Asia Pacific tax authorities are actively seeking to reduce tax leakages, non-compliance, and what they perceive to be tax avoidance activities. To help you position your business for success in an era of ever-changing tax rules and intense scrutiny, our subject matter experts from across the region and globally will come together to examine key developments. We will discuss the impact of emerging trends and current issues on your business models and strategies, sharing practical tips on how you can maximize opportunities to achieve the best risk mitigation outcomes.

On 31 July 2023, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) published a Consultation Paper setting out a proposed regulatory framework for Single Family Offices (SFOs) in Singapore. The new measures under this proposed framework allows MAS to enhance its surveillance and defense against money laundering risks within the SFO sector.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) updated its guidelines on general anti-avoidance on 31 March 2023, with the release of the IRAS e-Tax Guide: “Income Tax: The General Anti-Avoidance Provision and its Application (Second Edition)” (“Revised Anti-Avoidance ETG”).
The Revised Anti-Avoidance ETG sets out additional examples of arrangements that IRAS considers to fall under the general anti-avoidance provision set out in Section 33 of the Income Tax Act 1947. It is helpful in providing taxpayers with greater clarity on IRAS’ approach to Section 33.

Budget 2023 focuses on building a more resilient and innovative Singapore. As the country emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic, the nation now contends with inflationary pressures in the midst of global uncertainty. Budget 2023 seeks to provide support to businesses and households to weather the challenges ahead while ensuring that Singapore continues to uphold fiscal prudence.

Singapore Budget 2022 makes significant strides in charting Singapore’s path into the future. As the nation faces an ageing population and seeks to recover from a prolonged pandemic amidst an increasingly volatile global landscape, Budget 2022 aims to prepare Singapore to meet these challenges while securing the opportunities of the future. What is of particular note in Budget 2022 is the announcement of changes to the tax system that are broadly aimed at building a fairer and more resilient revenue structure for Singapore. Importantly, Singapore is exploring the possible introduction of a minimum effective tax rate for multinational enterprise groups.

In a curated Roundtable session, hosted by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow, representatives from large multinationals across a diverse range of sectors joined the EDB and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore to discuss global tax reforms led by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and future differentiations in Singapore’s economic strategy.

Cross-border lending in Asia Pacific continues to grow steadily despite external factors such as COVID-19. While the region is not immune to external factors, borrowing volumes for financial institutions, credit funds and other market participants remain high in Asia Pacific. Considering the demographics of many of the nations, the various financial centers and many market participants investing more substantially in some of those financial centers, we remain optimistic that lending activity across Asia Pacific will continue to grow.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (‘IRAS’) updated its transfer pricing guidelines on 10 August 2021, with the release of the IRAS e-Tax Guide: Transfer Pricing Guidelines (Sixth Edition).. IRAS has provided additional guidance and clarification with respect to TP documentation compliance, surcharges on TP adjustments, advanced pricing arrangements and mutual agreement procedure requests.

From November 2020 to April 2021, there have been three reported decisions by the High Court and Court of Appeal involving tax controversies with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore. Two of these decisions involved disputes under the Income Tax Act. The final case relates to a decision concerning the assessment of property tax, and the interpretation of certain terms under the Property Tax Act.

From November 2020 to April 2021, there have been three reported decisions by the High Court (HC) and Court of Appeal (CA) involving tax controversies with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). Two of these decisions by the HC involved disputes under the Income Tax Act (ITA). The first case pertained to the application of the general anti-avoidance provision in s 33 of the ITA, and the second case concerned the taxability of an employee’s severance payment under s 10(2)(a) of the ITA.