Insights
Tax, regulation and finance developments that matter to businesses operating across borders. Coverage includes the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hong Kong, the United States, Luxembourg, Ireland and the Netherlands. Most articles include a designed PDF.
Union Budget 2026-27: MAT at 14%, buyback tax, higher STT and lower TCS
The Budget of 1 February 2026 made MAT a 14% final tax, taxed buybacks as capital gains, raised securities transaction tax on derivatives and cut TCS on overseas tours and remittances to 2%.
India transfer pricing: 15.5% safe harbour for IT services and a data centre tax holiday
Budget 2026-27 set a common 15.5% safe harbour margin for IT services, raised eligibility to INR 2,000 crore and gave cloud providers using Indian data centres a tax holiday to 2047.
SEBI board, 24 September 2026: new PMS and settlement rules, wider accredited investor route
SEBI approved new Portfolio Managers and Settlement Regulations, a common advertisement code, FPI access to more commodity derivatives, and treats non-residents as accredited investors.
India-UK trade agreement in force since 15 July 2026
The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and the Double Contribution Convention took effect on 15 July 2026, giving duty-free UK access for about 99% of Indian tariff lines.
Buying property from a non-resident in India: PAN-based TDS from 1 October 2026
Since 1 October 2026, resident individuals and HUFs buying property from a non-resident no longer need a TAN. They pay and report the TDS through Form 141 using their PAN.
India GST key facts: 5%, 18% and 40% rates, and what comes next
Since 22 September 2025 India's GST has two main rates, 5% and 18%, plus a 40% rate for a short list of goods. The 57th Council meeting now turns to process reform.
UK Budget on 28 October 2026: what finance teams already know
The Chancellor delivers the Budget on Wednesday 28 October. No measures are confirmed, but HMRC's June tax update shows which changes are already in the pipeline.
Bank of England holds Bank Rate at 3.75%, with three votes for a rise
The Monetary Policy Committee voted 6 to 3 on 16 September 2026 to hold Bank Rate at 3.75%. It expects inflation to pass 4% in early 2027. The next decision is on 5 November.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: first quarter done, next deadline 7 November
More than 436,000 sole traders and landlords filed their first quarterly update. HMRC is now signing up those who have not, and the income threshold falls to £30,000 in April 2027.
UK e-invoicing from April 2029: Peppol confirmed, roadmap due at the Budget
Every VAT invoice in the United Kingdom must be an e-invoice from April 2029. In June 2026 HMRC confirmed Peppol as the core network, and a full roadmap is due on 28 October.
UK and Gulf Cooperation Council agree a trade deal: what is in it
The United Kingdom and the six Gulf Cooperation Council states reached a trade agreement on 20 May 2026. It removes tariffs on about 93% of UK exports, but is not yet in force.
Companies House identity checks: first directors fined as the transition year ends
Three directors were fined in September 2026 for identity verification offences. The 12-month transition for existing directors, which began on 18 November 2025, is almost over.
UK crypto regulation: the FCA’s authorisation gateway is open until 28 February 2027
Crypto firms serving the UK market can apply for FCA authorisation from 30 September 2026. The full regime starts on 25 October 2027.
FCA accountability rules in 2026: lighter process, wider conduct
The FCA trimmed the Senior Managers and Certification Regime in April and July 2026. From 1 September its conduct rules also reach non-financial misconduct across regulated firms.
UK Corporation Tax key facts: rates, payment dates, returns and penalties
The main rate is 25% and the small profits rate 19%. Tax is due nine months and one day after the period ends, the return within 12 months, and late filing starts at £200.
UK VAT key facts: rates, the £90,000 threshold, returns and penalty points
UK VAT is 20%, with 5% and 0% rates. Registration is compulsory above £90,000 of taxable turnover, and overseas sellers must register whatever their turnover.
Switzerland’s beneficial owner register is live: who must report, and by when
The Swiss Transparency Register opened on 1 October 2026. Companies have between one month and two years to report the people who control them, depending on their type.
Swiss VAT may rise to 8.5% in 2028: the 29 November vote explained
Voters decide on 29 November 2026 whether to lift the standard VAT rate from 8.1% to 8.5% from 2028 to help pay for the 13th monthly state pension.
Switzerland ends joint taxation of married couples: what the March vote changes
On 8 March 2026 voters approved individual taxation with 54.23% in favour. Every adult will file a separate return, by 2032 at the latest.
Switzerland’s 15% top-up tax in 2026: first returns, safe harbours and who gets the money
The Swiss top-up tax has applied since 2024 and the international one since 2025. In April 2026 the Federal Tax Administration confirmed how the new OECD safe harbours apply.
Switzerland’s too-big-to-fail reform: what the 2026 bank capital package contains
The Federal Council wants systemically important banks to back foreign subsidiaries fully with core capital. A second package on supervision and liquidity is in consultation until 19 November 2026.
FINMA’s 2027 rulebook: two new bank ordinances and three items still open
New FINMA ordinances on risk diversification and liquidity replace three circulars on 1 January 2027. A data-transfer circular is in consultation until 27 November 2026.
Swiss National Bank keeps its policy rate at 0%: what treasurers should note
At its 24 September 2026 assessment the SNB left the policy rate at 0%, forecast inflation below 1% through 2028 and raised its growth forecast for 2026.
Swiss federal budget 2027: back in balance, with corporate tax doing the work
The 2027 budget shows a structural surplus of about CHF 180 million on spending of CHF 93.8 billion, helped by a relief package and CHF 1.8 billion of extra expected receipts.
Swiss crypto tax reporting: the law is in place, the data exchange is not
Switzerland wrote the OECD crypto-asset reporting framework into law from 1 January 2026, but it does not apply in 2026. Exchange with partner states starts in 2027 at the earliest.
Swiss VAT key facts: rates, registration threshold, filing and foreign companies
Swiss VAT is 8.1%, with a 2.6% reduced rate and 3.8% for accommodation. Registration starts at CHF 100,000 of worldwide turnover, and returns are due 60 days after each period.
Saudi Arabia Wave 25 E-Invoicing: Is Your Business Next? Integration Deadline 1 February 2027
ZATCA has cut the Phase Two e-invoicing threshold to SAR 187,500 of VAT-subject revenue. Businesses above it must connect to Fatoora by 1 February 2027.
India Extends ITR Deadline for Tax-Audit Cases to 21 November 2026
CBDT has moved the AY 2026-27 audit-report date to 21 October and the return date to 21 November 2026 for taxpayers whose accounts must be audited. Everyone else keeps the original dates.
Singapore e-invoicing: every GST-registered business on InvoiceNow by April 2031
IRAS and IMDA will bring all GST-registered businesses onto the InvoiceNow network in four yearly phases from 1 April 2028 to 1 April 2031, starting with the smallest.
Singapore Budget 2026: the tax measures that matter to businesses
The 12 February 2026 Budget gave a corporate tax rebate, a 400% deduction for AI spending and a higher cap for overseas expansion costs. The rebate was raised again in April.
Singapore Finance (Income Taxes) Bill 2026: 22 proposed amendments explained
The Ministry of Finance consulted from 8 June to 1 July 2026 on a draft Bill with 20 changes to the Income Tax Act and two to the minimum tax law. Its response is due by the fourth quarter.
Singapore’s 15% minimum tax: registration, central filing and safe harbours
Large multinational groups with a Singapore entity must register for the top-up taxes within six months of their first in-scope year end. Singapore has also signed up to central filing of the GloBE return.
Singapore GST refund fraud: raids, a six-year sentence and what buyers must check
IRAS raided more than 20 locations in March and a missing trader case ended in June with a six-year jail term. Honest businesses can still lose input tax if they skip due diligence.
Singapore tax collection hits S$97.3 billion: IRAS annual report FY2025/26
IRAS collected 9.4% more than a year earlier. Corporate Income Tax led at S$34.4 billion, arrears stayed at 0.64% and audits recovered about S$589 million.
MAS proposes tighter board rules for Singapore banks and insurers
A consultation opened on 30 September 2026 would refine director independence, enlarge boards at the most important institutions and require approval for more key appointments. Comments close on 9 December.
MAS sets out its stablecoin law: consultation closes 16 October 2026
Proposed changes to the Payment Services Act would let only licensed issuers call a token an "MAS-regulated stablecoin", with rules on value stability, capital, redemption at par and disclosure.
Singapore asset management: a planned tax exemption and faster fund approvals
MAS plans a tax exemption for fund managers' profit-related returns from Year of Assessment 2027, and has proposed a three-week authorisation route for new retail fund types.
Singapore GST key facts: rate, registration, filing dates and penalties
GST is 9%. Registration is compulsory above S$1 million of taxable turnover, and returns and payment are due one month after each accounting period. The next quarterly date is 31 October 2026.
Singapore Corporate Income Tax: YA 2026 returns due 30 November, with a 50% rebate
Every company must file its Year of Assessment 2026 return by 30 November 2026. In April the rebate was raised to 50% of tax payable, capped at S$40,000 including a S$2,000 cash grant.
UAE tax compliance calendar: October 2026 and the year-end run
The dates that matter between now and 31 December 2026, from excise and VAT returns to the e-invoicing provider deadline.
Corporate Tax: the 30 September 2026 deadline has passed. What now?
Calendar-year taxpayers had to file and pay for FY2025 by 30 September. What to check if you filed, and what to do if you did not.
Arab finance ministers meet in Abu Dhabi; GCC committee convenes
The UAE hosted the Arab Monetary Fund's Golden Jubilee and the 17th Council of Arab Finance Ministers, and joined the 126th GCC financial cooperation meeting.
Federal budget: the 2026 yearbook and the 2027–2029 planning cycle
The Ministry of Finance published the 2026 Budget Yearbook and has started reviewing the medium-term plan for the 2027–2029 federal budget.
E-invoicing in the UAE: the 30 October and 1 January dates
Large businesses must appoint an Accredited Service Provider by 30 October 2026 and go live on 1 January 2027. Smaller businesses follow in 2027.
FTA Decision No. 17 of 2026: input VAT on employee expenses
From 1 October 2026, input VAT on staff benefits is recoverable only in the cases and on the conditions the FTA lists.
UAE debt programme: second retail T-Sukuk and treasury bond demand
The Ministry of Finance opened a second Sovereign Retail T-Sukuk issuance at a 5.06% profit rate, after strong demand at the May bond auctions.
Supplier due diligence and input VAT: FTA Decision No. 13 of 2026
From 1 October the FTA can refuse a VAT refund when a purchase is linked to tax evasion and the buyer failed to run the required checks.
Excise Tax in 2026: return deadline, new prices and enforcement
Excise returns are due 15 October. The Cabinet set new excise prices for tobacco and vaping liquids, and the FTA reports a sharp rise in inspections.