New Zealand strengthens disclosure regime for foreign trusts

The Taxation (Business Tax, Exchange of Information, and Remedial Matters) Act, which will increase disclosure obligations for NZ resident trustees of NZ foreign trusts, received Royal Assent and was brought into force. Approved by Parliament on 14 February, the law further provides for New Zealand’s participation in the G20/OECD Common Reporting Standard for automatic international…

Australia introduces legislation for new Diverted Profits Tax

The government introduced legislation into the Parliament to implement the new Diverted Profits Tax (DPT). Designed to prevent multinational companies from shifting their Australian profits to offshore-related parties in order to avoid paying Australian tax, it will commence on 1 July. By making it easier to apply Australia’s anti‑avoidance provisions and applying a 40% rate…

Switzerland consults on AEOI with 20 more countries

Switzerland’s Federal Department of Finance launched a consultation on introducing automatic exchange of information (AEOI) in tax matters with 20 additional countries. The countries under consideration are: China, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Liechtenstein, Colombia, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Montserrat, Aruba, Curaçao, Belize, Costa Rica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,…