The Democratic-led US House of Representatives voted by more than two thirds to meet President Donald Trump's demand for $2,000 Covid-19 relief cheques on Monday, sending the bill to an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled Senate.
Mr Trump last week threatened to block a massive pandemic aid and spending package if Congress did not boost people's stimulus payments from $600 to $2,000, and cut other spending.
He backed down from his demands on Sunday as a possible government shutdown loomed, brought on by the fight with legislators.
But Democrats wanted the $2,000 relief cheques and used the rare point of agreement with Mr Trump to advance the proposal, or put Republicans on record against it, in the vote on Monday.
One hundred and thirty Republicans, two independents and two Democrats opposed the increase on Monday, while 275 voted in favour.
Mr Trump finally signed the $2.3 trillion package into law, while still demanding $2,000 cheques.
It includes $1.4tn in spending to fund government agencies and $892 billion in Covid-19 relief.
It is not clear how the measure to increase aid cheques will fare in the Senate, where some Republican politicians have said the higher amount would add hundreds of billions of dollars to the latest relief bill.
The Senate is due to convene on Tuesday. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday made no mention of plans for a vote, after welcoming Mr Trump's signing of the relief bill.
The coronavirus pandemic has killed nearly 330,000 people in the US and led to widespread economic hardship, with millions of families relying on unemployment benefits and relief funds.
President-elect Joe Biden said he supported raising the individual cheques to $2,000 at an event in Wilmington, Delaware.
Georgia Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, who face Senate run-offs next month that could determine who controls the chamber, welcomed Mr Trump's move, without saying whether the payments should be increased.
"Republicans have a choice: vote for this legislation; or vote to deny the American people the bigger paycheques that they need," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said as the debate was under way.
And Democratic representative Dan Kildee said: "We would have included much larger payments in the legislation had he spoken up sooner. But it's never too late to do the right thing."
But Republican Kevin Brady said the bill did nothing to help people get back to work.
"I worry that as we spend another half a trillion dollars so hastily, that we are not targeting this help to the Americans who are struggling the most and need that help," Mr Brady said.
The US Treasury Department is expecting to send the first $600 stimulus cheques to people and households as early as this week, as planned, a senior official said on Monday.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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RESULTS
Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari
Draw
Quarter-finals
Real Madrid (ESP) or Manchester City (ENG) v Juventus (ITA) or Lyon (FRA)
RB Leipzig (GER) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Barcelona (ESP) or Napoli (ITA) v Bayern Munich (GER) or Chelsea (ENG)
Atalanta (ITA) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Ties to be played August 12-15 in Lisbon
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