As a regulatory measure, the Ministry of Planning and Finance (the “MOPF”) issued a new Standard Operating Procedure (“SOP”) on 1 May 2023 regarding offshore remittances and required tax documentation. According to the SOP, the entrepreneurs, companies, organizations, and individuals are now required to provide certain tax documentation, such as tax payment receipts or tax […]

Tax Cuts and Soft Loans In Myanmar During Covid-19 Businesses around the world are suffering from the impact of Coronavirus 2019 (“COVID-19”), and there is no denying that Myanmar’s economy has also subsequently taken a hit. Due to the lockdown of border countries and travel bans around the world, the import/export industry as well as […]

Following previous announcements by the Ministry of Planning and Finance (“MoPF”), foreign life and non-life insurance companies can now form joint ventures with local insurance companies. In light of the recent developments, VDB Loi has been engaged by applicants in the application process. On 31 July 2019, the MoPF by way of Announcement No. (3/2019) […]

On 30 November 2018, the President’s Office issued a Notification on a publicly assessible database, the Project Bank, which will help to regulate Private Public Partnership (“PPP”) projects in Myanmar. The government hopes the Project Bank will enable greater transparency, facilitate cooperation between different government agencies, and strengthen fiscal policy on infrastructure. The primary purpose […]

RfP for licenses to carry on life insurance business in Myanmar as 100% foreign company As reported earlier by VDB Loi, (read here: http://www.vdb-loi.com/mlw/myanmar-opens-up-insurance-sector-to-foreign-investors/) when a foreign life insurer wishes to obtain an individual license in Myanmar, it is required to submit a proposal in response to a Request for Proposal (the “RfP”), issued on 18 […]

In another exciting development in the Myanmar financial regulatory landscape, foreign life and non-life insurers can form joint ventures with local life and non-life insurers respectively. In addition, up to 3 (three) licenses will be granted to foreign life insurers to operate as wholly-owned subsidiaries. Therefore, foreign insurers will now play a much more active […]

In December 2017, the Internal Revenue Department (“IRD”) abolished the 2% Advance Income Tax (“AIT”) on goods exported via the Border Trade System for companies under self-assessment due to an increase in the tax compliance level of self-assessed taxpayers. Currently, only the Large Taxpayers’ Office (“LTO”) and Medium Taxpayers’ Office (1) (“MTO”) are under self-assessment; […]

Although many taxpayers think that the withholding tax (“WHT”) regime in Myanmar has only been in place since 2010, it has actually been on the books since the enactment of Income Tax Law in 1974. With the issuance of Notification 41/2010, a formal WHT regime began to be implemented in Myanmar. The WHT regime is […]

On Friday March 31st 2017 the VDB Loi and Latham & Watkins hosted an event entitled “Government Guarantees for Public Private Projects in Myanmar” in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. In attendance were H.E. Kyaw Win, Union Minister of Planning and Finance, U Aung Nai Oo, Director General DICA, U Win Khant, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Planning […]

From 1 April 2017, the withholding tax on interest payment to the Myanmar branches of foreign banks will no longer apply. However, foreign lessors of equipment will face a new 2.5% withholding tax. Also, companies paying royalties on trademarks and other intellectual property will need to apply new rates.   The MOPF released Notification 2/2017 (“new Notification”) […]