Minimum Salary increases in Latin America

Considering the current economic situation and the high inflation levels expected for 2016, multiple countries in Latin America began the year with minimum wage increases.

Singapore: Understanding the role of a Company Director

On 15 April 2015, the Singapore Accounting and Regulatory Authority (ACRA) announced legislative changes to Chapter 50 of the Companies Act, effective in two phases: phase one from 1 July 2015 and phase two in the first quarter of 2016 (Q12016). Robin Yoo, Corporate Secretarial Services Director of the Singapore office, explains the changes.

Mandatory employer-paid medical insurance in France: Syntec CBA

TMF Group Payroll Manager in France, Alix Mugnier, says companies that depend on the Syntec Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) must now apply the new medical insurance rules that were published on 24 December 2015.

IPT rate changes in the EEA

A new year brings a raft of Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) rate changes and other new developments affecting insurance companies writing cross-border business in the EEA.

New VAT laws adopted in Belgium

The Belgian Parliament has adopted three pieces of legislation which set out new rules regarding VAT chargeability, groupings and the small business exemption threshold.

Faster registration of new businesses in Ukraine

Looking to register a business in Ukraine? Recent legislation changes have drastically reduced the set up time. Anastacia Nechaeva, lawyer for TMF Group Ukraine provides details.

Tax changes in Norway’s 2016 budget

TMF Group VAT expert Matthew Harrison details two of Norway’s 2016 Budget proposals: a corporate tax rate cut and an increase in the VAT rate.

EU reviews low value consignment VAT loophole

In an effort to minimise VAT evasion, reduce administration and level the playing field for EU traders, the European Commission (EC) wants to abolish the Low Value Consignment Stock Relief (LVCR) scheme. TMF Group VAT expert Jacek Szufan says the EC has set an ambitious deadline of 1 January 2016 to introduce legislation that would see the VAT exemption removed.

New limits on using interns in France

French companies have been increasingly relying on college interns to control their labour cost. TMF Group France Payroll Manager Alix Mugnier explains, a new law published on 28 October 2015 is intended to protect these students from being used as a form of cheap labour.

Regulatory round-up: Greece

TMF Group's Managing Director in Athens, Yannis Goussiakis outlines the regulatory changes that have been announced or taken effect in Greece over the past month.

New invoicing program functionality requirements in Hungary

Companies and individuals issuing invoices in Hungary are required to adhere to new processes and program functions from 1 January 2016. TMF Group Hungary expert Agnes Bartha examines what these rules are.

Bitcoin trading ruled tax-free in Europe

TMF Group VAT expert Dr. Robert Nagy says the CJEU's 22 October 2015 ruling that bitcoin and other digital currency trading is VAT exempt, can be seen as a significant boost for bitcoin going forward in Europe.

Spain plans immediate reporting to help close VAT gap

Spanish tax authorities introduce a new strategy to modernise VAT administration through the new system of ‘Immediate Supply of Information’ (SII). While the new rules are still at draft Royal Decree stage and pending approval, the authorities ideally want this to be effective in 2017, so taxpayers should start assessing all information related to implementation to ensure compliance with new VAT rules. TMF Group's VAT experts report.

Serbia introduces VAT proxy

Serbia's parliament has introduced the notion of VAT proxy to the country's economy, which effectively gives foreign business a way of operating without establishing an entity in the country itself. TMF Group experts have more.

Capital Control and VAT changes in Greece

TMF Group Greece Managing Director Yannis Goussiakis outlines VAT changes for six popular holiday islands, and the latest allowances under ongoing Capital Control measures.

Japan’s My Number: is your company ready?

Starting in January, Japan’s My Number obliges companies to have the highest level of security system for data and paper handling of their employees’ My Numbers.

Increase of Same Day Services at London Office

Companies House, London is now able to process certain overseas company forms on a same-day basis. Our UK Head of Corporate Secretarial takes a look at the latest developments.

Permanent employment gets recruitment bonus in Italy

Message No. 1144 from the INPS issues technical instructions to access the Recruitment Bonus introduced by the 2015 Stability Law (Law 190/14). While providing a chance to lighten the company's contribution burden, the bonus is governed by very strict rules. It is available only to employers which hire employees on permanent contracts, between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2015. The benefit, in force since 1 January 2015 and valid for three years, amounts to EUR8,060.00 per year.

India introduces legislation against undisclosed foreign income and assets

Foreign companies must undergo re-registration in Russia

Amendments to Russian Law No. 106-FZ unify the basic rules and terms for state accreditation of branches and representative offices of foreign legal entities (including representative offices of foreign legal entities operating in the area of civil aviation) and provide the obligation on applying to the Accrediting Body for entering information on such branches and representative offices to the Register not later than 1 April 2015.