Keeping track of tax rules and timely compliance can mean valuable savings.

1. Don’t Throw Away Your Profits.
Keeping track of tax rules and timely compliance can mean
valuable savings — Vyoma Nair
In the current economic climate, the last thing you AUSTRALIA
want to do is to pay hard-earned profits as unnecessary Australia recently introduced very attractive tax breaks
taxes. Here are a few ways you can minimize them. for companies conducting research and development
on behalf of qualifying foreign companies within the
EUROPEAN UNION same group. The new rules provide a 100 percent
Changed VAT rules for taxation of services apply from deduction for the R&D base cost and a further 75 per-
January 1, 2010. Business to Business (B2B) supplies cent deduction for expenditure incurred in excess of
of services will be taxed in the country where the cus- the prior three year running average.
tomer is located. However, Business to Consumer
(B2C) supplies of services will continue to be taxed Where the group does not have any presence in Aus-
where the supplier is located. tralia for at least 10 years, including branch opera-
tions, then all R&D expenditure in the first year may be
Companies can reclaim foreign VAT electronically in claimable at the 175 percent rate.
their own member state rather than filing VAT refund
claims in each member state where they incurred VAT. CHINA
For B2C Telecom, Broadcasting and Electronic Ser- Despite China’s new legislation, many tax breaks
vices, the changes apply from January 1, 2015. remain.
These rules affect all businesses so plan ahead to New approved software production, IC design com-
ensure your systems comply. Failure to pay the correct panies, and in some cases IC production companies,
amount of VAT is a direct bottom line hit because the obtain from the first profit-making year, a two-year
revenue authorities require payment of VAT, even if you tax holiday followed by three years of a 50 percent tax
did not actually charge and collect it. reduction in rate. Other incentives also apply relating
to employee training expenses, depreciation of capital-
LUXEMBOURG ized purchased software, etc.
Luxembourg is reducing its corporate income tax rate
in stages from 29.63 percent to 25.5 percent. The first In certain circumstances, for IC production companies,
reduction is effective from January 1, 2009 with a fur- this may be increased to a five-year tax holiday followed
ther reduction in 2010. The 29.63 percent consists of by five years of a 50 percent tax reduction in rate.
the national 22 percent corporate tax rate, a 4.00 per-
cent surcharge and a local business tax rate of 6.75 For global tax updates and proactive solutions to tax
percent applicable to Luxembourg City. issues around the world, contact the specialists at
www.globaltaxexperts.com.
Capital duty is being abolished as of January 1, 2009 bring-
ing Luxembourg into line with most other EU countries. Nair & Co. © 2008
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About Nair & Co.: Nair & Co. provides businesses an integrated solution geared to making your company’s thrust to expanding busi-
ness overseas less risky, stress free and more strategic in the finance, tax, HR, compliance and legal arenas. Specialized in working
with the unique challenges of U.S.-based technology companies, Nair & Co. has headquarters in the U.K. and offices in India, China,
U.S.A. and Japan and acts for nearly 700 foreign operations in over 40 countries. Nair & Co. employs highly qualified international
specialists as your one point of contact client service director to support your international registration, tax, accounting, compliance,
HR and payroll needs. Our unrivalled knowledge base, attention to detail and superior work ethics protect your company’s operations
more effectively and save you time and money. For more information, including awards won, visit our web site at www.nair-co.com.