Tax News Daily
The latest tax news from around the world, summarised and tagged for tax professionals. Updated twice daily.
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CBIC Sets Up Panel to Examine Centralised GST Registration Under Single PAN
India's Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has established a committee to evaluate the feasibility of centralised GST registration for businesses operating under a single PAN across multiple states. Currently, businesses must obtain separate GST registrations in each state where they operate. A centralised registration model could significantly simplify compliance for multi-state businesses, reducing administrative burden. The panel's findings could lead to a major structural reform in India's GST registration framework, impacting how large corporations and businesses with nationwide operations manage their indirect tax obligations.
UK tax changes under Andy Burnham and John Healey: what businesses and individuals need to know
This article from Saffery examines UK tax changes introduced under Andy Burnham and John Healey, outlining implications for both businesses and individuals. It covers key policy developments affecting corporate and personal tax obligations, helping practitioners and taxpayers understand compliance requirements and planning considerations under the current UK government. The piece addresses how legislative shifts impact income, business structures, and broader financial planning, serving as a practical guide for those navigating the evolving UK tax landscape under the Labour administration's fiscal priorities.
Burnham Removes Tax On Electric Bills To Ease Living Costs
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, has announced the removal of tax on electric bills as a measure to ease living costs for residents. The policy targets the tax component embedded in electricity pricing, aiming to reduce household energy expenses. This move represents a local-level fiscal intervention focused on consumer energy costs, with direct implications for personal finances and regional tax policy. The decision reflects growing political pressure on authorities to address energy affordability through tax relief mechanisms rather than subsidy-based approaches.
What Burnham’s new government means for accountants and clients
Andy Burnham's new government in Greater Manchester signals potential regional policy shifts with tax and fiscal implications for accountants and their clients. The article examines what the devolved administration's priorities mean for local businesses, including potential changes to business rates, regional investment incentives, and how accountants should advise clients operating in the Greater Manchester area. With increased devolution powers, the new administration may influence local tax policy decisions affecting both corporate and personal taxpayers, making it relevant for practitioners serving clients in the region.
The future of tax disputes – will a tax settlement change the relationship between the tax authorities and the taxpayer?
This analysis examines whether formalised tax settlement mechanisms could reshape the relationship between tax authorities and taxpayers in resolving disputes. It explores how structured settlement frameworks might offer faster resolution, reduced litigation costs, and greater certainty for both parties compared to traditional adversarial proceedings. The article considers whether such approaches improve compliance, trust, and efficiency, while raising questions about consistency and fairness in outcomes. Relevant to multinational and domestic taxpayers navigating increasingly complex audit environments and seeking alternatives to prolonged tax controversy proceedings.
Trump Issues 50% Tariffs on Canada Ahead of Gordie Howe Bridge Opening
President Trump announced 50% tariffs on Canadian imports, coinciding with the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan. The tariff escalation represents a significant trade policy development with major implications for cross-border commerce between the US and Canada. The timing is notable given the bridge's role as a critical trade corridor. The measure continues a pattern of aggressive US trade actions and will substantially affect businesses engaged in US-Canada cross-border supply chains and customs compliance.
Sales Tax Holidays by State, 2026
A state-by-state overview of sales tax holidays scheduled for 2026 across the United States. These temporary exemptions allow consumers to purchase specific goods—such as back-to-school supplies, clothing, computers, disaster preparedness items, and energy-efficient appliances—free of state and local sales tax. The article catalogs participating states, qualifying product categories, and applicable date windows. Sales tax holidays remain a popular but debated policy tool, with proponents citing consumer relief and critics questioning their economic efficiency and revenue impact on state budgets.
The Hidden Costs of Foreign R&D Amortization
An analysis of the foreign research and development amortization provisions under the One Big Beautiful Budget Act (OBBBA), highlighting their hidden fiscal and economic costs. Under current law, foreign R&D expenditures must be amortized over 15 years rather than immediately expensed, significantly increasing the effective tax burden on U.S. multinationals conducting overseas research. The piece examines how this provision distorts investment decisions, reduces global competitiveness, and creates unintended consequences for innovation-driven industries, arguing for policy reform to align foreign R&D treatment more closely with domestic expensing rules.
Taxing Data Processing Doesn’t Just Tax Big Tech
This Tax Foundation analysis examines proposals to tax data processing services, arguing that such levies extend far beyond large technology companies and would broadly impact businesses across all sectors that rely on data processing. The piece highlights that data processing taxes, often framed as targeting Big Tech firms, would affect a wide range of industries including financial services, healthcare, and retail. The analysis raises concerns about economic distortion and unintended consequences, positioning the discussion within the broader debate over digital services taxes and how policymakers should think carefully about the true incidence of taxing data-related activities.
California Is About to Tax SaaS. Here Is What Changes on 1 January 2027
California is set to impose sales tax on Software as a Service (SaaS) starting January 1, 2027, marking a significant shift in how digital software services are taxed in the state. The change will require SaaS providers selling to California customers to collect and remit sales tax, bringing cloud-based software in line with how traditional software has been taxed. Businesses currently providing SaaS products will need to reassess their pricing, billing systems, and compliance obligations ahead of the deadline. The move reflects a broader trend among US states seeking to modernize sales tax rules to capture revenue from the growing digital economy.
Tax advisers: one month left to register under new rules
UK tax advisers have one month remaining to register under new regulatory rules introduced by HMRC. The requirement marks a significant shift in oversight of the tax advice profession, aiming to improve standards and accountability among those who charge for tax services. Advisers who fail to register risk penalties and may be prohibited from practising. The initiative is part of broader UK government efforts to clamp down on promoters of tax avoidance schemes and raise the quality bar for tax professionals. Practitioners are urged to act promptly to ensure compliance before the registration deadline expires.
Andy Burnham as Prime Minister – What Could It Mean for Tax?
This article speculates on the potential tax policy implications if Andy Burnham, current Mayor of Greater Manchester, were to become UK Prime Minister. It explores his known political positions and what changes he might pursue across areas such as wealth taxation, income tax, and business levies. The piece is a forward-looking analysis aimed at tax practitioners and businesses wanting to anticipate possible shifts in the UK tax landscape under alternative Labour leadership, drawing on Burnham's public statements and track record in regional government.
Herzfeld: Mocking Up the Digital Services Tax War Games
Mindy Herzfeld analyzes the ongoing geopolitical tensions surrounding digital services taxes (DSTs), examining how countries imposing DSTs on large technology companies face retaliatory trade measures from the United States. The piece explores strategic scenarios and negotiating dynamics between the US and DST-imposing nations, considering how the interplay of trade policy and tax policy shapes outcomes. It provides practitioners and policymakers with a framework for understanding the escalating 'war games' around DSTs, including potential resolutions and the broader implications for international tax reform efforts under Pillar One and Two discussions.
France extends audit retention period from six to ten years
France has extended the audit retention period for tax records from six to ten years. This regulatory change significantly impacts businesses operating in France, requiring them to retain financial and tax documentation for a longer period to comply with French tax authority requirements. The extension has implications for corporate record-keeping obligations, audit preparedness, and data storage strategies for companies subject to French tax jurisdiction. Practitioners and businesses will need to update their document retention policies accordingly to ensure compliance with the new ten-year requirement.
Draft legislation: Better use of new and improved third-party data
HMRC has published draft legislation aimed at improving the use of new and enhanced third-party data for tax compliance purposes. The proposals would expand HMRC's data-gathering powers, requiring third parties such as financial institutions, employers, and platforms to provide additional taxpayer information. This development has significant implications for personal and payroll tax administration, potentially enabling more accurate pre-population of tax returns and better detection of non-compliance. Practitioners should assess how clients' reporting obligations may change and prepare for increased data-sharing requirements under the updated framework.
Permanent Establishment Risk for Remote and Ecommerce Businesses
This article examines permanent establishment (PE) risk for remote and ecommerce businesses, a growing concern as digital commerce expands across borders. It explores how remote workers, digital infrastructure, and online sales activities can inadvertently create taxable presences in foreign jurisdictions. The piece covers key PE triggers including dependent agents, fixed places of business, and server locations, and how tax authorities are increasingly scrutinizing ecommerce operations. Practical guidance is offered on structuring operations to manage PE exposure, with relevance for businesses operating internationally without a traditional physical footprint. The analysis is particularly pertinent given evolving OECD guidance and domestic legislative responses to the digital economy.
How Withholding Taxes Affect Cross-Border Investment in Europe
An analysis of how withholding taxes on dividends and other investment income affect cross-border investment flows within Europe. The piece examines how varying withholding tax rates across European countries create barriers to cross-border capital allocation, potentially distorting investment decisions. It likely explores how treaty networks, EU directives such as the Parent-Subsidiary Directive, and domestic rates interact to shape the effective tax burden on cross-border returns. The analysis highlights the competitive and economic implications of withholding tax policy for European capital markets and investment attractiveness, offering insights relevant to policymakers and practitioners managing international investment structures.
June and July 2026 global tax changes
A roundup of global tax changes taking effect in June and July 2026, covering updates across multiple jurisdictions. The article likely includes VAT/GST rate changes, new eInvoicing mandates, digital services tax developments, and other legislative or regulatory updates relevant to tax practitioners managing international compliance. This type of forward-looking calendar summary provides practical value for businesses and advisers preparing for upcoming obligations, helping them anticipate filing deadlines, system changes, and new reporting requirements across different countries during this two-month window.
Reform may owe tax on Nigel Farage’s £5m gift
Reform UK party may face a tax liability on a £5 million gift received, potentially linked to Nigel Farage. The article examines whether the donation triggers a tax obligation for the political party, exploring the intersection of gift tax rules, political donation exemptions, and corporate tax treatment in the UK. The analysis considers HMRC's likely position on whether Reform qualifies for any exemptions applicable to political parties and whether the transaction could be structured to minimise or eliminate any resulting tax charge, raising broader questions about the tax treatment of large political donations under UK law.
EU: European Parliament approves resolution on cross-border tax simplification
The European Parliament has approved a resolution focused on simplifying cross-border taxation within the EU. The resolution aims to reduce administrative burdens and compliance complexities faced by businesses and individuals operating across EU member state borders. This initiative reflects ongoing efforts to harmonize and streamline tax rules across the bloc, potentially affecting VAT obligations, corporate tax frameworks, and other cross-border tax matters. The resolution signals the Parliament's political direction on tax simplification, though formal legislative proposals would still need to follow through the standard EU legislative process involving the European Commission and Council.
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