Regulatory Analysis

Posted June 18, 2017 by Sovos
Spain Takes Final Steps Towards Real Time Reporting Stating July 1

The Spanish Tax Administration (AEAT) recently released a comprehensive set of files, tools, and documents necessary for the full implementation of the Immediate Information Remittance System (SII Version 1.0). As a final test step before actual go-live, AEAT announced that from June 21 through June 29 taxpayers and solution providers may begin submitting SII reports […]

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Posted June 14, 2017 by Lee Pender
Bangladesh to Implement 2012 VAT Law on July 1, 2017

In his June 1, 2017, budget speech, the Bangladeshi Minister of Finance announced the July 1, 2017, implementation of the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012. A full copy of Bangladesh’s 2017-2018 Budget Speech may be found here. While the Act was passed in 2012, its implementation has been deferred in order to […]

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Posted June 13, 2017 by Lee Pender
India Revises GST Rates on Certain Goods

On June 11, India’s GST Council revised GST rates applicable to certain goods. The changes include a  rate reduction from 28% to 18% on specified electronic products, such as computer printers, CCTV, and computer monitors not exceeding 17 inches. The schedule of all the revisions is available here. GST will be fully implemented in India on July 1, 2017.  […]

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Posted June 7, 2017 by Lee Pender
Tacoma Washington Plastic Bag Ban

Last July the City of Tacoma, Washington passed Ordinance No. 28367, a “Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance.” This law bans the distribution of disposable plastic bags by retailers and imposes a minimum five cent fee on paper bags.  Retailers (including restaurants), will be allowed to keep this fee. The law does not apply to bags for […]

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Posted June 7, 2017 by Lee Pender
Tennessee Reduces Sales and Use Tax on Food

The State of Tennessee has enacted House Bill 534, also known as the IMPROVE Act.  This legislation is effective July 1, 2017 and reduces the sales and use tax on food and food ingredients from 5% to 4% . Food and food ingredients includes substances that are sold for ingestion or chewing by humans and […]

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Posted June 7, 2017 by Lee Pender
Arkansas Increases Local Sales Tax Rates in Five Jurisdictions, Effective July 1, 2017

Effective July 1,2017, five jurisdictions in Arkansas will either increase or decrease their sales and use tax rates. The locations impacted by this change include, the city of Eureka Springs, which is decreasing the sales and use tax rate to 2.25%; the city of Lamar, which is increasing the rate to 2.0%; the city of […]

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Posted June 7, 2017 by Lee Pender
India Publishes Final GST Returns and Rules

The Indian Central Board of Excise and Customs has published the final GST return formats and return rules on its website as of June 3rd, 2017. GST return formats maybe found here. GST return rules may be found here. Full implementation of GST in India takes effect on July 1, 2017.    The post India Publishes Final […]

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Posted May 31, 2017 by Lee Pender
Spain Enacts New Mandate Regarding the SII

Spain has issued Ministerial Order HFP/2017, which establishes the technical requirements for the implementation of the Immediate Remittance of Information system, locally known as SII. According to this new order, the effective date of the mandate is July 1, 2017. The order officially describes the information that should be sent to the Spanish tax authorities for […]

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Posted May 26, 2017 by Lee Pender
India Announces GST Rates on Specific Goods and Services

On May 18, the Indian GST Council met and determined the GST rate applicable to specific goods and services. The rate structure was set previously, containing four slabs (5%, 12%, 18% and 28%) and a zero rate. The new rate schedules were published by the Central Board of Excise and Customs and are available here under “GST Rates.” The […]

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Posted May 23, 2017 by Lee Pender
Egypt Scheduled VAT Rate Increase

Egypt’s VAT rate is scheduled to increase form 13% to 14% on July 1, 2017, as dictated by Article 3 of the Egyptian VAT Act. Egypt introduced VAT at the current 13% rate just last year, overhauling its previous sales tax law. In addition to the July rate increase, VAT liable persons should also note that […]

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Posted May 19, 2017 by Lee Pender
Washington Exempts Construction Materials for Disabled Veterans

The State of Washington has passed new legislation which provides an exemption for materials incorporated into and services rendered in respect to adapted housing for disabled veterans from retail sales tax. The exemption only applies to construction projects for disabled veterans approved by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. The exemption will be in […]

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Posted May 12, 2017 by Lee Pender
North Dakota’s Telecom Infrastructure Exemption to Expire

North Dakota’s sales and use tax exemption for tangible personal property used to construct or expand telecommunications service infrastructure is set to expire on June 30, 2017. This exemption covers cell towers, switching equipment, cable, and other infrastructure items used directly in delivering telecommunication services and owned by a telecommunications company. In order to receive […]

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Posted May 12, 2017 by Lee Pender
North Dakota Expands Exemption for Farm Machinery to Include Dairy Farm Equipment

Effective July 1, 2017, North Dakota will expand the definition of “Farm Machinery” to include machinery, equipment and materials used exclusively in a milking operation of a dairy farm. In North Dakota, sales of new farm machinery sold exclusively for agricultural purposes are taxed at a lower tax rate of 3% compared to the general […]

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Posted May 12, 2017 by Lee Pender
North Dakota Exempts Internet Access Services from Sales and Use Tax

Effective July 1, 2017, North Dakota will begin to provide an exemption from sales tax for sales of “internet access services.” Since 1998, the Internet Tax Freedom Act has prohibited federal, state and local governments from levying a tax on internet access however, seven states which previously had imposed taxes on internet access, including North Dakota, were […]

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Posted May 12, 2017 by Lee Pender
North Dakota Increases Prepaid E911 Fee

North Dakota recently enacted legislation which will increase the Prepaid Wireless Emergency 911 Fee from 2.0% to 2.5% effective July 1, 2017. Retailers are required to collect this fee on all sales of prepaid wireless services and minutes. Retailers must remit the collection of such fees to the State Tax Commissioner. Revenue generated from this increase […]

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Posted April 21, 2017 by Sovos
New Jersey Passes Sales Tax Exemption for Limousine Services

New Jersey’s limousine industry won a major legislative battle on February 10, 2017, when Governor Chris Christie signed into a law a bill eliminating sales tax on intra-state limousine services. The tax had been in force since 2006, surviving several challenges in the state legislature. It will officially be phased out on May 1, 2017. […]

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Posted April 21, 2017 by Sovos
Virginia to Exempt Aviation Parts Beginning July 1, 2018

On March 29, 2017 the Virginia Governor signed legislation that will exempt the sale of parts and engines used in the maintenance, repair or reconditioning of any manned or unmanned aircraft system. However, as a compromise measure intended to limit the fiscal impact of the new exemption, the rule will not come into effect until […]

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Posted April 13, 2017 by Sovos
Pennsylvania Issues Revised SUT-17-001 for Software Support Services

On April 4, 2017, the Pennsylvania DOR revised SUT 17 001 to more narrowly define taxable software support services, stating that training and consulting services were not included unless the services otherwise met the definition of support. Generally, support services were defined to include “identifying the source of problems affecting the usability of the property […]

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