Tax

Britain's incoming prime minister is being urged to reduce the energy levies paid by businesses as part of a broader effort to accelerate economic growth, according to a joint call issued on Tuesday by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Energy UK. With former Manchester mayor Andy Burnham expected to take office at Downing Street, the two organisations warned that persistently high energy costs are weighing heavily on businesses and undermining investment across

Macau’s government recorded gaming tax collections of MOP51.19 billion ($6.3 billion) during the first six months of 2026, representing a 13.1 percent increase compared with the same period a year earlier, according to central account budget execution data. The rise in gaming-related tax income helped push Macau’s fiscal surplus to MOP13.28 billion ($1.6 billion) through June 30, marking a 14.7 percent improvement from the MOP11.58 billion ($1.4 billion) surplus reported du

The illegal online gambling market targeting consumers across the European Union expanded to an estimated €91.6 billion in 2025, representing an increase of approximately 14% compared with the previous year, according to figures unveiled during a European Parliament roundtable held on 6 July. The findings, presented by the European Casino Association (ECA), indicate that EU member states collectively missed out on around €22.9 billion in tax revenue as gamblers increasingly

Singapore authorities have charged the owner of Eminent Frog Porridge in connection with an alleged $3.8 million tax evasion scheme and offences involving suspected criminal proceeds, following a joint investigation by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) and the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD). The prosecution combines allegations of underreported business income, Goods and Services Tax (GST) evasion, and the possession of assets that authorities allege repre

A new proposal to sharply increase taxes on high-street slot machines has reopened the UK debate over gambling harm, public revenue and the future of land-based betting venues. The proposal, advanced by the Social Market Foundation, would raise Machine Games Duty on higher-risk Category B machines, including many electronic gaming machines found in adult gaming centres, casinos, bingo halls and betting shops. The think tank argues that the measure could raise between £275 mil

The Netherlands’ gambling tax increase has delivered far less revenue than expected, raising serious questions about whether higher tax rates are damaging the regulated market instead of strengthening public finances. The Dutch gambling tax was increased in two stages. The rate rose from 30.5% to 34.2% on 1 January 2025, followed by a further increase to 37.8% from 1 January 2026. The policy was introduced as a revenue-raising measure, with the government expecting the gamb

The United Kingdom’s public finances are facing renewed pressure after official figures showed a sharp increase in borrowing and record debt interest costs for May. According to the Office for National Statistics, public sector borrowing reached £23.3 billion in May 2026. That was £5.4 billion higher than a year earlier and £5.6 billion above the forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility. It was also the second-highest May borrowing figure on record, behind only th

The European Commission has proposed a major overhaul of EU tax rules aimed at reducing business compliance costs by nearly €8 billion per year, as Brussels tries to make the Single Market simpler, more competitive and less burdensome for companies operating across borders. The package was presented on 24 June 2026 and includes two main initiatives: a Direct Taxation Omnibus and a recast of the Directive on Administrative Cooperation, commonly known as DAC. Together, the