US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told a congressional hearing on June 17, 2020, that the US Government has withdrawn from international negotiations on new global tax rules for digital companies at the OECD.

The Office of the US Trade Representative has announced that the US will impose additional duties of 25 percent on imports of certain French products from next year in response to the country's decision to introduce a digital services tax.

The United Arab Emirates' Federal Tax Authority has released a new guide on the value-added tax rules for e-commerce and the digital economy.

French Minister of Finance Bruno Le Maire has reportedly said that France intends to collect the country's digital services tax in December 2020.

The United Arab Emirates' Federal Tax Authority has clarified the value-added tax rules that apply to e-commerce transactions.

The OECD has released its annual Consumption Tax Trends report, which highlights that with VAT rates at an all-time high, governments should ensure they have effective VAT frameworks in place to tax e-commerce.

The Swedish tax authority has announced that it will be expending more resources this year on ensuring businesses fully declare income from e-commerce and taxpayers report income from home rentals.

On March 10, the OECD released a new VAT Digital Toolkit for Asia-Pacific (APAC) nations. The toolkit is intended to support local tax authorities to better collect value-added tax on e-commerce activities.

The Irish Revenue has announced the implementation of temporary measures in relation to the close company surcharge regime, in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Irish business association Ibec has called for the establishment of a Commission on Taxation, as part of a package of measures to "reboot" the economy after the coronavirus pandemic.

The Irish Revenue has updated its guidance on stamp duty to clarify a number of issues related to the conditions for companies to avail themselves of associated companies relief.

Apple and the Irish Government have been successful in having overturned a European Commission decision that two tax rulings granted to the company by the Irish Government were unlawful.

The Irish Revenue has issued guidance for companies on the temporary acceleration of corporate tax loss relief for accounting periods affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions.

A temporary reduction in Ireland's standard rate of VAT entered into force on September 1, 2020.

The OECD has released its annual Consumption Tax Trends report, which highlights that with VAT rates at an all-time high, governments should ensure they have effective VAT frameworks in place to tax e-commerce.

The Bermuda Monetary Authority on December 15, 2020, released a new consultation paper on its proposal for a conduct of business regulatory regime to better protect retail investors.

The Irish headline rate of VAT will return to 23 percent from March, having been temporarily reduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The United States Council for International Business has called on US authorities to focus its efforts on working with other countries to arrive at an international tax solution to the digitalized economy, rather than tackling countries' unilateral responses.

The UK Government has announced plans to expand its Making Tax Digital project from 2022.

On July 20, 2020, the French Government published in the Official Gazette a decree to expand the list of jurisdictions exempt from local filing reporting requirements under the country's country-by-country reporting regime.

Alongside a review into the reform of the business rates system (commercial property tax) in the UK, the Government is looking at possible taxes that could replace or supplement the regime, including a new tax on online sales.

The European Commission has proposed changes to the EU's VAT rules in respect of Northern Ireland, in preparation for the end of the Brexit transition period with the UK.

Unilever may scrap plans to overhaul its company structure if an exit tax proposed by a Dutch opposition party is passed.

The UK tax authority has published final guidance on the Loan Charge regime, following the enactment of amendments in the UK Finance Bill 2019-21.

The UK Government has dismissed speculation that it will repeal its digital services tax in a bid to secure a post-Brexit free trade agreement with the United States.

HM Revenue and Customs has announced that it is has agreed changes with authorities in Austria regarding how the two authorities will deal with requests for relief under the two countries' tax treaty.

The UK Government has recently issued a call for evidence from UK VAT groups on future policy reform.

The European Commission has published its latest VAT gap report, which show that EU countries lost an estimated EUR140bn (USD165.7bn) in VAT revenues in 2018.

The UK Government on September 16, 2020, tabled The Taxes (Interest Rate) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2020, which will enable HM Revenue and Customs to collect or pay interest on overpaid or underpaid digital services tax liabilities.

On September 24, 2020, HM Revenue and Customs released in-depth guidance on the introduction of the VAT reverse charge mechanism on the supply of building or construction services.

On October 5, 2020, the UK tax authority added considerably to its Brexit guidance for businesses on the value-added tax rules that will apply to goods entering Great Britain from outside the UK.

The OECD has released a new report on countries' tax rules for virtual currencies, alongside an announcement that the Common Reporting Standard will be expanded next year to newly cover virtual currency assets.

The UK's Public Accounts Committee has recommended that the UK tax authority first review the potential administrative burden and cost on taxpayers before further expanding its Making Tax Digital initiative.

On November 5, 2020, HM Revenue and Customs issued a consultation on proposals to improve the administration of Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) and prevent unfair outcomes.

More closely aligning UK capital gains tax (CGT) rates with income tax rates could raise significant revenues for the UK, a government-commissioned review has concluded.

The UK Government has announced that the temporary GBP1m (USD1.31m) cap for the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) will be extended until January 1, 2022.

Canada and the UK have announced the successful conclusion of negotiations on an interim trade agreement, which will be in place as they work toward a comprehensive post-Brexit free trade deal.

HM Revenue and Customs has confirmed that UK businesses who wish to pay their deferred VAT liabilities in installments will be able to decide a payment schedule early next year.

The EU has referred the UK to the Court of Justice over its failure to comply with EU rules on marked fuel.

Canada and the UK have formally signed a post-Brexit trade continuity agreement that will apply from January 1, 2021.

The UK Government is inviting input on the tax challenges associated with the rise of the sharing economy.

On December 15, 2020, the UK and Mexico signed a trade continuity agreement that will apply when the Brexit transition period ends.

Norway intends to provide value-added tax administrative relief measures to UK businesses in response to Brexit.