legal developments
International Tax Reform
The International Tax Reform Hub offers an explanation of the background to proposals for tax reform, together with expert commentary on the current position.
The OECD, in partnership with over 130 member countries, has been working on radical tax reform proposals for several years now. These proposals have the potential to affect many large multinational businesses and will need careful analysis. Ashurst has been following the development of these new rules since their inception and, as further detail emerges, will be well placed to advise businesses on their potential impact and actions which may be necessary. Our global tax team can help you navigate through this period of change.
Why does international tax need reforming?
In light of the increasingly digitalised economy, key concepts and principles underpinning global tax systems are under review.
The current principles of international taxation evolved long before the internet – mainly back in the 1920s - and very much reflect the difficulties back then of selling overseas without a permanent establishment in that other country, and the predominance of physical assets which could not easily be moved around the world for tax reasons.
There has been increasing discontent with the way in which multinationals can use the limitations of these out-of-date rules to minimise their tax burdens in jurisdictions where they generate significant income but can avoid having a sufficient physical presence to trigger tax liabilities. Furthermore, the increasing importance of intangibles has enabled businesses to locate assets in – and shift profits to - low tax jurisdictions, again reducing tax liabilities to levels that are not commensurate with their worldwide profits.
What is proposed?
The Organisation for Economic Development is at the forefront of efforts to reflect these changes in the way businesses now operate and create a more globally cohesive and fair tax system. It has identified two "pillars" on which its proposed solution to taxation of the digital economy would rest:
- Pillar One: a new taxing right for market jurisdictions over certain profits of the largest multinationals, whether or not there exists a physical presence there; and
- Pillar Two: a global minimum corporation tax rate of 15%.
A corollary to these pillars is that domestic Digital Services Taxes (and relevant similar measures) must be repealed. Many other legislative changes will have to be implemented as a consequence of the adoption of these two pillars, both at national and regional levels (not the least, within the EU) and other repercussions will arise in the coming years. We will provide updates setting out these developments.
Full details of the proposals can be found in the OECD brochure, with comment on these in the below Ashurst articles.
What can Ashurst do to help you?
These OECD proposals represent the most seminal changes for many decades to the way in which larger cross-border businesses are taxed. Final iterations of the two pillars will be hugely complicated, both in scope and application, and the introduction of new measures almost always throws up unexpected consequences - all the more so where there are multiple interactions across borders. Ashurst has been following the development of these new rules since their inception and, as further detail emerges, will be well placed to advise businesses on their potential impact and actions which may be necessary. Our global tax team can help you navigate through this period of change.
Timeline
'Undertaxed Payments Rule' to be introduced to strengthen Pillar Two
Implementation date
Multilateral Instrument to facilitate implementation of the 'Subject to Tax Rule' (part of Pillar Two) into relevant bilateral treaties
Multilateral Convention for the implementation of Pillar One to be finalised
Resolution on final technical details expected, including model rules giving effect to Pillar Two
Detailed implementation plan issued as part of a further statement, with further key details revealed
Statement on the Two-Pillar Solution released with some key details agreed
Publication of "blueprints" for a two-pillar solution
Active discussions and consultation documents on how to address the tax challenges of the digitalisation of the economy
Adoption of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) package of 15 actions to counter global tax avoidance. Action 1 deals with the digitalisation of the economy but makes no recommendations at this stage.
Read our latest tax reform updates
TAX UPDATE 21 Jul 2022 | Global Tax Reform: OECD publishes draft rules on the financial services exclusion from Pillar One |
TAX UPDATE 21 Jul 2022 | Global tax reform for the largest multinationals: new OECD draft proposals |
TAX UPDATE 08 Feb 2022 | Global Tax Reform: OECD publishes draft nexus and revenue sourcing rules |
TAX UPDATE 21 Dec 2021 | Global Minimum Tax Rules Published |
TAX UPDATE 26 Oct 2021 | Digital Services Taxes to be phased out in the run up to global tax reform |
TAX UPDATE 11 Oct 2021 | Global tax reform - more details released |
TAX UPDATE 04 Oct 2021 | Final details on global tax reform imminent |
TAX UPDATE 14 Jun 2021 | Global Tax Reform - Some Key Questions |