|
|
 |
|
|
|
Dear Readers,
It has been a busy start to 2015 at the IBSA with a host of events and new member services underway. We have also welcomed new members from as far afield as Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Malta.
January saw an excellent UK Branch meeting covering issues such as crowd funding and intellectual property, plus a very well received webinar on FATCA, the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and AEOI. If you missed the webinar, you can watch on demand at your leisure. Our experts provided very interesting insights into how the CRS is shaping the cross-border business landscape and is worth checking out.
February 24 saw the launch of the European Branch in Geneva. Attendees were treated to an excellent discussion around Confidentiality & Exchange of Information, with particular attention paid to the conflict between proposed public registers and their human rights implications. See below for the full round-up.
Elsewhere, the OECD continues its work on a range of initiatives - providing regular updates via their well received live webcasts. BEPS, the Common Reporting Standard and VAT/GST reform consultations are all well under way.
The OECD will hold a public consultation event on transfer pricing on 19-20 March 2015, concentrating on matters covered by four recently published discussion drafts on which written comments have been invited and which deal with work in relation to Actions 8, 9, and 10 of the Action Plan on BEPS. Comments received can be viewed here.
Best wishes,
The IBSA Team
|
|
|
|
On 24 February, the IBSA launched its European branch in Geneva.
Read more below.
|
|
|
Don't forget, OECD meetings are live streamed and can be viewed at http://video.oecd.org/
Look out also for the expected public release of Action Point 12 discussion draft in late March -
Requiring Taxpayers to Disclose their Aggressive Tax Planning Arrangements.
Finally, be sure to check for events happening near you over the coming weeks and months in our events section below. The IBSA will be in Hong Kong on Tuesday for a discussion on Practical IP Aspects in M&A; Luxembourg on May 12 for the next European Branch meeting on Funds & Markets and London on June 4 for a full day workshop covering topics such as transfer pricing, treaty access & business structuring policy issues. We hope to see you soon!
|
|
|
|
European Branch Launch Round-up
|
Confidentiality and Exchange of Information
|
In February the IBSA launched its European branch in Geneva, with a discussion group on the topic of ‘Confidentiality and Exchange of Information’.
The topic centred on FATCA, the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) under the proposed Exchange of Information multi-lateral agreement, and the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) which is intended to distribute masses of information regarding bank accounts to all countries participating in the scheme. Kindly hosted by Lombard Odier, panellists on the night were Anna Steward of Charles Russell Speechlys AG, Ross Belhomme of Saffery Champness and Geraldine Schembri of Grant Thornton Malta.
|
The meeting concluded that the CRS and AEOI provisions could create a minefield for the proper protection of the international business community:
“There are concerns around dealing with countries where there is little confidence that the authorities can handle the exchange of data appropriately – are tax authorities able to put the resources required behind the rule changes and also coordinate with the number of institutions involved?”
– Ross Belhomme
|
|
|
Networking at the event in Geneva
|
|
Read the full summary
of the 24 February European Branch launch on the IBSA Knowledge Bank.
|
|
IBSA events are a great opportunity to find out more about us and meet some fantastic professional colleagues.
Please note that IBSA members are entitled to attend Branch meetings anywhere in the world and receive a discount on all paid-for events.
|
|
Hong Kong - Branch Meeting - 10 March
Practical IP Aspects in M&A
Join Michael Lin, Partner at Marks & Clerk, for our next Hong Kong discussion group where our panel of experts invite you to join the debate about the key IP issues that arise when looking at an M&A transaction.
The session will examine due dilligence best practice and discuss real world examples such as the iPad trade mark matter Apple recently navigated.
This event is kindly supported by our hosts KPMG, and includes refreshments.
Register here
|
Webinar - 28 April - 12:15 GMT
Resident Non-Domiciliaries & Overseas Investors to the UK
Dmitry Zapol will provide a 45 minute webinar on resident non-domiciles & overseas investors to the UK
|
|
|
>UK - Branch Meeting - 15 April
Entrepreneurial Business and Personal Investments
Our panel of experts invite you to contribute, consider and debate the following topics:
- The Macroeconomic View of the Global Economy
- Real Estate Acquisition - including ATED
- Special Issues Relating to Non-Domiciles including Business Investment & Property Relief.
This event is kindly supported by our hosts Close Brothers, and includes networking drinks.
Register here
|
|
|
Luxembourg - European Branch Meeting
The European Branch committee invites you to register for the next European Branch Discussion meeting on 'Funds & Markets' which will take place on Tuesday 12 May in Luxembourg.
Panellists and speakers to be confirmed very soon.
|
|
|
IBSA Workshop
The IBSA will be holding an inaugural workshop on 4 June. This is an exciting development in our programme of events, and more details will follow soon.
|
|
Exclusive Member Benefits
|
|
Connecting Members around the world.
To use this service simply email IBSAConnects
outlining the jurisdiction, professions and specialty that you are looking for and the IBSA will put you in touch with Members that best fit your requirements.
|
|
|
Need help locating country specific information? Missed the latest OECD announcements? Ask the IBSA and we will help locate it. Email Ask the IBSA with your query.
Please note this service does not provide technical advice - always seek the advice of your professional adviser.
|
|
To read the full text of an article please click on the article title. If you are an IBSA Member and wish to submit an article for inlcusion in the Knowledge Bank please contact Jay Abai detailing the proposed topic.
|
|
|
TAX RISK ROADMAP
Keith Brockman, Mars Ltd
Keith Brockman draws our attention to the latest EY briefing. The extract highlights operational tax risks, Best Practices and an eight step roadmap to implement opportunistic changes.
|
|
“OPEN ALL HOURS” – THE UK APPROACH TO RESIDENT NON-DOMICILIARIES
Dmitry Zapol, IFS Consultants
Dmitry Zapol examines the resident but non-domiciled benefits of UK tax legislation which, despite what has been minor tinkering for wealthy beneficiaries of the system, has been around for decades and shows no sign of major new initiatives. The article also covers the immigration requirements which, taken together with beneficial changes in UK corporate tax law over the past decade, has resulted in the UK being open to business for foreign nationals and multi-national companies.
|
|
|
|
"ALL CHANGE" - STATE AID AND THE BEPS INITIATIVE IN 2015
Roy Saunders, IFS Consultants & IBSA
‘All Change’ shouts the guard at our local Baker Street station, and passengers have to leave the warmth and familiarity of the train they have been travelling on and stand on a cold, unfriendly platform waiting for the next train, uncertain of whether they will be able to get on and will there be a seat?....
|
|
LUXEMBOURG'S NEW TRANSFER PRICING FRAMEWORK
Keith Brockman, Mars Ltd
The Luxembourg Parliament has approved a draft law, effective 1/1/2015, that will provide a formal transfer pricing framework, coupled with relevant transfer pricing documentation.
|
|
SOCIETAS EUROPEA – THE EUROPEAN COMPANY
Vadim Blaustein, BlauStein Business Lawyers
Since the 1980s the European Union has been working on introducing harmonized company regulations and to create legal forms for business organizations governed by EU, rather than national, legislation. The Societas Europea (SE) is a public limited liability company introduced in 2004 by a Council Regulation which allows the business owner to transfer their seat across Member States within the EU without the need to first dissolve the company, which is generally not possible under national laws.
|
|
|
|
|
|
