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This publication is designed to give Chief Financial Officers a high-level awareness of recent changes to IFRS that will affect companies’ future financial reporting. It covers both new Standards and Interpretations that have been issued and amendments made to existing ones. The December 2016 edition of the publication has been updated for changes to International Financial Reporting Standards that have been published between 1 December 2015 and 30 November 2016. In particular, this edition covers the new leasing Standard – IFRS 16, for the first time.

Foundations for the Future: The 2016 Grant Thornton Global Conference took place from 26th to 28th October 2016 in Singapore. Gabriele Labombarda tells about his experience and the main topics analysed durign the event.

According to the latest data by the Bank of Italy SMEs still experience difficulties to access finance. “Tax incentives are one of the most effective tools to boost investments” declared Giuseppe Bernoni, “from benefits for companies investing in R&D and new technology, to measures for innovative start-ups, to the extension of terms for the application of exceptional depreciation rates.” And as an alternative to bank financing: “Incentives to companies reinvesting financial proceeds or to shareholders subscribing capital increases to fuel growth.”

Law Decree no. 193 dated 22 October 2016 introduced new measures, such as the abolition of Equitalia (Italian tax collection office) starting from 1 July 2017, regulations on local tax collection and strengthening the collection terms in general, the reopening of the terms for the participation in the voluntary disclosure programme, as well as of provisions concerning VAT more strictly, aimed at preventing tax avoidance.

The Council of the European Union accorded Italy an extension to continue applying – up to 31 December 2019 – a special derogation from the provision of Directive 2006/112/CE, concerning the limitations to deduction of VAT borne on the purchase of some kinds of means of transport and on the related expenses. The extension of such limits is aimed at significantly reducing the administrative burden and to prevent tax evasion.

The interest in Italian medium enterprises is increasing, thanks to a renewed appeal of Italy for international investors and to the positive drive of EU regulations

30.000 Euro is the new extended limit up to which the application for refund is allowed without the need of the stamp of approval by an accountant or signature by the statutory auditors as regards those subjects indicated in art. 03-bis, para. 3 of Presidential Decree 633/72, nor of the granting of a financial guarantee by those subjects indicated in art. 38-bis, para. 4 of Presidential Decree 633/72.

The use of vouchers is constantly increasing on the market, as it makes it easier for consumers to access goods without using cash. With Directive 2016/1065 dated 27 June 2016 the Council of the EU recognised the need to introduce specific norms on the VAT treatment of vouchers throughout the EU and set forth new provisions aimed at regulating their circulation and redemption. The new common norms, which must be implemented in the domestic legislation, do not differ significantly from the standpoint of the Italian Tax Authorities over the years.

The budget bill for 2017, within the “Industry 4.0” strategy, will renew those provisions allowing “super-amortization”, and introduce “hyper-amortisation” for some specific capital goods, in order to incentivize the technological update of Italian businesses, their competition on domestic and international market and, more generally, economic recovery.

The article analyses a reverse merger operation from an accounting, corporate and tax perspective. The analysis will also consider the implications related to the regulation on tax consolidation and to circular letter no. 6/E dated 30 March 2016 on leveraged buyout.

When reorganizing groups, the management is called to ponder both organizational and business reasons for restructuring without forgetting tax implications whose impact might radically change the operation profitability.

The Italian draft Budget Law for 2017 provides for the introduction in the domestic legislation of VAT grouping schemes.

New white list: effects on taxation of financial revenue

To successfully implement the changes needed, a change in the profile of bank employees is also needed. Besides the technological innovations there are a series of regulatory innovations. Control and compliance functions are increasingly important, but the organisational challenge is the most difficult as it will also imply staff layoffs.

The tax benefit aimed at facilitating the assignment and transfer of movable and immovable assets registered in public records to shareholders is substantially relevant for income tax purposes. However, it can have also VAT implications.

While UK Prime Minister Theresa May has said she will begin the process of taking the country out of the EU by the end of March 2017, the nature of what kind of subsequent trade deal May might agree with the EU remains undetermined