Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Even China is taking up offshoring tax evasion. There is growing international acceptance of these practices.

February 10, 2015
By Toh Han Shih

The mainland (click here) has stepped up its participation in the G20's fight against international tax avoidance by passing a law cracking down on the indirect sale of assets outside the country to avoid paying taxes.
The law would affect investment companies, analysts said, adding it would also have a significant impact on Hong Kong, a major hub for cross-border deals involving the mainland.
To strengthen global cooperation against tax avoidance, a law on tax on gains from the indirect sale of assets by offshore companies took effect last Tuesday, the State Administration of Taxation said on Friday.
"This announcement is the latest policy of the taxation administration's proactive participation in the G20 base erosion and profit shifting action plan [against tax avoidance]," it said.
Liu Jinghua, a Beijing-based tax partner at Baker & McKenzie, an international law firm, said the new rules "clearly indicate China will focus more on cross-border anti-avoidance enforcement"....