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Read this month's special features on Singapore IP, GCC, Tax technology and Mexican energy reform

Anastasia Sagianni

Dajana Topic The National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska (RS) on July 15 2014 adopted amendments to the Law on Cash Registers, which entered into force on August 1 2014. The changes have been announced in the Official Gazette of RS, edition number 65, dated July 24 2014.

Donka Pechilkova The Bulgarian Parliament is discussing and amending several important tax laws including the VAT Law as well as the CITA and Tax and Social Security Proceeding Code; all of which will lead to important changes in the Bulgarian tax system. The most significant changes concern the VAT Law and are specifically related to amendments in the EU-specialised legislation, the Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1042/2013, amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 282/2011 regarding the place of supply of services (the new European VAT package). Effective from January 1 2015, all entities that provide telecommunication, TV and radio services to end-consumers will be subject to VAT taxation in the jurisdiction where their end-user is located. As this could cause massive inconveniences for such companies, by introducing the obligation of VAT registration in every country they have end-users in, there is an option for applying a special VAT regime treatment for such cases. For that purpose, the providers should submit a special application for declaring of data via the information system MOSS (mini-one-stop-shop). The submission of the application, as well as the submission of the following quarterly mandatory reports will be done electronically, via the website of the National Revenue Agency for companies registered in Bulgaria. Companies registered in Bulgaria can submit their applications starting from October 1 2014 with the registration being effective as of January 1 2015.

Loreto Pelegrí

In part, as a consequence of the OECD's work on BEPS and its specific efforts to address treaty shopping, the Canadian government has been considering a range of possible measures that might be adopted to counteract treaty shopping.

Khoonming Ho

Zoe Kokoni Cyprus, which has been long-established as a solid economic and business centre worldwide, seeks to reinforce its title as a beneficial investment hub by expanding its double tax treaty network and creating stronger economic and trade relations with other contracting states. On June 21 2013, Cyprus and Lithuania signed their first double tax treaty (DTT). Since then, the countries have ratified the agreement, which will enter into force on January 1 2015.

Hartwig Welbers Self-disclosure allows tax evaders to avoid prosecution by coming forward of their own volition and paying the tax evaded. In principle, this opportunity is to be retained, although many believe that the current rules need to be tightened. The Ministry of Finance has now published draft amending legislation to that end. This subject is relevant to corporates in respect of their mass data filings of monthly VAT and payroll withholding. Because it is not easy for the authorities to distinguish between an error and a wilful attempt to defraud, there is a growing tendency to see corrected returns as failed self-disclosures (because they often cannot meet all the formal requirements) and to open criminal proceedings. The new ministerial draft now published tackles this issue by re-introducing partial self-disclosure for monthly or quarterly VAT or payroll withholding tax returns. A corrected return will not fail in respect of the corrections.

David Swenson, global leader of PwC’s tax controversy and dispute resolution network, identifies and discusses many of the emerging megatrends in the turbulent global tax controversy environment.