The South African Revenue Service announced on October 30 that it had paid over ZAR120bn (USD8.4bn) in refunds across all tax types in the last seven months, from the beginning of April of the tax season to date.

South Africa is to launch an inquiry into the reasons behind a shortfall in tax revenue collections.

The United States Economic Commission for Africa says African countries are gearing up to sign the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, with a key deadline this month being hit with an agreement among ministers.

The South African Revenue Service has released the 2017 edition of its Tax Statistics report, looking at the agency's performance over the 2013 to 2016 tax years.

The South African Revenue Service has reminded taxpayers that individual tax payment is required by January 31, 2018.

South Africa has issued a guide on the value-added tax rate increase to 15 percent from 14 percent due to take effect from April 1, 2018.

The South African Revenue Service has announced that it will temporarily permit taxpayers to report information on controlled foreign corporations under the old filing rules, which were replaced in February.

On April 1, 2018, South Africa will raise its value-added tax rate to 15 percent from 14 percent.

44 African countries have signed a landmark free trade pact to simplify tax and non-tax rules for trading between their borders.

On April 1, 2018, South Africa increased its value-added tax rate to 15 percent from 14 percent.

The South African Revenue Service on April 6, 2018, warned taxpayers that they are expected to declare cryptocurrency gains or losses in calculating their taxable income.

"While countries do not necessarily need to tax savings more, there is a lot of room to improve the way countries tax savings," according to Pascal Saint-Amans, Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration.

Having increased the headline value-added tax rate to 15 percent from 14 percent on April 1, South Africa has appointed a panel to consider a review of the list of food items subject to the zero rate.

South Africa's National Treasury is inviting the public to contribute to a review of the list of items zero-rated for value-added tax purposes.

The South African Revenue Service has removed certain paper forms from its branches in an attempt to encourage more taxpayers to file tax returns electronically.

The Swiss Federal Council has approved an OECD multilateral convention designed to prevent BEPS-related abuse of the international tax treaty system.

The African Continental Free Trade Agreement will enter into force on May 30, 2019, after Sierra Leone and the Sahrawi Republic deposited their instruments of ratification of the agreement.

The international community has made important progress in improving developing countries' ability to tax multinational enterprises and boost domestic revenue mobilization, says the annual report for the initiative Tax Inspectors Without Borders.

On October 23, 2019, the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service launched the re-established Large Business Centre, which aims to bring about higher levels of voluntary tax compliance among large taxpayers.

The German Cabinet has approved a proposal to reduce the rate of value-added tax on electronic publications. The rate is expected to drop from January 1, 2020.

On August 29, 2019, German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier announced the outlines of a plan to reduce the tax and regulatory burden on small and medium-sized companies in Germany.

On October 1, 2019, the German Federal Cabinet approved financing of EUR54bn (USD59bn) for the Climate Protection Program 2030, which includes the introduction of carbon pricing, as well as other tax measures intended to encourage the use of cleaner forms of transport.

Switzerland's Federal Tax Administration has announced the exchange of information on millions of financial accounts with 75 partner countries.

On November 18, 2019, the German Ministry of Finance published a question and answer section on its website to clarify the role of a new special unit within the tax authority designed to detect cases of tax fraud more quickly.

The upper house of the German parliament, the Bundesrat, has rejected certain tax elements of the Government's climate protection plan, including a reduction in value-added tax on long-distance rail travel.

On December 18, 2019, the mediation committee of the lower and upper houses of the German parliament (Bundestag and Bundesrat) announced an agreement on the Government's climate legislation, which includes several tax measures.

The Swiss Government has said that from January 31, individuals and legal entitles domiciled in Germany will be able to use an online Swiss application to request a refund of Swiss withholding tax.

Nautilus, an international trade union for maritime workers, has welcomed the outcome of top-level talks on updates to the Maritime Labour Convention to include measures to address bullying and harassment and to safeguard seafarers' wages when they are held captive.

Inmarsat, together with Global Marine Networks and Network Innovations, announced on February 22 that the trial of Fleet Xpress in Antartic waters was a success. The service – the world's first globally available high-speed broadband service from a single network operator – was installed on board the adventure cruise ship Ocean Nova.

The European Commission has invited comments on commitments offered by fifteen container liner shipping companies to address concerns raised relating to concerted practices.

The organizers of last year's St Katharine Docks On-Water Exhibition have announced that they are planning an event this year, on May 4-7, that will be double the size of last year's, renamed as "The London On-Water Yacht and Boat Show."

The European Commission's ruling directing the Government of the Netherlands to repeal corporate tax exemptions benefiting six seaports will be appealed by the ports in question.

Representatives of the European Free Trade Association - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland - and the Philippines signed a free trade agreement in the Swiss capital of Bern on April 28.

The European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority has approved a Norwegian state aid scheme which grants tax refunds to ship owners.

The member states of the European Free Trade Association signed a free trade agreement with Georgia during a meeting on June 27, 2016.

The comprehensive double taxation agreement between Hong Kong and Russia, which was signed in January this year, entered into force on July 29, 2016, and will be in effect in Hong Kong for any year of assessment beginning on or after April 1, 2017.

The European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority has approved a six-month extension of the current Norwegian special tax system for shipping under the area's state aid rules.

The Seychelles Revenue Commission has issued its final Public Ruling 2016-2 to provide clarity regarding the methodology used to calculate the additional special business tax deduction allowed for marketing and promotion expenditure.

The European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority has approved a tax-based state aid scheme aimed at reducing maritime transport pollution in Norway.

The South African National Treasury has issued a discussion paper on a new diesel tax refund system, reviewing its administration and addressing anomalies related to its qualifying activities and beneficiaries.

The Financial Services Development Council released a report on March 3 on the policies, including tax measures, Hong Kong could adopt to improve its position as an insurance hub, especially in reinsurance, marine insurance, and captives.

The Greek shipping industry has agreed to renew a tax agreement under which shipping companies pay additional tax to the Government.

New chemical markers intended to be used in gas oil (diesel) and kerosene in the EU are more resilient to fraud than the one currently applied, and introducing a new marker might cost less than member states currently lose in tax revenues, a new EU report says.

Tax regime instability has been cited by Greek shipping companies as a reason why they would consider switching to an alternative jurisdiction, according to a report by EY.

Norway's reelected Conservative Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, has pledged tax cuts for companies to encourage higher investment, job creation, and economic growth.

India's Goods and Services Tax Council has proposed new GST rates for the oil and gas industry.

Having endorsed the deal, the President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has forwarded on a bill to ratify the free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association states to the Senate.

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into a Polish tax scheme for shipyards, which it says could give shipbuilders an unfair competitive advantage over rivals.

The European Free Trade Association states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland), and the South African Customs Union have begun negotiations to review their existing free trade agreement.

Switzerland's Government has recently decided on a number of trade matters and reviewed its plans for changes to how it administers vehicle taxes.