International
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November 27, 2023
Amicus Groups Tell High Court To End Chevron Deference
Six groups, including the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and several former state supreme court judges, filed friend-of-the-court briefs on Monday urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a decades-old legal doctrine stating that courts must defer to federal agencies' interpretation of ambiguous laws.
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November 27, 2023
$27M VAT Fraud Scheme Busted Up, EU Prosecuters Say
Dozens of searches, seizures and arrests in November at the request of the European Public Prosecutor's Office have dealt a blow to a sophisticated €25 million ($27.4 million) value-added tax fraud scheme, the office announced.
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November 27, 2023
60% Of Major Nations' Emissions Are Tax-Free, OECD Says
Nearly 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in major economies didn't trigger tax liabilities in 2021, when fuel excise tax rates fell because of inflation and politicians slashing rates in response to high prices at the pump, the OECD said Monday.
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November 27, 2023
South Korea Doubling Tax Break For Tourists, Report Says
South Korea hopes doubling the maximum limit for foreign tourists' purchases that are eligible for an immediate tax refund to 5 million won ($3,850) will entice more visitors, a local media outlet reported Monday.
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November 27, 2023
Norwegian Parliament Considering Global Minimum Tax Law
Norway's parliament is considering a bill implementing the 15% global minimum tax on corporations established by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Norwegian government announced.
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November 27, 2023
Switzerland, Tajikistan Amend Treaty To Meet OECD Standards
Switzerland and Tajikistan approved an amendment to their double-taxation treaty to bring it in line with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's base erosion and profit shifting standards, the Swiss government said.
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November 27, 2023
BEFIT Threshold Should Be Lowered, EU Draft Report Says
The revenue threshold that companies would need to reach to fall into the scope of proposed EU rules on corporation taxation should be drastically cut seven years after the law is scheduled to come into place, a European Parliament draft report said.
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November 27, 2023
EU Withholding Measure Is Not On Agenda Of Dec. 8 Meeting
A measure that would simplify the way withholding tax refunds are issued in European Union member countries while also helping national authorities detect fraud won't be discussed at a coming EU finance ministers meeting, a draft agenda showed.
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November 24, 2023
UK's Digital Tax Rollout Will Burden Taxpayers, MPs Warn
HM Revenue and Customs has lost sight of making tax simpler as part of its project to digitalize tax self-assessment, members of a parliamentary committee warned in a report published Friday.
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November 24, 2023
UK Gov't Seeks Powers To Combat Tax Avoidance Schemes
The U.K. government wants to make the unauthorized promotion of tax avoidance schemes a criminal offense under plans to give HM Revenue and Customs new powers to crack down on aggressive practices.
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November 23, 2023
Majority Voting On Tax Dropped From EU Parliament Bill
A passage that would have called for a form of super majority voting on tax in the European Union has been dropped from a proposal calling for changes to EU treaty law, the final text of the bill shows.
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November 22, 2023
Canada Reaffirms Plans To Enact Digital Services Tax Soon
Canada will push forward with its plans to carry out a digital services tax, or DST, by the end of this year, the country's finance minister said in her fall economic statement.
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November 22, 2023
Canada To End Tax Deductions To Rein In Short-Term Rentals
Canada intends to eliminate the ability of operators of some short-term rentals popularized by services such as Airbnb and Vrbo to claim some tax deductions, in an attempt to free up more housing stock, the country's finance minister said in her fall economic statement.
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November 22, 2023
Hungarian Parliament OKs Adopting Global Minimum Tax
Hungary is moving to become the latest country to adopt a 15% corporate global minimum tax as part of a package of tax bills approved by its Legislature.
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November 22, 2023
UN To Begin Drafting Framework For Global Tax Convention
World governments will begin to develop a framework for a global tax convention at the United Nations, where about two-thirds of the member states voted Wednesday in favor of an African-led resolution that was opposed by the European Union and most of the OECD.
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November 22, 2023
Would Ending Chevron Deference Really Make Waves?
Experts say federal agencies and courts have drifted away from relying on Chevron deference in recent years, following the lead of U.S. Supreme Court justices who have criticized it, but the doctrine hasn't been totally abandoned by lower courts — and a closely watched high court case could decide its ultimate fate.
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November 22, 2023
US Can't Seek FBAR Penalties From Green Card Holder
A Mexican national who holds a U.S. green card doesn't owe penalties for failing to report his foreign bank accounts, even though he told the U.S. government late that he claimed Mexican residency under an international tax treaty, a California federal judge said.
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November 22, 2023
Switzerland Sends Two Amended Tax Treaties To Parliament
Switzerland's Federal Council sent a pair of amended double-taxation treaties to the country's parliament for approval Wednesday — one for its treaty with France, the other for its treaty with Slovenia — the Swiss executive body announced.
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November 22, 2023
EU Won't Speak For All On Transfer Pricing, Official Says
The European Union doesn't intend to speak for member countries in international discussions about transfer pricing standards, a European Commission official said Wednesday, discussing a new draft law.
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November 22, 2023
UK Makes Biz Investment Tax Breaks Permanent
The U.K. government revealed plans on Wednesday to make the temporary tax breaks for business investment permanent in 2024, while also cutting National Insurance contributions for most workers.
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November 22, 2023
EU Parliament Votes To Delay New VAT Rules
The European Parliament voted Wednesday to delay the introduction of rules designed to update the value-added tax system for the digital economy, the Parliament said in a news release.
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November 21, 2023
Most Low-Taxed Profits Found In High-Tax Places, OECD Says
Nearly 40% of corporate profits are taxed below a 15% effective rate, mostly in high-tax jurisdictions where accelerated depreciation, allowances for corporate equity and preferential treatment of acquired software drive down rates, the OECD said Tuesday in a working paper and a report.
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November 21, 2023
Mining Co. Says It Will Challenge IRS Plan To Tax Award
A mining company that Venezuela agreed to pay nearly $770 million for a canceled project said it plans to challenge what it called an IRS proposal to tax the company's future award amounts and disallow worthless stock deductions it took related to the project.
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November 21, 2023
Luxembourg Budget Doesn't Address Tax Loopholes, EU Says
Luxembourg hasn't addressed concerns over aggressive tax planning, particularly regarding payments made to entities in low-tax jurisdictions, despite the issue being flagged by the European Commission, the European Union's executive body wrote in an opinion Tuesday.
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November 21, 2023
US Biz Coalition Calls For Extension Of Digital Tax Pause
The current agreement among OECD countries to delay implementing digital services taxes should be extended while stakeholders evaluate them in the larger context of the OECD's draft multilateral convention, a U.S. business lobby told the U.S. Department of the Treasury in a letter released Tuesday.
EU Police Arrest Possible Leader Of €85M VAT Fraud Scheme
US Scrambling To Save R&D Credit Under Global Min. Tax
EU Biz Tax Plan Raises Eyebrows For Potential Complexity
EU Police Arrest Possible Leader Of €85M VAT Fraud Scheme
Police have arrested a suspect in an €85 million ($93 million) value-added tax fraud scheme as part of a multicountry investigation, European Union authorities said Monday.
US Scrambling To Save R&D Credit Under Global Min. Tax
U.S. Treasury Department officials seem to be scrambling to salvage taxpayer-favorable treatment for the U.S. research and development tax credit under the global minimum tax system known as Pillar Two, but it's unclear whether that effort will succeed.
EU Biz Tax Plan Raises Eyebrows For Potential Complexity
The European Union's plan to further harmonize tax rules for large corporations adds complexity to an already-burdensome international tax system, specialists say, noting that the proposal comes just ahead of when the global minimum tax is due to take effect.
Featured Stories
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Would Ending Chevron Deference Really Make Waves?
Experts say federal agencies and courts have drifted away from relying on Chevron deference in recent years, following the lead of U.S. Supreme Court justices who have criticized it, but the doctrine hasn't been totally abandoned by lower courts — and a closely watched high court case could decide its ultimate fate.
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AI Could Increase IRS Audit Scope, Scrutiny For Large Biz
The Internal Revenue Service is planning to expand its program for auditing large corporations in part by using artificial intelligence, which could help it flag companies that may have gone several years without a close look from the previously cash-strapped agency.
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Justices Open Door For Foreign State Tax Fraud Cases
A recent decision by Britain's highest court that Denmark can continue its multibillion-pound claim over cum-ex fraud has restated how a long-standing foreign tax principle should be applied, removing a barrier for other nations to bring fraud claims in England.
Expert Analysis
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The Case For Post-Bar Clerk Training Programs At Law Firms
In today's competitive legal hiring market, an intentionally designed training program for law school graduates awaiting bar admission can be an effective way of creating a pipeline of qualified candidates, says Brent Daub at Gilson Daub.
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AI Can Help Lawyers Overcome The Programming Barrier
Legal professionals without programming expertise can use generative artificial intelligence to harness the power of automation and other technology solutions to streamline their work, without the steep learning curve traditionally associated with coding, says George Zalepa at Greenberg Traurig.
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Preparing Law Students For A New, AI-Assisted Legal World
As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms the legal landscape, law schools must integrate technology and curricula that address AI’s innate challenges — from ethics to data security — to help students stay ahead of the curve, say Daniel Garrie at Law & Forensics, Ryan Abbott at JAMS and Karen Silverman at Cantellus Group.
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General Counsel Need Data Literacy To Keep Up With AI
With the rise of accessible and powerful generative artificial intelligence solutions, it is imperative for general counsel to understand the use and application of data for myriad important activities, from evaluating the e-discovery process to monitoring compliance analytics and more, says Colin Levy at Malbek.
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Navigating Discovery Of Generative AI Information
As generative artificial intelligence tools become increasingly ubiquitous, companies must make sure to preserve generative AI data when there is reasonable expectation of litigation, and to include transcripts in litigation hold notices, as they may be relevant to discovery requests, say Nick Peterson and Corey Hauser at Wiley.
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Finding Focus: Strategies For Attorneys With ADHD
Given the prevalence of ADHD among attorneys, it is imperative that the legal community gain a better understanding of how ADHD affects well-being, and that resources and strategies exist for attorneys with this disability to manage their symptoms and achieve success, say Casey Dixon at Dixon Life Coaching and Krista Larson at Stinson.
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Attorneys, Law Schools Must Adapt To New Era Of Evidence
Technological advancements mean more direct evidence is being created than ever before, and attorneys as well as law schools must modify their methods to account for new challenges in how this evidence is collected and used to try cases, says Reuben Guttman at Guttman Buschner.
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1st Tax Easement Convictions Will Likely Embolden DOJ, IRS
After recent convictions in the first criminal tax fraud trial over allegedly abusive syndicated conservation easements, the IRS and U.S. Department of Justice will likely pursue other promoters for similar alleged conspiracies — though one acquittal may help attorneys better evaluate their clients' exposure, say Bill Curtis and Lauren DeSantis-Then at Polsinelli.
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Tips For Litigating Against Pro Se Parties In Complex Disputes
Litigating against self-represented parties in complex cases can pose unique challenges for attorneys, but for the most part, it requires the same skills that are useful in other cases — from documenting everything to understanding one’s ethical duties, says Bryan Ketroser at Alto Litigation.
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Anticipating Intensified Partnership Enforcement From IRS
The Internal Revenue Service's decadeslong difficulties with partnership audits led to the recent announcement of a clear, well-funded, focused initiative, and businesses operating in the partnership form will feel the impact, with definite changes ahead, says Sharon Katz-Pearlman at Greenberg Traurig.
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Pro Bono Work Is Powerful Self-Help For Attorneys
Oct. 22-28 is Pro Bono Week, serving as a useful reminder that offering free legal help to the public can help attorneys expand their legal toolbox, forge community relationships and create human connections, despite the challenges of this kind of work, says Orlando Lopez at Culhane Meadows.
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The Pop Culture Docket: Judge Espinosa On 'Lincoln Lawyer'
The murder trials in Netflix’s “The Lincoln Lawyer” illustrate the stark contrast between the ethical high ground that fosters and maintains the criminal justice system's integrity, and the ethical abyss that can undermine it, with an important reminder for all legal practitioners, say Judge Adam Espinosa and Andrew Howard at the Colorado 2nd Judicial District Court.
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How And Why Your Firm Should Implement Fixed-Fee Billing
Amid rising burnout in the legal industry and client efforts to curtail spending, pivoting to a fixed-fee billing model may improve client-attorney relationships and offer lawyers financial, logistical and stress relief — while still maintaining profit margins, say Kevin Henderson and Eric Pacifici at SMB Law Group.