Insights

TFRS 16 largely retains the definition of a lease in TAS 17 but changes the guidance on how to apply it. This refinement was necessary, as the removal of ‘off-balance sheet’ operating leases created a greater need for distinguishing between a lease and a service contract.

January 2019 marked the one-year anniversary of the inception of the US - China trade war. What started with the US increasing import tariffs on Chinese solar panels and washing machines, later spiralled into retaliatory and counter-retaliatory tariff measures between the two countries. Throughout much of 2018, the global business community looked on with apprehension as the two largest economies escalated their trade dispute, which, at its peak, tallied 360 billion USD in combined tariffs. At the close of 2018, the world breathed a sigh of relief when the US and China called for a temporary truce and agreed to resume trade negotiations.

The Labor Protection Act (No.7) has been officially published in the Royal Gazette on 5 April 2019, and will be in effect on 5 May 2019. The essentials of the amendments are set out in this article.

On 26 March 2019, the Cabinet approved draft Royal Decrees revoking all tax benefits granted by the Thai Revenue Department (“TRD”) to the following Board of Investment (“BoI”) regimes: 1. Regional Operating Headquarter (ROH); 2. International Headquarter (IHQ); and 3. International Trading Center (“ITC”)

January 2019 marked the one-year anniversary of the inception of the US - China trade war. What started with the US increasing import tariffs on Chinese solar panels and washing machines, later spiralled into retaliatory and counter-retaliatory tariff measures between the two countries. Throughout much of 2018, the global business community looked on with apprehension as the two largest economies escalated their trade dispute, which, at its peak, tallied 360 billion USD in combined tariffs. At the close of 2018, the world breathed a sigh of relief when the US and China called for a temporary truce and agreed to resume trade negotiations.

In this article, we explain how taxpayers could leverage on Advance Pricing Agreements (“APAs”) to guard against the uncertainties of tax compliance in an era of increasingly complex tax rules.

In an ever-increasing integrated global economy, businesses have been establishing their footprints in various locations across the continents. These so-called “multi-national corporations” or “MNCs” have sophisticated supply chains and business platforms comprising of dozens, if not, hundreds of entities, all of which are directly or indirectly related to one another. Under this corporate umbrella, the affiliates would trade and transact with one another.

In July 2018, the trade war between the United States and China went live. The war of words which saw threats, posturing, and “nudges” to impose tariffs on goods traded between the United States and China became a reality.

The Chinese authorities have released proposed changes to tax law that may significantly impact how international assignees and long-term expats in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are taxed. From changes to residency, personal taxation, payroll withholding and tax efficient benefits for assignees, the potential changes are far reaching.

Since its inception, the digital realm has been an economic “wild west.” Laws and regulations written in the “brick and mortar” world often do not apply or are, for all practical purposes, unenforceable in the digital counterpart.

Indirect taxation is still evolving, and an arguable simple tax is growing in its complexity and application as a traditional goods and services model is replaced with digital content; virtual consumption and seamless international trade flows. But how can you stay ahead?

The lack of international consensus on taxing the digital economy is creating a vacuum of uncertainty. So, what’s coming up on the horizon and how can your business deal with the implications?

Global businesses today use a wide variety of tools in their communications strategy to stay connected – intranets, emails, mobile phones, Skype, texts and instant messaging among them. Revolutionary as they may be for transforming how business is conducted globally, they still provide no substitute for sending a trusted, capable employee on an overseas assignment to solve a problem or lead an initiative in person.

Thailand may soon join several countries in taxing digital services and products that are provided by foreign e-commerce operators. In July 2018, the Thai Cabinet approved of a draft law that, if enacted, will see Thailand imposing value added tax (“VAT”) on foreign operators that provide services and content through the internet or electronic media to Thai consumers.

For many businesses, international expansion and growth brings new opportunities across new markets. However, managing an internationally mobile workforce can pose significant challenges in effectively tracking where employees are working. In turn, these challenges complicate the tax and reporting obligations that arise across a diverse employee population working across borders.

In the final part of this article, we continue our examination of how customs rules for free trade agreements (“FTAs”) should be modernised to meet the needs of a digital economy.