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Botswana | Amendments to exchange of information provisions |
In an attempt to disprove impressions that the country may be a tax haven, Botswana is in the process of amending its Income Tax Act and Banking Act, identified by the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information to address some deficiencies in respect of the exchange of information for tax purposes. Parliament approved the amendment of the Income Tax Act in December 2012 to allow the Botswana Unified Revenue Service to exchange information for tax purposes. The Banking Act is being amended to repeal strict banking secrecy provisions to allow for banking information to be provided for the purposes of exchange of information with treaty partners. In addition, Botswana has concluded negotiations of Protocols to amend the Article on Exchange of Information in the double tax treaties with Sweden, Seychelles and South Africa to allow for the effective exchange of information for tax purposes. Negotiations to amend the treaties with Barbados and France are also at an advanced stage. |
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Isle of Man Information Exchange Agreement | The Isle of Man has signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with Botswana on 14 June 2013 and announced that the country is currently negotiating similar agreement with six other SADC countries. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Africa | 2013/14 Budget | The 2013/14 Budget speech was presented
to the East African Legislative Assembly on 30 May 2013. The
Customs and International Trade related priorities for the coming
financial year include:
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Ghana | Social security contributions for expatriates |
The Ghana Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has announced that it will be enforcing compliance with the National Pensions Act, 2008 (Act 766) in respect of expatriate social security contributions with effect from 2 July 2013. In terms of the Act, the mandatory First Tier Basic Social Security Scheme applies to every employer and worker of an establishment in Ghana, unless expressly exempted by the Constitution or any other Law. In respect of non-Ghanaians, exemption is only provided for in respect of diplomatic agents and the United Nations and its specialised agencies which have diplomatic status. Accordingly, all other expatriates working in Ghana are thus required to register and contribute to the Social Security Scheme. However, in terms of the SSNIT's current practice, it will allow for an exemption of expatriates where they are in Ghana on a short term basis (not more than 3 years) and are undertaking the installation of equipment or machinery acquired by a Ghanaian company under a Suppliers Contract and for training of local workers or undertaking a Technology Transfer Agreement under the Investment Promotion Centre Act or where proof is provided by the employer that such expatriate is still a worker in his/her home country and a member of the Pension Scheme of that country. |
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Internal Revenue Amendment Act 2013 | The Ghanaian Parliament has passed into
law the Internal Revenue Amendment Act, 2013 (Act 859) on 23 May
2013. With effect from 24 May (effectively for the month of
June 2013) the following annual individual income tax bands apply:
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Additional taxes and levies introduced | The Government has announced that it is
considering introducing inter alia the following fiscal
measures to boost the country's revenue and reduce the current
budget deficit:
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Kenya | 2013/14 Budget review | The 2013/14 Budget Speech of 13 June
2013 announced the:
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Mauritius | Renegotiation of double tax treaty with South Africa | The amended South Africa / Mauritius
double tax treaty, recently signed and expected to come into effect
in 2015, introduces a number of material amendments.
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Mauritius | Monaco double tax treaty | Mauritius has signed a double tax treaty with the Principality of Monaco on 13 April 2013. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Namibia | Income Tax Amendment Act 4 of 2013 |
The Income Tax Amendment Act 4 of 2013, the Transfer Duty Amendment Act 6 of 2013 and the Stamp Duties Amendment Act 7 of 2013 were gazetted on 31 May 2013. The following individual income tax rates are effective from 1 March 2013:
The corporate tax rates effective for years of assessment commencing on or after 1January 2013 are:
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Nigeria | Guidance on tax implications of adoption of IFRS |
Nigeria's Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has issued an Information Circular dated 23 April 2013 as a guide to taxpayers regarding the tax implications of the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) by the Nigerian government in 2010. Key provisions of the Circular include
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Rwanda | 2013/14 Budget review | The 2013/14 Budget Speech of 13 June
2013 announced the:
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Tanzania | 2013/14 Budget review | The 2013/14 Budget Speech of 13 June
2013 announced the:
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Uganda | 2013/14 Budget review | The 2013/14 Budget Speech of 13 June 2013 announced the withdrawal of VAT exemption for hotel accommodation, making it subject to the standard VAT rate of 18%. This would result in significantly higher cost for tourists and conference participants. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zambia | Mining companies to receive proceeds of export sales in Zambia | A new law in Zambia, which cam into force in June 2013, requires mining companies to bring the proceeds of export sales back to Zambia. The Zambian tax authorities will scrutinise dividend and other payments prior to granting approval for repatriation from the country. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zimbabwe | Increase in National Social Security |
Monthly contributions to the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) for employers and employees have been increased from 3% to 3.5% of the first $700 (previously $200) of basic monthly earnings with effect from 1 June 2013. Contributions apply to employees who are ordinarily resident in or citizens of Zimbabwe |
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