Economic Substance Regulations (ESR) were introduced in the UAE in March 2019 by virtue of Cabinet Resolution No. 31 of 2019 (Cabinet Resolution). The ESR apply to all companies based in the UAE (onshore and free zones), including branches and apply to financial years starting on or after 1 January 2019. The UAE government has delegated the responsibility to regulate and administer the ESR to the various onshore and free zone authorities (such as the…
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has announced to triple the rate of VAT to 15%, which will come to effect on 1 July 2020. This is a significant rate increase and one of the fiscal measures taken by the KSA Government to mitigate the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other macro-economic developments on public finance. The increased rate is expected to apply to all supplies of goods and services that are currently…
With insights from Africa-focused tax advisers from Baker McKenzie and our network of African hub firms, we aim to provide you with regional updates and practical guidance on the tax implications of doing business across the large and diverse African continent. In this special edition of the Baker McKenzie Africa Tax Newsletter, we focus on the most recent tax-related developments in Ethiopia as well as other news and updates from the African region. Ethiopia enacts…
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a heavy impact on the global economy. The spread of the virus is constraining the supply and demand for goods and services. As a result, companies are considering the potential cancellation of contracts and the impact on their cash flows. In this special edition of the Middle East Tax Newsletter, we set out the VAT aspects of the potential cancellation of contracts. We also provide suggestions to optimize cash…