Lao PDR Tax Alert: New Amended Law on VAT

Reading Time: 5 minutesThe Amended Law on Value Added Tax Law (No. 48/NA, dated 20 June 2018) (“Amended Law on VAT”) was posted on the Lao Official Gazette on 4 December 2018 and is effective from 18 December 2018. We summarize in this client alert the key important points to note from the Amended Law on VAT. 1.       […]

Changes to Singapore’s Goods and Services Tax Regime – What do you need to know?

Reading Time: 4 minutesIntroducing Overseas Vendor Registration and the Reverse Charge Mechanism. In October 2018, the Goods and Services Tax Act was amended so that Goods and Services Tax (“GST”) in Singapore will extend to imported services from 1 January 2020 onwards. Starting from 1 January 2020,[1] GST will be introduced on imported services via: an Overseas Vendor […]

Managing the relationship between shareholders and your business in Australia

Reading Time: 4 minutesGetting a new business up and running can be a difficult and at times convoluted process. Expanding the business by obtaining funding and dividing equity amongst shareholders can be both exciting and daunting. When there is more than one shareholder in a business a Shareholders Agreement is a critical and necessary document for you to […]

The Case of “I did not know that I needed a Personal Data Protection Policy in My Organisation”

Reading Time: 5 minutesThe “I did not know!” Defence and “Do I really need not have A Personal Data Protection Policy in My Organisation, I didn’t think I needed it”? That is exactly what the management of “Bud Cosmetics Pte Ltd” (“Bud Cosmetics”) told the Commissioner of the Personal Data Protection Commission in Re Bud Cosmetics Pte Ltd [2019] […]

Commentary: Employees and your business in Australia

Reading Time: 3 minutesA CHECKLIST TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE Employing people in your business is both an exciting milestone but can be burdensome given the robust employment law regime in place in Australia. Ensuing that you and your business are in line with the requirements of employment laws is important, both to the longevity of your company and your […]

What constitutes money laundering?

Reading Time: 9 minutesMoney makes the world go around. This phrase very aptly describes the reason behind the innumerable safeguards against money laundering. Money laundering can be defined as the process of converting money obtained from criminal activities into money that appears to have been obtained from legitimate means. The issue of money laundering has been in the […]

Need a guide to wind up your private company?

Reading Time: 6 minutesIn theory, companies enjoy perpetual succession. In reality, however, companies usually do not last forever. A company with the most optimistic business prospects is still subject to business risk, and may not anticipate cash flow problems. In 2017 alone, 168 Singapore companies were wound up and placed in compulsory liquidation.[1] More recently, bike sharing operator […]

Regional Update: Thailand’s 2019 Power Development Plan: What to Expect

Reading Time: 4 minutesDFDL Thailand, Bangkok | Expected in early January, Thailand’s forthcoming amended Power Development Plan (PDP) will set the course for nationwide power system development and operation over the coming years. The amended document will represent the first major update to Thailand’s PDP since 2015’s version, which in turn came three years after its predecessor. Each version […]

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What do you need to know about Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) in Singapore?

Reading Time: 6 minutesIt’s not rare to keep valuable, or even potentially embarrassing information under wraps. In fact, it should be the norm. In early 2017, as the South Korean technology company, Samsung, began to roll-out its new Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, local online media outlet, Mothership, reported that a Singaporean man was asked to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement […]

A contract is, but just a click away

Reading Time: 7 minutesAvid shoppers will recognise the wonderful shopping bargains on Black Fridays, Cyber Mondays, 11.11 Singles Day and sales on 12.12. From e-retailers like Redmart to online marketplaces like Carousell, the convenience of the internet has indeed made it much easier for us to indulge in our occasional need for retail therapy. Online communication methods such […]

Hong Kong Update: Supervising clients’ investments – Can“high-level supervisory role” of trustees be limited?

Reading Time: 4 minutesIn certain banking arrangements in which investments are made in relation to a trust, a fiduciary relationship may arise when the bank or its affiliates act as a corporate trustee of a trust or a director of a company customer. A party may be regarded as a fiduciary if it owes an obligation to act […]

Sale of Food in Singapore – What do you know?

Reading Time: 8 minutesIn March 2018, an outbreak of Cantaloupe-listeria bacteria affected many rock melons imported into Singapore from Australia, and this resulted in a recall of the affected Australian rock melons. It was surprising that these affected rock melons had bypassed the rigorous system of agricultural checks in Australia, which had been commended by Singapore in August […]