Craig Thomas and Sarah Buxton take a look at the recent changes to corporation tax. Policy changes It is fair to say that the UK’s corporation tax rate has been on something of a policy rollercoaster of late. As far back as 2016, when the rate was 20%, George Osbourne announced that he would reduce corporation tax to 17% with effect from 2020 (and even expressed his fervent desire to get the rate as low as 15% thereafter) ...
Dan Sharman and Craig Thomas take a look at the tax treatment of salary sacrifice arrangements. Background HMRC has always had a difficult relationship with salary sacrifice arrangements. On the one hand it acknowledges that such arrangements are a legitimate way of employees and employers reducing their tax liability, whilst on the other hand it has looked for ways in which to reduce the amount of tax leakage occurring from such arrangements ...
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On July 26, 2023, SERNAC published a new interpretative circular that refers to the protection of the real estate consumer in the sale of real estate and its preparatory acts. Although this circular establishes mandatory guidelines for SERNAC officials, it also constitutes a guide to be taken into consideration by real estate providers when complying with their legal obligations ...
The government has published its long-awaited response to the consultation on implementing the new building control regime for higher-risk buildings (HRBs) and wider changes to the building regulations for all buildings. The provisions will be implemented through secondary legislation (The Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (England) Regulations 2023 and The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023)) that will come into force on 1 October 2023 ...
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General aspects The Chilean Agency for Economic Development (Corporación de Fomento de la Producción - "CORFO") has announced a series of amendments to its venture capital investment fund financing programs: Early Technological Stages Fund ("FET"), Early Stages Fund ("FT"), and Development and Growth Fund ("FC"). The most significant changes approved by CORFO are listed below, distinguishing between amendments common to all programs and those specific to each one ...
Inflation Reduction Act Perhaps the most significant recent development in the area of alternative energy, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) offers approximately USD270 billion in tax incentives to help combat climate change ...
August 21, 2023 By: Akana K. Ma On August 14, 2023, pursuant to a Presidential executive order issued several days earlier, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the Proposed Rulemaking) announcing a ban on investment by U.S. persons, including U.S.-registered business entities, in three advanced technology sectors in China – quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors ...
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has published its proposed regulations to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) in the Federal Register. The PWFA, which became effective on June 27, 2023, requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees and applicants suffering limitations from pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions ...
In its judgement delivered on 14th June 2023 in the names of Marco Aquilina & Euro Concrete Blocks Limited vs. Ir-Registratur tal-Kumpaniji, the Civil Court (Commerce Section), presided over by Mr. Justice Ian Spiteri Bailey, decided in favour of the plaintiffs, who successfully challenged the payment and settlement of various alleged administrative penalties imposed by the Registrar of Companies. The pertinent facts of the case are as follows ...
“Who steals my purse steals trash; ’tis something, nothing; ’twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands; But he that filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed ...
In the latest edition of our HR Improve series, we consider the steps employers can take to improve diversity, equity and inclusion within the workplace ...
A recent case has seen trustees apply for and obtain court approval for a trustee petition to wind-up the scheme's sponsoring employers. This is a relatively unusual case, but the trustees had reached a point where no other options were available to them ...
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On 9 August 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Executive Order on Addressing United States Investments in Certain National Security Technologies and Products in Countries of Concern (the "Executive Order"), to regulate U.S. persons engaged in transactions or investment activities in China (including mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau) that involve certain technologies and products. The U.S ...
In the aftermath of some highly-publicised social dumping cases in the media, the Flemish government has proposed a zero tolerance policy for bogus posting set-ups involving illegal employment, especially if they involve exploitation and “smart” contractor chain constructions. To achieve this aim, the Flemish government has adjusted some already existing chain liability schemes and is seeking to introduce, amongst other things, a duty of care obligation for certain contractors ...
Hydrogen is seen by many as the fuel of the future, a substance that can provide heat through combustion, or electrical power from fuel cells, emitting only water in the process. Its potential usefulness, specifically its ability to replace fossil fuels without generating greenhouse gases, makes it the poster child for clean energy. There are various ways of producing hydrogen, but currently most of it is done in the most cost-efficient way, by steam reforming ...
Since it came into force on September 1, 2022, the Select Luxury Items Tax Act1 has caused quite a stir in the aviation industry. Many of those operating in the industry have voiced their discontent, claiming that the tax affects their competitiveness on the international stage. In general, the luxury tax applies to the sale, lease or import of certain aircraft costing more than $100,000 ...
An interesting point has arisen in an unopposed lease renewal case that considered whether a landlord’s break option should be included in a new lease, to allow the landlord to occupy the premises for the purposes of its own business. BMW sought renewal leases of its showroom at 70 Park Lane, London, which was let under four separate tenancies ...
The Maltese law transposing European Union Directive on representative actions for the protection of the collective interests of consumers, Directive (EU) 2020/1828 of the 25th of November 2020, came into force by means of Act XVII of 2023 on the 25th of June 2023 (hereinafter referred to as the “Representative Actions Act” or the “Act”) ...
The MFSA published a Circular on the 13th of July 2023 regarding a Public Statement issued by the European Securities and Markets Authority (hereinafter referred to as “ESMA”) outlining sustainability disclosure expectations in prospectuses. This was addressed to issuers and their advisory teams in the process of drawing up prospectuses ...
We are deeply saddened at the passing of our dear friend and Patterson Belknap colleague, Robert M. Pennoyer, on August 13, 2023. He was a leader of the firm in every way, and he was indefatigable in his service to the firm’s clients and to our community. Bob was born on April 9, 1925, in the house of his grandfather J.P. Morgan on Madison Avenue. His commitment to service was instilled from a young age ...
