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Double Dutch: Dividend Tax Reform Extends Exemption, Yet Tackles Abuse

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Double Dutch: Dividend Tax Reform Extends Exemption, Yet Tackles Abuse

This year’s budget in the Netherlands contains a legislative proposal that introduces a unilateral exemption applicable to corporate shareholders based in treaty countries, such as the U.S., subject to stringent anti-abuse rules.  In addition, it proposes to bring cooperatives used as holding vehicles within the scope of the dividend withholding tax rules.  Soon after the proposals were announced, a coalition government was formed and announced a complete elimination of dividend withholding tax.  Paul Kraan of Van Campen Liem in Amsterdam explains.

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An American In London: Due Diligence Observations

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An American In London: Due Diligence Observations

Performing due diligence on private companies for a potential merger or acquisition has been described as an exercise in educated guessing.  The quality of the target’s financial information, potential hidden liabilities, financing, and similar deficiencies may result in a valuation that is neither straightforward nor reliable.  When the target is abroad, the culture, language, and business norms may cause the educated guess to be more guess and less educated.  Knowing how to overcome this dilemma is a skill set that can be obtained only through experience.  Nick Magone, founder of Magone & Company, P.C., in Roseland, New Jersey, shares his experiences in performing due diligence on potential target companies in the U.K.  His advice?  Numbers are only the beginning.

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The Changing Face of Service Permanent Establishments

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The Changing Face of Service Permanent Establishments

As governments struggle to adapt the old rules of taxable presence within a jurisdiction to economic activities in the digital age, new concepts have been asserted to impose tax on foreign service providers who are based abroad but regularly furnish services within a country.  India is among the global leaders rejecting physical presence in favor of location of the customer.  Neha Rastogi and Stanley C. Ruchelman look at the concept of destination based taxation and a recent case, where an Indian Income Tax Appellate Tribunal held that the physical presence of the foreign taxpayer’s employees is not relevant for determining the existence of a Service P.E. in the source country.

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Tax 101: Taxation of Intellectual Property—Selected Tax Issues Involving Corporations and Partnerships→

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Published in The Licensing Journal vol. 37, no. 9 (October 2017): pp. 11-18.

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A Case of Nonacquiescence: I.R.S. Opposes Bartell Decision

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A Case of Nonacquiescence: I.R.S. Opposes Bartell Decision

Tax-smart investors in U.S. real estate understand that the principal method of disposing real property is to participate in a two-party swap transaction with the ultimate purchaser or a three-party deferred swap through a qualified intermediary.  In Bartell v. Commr., the U.S. Tax Court allowed a replacement property to be purchased by an exchange accommodation title holder with whom it was parked for 17 months prior to its transfer.  However, the I.R.S. has issued a notice of nonacquiescence, advising taxpayers that it disagrees with the holding of the court.  Rusudan Shervashidze and Nina Krauthamer explain the facts in Bartell, the safe harbor that was published in Rev. Proc 2000-37, and the status of the facilitator as a beneficial owner for purposes of allowing tax deferral in the swap transaction.

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Eaton A.P.A. Cancellations Were an Abuse of I.R.S. Discretion

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Eaton A.P.A. Cancellations Were an Abuse of I.R.S. Discretion

A recent U.S. Tax Court decision involving Eaton Corporation affirmed that the I.R.S. cannot arbitrarily circumvent administrative rules that are set down in revenue procedures and relied upon by the I.R.S. and a taxpayer.  As a result, the I.R.S. must reasonably exercise its discretion when seeking to terminate an advance pricing agreement with a taxpayer.  Michael Peggs looks at the process of obtaining an advanced pricing agreement and comments on the court’s decision.

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O.E.C.D. Issues Proposed Changes to Permanent Establishment Provisions Under Model Tax Convention

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O.E.C.D. Issues Proposed Changes to Permanent Establishment Provisions Under Model Tax Convention

Earlier this year, the O.E.C.D. proposed amendments to Article 5 (Permanent Establishment) of the Model Tax Convention and Commentary.  The revisions eliminate loopholes that exist for commissionaire arrangements, artificial characterization of core activities as “preparatory,” avoidance of permanent establishment status through artificial fragmentation of contracts, and the use of not-so-independent agents.  Neha Rastogi, Beate Erwin, and Stanley C. Ruchelman explain the replacement provisions.

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Bilateral Investment Treaties: When Double Taxation Agreements Are Not Enough

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Bilateral Investment Treaties: When Double Taxation Agreements Are Not Enough

The U.S. enters into bilateral investment treaties to protect and promote foreign investment.  Unlike double taxation agreements, which relate exclusively to tax matters, they are not usually seen as a defense mechanism when dealing with foreign tax authorities.  Interestingly, they are!   Rusudan Shervashidze and Nina Krauthamer explain.

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Tax 101: Deemed Annual Royalty on Outbound Transfers of I.P. to Foreign Corporations

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Tax 101: Deemed Annual Royalty on Outbound Transfers of I.P. to Foreign Corporations

U.S. tax law contains provisions that attempt to discourage the outbound migration of intangible assets including specific rules that target transfers affected through corporate inversions.  Elizabeth V. Zanet and Stanley C. Ruchelman discuss the history and current standing of those provisions, while pointing out an alternative that is currently available to limit ongoing tax liability in the context of a start-up operation.

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Tax Roulette: Buying a Business Jet in 2017 – Why Following the Patriot’s Example May Lead to a Jackpot

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Tax Roulette: Buying a Business Jet in 2017 – Why Following the Patriot’s Example May Lead to a Jackpot

The New England Patriots recently made headlines with the purchase of two private team jets.  Was this plan implemented only to provide more space for beefy footballers, or did ownership identify the nifty situation that could lead to a jackpot of tax savings for high-ticket assets purchased in 2017?  Beate Erwin and Stanley C. Ruchelman explain that with increased depreciation deductions this year at high tax rates and possible recapture in a future year at low tax rates, the odds are good.

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India: Legal and Practical Strategies for Managing Tax Disputes

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India: Legal and Practical Strategies for Managing Tax Disputes

Most readers of this journal are front-end tax planners, proposing plans to be implemented by clients.  Regrettably, not all plans escape examination by the tax inspector, and in India, that number is on the rise.  Sanjay Sanghvi of Attorneys Khaitan & Co., Mumbai explains how to prepare for a tax examination in India and provides practical insights into the examination, appeals, and judicial review processes.

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The Economic Substance Doctrine: A U.S. Anti-Abuse Rule

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The Economic Substance Doctrine: A U.S. Anti-Abuse Rule

While the O.E.C.D. and the European Commission have only recently discovered the “principal purpose” test as a tool to combat aggressive tax planning, U.S. case law has enforced an economic substance rule for over 85 years and that rule was codified in 2010.  Fanny Karaman, Neha Rastogi, and Stanley C. Ruchelman explain the hurdles that must be achieved in order for a plan to have economic substance.

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Spontaneous Exchange of Tax Rulings – The Swiss Angle

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Spontaneous Exchange of Tax Rulings – The Swiss Angle

Most – but not all – global tax advisers know that the tax planning universe has changed.  The few holdouts hoping that the old ways may yet be available were disappointed, again, when Switzerland announced procedures for the spontaneous exchange of tax rulings.  Rulings issued on and after January 1, 2010, will be exchanged beginning January 1, 2018.  Michael Fischer and Marc Buchmann of Attorneys Fischer Ramp Partner AG, Zurich, explain the new procedures and how taxpayers may take steps to stop the spontaneous exchange of existing rulings.

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Insights Vol. 4 No. 8: Updates & Other Tidbits

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Insights Vol. 4 No. 8: Updates & Other Tidbits

This month, Neha Rastogi and Nina Krauthamer look briefly at certain timely issues: (i) a European parliament proposal to extend the scope of country-by-country (“CbC”) reporting by group members when the group parent is not obligated to report and (ii) regulations identified by the I.R.S. as imposing undue burden on taxpayers.

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When the (Fake) I.R.S. Calls – Memoirs of the Tax Phishing World

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When the (Fake) I.R.S. Calls – Memoirs of the Tax Phishing World

“Phishing.”  Many have heard the word, which is used to describe scams intended to acquire sensitive information.  Few are prepared to be its target.  Unwary individuals are often drawn in by scammers pretending to call from the I.R.S. and threatening imprisonment unless a bogus tax bill is paid promptly.  Rusudan Shervashidze offers insights into the workings of these scammers, relaying her personal experience with an “I.R.S.” phishing call and providing tips to avoid falling into one of these traps.

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Foreign Partner Not Subject to U.S. Tax on Gain from Redemption of U.S. Partnership Interest

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Foreign Partner Not Subject to U.S. Tax on Gain from Redemption of U.S. Partnership Interest

Hurray!  After three years, the U.S. Tax Court ruled that gain from the sale of a partnership interest or the receipt of a liquidating distribution by a retiring partner is not subject to U.S. income tax even though the partnership conducts business in the U.S.  Neha Rastogi, Elizabeth V. Zanet, and Nina Krauthamer explain the reasoning behind the decision and the magnitude of the defeat for the I.R.S. Unless the case is reversed on appeal, the decision invalidates the I.R.S. position announced in Rev. Rul 91-32.

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Pancake Day – End to Permanent Non-Domicile Status and Charging Non-Doms I.H.T. on U.K. Residential Property

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Pancake Day – End to Permanent Non-Domicile Status and Charging Non-Doms I.H.T. on U.K. Residential Property

 In July, the U.K. government announced that proposals removed from the Finance Bill that was announced in March would be reproposed with a retroactive effective date, as if adopted when originally proposed.  This is bad news for non-domiciled individuals (“Non-Doms”) in general and for the estates of Non-Doms who died between March and the ultimate date of enactment.  If retroactive effective dates remain in the bill, rights granted by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which were incorporated into U.K. law by the Human Rights Act 1998, could be violated.  William Hancock and Daniel Simon of Collyer Bristow L.L.P. explain that Non-Doms should expect “too little jam and too little cream” on their pancakes if the provisions are enacted retroactively.

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Tax 101: Taxation of Intellectual Property – Selected Issues Involving Corporations and Partnerships

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Tax 101: Taxation of Intellectual Property – Selected Issues Involving Corporations and Partnerships

Tax 101 continues its series regarding the U.S. Federal tax considerations involving the creation, acquisition, use, license, and disposition of intellectual property (“I.P.”).  This month, Elizabeth V. Zanet and Stanley C. Ruchelman focus on I.P. held through a corporation or a partnership/L.L.C.  In particular, the not-well-understood rules regarding the sale of interests in a partnerships/L.L.C.’s owning “hot assets” are explained.  Not all gain benefits from favorable long-term capital gains tax rates.

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European Commission Proposes New Advisor Disclosure Obligation for Aggressive Tax Planning

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European Commission Proposes New Advisor Disclosure Obligation for Aggressive Tax Planning

In June, the European Commission proposed a set of rules calling on tax advisers to report aggressive tax plans submitted to clients.  The proposal identifies the hallmarks of aggressive plans and provides rules for the timing of reports and the exchange of information within Europe.  Fanny Karaman and Stanley C. Ruchelman explain.

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I.R.S. Explains “Substantially Complete” in Relation to International Information Return

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I.R.S. Explains “Substantially Complete” in Relation to International Information Return

Taxpayers having cross-border operations are confronted with numerous tax information forms to be filed as part of the annual tax return.  Because the forms are not directly used to compute taxable income, they frequently are completed at the last minute and with less attention to detail.  However, the I.R.S. imposes penalties for filing an incomplete form.  Taxpayers faced with asserted penalties often argue that the forms are substantially complete.  In a recent International Practice Unit (“I.P.U.”) issued by the Large Business & International Division of the I.R.S., the I.R.S. view regarding substantially complete form was explained.  Not surprisingly, the I.R.S. view is significantly different from taxpayer expectations.  It also differs from holdings in several Tax Court decisions involving other forms.  Neha Rastogi and Stanley C. Ruchelman discuss the I.P.U. in detail.

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