And Tax Regulators
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service will face higher standards following Loper Bright’s finding that courts should determine whether agency rules meet the best possible interpretation of the tax code, as well as the scope of the authority delegated by Congress, says Edward Froelich at McDermott.
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Lawyers Can Take Action To Honor The Voting Rights Act
As the Voting Rights Act reaches its 59th anniversary Tuesday, it must urgently be reinforced against recent efforts to dismantle voter protections, and lawyers can pitch in immediately by volunteering and taking on pro bono work to directly help safeguard the right to vote, says Anna Chu at We The Action.
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How To Grow Marketing, Biz Dev Teams In A Tight Market
Faced with fierce competition and rising operating costs, firms are feeling the pressure to build a well-oiled marketing and business development team that supports strategic priorities, but they’ll need to be flexible and creative given a tight talent market, says Ben Curle at Ambition.
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Rock Climbing Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Rock climbing requires problem-solving, focus, risk management and resilience, skills that are also invaluable assets in my role as a finance lawyer, says Mei Zhang at Haynes and Boone.
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Contract Disputes Recap: Preserving Payment Rights
Stephanie Magnell and Zachary Jacobson at Seyfarth examine three recent decisions that together illustrate the importance of keeping accurate records and adhering to contractual procedures to avoid inadvertently waiving contractual rights to cost reimbursements or nonroutine payments.
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Think Like A Lawyer: Dance The Legal Standard Two-Step
From rookie brief writers to Chief Justice John Roberts, lawyers should master the legal standard two-step — framing the governing standard at the outset, and clarifying why they meet that standard — which has benefits for both the drafter and reader, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.
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Lead Like 'Ted Lasso' By Embracing Cognitive Diversity
The Apple TV+ series “Ted Lasso” aptly illustrates how embracing cognitive diversity can be a winning strategy for teams, providing a useful lesson for law firms, which can benefit significantly from fresh, diverse perspectives and collaborative problem-solving, says Paul Manuele at PR Manuele Consulting.
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Now More Than Ever, Lawyers Must Exhibit Professionalism
As society becomes increasingly fractured and workplace incivility is on the rise, attorneys must champion professionalism and lead by example, demonstrating how lawyers can respectfully disagree without being disagreeable, says Edward Casmere at Norton Rose.