Scope: United Kingdom
Status requires verification
Changes to gambling duties: Remote Gaming Duty increase and abolition of Bingo Duty
From 1 April 2026, the rate of Remote Gaming Duty will increase from 21% to 40%, and Bingo Duty will be abolished. Additionally, a new Remote Betting Rate of 25% within General Betting Duty is to be introduced from 1 April 2027 (excluding remote horseracing, spread betting, pool betting and self-service terminals). These changes are intended to reflect the growth and harm associated with remote gambling and ensure fairer tax treatment across gambling formats.
Editorial impact label: High
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: United Kingdom
Status requires verification
Enhancing HMRC’s powers to tackle tax adviser facilitated non-compliance
From 1 April 2026 the UK government will introduce legislation via the Finance Bill 2025-26 to strengthen HMRC’s powers to obtain information, apply penalties, and publish details of tax advisers who deliberately facilitate client non-compliance. Key changes include removal of tribunal approval requirement for file access notices, penalties tied to tax loss, mandatory registration of advisers, and publication of misconduct. These changes are aimed at reducing non-compliance and raising standards in the tax advice market.
Editorial impact label: High
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: Canada
Status requires verification
Extension of excise duty relief on alcohol for small breweries and cap on inflation adjustments
Effective April 1, 2026, the Canadian federal government extended for two years both the **2 per cent cap on the annual inflation adjustment** for excise duties on beer, spirits and wine, and the **50 per cent reduction** in excise duty rates for the first 15,000 hectolitres of beer brewed in Canada. This extension lowers costs for small brewers and helps stabilize the industry amid rising inflation. The relief is expected to provide significant tax savings per brewer in fiscal year 2026-27.
Editorial impact label: Medium
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: India & South Asia
Status requires verification
Notification No.80/2026 – Exemption from TDS on Specified Payments Made to Eligible IFSC Units
CBDT issued Notification No. 80/2026 (F. No. 275/19/2026-IT(B)) on 13 July 2026, excluding specific payments — interest, dividends, professional fees, commission, brokerage, and other financial-service-related income — paid to eligible IFSC Units from deduction of tax at source (TDS) under the Income-tax Act, 2025. ([incometax.gov.in](https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/latest-news?link=3&mobile-app=1&page=%2C0&utm_source=openai))
Editorial impact label: Medium
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: India & South Asia
Status requires verification
Rationalization of block assessment periods and third-party assessments (India)
Finance Bill 2026 amendments to Income-tax Act, 2025: Section 296 time-limit for block assessment extended from 12 to 18 months from end of the quarter in which search authorisation or requisition is issued; assessments of third-party undisclosed income limited to the single immediately preceding year when incriminating material pertains only to that year. These changes apply from 1 April 2026.
Editorial impact label: High
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: India & South Asia
Status requires verification
Notification No.97/2026 – Introduction of Form ITR-BN and Appendix IV to Rule 332 (Search/Requisition Cases)
CBDT notified the Income-tax (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026 via Notification No. 97/2026 [F. No. 370142/11/2026-TPL], introducing a new return Form ITR-BN and amending Rule 332 by inserting Appendix IV, to govern returns relating to search or requisition (i.e. block assessment) cases. These changes are effective from 1 April 2026. ([incometax.gov.in](https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/latest-news?link=3&mobile-app=1&page=%2C0&utm_source=openai))
Editorial impact label: High
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: India & South Asia
Status requires verification
Notification No.75/2026 – Non-Deduction of TDS on Ship Lease Rent Paid to IFSC Units under Section 147 of the Income-tax Act, 2025
Under CBDT’s Notification No. 75/2026 (dated 3 July 2026), lessees paying ship lease rent to lessors that are Units in an International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) are exempted from deducting TDS under Section 393(1) [Table Sl. No. 2] if the lessor furnishes a statement-cum-declaration in Form No. 1(N). The notification is deemed to have come into force from 1 April 2026. ([incometax.gov.in](https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/sites/default/files/2026-07/EnNotification-no-75-2026.pdf?utm_source=openai))
Editorial impact label: Medium
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: Global
Status requires verification
Extending Canada’s excise duty relief on alcohol products
As of **April 1, 2026**, the government extended by **two years** the 2 % cap on inflation adjustments for excise duties on beer, wine, and spirits. Also extended is the **50 % rate reduction** on excise for the first **15,000 hectolitres** of beer brewed in Canada. Expected relief for small brewers can amount to up to CA\$90,456 during fiscal year 2026-27 depending on production levels. These measures are proposed but largely in operation pending formal enactment.
Editorial impact label: Medium
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: United Kingdom
Status requires verification
Tax advisers to register with HMRC and meet minimum standards
UK policy mandating that from **April 1 2026**, all tax advisers who interact with HMRC on behalf of clients must **register and meet minimum professional standards**. Registration will become mandatory in May 2026 via an online process, with phased obligations depending on the type of tax advice or interaction. The government is investing £36 million to modernise the registration system, and advisers who fail to comply may lose access to HMRC systems and face sanctions. This measure aims to improve accountability, deter unscrupulous advisers, and better protect taxpayers. Source: GOV.UK policy.
Editorial impact label: Medium
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: Canada
Status requires verification
Government extends excise duty relief, provides direct support to Canadian breweries, distilleries and wine makers
Effective April 1, 2026, the government extended for two more years: (1) the 2% cap on annual inflation adjustments to excise duties on beer, spirits, and wine, and (2) a 50% reduction in excise duty rates on the first 15,000 hectolitres of beer brewed in Canada. For a craft brewer, this translates to up to ~$90,000 in tax savings in 2026-27, with total relief across industries over $30 million through to 2028. Impacts small/medium producers and helps control cost pressures. Changes enacted.
Editorial impact label: Medium
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: Canada
Status requires verification
Government extends excise duty relief; provides direct support to Canadian breweries, distilleries and wine makers
On April 1, 2026, the government announced a **two-year extension** of relief measures for alcohol excise duties. These include: (1) capping annual inflation adjustments at 2% for beer, wine, and spirits; (2) continuing a 50% reduction of excise duty rate on the first 15,000 hectolitres of beer brewed in Canada. Estimated savings include over $30 million through to 2028 and up to about $90,000 in added tax savings per qualifying craft brewer in the 2026-27 year. Medium impact — supports small businesses in beverage sector.
Editorial impact label: Medium
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: Africa
Status requires verification
SARS Tax Directives System Enhancements
Effective 1 April 2026, South Africa implemented enhancements to the Tax Directives system: repeal of section 8A replaced by section 8C; new functionality on the eFiling platform for Recognition of Transfer (ROT) cancellations without supporting documents, bulk cancellations, status tracking; all outstanding ROTs up to 1 March 2023 deemed exempt; three-year validity shown on RST01 directives; residency confirmation and DTA fields added. ([sars.gov.za](https://www.sars.gov.za/latest-news/sars-tax-directives-system-implementation-on-friday-17-april-2026/?utm_source=openai))
Editorial impact label: High
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: Canada
Status requires verification
Extension of Alcohol Excise Duty Relief
Starting April 1, 2026, Canada extended by two years both the 2% cap on inflation adjustments to excise duties on beer, wine, and spirits, and a 50% reduction in excise duty for the first 15,000 hectolitres of beer brewed in Canada per year. This relief lowers excise duty burden on breweries, especially smaller ones.
Editorial impact label: Low-Medium
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: Japan
Status requires verification
Revision to CFC Rules under the FY2026 Reform
Changes to Japan’s CFC (外国子会社合算税制) legislation include lowering the tax burden threshold from 30% to 27%, relaxing asset ratio requirements where subsidiaries have zero assets, extending deadlines for consolidation inclusion (e.g. allowing filing up to April), and reducing document attachment obligations for certain foreign‐subsidiary categories. These apply for foreign related companies’ fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 2026.([mof.go.jp](https://www.mof.go.jp/about_mof/councils/beps_kenkyukai/260317shiryo1.pdf?utm_source=openai))
Editorial impact label: Medium
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: Japan
Status requires verification
令和８年度税制改正の大綱（法人税・国際課税等に関わる主な改正）
財務省の令和８年度税制改正の大綱では、法人税関連で特定生産性向上設備等への投資促進税制の創設、産業競争力を強める戦略技術分野型研究開発税制の拡充、および外国子会社合算税制等の国際課税制度の見直しが含まれます。例えば、大規模な設備投資について即時償却または税額控除を選択できる制度や、AI・バイオ・量子等の重点分野に対して高率な税額控除が導入されます。これらの改正は令和８年４月１日以後に開始する事業年度に適用されます。
Editorial impact label: High
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: Canada
Proposed
Increase in Carbon Pricing for 2026
The Canadian government has proposed an increase in carbon pricing, which will rise to CAD 65 per tonne starting April 1, 2026. This change aims to further incentivize businesses to reduce carbon emissions and transition to greener practices.
Editorial impact label: High
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: India & South Asia
Status requires verification
Income-tax (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026: Introduction of Form ITR-BN & Appendix IV (India)
India’s CBDT via Notification No. 97/2026 [F. No. 370142/11/2026-TPL] has notified the Income-tax (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026, introducing Form ITR-BN and inserting Appendix IV under Rule 332, specifically to govern tax returns arising from search and requisition cases. This expands disclosure requirements and affects which return forms are required in those circumstances.
Editorial impact label: High
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: Japan
Status requires verification
令和８年度税制改正の大綱（令和７年12月26日 閣議決定）
Major tax reform blueprint for FY2026. Raises the basic deduction for individuals, adjusts thresholds for non-taxable income, increases non-taxable limits for commuting allowances and employer-provided meals, introduces tax credits for R&D in strategic tech fields (AI, quantum, bio), and increases tax rates for very high incomes. Effective mainly from April 1, 2026 for income tax and other individual tax provisions. Other measures phased in or effective upon enactment. High impact for individuals and businesses, including expats.
Editorial impact label: High
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: Canada
Status requires verification
Extending alcohol excise duty relief to support Canadian businesses
Effective April 1, 2026, the federal government extended two excise duty relief measures: a 2 % cap on annual inflation indexing of excise duties for alcoholic beverages, and a 50 % reduction on excise duty rates for the first 15,000 hectolitres of beer brewed in Canada. Expected benefits include duty savings of up to CAD 90,456 per brewer.
Editorial impact label: Medium
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: India & South Asia
Status requires verification
Specified Payments to IFSC Units Exempt from TDS – India
Under Notification No. 80/2026 [F. No. 275/19/2026-IT(B)], certain payments including interest, dividends, professional fees, commission, brokerage and other financial-service income received by eligible IFSC units are now exempt from TDS under Income-tax Act, 2025; reducing withholding burden on transactions involving international financial service centres.
Editorial impact label: Medium
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source