Regional tax regulation and reporting reforms

Various nations are implementing changes to their tax regulations and reporting requirements.

In the Maldives, legislative discussions have centered on a proposed amendment to the Income Tax Act that would increase the withholding tax on non-resident contractors from 5 per cent to 10 per cent. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential impact on the tourism sector and the need for accountability to prevent corruption.

Sri Lanka has introduced new assessment rules for exported services, applying a maximum tax rate of 15 per cent for residents providing services to overseas clients. This measure aims to provide separate treatment for digital professionals and freelancers, exempting them from progressive income tax rates that can reach 36 per cent.

Mauritius has implemented reforms that include increasing the zero-tax threshold from Rs 390,000 to Rs 500,000 and simplifying the tax regime into three primary brackets. A 35 per cent rate will also apply to high earners exceeding Rs 12 million. Meanwhile, Morocco has introduced legislation mandating the automatic exchange of country-by-country reports for multinational groups to target aggressive tax planning.