Scope: Canada
Status requires verification
CRA’s 2026-27 Departmental Plan: compliance, enforcement, and digital services
The Canada Revenue Agency’s 2026-27 departmental plan sets out enhancements in compliance—especially suppressing GST/HST refund schemes—more audits and enforcement of aggressive tax planning, expanded digital tools for managing tax obligations including in My Business Account, and the introduction of an elective pre-claim approval process for SR&ED projects to cut review times. It also aims to improve service for low-income individuals via automated filings and pre-filled returns. ([canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/corporate/about-canada-revenue-agency-cra/departmental-plan/2026-27-cra-departmental-plan.html?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
Adjusted rates of excise duty on beer effective April 1, 2026
As amended under Bill C-30 (Royal Assent June 18, 2026), the annual adjustment of federal excise duties on beer based on CPI is capped at 2% for two years, and the excise rate on the first 15,000 hectolitres of beer brewed in Canada is cut in half for two years.
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
Extending alcohol excise duty relief for small breweries and extending cap on inflation adjustment
The government extended for two years (from April 1, 2026) the 2 % cap on inflation adjustment for alcohol excise duties, and continued 50 % rate reduction on excise for first 15,000 hectolitres of beer brewed in Canada. ([canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2026/04/extending-alcohol-excise-duty-relief-to-support-canadian-businesses.html?utm_source=openai))
Editorial impact label: Low
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: United Kingdom
Status requires verification
Plastic Packaging Tax rate increase
From 1 April 2026, the rate of Plastic Packaging Tax for packaging with less than 30% recycled plastic content increases from £223.69 to £228.82 per tonne. The change is in Finance Act 2026 and affects plastic packaging produced or imported into UK on or after that date.
Editorial impact label: Low-Medium
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: Global (United Kingdom)
Status requires verification
UK Finance Bill 2025-26: Mandatory tax adviser registration and increased late filing penalties for Corporation Tax
As part of Budget 2025 and Finance Bill 2025-26, HMRC will require tax advisers who interact with HMRC on behalf of clients to register starting April 2026, meeting minimum standards. Also, Corporation Tax late filing penalties are increasing significantly from 1 April 2026, especially for repeated offences.
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
Income-tax (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026 – Introduction of Form ITR-BN and Appendix IV for Search & Requisition Cases
In India, the CBDT via Notification No. 97/2026 [F. No. 370142/11/2026-TPL] has notified changes effective from 1 April 2026 introducing **Form ITR-BN** and amending **Rule 332** by inserting **Appendix IV** to standardize return filing in **search and requisition** cases; taxpayers subjected to such notices will now use the new form and make required disclosures under the amended rule.
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, provides direct support to Canadian breweries, distilleries and wine makers
The Government of Canada announced on April 1, 2026 a two-year extension of excise duty relief: (1) capping inflationary increases on excise duties for beer, spirits, and wine at **2%**, and (2) maintaining a **50% cut** in excise duty rates on the first **15,000 hectolitres** of beer brewed in Canada. Together these measures are expected to provide over **$30 million** in relief through to 2028, with craft breweries benefitting up to about **$90,000** in savings in fiscal year 2026-27 alone. Effective April 1, 2026. Implications: cost savings for small producers, pressure relief amid input-cost inflation, though benefit phases out above 15,000 hL. Significant for tax planning in alcohol sector.
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
Increases to Corporation Tax late filing penalties
From 1 April 2026, fixed late filing penalties for Corporation Tax returns will rise: missing the filing deadline increases from £100 to £200; over 3 months late from £200 to £400; three successive failures increase to £1,000; and where a return is over 3 months late in a third successive failure, the penalty becomes £2,000. The changes are intended to restore the real-value deterrent effect and improve compliance.
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（FY2026 Tax Reform Outline）
The FY2026 tax reform major outline enacted by cabinet decision on December 26, 2025 includes sweeping changes to individual, corporate, consumption and international tax regimes. Key measures include raising income tax thresholds and deductions to address inflation, increasing minimum salary income exemption, revisions to foreign subsidiary (CFC) taxation rules, and an international tourist tax increase from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 effective July 2026. These changes materially affect individual and multinational taxpayers from fiscal year 2026-27 onward.([mof.go.jp](https://www.mof.go.jp/tax_policy/tax_reform/outline/fy2026/08taikou_gaiyou.htm?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
CBDT issued Notification No. 75/2026 declaring that **lease rent** or **supplemental lease rent** paid by a lessee to an IFSC Unit for leasing a ship shall not be subject to TDS under section 393(1) )Table S.No.2 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, **provided** the lessor submits a statement-cum-declaration (Form No. 1(N)) opting for the twenty consecutive tax years under section 147. The relaxation is effective for Tax Years beginning 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: Global
Status requires verification
Tackling tax adviser facilitated non-compliance by enhancing HMRC’s powers
In the UK, legislation effective **April 1, 2026**, will strengthen HMRC powers under Schedule 38 (Finance Act 2012) to obtain information from tax advisers suspected of deliberately facilitating non-compliance, revise penalties, and introduce public naming of advisers subject to sanctions to reduce the tax gap.
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
Extension of 2% cap on excise duty inflation adjustment & 50% reduction on excise rates for first 15,000 hL of beer
From April 1 2026, Canada’s federal government extended by two years the cap of 2% on the annual inflation adjustment for alcohol excise duties (beer, wine, spirits) and continued a 50% reduction in excise duty rates for the first 15,000 hectolitres of beer brewed in Canada. This provides additional tax relief to small-scale brewers, lowering costs and enhancing their competitiveness. The proposal was part of Budget 2025 and confirmed in the Spring Economic Update.
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
通勤手当の非課税限度額の改正について
Commuter allowance non-taxable limits have been revised as of April 1, 2026: employees using vehicles for commuting now benefit from higher non-taxable thresholds based on distance bands. Those using qualifying parking facilities get an additional amount (up to ¥5,000/month). Employers must use the updated limits for commuter allowances paid from that date forward.
Editorial impact label: Medium
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: Global
Proposed
Budget 2025 – Overview of tax legislation and rates (UK): Enhancing HMRC’s powers and mandatory tax adviser registration from 1 April 2026
The UK Budget 2025 introduces legislation in Finance Bill 2025-26 to give HMRC greater powers against advisers facilitating non-compliance, mandates registration of tax advisers who interact with HMRC, and increases corporation tax late filing penalties for returns due on or after 1 April 2026. These measures will affect compliance, adviser risk, and operating costs for advisory firms.
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
食事の現物支給に係る所得税の非課税限度額の引上げについて
The non-taxable limit for meals provided in kind was increased from ¥3,500/month to ¥7,500/month under a law interpretation notice effective April 1, 2026. A related provision for night‐shift meal cash subsistence raises the per-meal non-cash cap from ¥300 to ¥650 per incident under similar conditions.
Editorial impact label: Low
- 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: Form ITR-BN and Rule 332 Appendix IV for search & requisition cases
CBDT introduced **Form ITR-BN** and amended **Rule 332** to insert **Appendix IV**, mandating special reporting and disclosures for returns involving **search and requisition cases**. These amendments came into force from **1 April 2026** under the Income-tax (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026, as notified by CBDT.
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の概要 (Fiscal Year 2026 Tax Reform Outline)
The government has enacted sweeping changes in individual and corporate taxation as part of the FY2026 tax reform. Key changes include lowering the threshold for additional tax burdens from ¥330 million to ¥165 million, raising rates from 22.5% to 30%, creating a new defense surtax (防衛特別所得税) of 1%, and enhancing R&D tax credits for strategic technological fields (AI, quantum, biotech).
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 ITR-BN and Appendix IV for Search & Requisition Returns (India)
This notification amends the Income-tax Rules, 2026, introducing **Form ITR-BN** and inserting **Appendix IV** to Rule 332, specifically to govern **returns relating to search and requisition cases**. The provision is effective from **1 April 2026**, aligning with the new Income-tax Act, 2025. These changes affect taxpayers subject to search/requisition proceedings, mandating reporting via the new form and appendix.
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
How HMRC deals with tax adviser sanctionable conduct
From 1 April 2026, HMRC has strengthened its powers to penalise tax advisers who **intentionally contribute to tax revenue loss**, defining sanctionable conduct to include eg knowingly submitting incorrect returns or claiming repayments clients are not entitled to. Penalties are scaled based on Potential Lost Revenue, with increasingly severe thresholds for repeat offences, and public naming of advisers fined more than £7,500.
Editorial impact label: High
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source
Scope: Canada (British Columbia)
Status requires verification
British Columbia Manufacturing and Processing Investment Tax Credit Effective April 1, 2026
BC introduces a *new temporary refundable tax credit* for Canadian-controlled private corporations investing in eligible machinery and equipment used for manufacturing and processing in BC, effective April 1, 2026; designed to stimulate capital investment in that industry sector.
Editorial impact label: Medium
- Published
- Not recorded
- Policy event
- Not recorded
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2026
- Verification
- Not recorded
Open cited source