Regulatory Analysis

Posted October 8, 2019 by Christophe Bourdaire
Greece: New Annual Reporting Obligation

Insurance companies covering risks in Greece must now report their insurance policies annually to meet new obligations introduced by the Greek tax authorities.  A report is due by 31 March each year listing all the invoices declared each quarter during the previous calendar year. Approving the law back in 2016, the Greek tax authorities have only recently […]

Read more
Posted October 4, 2019 by Denise Hatem
Poland: Reminder of ‘MPP’ Split Payments regime from 1st November, with payments into a specified recipient bank account to follow

The Polish Ministry of Finance (“MoF”) has issued a reminder regarding the introduction of a mandatory split payments regime (known as “MPP”) for certain VAT-bearing transactions for selected categories of goods and services, commencing 1 November 2019. If a transaction falls within the scope of MPP, whilst the net or taxable amount of the payment […]

Read more
Posted October 3, 2019 by Kelsey O'Gorman
Uzbekistan Reduces Standard VAT Rate from 20% to 15%

On 26 September 2019, Uzbekistan’s Presidential Decree #5837 “On measures for further improvement of the tax policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan” was adopted.  This decree lowers the standard VAT rate from 20% to 15%, effective October 1, 2019. For more information, please find the decree here.

Read more
Posted September 24, 2019 by Christophe Bourdaire
Consolidated Filing of IPT and FPT in Austria: Compulsory in 2020

The Austrian tax authorities have confirmed that from fiscal year 2020, insurance companies writing in Austria both from their head office and their network of branches will be required to file single Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) and Fire Protection Tax (FPT) returns. This means that making separate IPT and FPT filings for branches will no […]

Read more
Posted September 3, 2019 by Denise Hatem
Albania Launches Public Consultation on E-Invoicing Bill

The Albanian Ministry of Finance and Economy has launched a public consultation that would require real-time reporting of all business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions to the tax authority from January 1, 2020. The bill would also require electronic invoicing for business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) transactions from January 1, 2021. Public consultation will last through August 2019.

Read more
Posted August 16, 2019 by Ramón Frias
Upcoming Mandatory Use Electronic Tax Registers in Kenya

The Kenyan Revenue Authority (KRA) has informed taxpayers that in the upcoming months it will become mandatory for businesses with revenues above 5 million Kenyan Schillings (Around 48,470 dollars) to use electronic tax registers that communicate sales data in real time to the tax authorities. The announcement comes after KRA started a successful pilot program […]

Read more
Posted August 8, 2019 by Kaitlyn Smethurst
Zambia Delays Sales Tax Implementation Again

[August 5, 2019] On August 2, Zambia’s newly appointed Finance Minister, Bwalya Ng’andu, requested that the Sales Tax Bill be withdrawn from Parliament for consideration. The Sales Tax Bill, which was the initiative made by Zambia to shift from an existing Value Added Tax system to a new Sales Tax structure, was originally supposed to take effect […]

Read more
Posted August 1, 2019 by Elliot Shulver
Spanish Green Card Contribution Change

The Spanish Motor Insurers Bureau (OFESAUTO) has agreed its budget for fiscal year 2019 and 2020. OFESAUTO administers the Green Card in Spain and as part of its budget has reduced the rate from €0.07 to €0.06 for each card issued. The Spanish Green Card relates to motor insurance and is a fixed fee per […]

Read more
Posted July 11, 2019 by Christophe Bourdaire
Spain – Environmental Surcharge to be Reported to the New Consorcio Reporting System

The Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros (CCS) now requires insurance companies to report and declare the surcharge to the Environmental Damage Compensations Fund through its new reporting system (SIR). This requirement took effect on 01 July 2019. As for Extraordinary Risks surcharges, detailed information on the policies subject to the 8% Environmental surcharge must now […]

Read more
Posted June 26, 2019 by Jeff Gambold
Sweden: lower VAT rate to be applied to electronic publications

With effect from 1st July 2019, e-books and electronically provided magazines and journals will become subject to the lower rate of 6% VAT (the standard rate of 25% previously applied) in Sweden. This change will result in equal treatment of electronic publications and their physical equivalents under Swedish VAT law. This falls into line with […]

Read more
Posted June 10, 2019 by Jeff Gambold
Bulgaria to introduce a new lower reduced rate of VAT

[June 10, 2019] The Bulgarian Parliament introduced a new bill on the 5th June 2019 that includes various proposed changes to the Bulgarian Value Added Tax Act. Included among the changes is a new lower VAT reduced rate of 5%, which would come into effect from 1st January 2020. Under the current proposed language, the […]

Read more
Posted May 31, 2019 by Jeff Gambold
Poland to introduce mandatory split payments regime

Following the introduction of a voluntary split payment system last year, Poland is now proceeding with a mandatory regime to come into effect from 1st September 2019 for all payments of 15,000zl (approximately 3,500 euros) or more.  Under the scheme, which will apply to both established and non-established businesses, the VAT element of any payment, […]

Read more
Posted April 17, 2019 by Charles Riordan
Poland Introduces Obligation to Use Online Cash Registers

Effective May 1, 2019, Polish taxpayers making B2C supplies of goods and services will be required to use online cash registers connected to the newly established Central Repository of Cash Registers. Data from the Central Repository of Cash Registers will be available to heads of tax and customs offices, directors of tax administration chambers, and the Minister […]

Read more
Posted January 21, 2019 by Sovos
Tax Alert: Case C-74/18 – ECJ Ruling on Location of Risk of M&A Insurance

On 17 January 2019, the European Court of Justice delivered its judgment in Case C-74/18, concerning the location of risk rules for insurance premium tax purposes. The case concerns insurance written by the UK insurer, referred to as ‘An Ltd’, which operates in Finland on a freedom of services basis, without a separate permanent place […]

Read more
Posted January 10, 2019 by Sovos
Tax Alert: Denmark – Tax on Pleasure Craft Insurance Reduced to 1%

The 2019 Finance Act has introduced a reduction in the tax on pleasure craft insurance. The rate will move down from 1.34% of the sum insured to 1% of the sum insured. The change applies to insurance policies where the insurance premium is due on 01 February 2019 or later. The tax on pleasure craft […]

Read more
Posted January 6, 2019 by Sovos
Tax Alert: Italy – New Changes to IPT Prepayment Approved by Italian Parliament

The 2019 Budget Act was approved by the Italian Parliament on 30 December 2018. As anticipated, the approved budget includes an increase in the IPT prepayment rates. The approved rates are as follows: 85% in November 2019 for tax year 2020 90% in November 2020 for tax year 2021 100% in November 2021 for tax […]

Read more
Posted January 3, 2019 by Sovos
Tax Alert: France – IPT Applicable on Death Cover of Payment Protection Insurance

Death cover of Payment Protection Insurance will be subject to 9% Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) for contracts issued on or after 01 January 2019. Previously such covers were subject to an IPT exemption. The change has been approved by the French Parliament as part of the 2019 Budget Law voted just before Christmas. The change […]

Read more
Posted November 2, 2018 by Sovos
Tax Alert: Payments for the Polish Insurance Ombudsman Levy Suspended

The Polish Insurance Ombudsman has suspended the Q4 2018 declaration and payment of the levy, citing article §17.5 of the Regulation of the Minister of Development and Finance. This permits the suspension of the Levy where the Ombudsman’s funding needs have been fully satisfied. The Q4 declaration would normally require the declaration of premiums collected […]

Read more