In a speech to the European Parliament last week, Algirdas Šemeta, European Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud, supported the “promising option” of a financial activities tax (FAT). In an exclusive interview, International Tax Review spoke to Commissioner Šemeta about why he favours a FAT at the EU level over a financial transactions tax (FTT), how it might work and the challenges to be overcome.
Unlock this content.
The content you are trying to view is exclusive to our subscribers.
The buyout of Hucke and Associates continues Ryan’s streak of firm acquisitions; in other news, a UK appeal against VAT on private school fees was dismissed
A 120-plus-day delay to refunds would cost taxpayers almost $3bn in additional interest, the Cato Institute warned; plus indirect tax updates from February
The Office for Budget Responsibility’s pessimistic pillar two forecast accompanied the UK chancellor’s muted Spring Statement, dubbed ‘as dull as possible’ by one adviser
Digital tax reform is dissolving the old ‘temporal buffer’, forcing systems, institutions, and professionals to adapt as real-time reporting reshapes governance, capability, and compliance
While some believe it could have a positive effect on the wider advisory landscape, others argue that HMRC’s ‘red tape’ exercise won’t deter bad actors