Introduction This article provides a summary of Myanmar’s tax and tariff updates in 2022. Perhaps most prominent are the commercial tax, special goods tax, and tariff rate exemptions for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and an increase in special commercial income tax for companies engaging in oil and gas exploration and production in Myanmar. This is good news for environmental protection efforts through taxation law. Additionally, Myanmar announced its updated Customs Tariff of Myanmar 2022, which covers internationally classified harmonized system (HS) codes and the HS codes of the ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature. Furthermore, Myanmar’s Internal Revenue Department (IRD) also issued clarifications on tax avoidance, negligent underpayment of tax, misrepresentation of tax information, tax evasion, withholding tax on services, and tax refunds. Union Taxation Law 2022 and Amendment On March 30, 2022, the Union Taxation Law 2022 was enacted by the State Administration Council (SAC) with the SAC Law No. 6 of 2022; the law was further amended on November 17, 2022 by SAC Law No. 48 of 2022. The amended law exempts BEVs and their batteries from commercial tax and special goods tax, effective from October 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023. The amendment also provides that companies engaging in oil and gas exploration and production in Myanmar are subject to a special commercial income tax rate of 25% on their total net profit from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023. Tax Avoidance, Underpayment of Tax, Misrepresentation of Tax Information, and Tax Evasion The IRD issued a public ruling on November 16, 2022, to address tax avoidance, underpayment of tax, misrepresentation of tax information, and tax evasion. This public ruling was brought under the Tax Administration Law 2019 and concerns relevant provisions in that law. Tax avoidance is interpreted as occurring when a person who understands the tax

Experts on Vietnamese real estate law from Tilleke & Gibbins provided the chapter on Vietnam for Practical Law’s Commercial Real Estate Global Guide 2022, a high-level comparative overview of commercial real estate laws and regulations in 31 jurisdictions worldwide. The main topics include the following, among others: Real estate investment structures, including REITs Sale of real estate Liability Due diligence Warranties Real estate tax, including VAT and stamp duty/transfer tax; Climate change targets Restrictions on foreign ownership Real estate finance Commercial leases Planning law The chapter also highlights recent trends in the condominium, office, and retail sectors of the Vietnam real estate market. To read the Vietnam chapter, please visit the Practical Law website or click on the link below.

On November 11, 2022, Myanmar’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) announced a pilot period for importing electric vehicles into Myanmar, which came into force with MOC Order No. 62/2022, issued under the Import and Export Law. A separate order (No. 61/2022) issued on the same day specifies rules for importation of motorcycles by companies that do not have a certificate to open a showroom, as well as rules for opening motorcycle showrooms. Electric Vehicle Importation According to the order, which takes effect January 1, 2023, “electric vehicles” includes only battery electric vehicles (BEVs) for both personal use and passenger use. In order to import electric vehicles into Myanmar without having a certificate to open a showroom, companies must: Be registered as a company, either wholly owned by nationals or a joint venture, at the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA); Be able to present the purchase and sales agreement for each brand of imported electric vehicles; Receive approval from the National Steering Committee for Development of Electric Vehicles and Associated Businesses, and import according to the quality and quantity of electric vehicles permitted by the committee; Arrange the necessary warranty, spare parts availability, and after-sales service for the imported electric vehicles; Deposit a bank guarantee of MMK 50 million at a bank recognized by the Central Bank of Myanmar; and Apply for a purchase permit at the MOC, for the purpose of registering the imported vehicles with the Road Transport Administration Department. BEV Tax Exemption Following MOC Order No. 62/2022, BEVs and their batteries are now exempted from commercial tax and special goods tax, which came into force with the Law Amending the Union Tax Law 2022 (State Administrative Council Law No. 48/2022) dated November 17, 2022. These tax exemptions will be effective from October 1, 2022, to March

The draft regulations referred to below were withdrawn from the legislative process on November 8, 2022.   On October 25, 2022, the Thai cabinet approved in principle a draft version of new ministerial regulations that permit certain types of foreign nationals to acquire land for residential use. These draft ministerial regulations represent an additional scheme that complements the existing ministerial regulations from 2002 prescribing rules, methods, and conditions for foreign nationals’ acquisition of land for residential purposes. These draft ministerial regulations aim to attract to Thailand foreign nationals who invest at least THB 40 million. The targeted foreign nationals consist of four groups: Wealthy individuals; Retirees; Foreign nationals who wish to work from Thailand; and Highly skilled expatriates. These four groups are eligible to acquire up to 1 rai (1,600 square meters) of land for use as their own residence in Bangkok, Pattaya City, a municipal area (khet thetsaban), or a designated residential area under the law governing city planning. The area must be situated outside any designated military safety zone. The THB 40 million minimum investment mentioned above may be any type of investment permitted under the ministerial regulations. Some examples include Thai government bonds, real estate or infrastructure mutual funds, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and share capital of Board of Investment (BOI) promoted entities (or a business eligible for BOI promotion). The investment must have been made before submission of the application for land ownership, and it must be maintained for at least three years. If the qualifications are met, the application for land ownership and the related supporting documents (including a certificate of investment issued by the relevant authorities) must be submitted to the director general of the Land Department for consideration and further submission to the Minister of Interior for approval. If approved, the applicant