A recent IRS concession bodes well for how the tax treatment of proof of stake validators may develop through case law. On December 20, 2021, the IRS offered a full refund to the plaintiffs in Jarrett et al v. United States for taxes paid on tokens created through proof of stake on the Tezos blockchain in 2019. In a statement released February 3, 2022, Joshua Jarrett confirmed the decision to seek an IRS ruling in the cryptocurrency case, rather than accept the tax refund ...
The Federal Circuit issued numerous precedential opinions last week, two of which answered long simmering questions about inter partes reviews (IPRs). Below we discuss a case addressing whether admissions of prior art in the patent itself can be considered as prior art in an IPR. Our Case of the Week reversed Federal Circuit precedent concerning the scope of IPR Estoppel ...
The General Department of Taxation (“GDT”) issued Instruction no. 1972 GDT on 31 January 2022 (“Instruction 1972”) which sets out obligations for taxpayers in Cambodia that carry out projects for public interest in connection with a grant or loan agreement (“Agreement”) or memorandum of understanding (“MoU”) between the Royal Government of Cambodia and another government or national development agency or partner international organisations ...
The UK Government has put forward for approval by Parliament a new safeguard mechanism for international transfers, known as the International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA), that will impact organisations transferring personal data out of the UK. If approved, the IDTA will apply from 21 March 2022, and we would encourage affected organisations to review their data transfer processes now ...
Background On February 4, 2022, Law No. 21.420 was enacted, which reduces or eliminates the indicated tax exemptions thereof. This law seeks the financing of the new Guaranteed Universal Pension (PGU) in a sustainable way over time, including a series of amendments to the Mining Code, among others. Modifications Exploration Mining Concession The duration of the concession is increased from 2 to 4 years, eliminating the possibility of requesting an extension ...
When the family team at Shoosmiths is instructed to advise on international child abduction we are very much aware that the parent left behind is often living a real-life nightmare. The situation usually involves our client’s child(ren) having been abducted by the other parent and being retained in a foreign country, or there being a serious risk that the other parent is about to abduct the child(ren) from this country to somewhere overseas ...
Key Points Before a party may sue to seek a refund of allegedly excessive property-related fees, like municipal water rates, their pre-suit Government Claims Act presentation must “fairly describe” each way in which the fees violated Proposition 218, or risk dismissal. Proposition 218 does not apply to penalties that water agencies impose on customers who fail to timely pay water bills. Do not overlook the Government Claims Act ...
A Los Angeles Police Department Captain was en route to a homicide scene when he received a radio call for a robbery in progress. The Captain noticed a patrol car parked in the alley near the robbery location which was not responding to the call; the Captain assumed it was a traffic car on a different radio frequency, and decided to respond to the call himself. As he was arriving, he saw the patrol car back up and leave the area ...
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released guidance on the FY2023 H-1B lottery process. Despite attempts to change the structure of the lottery selection process, the Service announced that it would continue with a random-selection lottery for 2022. The registration system will be open from 12 p.m. ET March 1, 2022 until 12 p.m. ET March 18, 2022. The application fee will continue to be $10 for each case entered into the system ...
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released guidance on the FY2023 H-1B lottery process. Despite attempts to change the structure of the lottery selection process, the Service announced that it would continue with a random-selection lottery for 2022. The registration system will be open from 12 p.m. ET March 1, 2022 until 12 p.m. ET March 18, 2022. The application fee will continue to be $10 for each case entered into the system ...
The phrase ‘national security’ is at the heart of but not defined in the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act 2021. There are some insights from related legislation and other sources, but the absence of definition means there is legal and consequently business uncertainty. From 4 January 2022 when the NSI Act 2021 came into full effect, the meaning of national security became crucial to M&A activity concerning the UK ...
GLIMPSES OF UNION BUDGET 2022 With the economy riding on the twin waves of rapid economic growth and increased tax collections, the Union Budget for 2022-23 was presented by the Hon’ble Finance Minister on February 1, 2022. A wide gamut policy and tax matters were outlined by the Minister in her speech, many of which found its way into the Finance Bill. We have put together the key takeaways for direct tax and indirect tax from the Union Budget. Trust this would be helpful ...
HIGHLIGHTS OF UNION BUDGET 2022-2023 Key Indirect Tax Proposals Special Economic Zones Act to be replaced Special Economic Zones Act is set to be replaced with a new legislation, under which Customs administration would be IT driven, and a Customs National Portal would be set up for this purpose. This is being done to encourage paperless processing and ease of doing business ...
HIGHLIGHTS OF UNION BUDGET 2022-2023 Key Direct Tax Proposals Personal Taxation Tax rates, TDS rates, Standard deduction and relief for savings etc. remain unchanged. Rates of surcharge have been rationalized in case of Long - term capital gain other than listed shares, and for Cooperative societies. Medical relief provided by employers or any other person in relation to COVID-19 will be exempt from F.Y. 2019-20 onwards ...
The UAE Ministry of Finance announced on 31 January 2022 the introduction of Corporate Tax (CT) commencing from June 2023. In the latest UAE initiative to diversify government income, UAE CT will build upon the tax infrastructure established following the introduction of a Value Added Tax regime in 2018. UAE CT is a Federal tax and will therefore apply across all Emirates, with the Federal Tax Authority responsible for administration and compliance of the UAE CT regime ...
The UAE Ministry of Finance announced on 31 January 2022 the introduction of Corporate Tax (CT) commencing from June 2023. In the latest UAE initiative to diversify government income, UAE CT will build upon the tax infrastructure established following the introduction of a Value Added Tax regime in 2018.UAE CT is a Federal tax and will therefore apply across all Emirates, with the Federal Tax Authority responsible for administration and compliance of the UAE CT regime ...
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) announced on January 28, 2022, that this year’s annual application period for the FY 2022 H-1B program will run from March 1, 2022, through March 18, 2022. Continuing the new electronic registration process that USCIS implemented for the first time two years ago, employers seeking new H-1B visas must register electronically with USCIS during the 16-day window. USCIS will then review all registrations submitted ...
Someone at IRS’s Chief Counsel Office realized the Service may have a qualified small business stock (“QSBS”) interpretation problem. After the IRS released multiple private letter rulings (“PLRs”) with favorable guidance on what constitutes a qualified trade or business under IRC section 1202(e)(3), IRS Chief Counsel appears to have had enough. Chief Counsel Memo (“CCA”) 202204007 (Nov ...
Is the unitary business principle the sole test for determining whether a state can tax an apportioned share of a non-domiciliary’s capital gains under the U.S. Supreme Court’s Due Process Clause and Commerce Clause jurisprudence? Jaye A. Calhoun, Bruce P. Ely, and Kelvin M. Lawrence believe so, and discuss its relevance in the last of a two-part series focusing on a closely watched case currently on appeal before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ...
Introduction Non-liability clauses are often included in many types of contracts. In principle, they are valid and used to limit (limitation of liability clause) or eliminate (exoneration clause) the liability of a party with respect to its obligations contained in a contract. The recent unanimous decision of the Supreme Court of Canada confirms that under Quebec law, parties may limit or exclude their liability in a contract by mutual agreement ...