Introduction 

• Philippe Arraou, President of ETAF

Professional Law

• Tackling the role of “enablers” in aggressive tax planning within the EU
• The Anti-Money Laundering package: overview of the progress made
• War in Ukraine: EU prohibits provision of tax advice to Russian entities

Tax Law

• The Czech Republic takes over the presidency of the Council of the EU
• National vetoes on Pillar II in the EU
• OECD Pillar I implementation delayed until 2024
• European Commission unveils DEBRA: the debt-equity bias reduction allowance
• Towards an EU framework for withholding taxes
• VAT in the digital age: ETAF takes position

ETAF News

• ETAF Conference “Professional regulation: a cornerstone for curbing down abusive tax avoidance”
• ETAF General Assembly 2022

Introduction

• Philippe Arraou, President of ETAF

Professional Law

• European Commission announces its plan to regulate tax advice in the EU
• ETAF authors Anti-Money Laundering amendment proposals

Tax Law

• EU countermeasures in reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
• ETAF takes a stand on the UNSHELL Directive
• Pillar II: several attempts at compromise at EU level
• Work on Pillar I is advancing at OECD
• EU Member States agree on CBAM
• Ten more third countries on the EU grey list for tax purposes

ETAF News

• Philippe Arraou participates to the French Presidency’s conference on e-invoicing
• Save-the-date: ETAF conference on 14 June

Introduction

• Philippe Arraou, President of ETAF

Professional Law

• ETAF accompanies new proposals to fight Money Laundering
• Commission calls on 18 Member States to strengthen the EU Single Market for regulated professions
• Justified and unjustified barriers in the EU Single Market

Tax Law

• The EU starts the implementing process of Pillar II
• European Commission proposes taking part of revenues of Pillar I for the EU budget
• European Commission proposes new rules to go after shell companies
• Taxation is high on the agenda of the French Presidency of the EU Council
• Updated rules for reduced VAT rates
• The revision of the Code of Conduct on Business Taxation stuck in the EU Council

Introduction

• Philippe Arraou, President of ETAF

Professional Law

• EP own-initiative report on obstacles to the Internal Market
• Enhancing the Internal Market for Services
• Single Market Enforcement Taskforce (SMET) publishes its first report

Tax Law

• OECD Tax Deal: changes and challenges ahead
• Fair Taxation and modernizing VAT rules on top of EU agenda for 2022
• EU to act in the wake of the Pandora Papers
• European Commission’s plan for a European withholding tax framework
• New VAT e-commerce rules in force
• European Commission wants to reduce debt-equity bias
• Coming soon: new Tax Transparency rules in the EU
• Still room for improvement for Tax Information exchange in the EU
• FATAL: a rewrite of EU Code of Conduct on business taxation
• EU cuts off its Blacklist of Tax Havens

ETAF News

• KSW joins ETAF as a full member
• EU officials and tax advisers discuss how to ensure a Stable Recovery through Fair Taxation

On Friday 8 October, 136 members of the OECD Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) reached a final agreement on a new framework for international tax reform. The European Tax Adviser Federation (ETAF) welcomes this step and expects the G20 Finance Ministers to endorse the deal during their meeting in Washington on 13 October, before the approval of the G20 leaders in Rome on 30-31 October.

The framework updates key elements of the century-old international tax system which is no longer fit for purpose in the digitalised 21st century economy. The two-pillar package aims to ensure that large multinationals companies pay tax where they operate and earn profits, regardless of whether firms have a physical presence there.

“This agreement arrives at the right time as governments need to raise necessary revenues to repair their budgets after the Covid-19 pandemic”, reacted ETAF President Philippe Arraou.

“With the agreement on Pillar I, all participating countries which have a national digital levy in place will now have to remove them and commit to the new international rules. Having a unified and global approach will provide much more certainty and stability to the international tax system”, he added.

ETAF also welcomes the fact that Ireland, Estonia, and Hungary decided to join the global deal on Pillar II, which will introduce a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15%. “European unity on this question is crucial if we really want to put an end to the race to the bottom with respect to corporate tax rates”, commented Mr Arraou.

While acknowledging the ambitious timeline proposed for the implementation of Pillar I and Pillar II from 2023 onwards, ETAF stresses that tax practitioners will need some time to adapt to the new rules.

It remains to be seen how the deal will be concretely implemented at EU level. Specific attention will have to be given to the carveouts agreed as they may add more complexity in applying the new system.

Notes to editors
For media enquiries, please contact: Marion Fontana, EU Policy Officer, [email protected], Phone: +32 2 2350 105 | Mobile: +32 471 78 90 64

Introduction

• Philippe Arraou, President of ETAF

Professional Law

• Update of the reform-recommendations for regulated professions
• Commission evaluates harmonization of ‘key business services’
• ETAF in close collaboration with Chair of FISC Committee Paul Tang

Tax Law

• A new international tax framework is taking shape
• Agreement on public Country-by-Country-Reporting
• European Commission proposes a Business Taxation Framework fit for the 21st century
• European Commission tackles fraud connected to crypto-currencies (DAC 8)
• The FISC Committee in its fight for a fairer tax system
• Commission aims at improving taxpayer’s rights
• Court cases: from Amazon to whistleblower’s sanctions in Luxembourg
• Extension of VAT exemption on vital goods in times of crisis
• European Parliament adopts its opinion on DAC 7
• Coreper approves the Fiscalis programme 2021-2027
• February infringement package: letters of formal notice to France and Sweden Updated EU tax haven lists

Introduction

• Philippe Arraou, President of ETAF

Professional Law

• IMCO study withdraws wrong assumptions on German Professional Law
• Update on the Digital Services Act

Tax Law

• The tax priorities of the Portuguese Presidency
• The EC plans for VAT: more implementing powers and reform of financial services
• Administrative Cooperation progresses: DAC 7 approved, DAC 8 launched
• The status of the Digital Services Tax at EU and global level
• Post-Brexit tax rules worry the European Parliament
• FISC Subcommittee’s work on tax blacklist, harmful tax practices and tax tools for economic recover
• COVID-19: Agreement on VAT exemption of vaccines and medical equipment
• Tax controversies: proceedings before from the Court of Justice and the Court of Human Rights
• European Commission acts against unlawful Member States’ tax practices
• Green and digital: the MFF leads the tax work of the Commission

Miscellaneous

• ETAF Tax Conference on the role of tax advisers

Introduction

•  Philippe Arraou, President of ETAF

Professional Law

•  What is illegal offline should be illegal online – the Digital Services Act

Tax Law

• Gentiloni opens the FISC Committee’s work
• ETAF gives feedback to climate related tax files
• The German Presidency pushes for an FTT
• VAT: Implementing powers for the European Commission?
• MEPs push for an ambitious reform of the own resources
• OECD postpones international tax reform deal to mid-2021
• State aid and tax: it is not just about Apple
• The latest change to the EU Tax Blacklist

Miscellaneous

• The strategy for European SMEs – an attempt to guide the economy through the green and digital transformation
• ETAF Tax Conference on “The role of tax advisers in strengthening tax compliance”