Armenia has newly joined the OECD’s Inclusive Framework on base erosion and profit shifting.Continue Reading
Armenia joins OECD’s BEPS Inclusive Framework
Europe
Transfer pricing news, BEPS news, and international tax news in Europe
Chris Whitehouse joins Questro’s transfer pricing practice
Transfer pricing advisory Questro International has hired Chris Whitehouse as a transfer pricing partner for its Zurich office.
Ireland deposits BEPS MLI to tackle tax avoidance
For Ireland, the BEPS MLI will enter into force in May 2019.Continue Reading
New Swiss-Ukraine tax treaty protocol signed
The treaty protocol provides for a low withholding tax rate of five percent for royalty and interest payments. An arbitration clause is also included to increase legal certainty for taxpayers.Continue Reading
Manuel Koch joins transfer pricing specialist Questro’s Stuttgart office
Transfer pricing specialist Questro International has hired Manuel Koch as a Partner for the firm’s office in Stuttgart, Germany.
Koch brings significant experience of over ten years specialization in transfer pricing consulting. Koch has wide experience in international tax planning engagements for international corporates including holding and principal structures as well as Swiss finance branches and IP boxes.Continue Reading
Dutch tax rulings to Nike under EU Commission’s scanner
The Commission is looking into five tax rulings issued by the Dutch tax authority to Nike group companies in the Netherlands between 2006 to 2015.Continue Reading
Hong Kong, Finland tax treaty to take effect in April 2019
The treaty will be effective from April 1, 2019.Continue Reading
New EU corporate tax avoidance rules enter into force
The new anti-abuse measures entered into force on January 1, 2019.Continue Reading
Malta ratifies tax instrument to tackle base erosion and profit shifting
The BEPS MLI will enter into force for Malta on April 1, 2019.
Gibraltar provided illegal tax benefits to MNEs: EU Commission
Gibraltar must recover unpaid taxes of around EUR100m from companies that benefited from the corporate tax exemption regime for interest and royalties as well as from the five tax rulings.Continue Reading
OECD issues second peer review report on BEPS Action 5
The OECD has made 60 jurisdiction-specific recommendations on issues such as improving the timeliness of the exchange of information and ensuring that exchanges of information are made with respect to preferential tax regimes that apply to income from intellectual property.Continue Reading
Bulgaria introduces new interest limitation and CFC regimes
By Elizabeth Sidi (Senior Tax Consultant, PwC, Bulgaria)
Bulgaria is introducing new interest limitation rules and a new controlled foreign corporation regime from January 1, 2019.
Continue ReadingIndian tax authority undergoing ratification process for BEPS MLI
Important process of ratifying the BEPS MLI is on. In 2019-2020, the provisions will come into effect, says Akhilesh Ranjan.
Continue ReadingDenmark publishes draft tax proposal to ratify BEPS MLI
The legislation is intended to enter into force in July 2019. Continue Reading
France, Germany propose new digital tax plan
France and Germany urged the EU Council to adopt the proposed digital services tax by March 2019.Continue Reading
Belgium publishes draft transfer pricing guidance for public comments
By Bram Markey (Director, Transfer Pricing, PwC Belgium)
The Belgian tax authority has issued a draft Circular on the 2017 update to the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and Tax Administrations.Continue Reading
New tax treaty between Switzerland, Pakistan effective from January 2019
An arbitration clause is included in the new tax treaty to resolve double taxation disputes.Continue Reading
Netherlands to Deny Tax Rulings to ‘Letterbox’ Companies
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable at editor@transferpricingnews.com
Netherlands will be putting into place stricter requirements for the issue of international tax rulings by the end of June 2019.
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Ireland, Malta Close ‘Single Malt’ Tax Avoidance Structure
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable at editor@transferpricingnews.com
Ireland and Malta have agreed to close the “Single Malt” – an aggressive tax planning structure in which some multinational corporations use a company incorporated in Ireland but tax-resident in Malta.
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BDO Melbourne Gets New Tax Partner in Michael Smith
Michael Smith has joined BDO Melbourne’s transfer pricing team as a partner.
Smith has nearly 20 years’ of transfer pricing experience from around the world. He has worked in London, New York, and Sydney. Continue Reading
Norway to Ratify BEPS Multilateral Instrument
The Norwegian Government has submitted to the Parliament a proposal to ratify the OECD’s Multilateral Instrument to implement tax treaty-related measures to tackle base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS).Continue Reading
EU Joint Transfer Pricing Forum Issues Recommendations on Multilateral Transfer Pricing Audits
By Bram Markey (Director, Transfer Pricing, PwC Belgium)
The EU Joint Transfer Pricing Forum has published a report, which aims to address the lack of guidance on bilateral and multilateral transfer pricing audits.
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Global Solution Needed to Tax Digital Economy: DIGITALEUROPE
DIGITALEUROPE, which represents the digital technology industry in Europe, has called upon governments to negotiate a comprehensive, global, long-term tax solution at the OECD-level to address the tax challenges of the digital economy.
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OECD’s Work on Harmful Tax Practices on Track
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The OECD has published a report covering the assessment of 53 preferential tax regimes as part of its work under base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) Action 5, on harmful tax practices.
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Google, Facebook to Appear Before EU Tax Committee
European Parliament’s Special Committee on Tax Avoidance (TAX3) is going to hold a hearing on November 27 with representatives from the Kering Group, Google, and Facebook.
The aim of the hearing is to assess the progress made by these multinational enterprises in the implementation of the base erosion and profit shifting project.Continue Reading
Ireland Consulting on Corporate Anti-Tax Avoidance Measures
On November 14, 2018, Ireland’s Department of Finance published for public comments a consultation document on the hybrid mismatch and interest limitation measures to be introduced as part of the implementation of the EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directives (ATAD and ATAD2).
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Transfer Pricing Regulation in Albania and Recent Developments
By Erinda Xhaferraj (Tax Manager, PwC, Albania) and Edland Graci (Transfer Pricing Senior Associate, PwC, Spain)
The amendment in 2014 of Albania’s Income Tax Law and the release of the Transfer Pricing Instruction introduced changes that are of importance to Albanian taxpayers performing cross-border transactions. For the first time taxpayers were faced with a complex and sophisticated legislation, which required the application of arm’s length in intra-group transactions.Continue Reading
OECD Issues Guidance on the Impact of BEPS MLI
The OECD has published new guidance for the development of synthesised texts to facilitate the interpretation and application of tax agreements modified by the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS MLI).Continue Reading
Countries Discuss Implementation of BEPS Minimum Standards
More than 60 delegates from 16 countries met recently at the regional meeting of the Inclusive Framework on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) in Eastern Europe and Central Asia to discuss implementation of the BEPS measures.Continue Reading
UK Launches Consultation on Digital Services Tax
The UK Government is seeking stakeholders’ views on the detailed design, implementation, and administration of the proposed two percent digital services tax (DST).Continue Reading
UK Announces 2% Digital Services Tax From 2020
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
UK would introduce a two percent digital services tax (DST) to ensure digital businesses pay tax that reflects the value they derive from UK users, UK Chancellor Philip Hammond announced in his October 29 Budget Speech.Continue Reading
Ukraine Publishes Draft Tax Law to Implement BEPS Proposals
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
Ukraine has published a draft law aimed at implementing some of key measures proposed under the OECD’s base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) project.
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Ireland Signs Order to Ratify BEPS Convention
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
Ireland’s Government has signed an Order to facilitate ratification of the OECD’s Multilateral Instrument to implement tax treaty-related measures to prevent base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS).Continue Reading
EU Digital Services Tax Proposal ‘Unfair’: US Treasury Secretary
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has issued a statement noting “strong” concerns with countries’ consideration of a digital services tax proposal.
In March 2018, the EU Commission announced it proposal to introduce an interim tax, which would cover the main digital activities that currently escape tax altogether in the EU.Continue Reading
Tax Officials Discuss BEPS Implementation Challenges
Senior tax experts met at an event in Portugal on October 23 to discuss the strategic importance of the OECD’s work on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) and the challenges faced by tax administrations in implementing the BEPS proposals.Continue Reading
Abandon Digital Services Tax Proposal: US Tells EU
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The US Senate Committee on Finance has asked the European Commission to “abandon” its proposal to introduce a three percent digital services tax on revenues arising from the supply of certain digital services.Continue Reading
Further Three Jurisdictions Join BEPS Inclusive Framework
Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have newly joined the OECD’s Inclusive Framework on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS).
The Inclusive Framework on BEPS allows interested countries and jurisdictions to work with the OECD and Group of Twenty nations on monitoring the implementation of the BEPS proposals.Continue Reading
New Japan, Spain Tax Treaty to Include MAP Arbitration
Japan and Spain signed a new tax treaty on October 16. The tax treaty wholly amends the existing tax treaty between Japan and Spain, which entered into force in 1974.
As per the new tax treaty, a withholding tax exemption applies to investment income from interest and royalties. Withholding tax on dividends is also exempt in certain situations.Continue Reading
Japan, Croatia Sign New Tax Treaty
Japan and Croatia signed a new tax treaty on October 19.
The new tax treaty provides for a reduced withholding tax on dividends, interest, and royalties. In some case, these are exempt.Continue Reading
Switzerland Expands Country List for Exchange of CbC Reports
The Swiss Federal Council on October 17 decided to expand the list of countries with which Switzerland would exchange country-by-country (CbC) reports.
The legal basis for the exchange of CbC reports entered into force for Switzerland on December 1, 2017. Switzerland had then submitted to the OECD a list of 108 countries with which the Government will exchange CbC reports.Continue Reading
Mutual Agreement Procedure Statistics Published for 2017
The OECD on October 10 published its 2017 mutual agreement procedure (MAP) statistics covering 85 tax jurisdictions.
According to the 2017 MAP statistics, new transfer pricing MAP cases are up by 25 percent and other MAP cases by 50 percent. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the increase in new MAP cases is due to a range of factors including the effects of the new reporting framework and increased awareness of and expectations from taxpayers about MAP, the OECD noted.Continue Reading
Two New Tax Directors Join RSM’s Manchester Office
Leading audit, tax, and consulting firm RSM has appointed two new tax directors to join the firm’s Manchester office.Continue Reading
Liberia: Where Transfer Pricing is in Full Bloom
Liberia is a typical example amongst developing African countries making noticeable effort to expand their tax base to the size it should appropriately be, therefore collecting more taxes and adapting to the fast-changing local and global business environment.Continue Reading
Belgium Announces Cooperative Tax Compliance Program
By Bram Markey (Director, Transfer Pricing, PwC Belgium)
The Large Enterprises Division of the Belgian tax administration has announced the launch of a two-year pilot project aimed at transforming the traditional approach of ex-post tax investigations towards a system of proactive, real-time, and constructive dialogue on corporate tax affairs.
Ireland Finance Bill 2018 to Include International Tax Measures
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
Ireland would introduce key international tax measures in Finance Bill 2018 to comply with the EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said in his 2019 Budget Statement released on October 9. The Finance Bill 2018 is due to be published on October 18.Continue Reading
Norway’s Budget 2019 Includes BEPS Measures
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The Norwegian Government on October 8 presented the country’s National Budget 2019, which includes a series of measures to tackle base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS).Continue Reading
Japan-Iceland Tax Treaty to Take Effect From January 2019
The tax treaty between Japan and Iceland will enter into force on October 31, 2018, Japan’s Finance Ministry has announced.Continue Reading
Switzerland-Latvia Tax Treaty to Contain Arbitration Clause
The protocol to amend the Switzerland-Latvia tax treaty entered into force on September 3, 2018, and will take effect from January 1, 2019. Continue Reading
Countries Share Ideas on Country by Country Reporting Implementation
Senior tax officials from over 20 countries recently met at a workshop to share experiences from the first year of country-by-country (CbC) reporting and explore how information can be used most effectively in the tax risk assessment of MNE groups.Continue Reading
Aruba Newest to Join BEPS Inclusive Framework
Aruba has now joined the OECD’s Inclusive Framework on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS).
The Inclusive Framework on BEPS allows interested countries and jurisdictions to work with the OECD and Group of Twenty nations on monitoring the implementation of the BEPS proposals.Continue Reading
More Countries Ratify BEPS Convention
Australia, France, Japan, and the Slovak Republic have deposited their instruments of ratification of the OECD’s Multilateral Convention to implement tax treaty-related measures to prevent base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS).
For these four countries, the BEPS Convention would enter into force from January 1, 2019. The Convention entered into force last month for New Zealand, Serbia, Sweden, and the UK.Continue Reading
EU Commission to Drop Infringement Proceedings in Ireland-Apple State Aid Decision
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The EU Commission is now to withdraw infringement proceedings against Ireland as the Government has now completed full recovery of the alleged State aid from Apple.Continue Reading
Saudi Arabia Signs OECD’s BEPS Multilateral Instrument
Saudi Arabia has become the 84th tax jurisdiction to sign the base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) Multilateral Convention.
The BEPS Convention, negotiated by over 100 countries and jurisdictions, updates the existing network of 1,400 bilateral tax treaties and reduces opportunities for tax avoidance by multinational enterprises.Continue Reading
No Sweet Tax Deal between Luxembourg, McDonald’s: EU Commission
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The EU Commission on September 19 decided that Luxembourg’s tax treatment of McDonald’s Europe Franchising does not violate the Luxembourg-US tax treaty and that tax rulings granted to McDonald’s do not infringe EU State aid rules.
The decision follows an in-depth investigation launched in December 2015, based on doubts that Luxembourg might have misapplied its tax treaty with the US.Continue Reading
ICC Welcomes OECD Draft on Transfer Pricing Aspects of Financial Transactions
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has largely welcomed the OECD’s public discussion draft on the transfer pricing aspects of financial transactions.
The discussion draft deals with follow-up work in relation to base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) Actions 8-10, on assuring that transfer pricing outcomes are in line with value creation.Continue Reading
Liechtenstein, Bermuda to Exchange CbC Reports
The OECD has published a set of newly established bilateral for the exchange of country-by-country (CbC) reports with respect to Bermuda, Curaçao, Hong Kong (China), and Liechtenstein.Continue Reading
Former OECD Transfer Pricing Head Joins Squire Patton Boggs
Former OECD Head of Transfer Pricing, Jefferson P. VanderWolk, has joined international law firm Squire Patton Boggs as a partner in the Tax Strategy & Benefits Practice. VanderWolk will work from the firm’s Washington DC office.Continue Reading
Further Country by Country Reporting Guidance Issued
The OECD has issued further interpretative guidance on the implementation of country-by-country (CbC) reporting to provide certainty to tax administrations and multinational enterprises (MNEs).Continue Reading
BEPS Instrument to Enter into Force in January 2019 for Israel, Lithuania
Israel and Lithuania have newly deposited with the OECD their instrument of ratification for the Multilateral Instrument to implement tax treaty-related base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) measures.Continue Reading
OECD Transfer Pricing Profiles for 7 More Countries Published
The OECD has published new transfer pricing country profiles for Costa Rica, Greece, Republic of Korea, Panama, Seychelles, South Africa, and Turkey. The OECD has also updated the information contained in Singapore’s profile.Continue Reading
Draft Tax Proposal Drastically Expands Scope of Finnish CFC Regime
By Mika Ohtonen (Head of Tax, Roschier, Finland) & Laura Puro (Senior Associate, Roschier, Finland)
Finland’s Ministry of Finance last month published a draft proposal on amending the Finnish controlled foreign corporation (CFC) statute. While the purpose of the draft is to implement the CFC provisions of the Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD), the proposed changes are materially stricter than required by the ATAD.Continue Reading
Ireland to Expand Transfer Pricing Rules by 2020, Introduce CFC Law
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
Ireland’s Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has published the country’s Corporation Tax Roadmap outlining the steps that the Government will take in the area of international tax law over the next few years.Continue Reading
Countries Lowering Corporate Income Tax Rates
A new OECD report reveals that countries have used recent tax reforms to lower corporate income tax.
Tax Policy Reforms 2018 highlights the continuation of a trend toward corporate income tax rate cuts, which has been largely driven by significant reforms in a number of large countries with traditionally high corporate tax rates.Continue Reading
MAP Peer Review Reports Out for Australia, Ireland, Japan, Five Others
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The OECD on August 30 published stage 1 mutual agreement procedure (MAP) peer review reports of the following eight jurisdictions: Australia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, and Portugal.Continue Reading
Quantera Global, Africa Transfer Pricing Now Allies
Transfer pricing advisory firm Quantera Global has announced its strategic partnership with Africa Transfer Pricing, a professional services firm specializing in transfer pricing in South Africa.Continue Reading
Macedonia Now Part of BEPS Inclusive Framework
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has newly joined the OECD’s Inclusive Framework on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS).Continue Reading
Swiss, UK Tax Treaty to Include BEPS Minimum Standards
The Swiss Federal Council on August 22 adopted the dispatch concerning a protocol of amendment to the Swiss-UK tax treaty for the attention of Parliament.Continue Reading
Switzerland Adopts Dispatch on BEPS Convention
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The Swiss Federal Council on Wednesday adopted the dispatch on the OECD’s Multilateral Convention to implement tax treaty-related base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) measures.Continue Reading
Finland Consulting on Draft Controlled Foreign Corporation Rules
By Sami Tuominen (Partner, Head of Tax, Bird & Bird, Finland) & Marianna Santamala (Associate, Bird & Bird, Finland)
The Finnish Ministry of Finance recently proposed amendments to the current Finnish legislation concerning controlled foreign corporations (CFC). On August 6, 2018, the Finance Ministry submitted a proposal for Government Bill on the amendments to the Act on taxation of members of controlled foreign companies (Act). The Act is currently going through a consultation round and the Ministry would accept input until the end of this month. The purpose of the Act is to prevent the avoidance of taxation in Finland by utilizing corporations established in states with low taxation.Continue Reading
Tax Treaty between Switzerland, Saudi Arabia to Enter Into Force
The Swiss Federal Council on August 15 adopted the dispatch on the tax treaty with Saudi Arabia.Continue Reading
Transfer Pricing Documentation: Belgium Gazettes Administrative Fines
By Stefaan De Ceulaer (Director, Tax and Legal Support, PKF International)
The Belgian Parliament on June 29 adopted the Programme Act, which introduces in Belgian tax law specific transfer pricing documentation requirements, that is, in article 321/1 to 321/7 of the Income Tax Code (Programme law of July 1, 2016 gazetted on July 4, 2016), in response to Action 13 of the OECD’s base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS project. Continue Reading
Grant Thornton Boosts Presence in Dutch Caribbean
In a significant expansion drive, Grant Thornton, leading audit, tax, and advisory firm, has added offices in Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, and St. Maarten, boosting its already wide presence in 13 locations across the Caribbean.Continue Reading
Transfer Pricing Documentation Regime Being Revised in Poland
By Marcin Jamroży (Associate Professor, Warsaw School of Economics, and Partner, Rödl & Partner, Poland)
Poland’s Finance Ministry recently published a draft tax Bill to implement key changes to the country’s transfer pricing documentation rules. The draft Bill is aimed at simplifying Poland’s transfer pricing regulations and lowering the bureaucratic and administrative burden for enterprises. The philosophy of a simple, transparent, and friendly tax system should be written into the law. At the same time, it is underlined that the draft Bill should be sealed against loopholes and incorporate the new OECD recommendations. The new regulation is proposed to be effective from January 1, 2019.Continue Reading
Spain’s Patent Box Regime Aligned with BEPS Action 5
By Mario Ortega Calle (Partner, Garrigues, Madrid) and Laura Jiménez (Associate, Garrigues, Madrid)
Spain’s General State Budget for 2018, published by Law 6/2018 of July 3, 2018, in the Official Gazette, has amended the country’s patent box regime to bring it in further alignment with the “nexus approach” developed by the OECD under Action 5 of the base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) project.Continue Reading
Guernsey to Introduce Substance Requirements in Tax Law
Guernsey’s Government is consulting businesses on a law that would require companies tax-resident in Guernsey to demonstrate they have sufficient substance in the island.Continue Reading
UK Raises £388 million from Diverted Profits Tax Law in 2017-18
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The UK tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), raised GBP388m from the diverted profits tax (DPT) legislation in 2017-18, according to the Transfer Pricing and Diverted Profits Tax Statistics published on July 31.Continue Reading
DLA Piper Appoints Vicki Bales as Transfer Pricing Director
Global law firm DLA Piper has announced the appointment of Vicki Bales as a Transfer Pricing director in the firm’s international tax practice. Bales will be based in London.Continue Reading
Franka Sturm Joins Houthoff’s Tax Practice as Counsel
Houthoff, one of the largest law firms in the Netherlands, has hired Franka Sturm as Counsel for the firm’s tax practice.
Sturm has over 13 years of experience as a tax specialist in international practice with a focus on M&A and oil and gas.
Before joining Houthoff, Sturm worked with the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration and with PwC as a Senior Tax Manager.
Taxpayer Input Sought on Fresh Round of MAP Peer Reviews
The OECD is seeking taxpayers’ input for the sixth round of base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) Action 14 Stage 1 peer reviews of eight new jurisdictions.Continue Reading
MNE Tax Avoidance Thing of the Past, OECD Tells G-20
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
Multinational enterprises (MNEs) are “changing their behavior” as a direct result of recent tax measures taken to tackle base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS), the OECD has told the Group of Twenty (G-20) Finance Ministers.Continue Reading
Ukraine Signs OECD’s BEPS Convention
Ukraine has become the 83rd tax jurisdiction to sign the base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) Multilateral Convention.Continue Reading
OECD Briefs G-20 on BEPS Implementation
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The OECD has published a progress report setting out the major tax developments that took place in the last year concerning the OECD’s base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) project.Continue Reading
Countries Discuss Ways to Implement BEPS Measures
Senior tax officials from 20 countries in Europe and Central Asia recently met in Georgia to discuss ways to tackle tax avoidance and to implement the base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) proposals.Continue Reading
BusinessEurope Calls for Global Agreement on Digital Economy Taxation
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The Confederation of European Business (BusinessEurope) has said that a global agreement is needed on changes to international tax rules concerning the digital economy to ensure a global level-playing field encompassing all major tax jurisdictions.Continue Reading
Baker McKenzie Elects New Tax Partners
Law firm Baker McKenzie has announced the election of 13 new tax partners.
The newly elected partners are: Michael Nixon (Singapore), Simone Bridges (Sydney), Kirill Vikulov (Moscow), David Jamieson (London), Jessica Eden (London), Rodrigo Castillo Cottin (Bogota), Paul F. DePasquale (New York), Tatyana Johnson (New York), Victor Alejandro Morales-Chavez (Mexico City), Jonathan Welbel (Chicago), Joshua Nixt (New York), Andrew C. O’Brien-Penney (Chicago), and Ivan Tsios (Chicago).Continue Reading
New Italian Transfer Pricing Guidelines Explained
By Diletta Fuxa (Senior Manager), Studio Associato Servizi Professionali Integrati, Member of Fieldfisher
On May 14, 2018, Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance issued a Decree, which lays down new transfer pricing guidelines in compliance with the provisions set forth in article 110 (7) of the Income Tax Code (Testo Unico delle Imposte sui Redditi).Continue Reading
Report on Taxation of Offshore Indirect Transfer of Assets Issued
The Platform for Collaboration on Tax – a joint initiative of the IMF, the OECD, the UN, and the World Bank Group – has published for public comments a revised version of its report on taxation of offshore indirect transfers of assets.Continue Reading
UK Finalizes BEPS Convention Reservations
The UK Government has published a final list of its reservations and notifications under the Multilateral Convention to implement tax treaty-related base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) measures.Continue Reading
EU Committee Calls For Fair, Uniform Taxation of Digital Economy
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has called for a fair, consensus-based international solution at the OECD-level to tackle tax challenges posed by the digital economy.
The EU advisory body said that contrary to common international corporate taxation practice, the European Commission’s proposals aims to tax businesses’ turnover instead of profits, and to levy taxes where sales take place instead of where value is created. This approach, it noted, could jeopardize the integrity of the EU single market and lead to double taxation.Continue Reading
UK to Amend Corporate Interest Restriction Rules
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The UK Government has published draft legislation that would make technical amendments to the country’s corporate interest restriction rules to ensure the corporation tax regime works as intended.Continue Reading
Guernsey Signs New Tax Treaty With UK
Guernsey has signed a new tax treaty with the UK. The new tax treaty replaces the one that has been in force since 1951.
The new tax treaty is based, broadly, on the OECD Model Tax Convention, which Guernsey has generally followed in its negotiations with other jurisdictions in recent years. The text of the tax treaty incorporates some of the recent international standards designed to prevent base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS). Continue Reading
UK, Isle of Man Sign New Tax Treaty
The governments of UK and Isle of Man signed a new tax treaty on July 2.
The tax treaty is based on the latest OECD Model Tax Convention and includes provisions to reflect the OECD’s base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) measures.Continue Reading
OECD Consulting on Transfer Pricing Aspects of Financial Transactions
The OECD today called for stakeholders’ input on a discussion draft on financial transactions, which deals with follow-up work in relation to base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) Actions 8-10, on assuring that transfer pricing outcomes are in line with value creation.
Continue Reading
Selective Tax Advantage to Starbucks: EU Court Hears the Netherlands
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
At a hearing of the General Court of the European Union on July 2, the Dutch Government put forward three points to demonstrate that it did not provide selective tax advantages to Starbucks in violation of the EU state aid rules.Continue Reading
Further Three Tax Jurisdictions Sign BEPS Convention
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
Kazakhstan, Peru, and the UAE have signed the base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) Multilateral Convention, the OECD has announced, adding that Estonia intends to sign the Convention on June 29.Continue Reading
Duff & Phelps Adds Ted Keen to Transfer Pricing Practice
Global advisory firm Duff & Phelps has hired Ted Keen, who will serve as the European leader for the firm’s transfer pricing practice from London.Continue Reading
Switzerland to Exchange 109 CbC Reports With 35 nations
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) will exchange this month 109 country-by-country (CbC) reports of multinational enterprises’ (MNEs) with 35 foreign tax jurisdictions.Continue Reading
Transfer Pricing: The Intangible Assets Case
Introduction
The transfer pricing of intangible properties has always been a significant issue for multinational enterprises (MNEs). The excellent idea devoted to this matter with the current drive of the OECD to counter tax base erosion is dim long over-due. Indeed, the case with transfer pricing is technically considered a neutral concept but erroneously taken as an offensive action of MNEs that permits them to transfer profits generated by intangibles to so-called tax havens. Although, the arm’s length principle enshrine in the OECD Model has been misidentified as the primary instrument to tackle such abusive behavior of MNEs.Continue Reading
CCCTB: The concept and the effects in Cyprus and Malta
Introduction
When states attain membership of the European Union (EU), the governments are in charge of enacting and implementing their local direct taxation policy. The tax framework of the member-states shall not contravene or interfere the laid down policies and directives of the EU institutions; therefore, the sovereignty of member states is extremely safeguarded. Although the EU faces difficulties to come up with results that would be generally accepted by all member states, it has taken every step to integrate all Member States’ corporate direct taxation systems since the 1950s.Continue Reading
OECD Issues Further Guidance on PE Profit Attribution
The OECD has released additional guidance on the attribution of profits to permanent establishment (PE), as part of its work on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) Action 7.Continue Reading
BEPS Convention to Enter Into Force in July
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The OECD’s Multilateral Convention to implement tax treaty-related measures to prevent base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) will enter into force on July 1, 2018.Continue Reading
Countries Agree to Reach Consensus on Digital Taxation by 2020
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The OECD on March 16 released its Interim Report on the Tax Challenges Arising from Digitalisation, noting a lack of consensus among countries on either the merit or the need for interim measures to address the tax challenges posed by the digital economy.Continue Reading
OECD Publishes Third Round of MAP Peer Reviews
On March 12, 2018, the OECD published mutual agreement procedure (MAP) peer review reports of the following eight jurisdictions: Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Korea, Norway, Poland, Singapore, and Spain. Continue Reading
MNEs Using Irish, Dutch Tax Systems to Avoid Tax: Commission Report
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
In a first, the European Commission has stressed that tax rules in seven EU member states facilitate corporate tax avoidance by multinational enterprises (MNEs).Continue Reading
Tax Expert Franz Althuber Leaves Behind DLA Piper, Starts Own Firm
Austria’s leading tax lawyer, Franz Althuber, has left DLA Piper to start his own firm, Althuber Spornberger & Partners.Continue Reading
Ireland’s FM Discusses Corporate Tax Rate, US Tax Reform
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
In his recent address to the Irish Tax Institute, Ireland’s Finance Minister, Paschal Donohoe, outlined views on critical tax issues such as the country’s low corporate tax rate, the impact of US tax reforms, and digital taxation.Continue Reading
Applying the Transfer Pricing CUP Method
The arm’s length principle treats the members of a multinational enterprise (MNE) as operating in separate entities, rather than as inseparable parts of a single, unified business. Therefore, it is required that MNEs follow the same pricing policy for intra-group and uncontrolled transactions, under comparable circumstances. Otherwise, the controlled companies shall take the necessary measures and adjust their profits by reference to the conditions, which would have obtained between independent enterprises.Continue Reading
UK Updates Definition of ‘Transfer Pricing Guidelines’
The UK Government has published an Order, which would update the definition of “transfer pricing guidelines” in the UK legislation.Continue Reading
Netherlands Underlines Plan to Tackle Tax Avoidance
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
In a 24-page long letter to the country’s Parliament, Dutch State Secretary for Finance, Menno Snel, has set out a detailed tax plan to tackle multinational tax avoidance, including measures to prevent the internationally-oriented Dutch tax system from being used as a conduit to tax havens.Continue Reading
Protocol to UK-Mauritius Tax Treaty Signed
An amending Protocol to the UK-Mauritius tax treaty was signed on February 28, 2018.Continue Reading
Italy’s Transfer Pricing Overhaul Will Boost Taxpayer Confidence
By Marco Greggi (Professor, International Tax Law, University of Ferrara)
The Italian Finance Ministry, on February 21, 2018, published for stakeholders’ comments two draft transfer pricing regulations. The first Regulation is a proposed decree that deals with substantive aspects of transfer pricing regulations (analyzed in this article), while the second Regulation concerns corresponding adjustments (procedural aspects). The second Regulation on corresponding adjustments will be analyzed in a forthcoming article.Continue Reading
Brazil to Revisit Transfer Pricing Regime
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The OECD is working with Brazil to examine the similarities and gaps between the Brazilian and OECD approaches to valuing related-party, cross-border transactions for tax purposes.Continue Reading
EC Publishes Non-confidential Version of Luxembourg-Amazon State Aid Decision
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
On February 26, 2018, the European Commission published the non-confidential version of its decision concluding that Luxembourg granted undue tax benefits worth around EUR250m to Amazon.Continue Reading
Sarah Churton Joins KPMG UK’s International Tax Team
KPMG UK has announced the appointment of Sarah Churton to its international tax practice.Continue Reading
The Future of the Dutch Tax Ruling Practice
By Jian-Cheng Ku (Legal Director, DLA Piper Nederland N.V.) and Jeroen Swart, (Tax Adviser, DLA Piper Nederland N.V.)
On February 18, 2018, the Dutch State Secretary of Finance announced that it will revise the Dutch tax ruling practice in light of results from a review conducted to examine if Dutch tax rulings met Dutch procedural requirements. Over 4,000 Dutch tax rulings were reviewed.
Current practice and review
A tax ruling provides Dutch taxpayers with the opportunity to obtain advance certainty on the tax consequences of proposed legal transactions. Taxpayers and the tax authorities are able to avoid potential disputes through tax rulings, which provide upfront assurance. The Dutch tax ruling practice is considered an important pillar of the Dutch business climate.Continue Reading
EU Digital Tax ‘Ship’ Has Sailed: Commissioner Moscovici
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
Europe is determined to introduce key changes to the EU corporate tax framework to address the tax challenges posed by the digital economy, EU Tax Commissioner Pierre Moscovici has said.Continue Reading
UK Publishes Tax Guidance on MAP Framework
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
On February 20, 2018, the UK Government published “Statement of Practice 1 (2018)” on the country’s mutual agreement procedure (MAP) framework. The Statement supersedes “Statement of Practice 1 (2011).”Continue Reading
Japan, Spain Agree to Sign New Tax Treaty
Japan and Spain have agreed in principle to the text of a new tax treaty.
The new tax treaty will replace the existing treaty between both countries, which entered into force in 1974.Continue Reading
Serbia Joins BEPS Inclusive Framework
Serbia has newly joined the OECD’s Inclusive Framework on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS).Continue Reading
Belgium Initiating New Wave of Transfer Pricing Audits
By Bram Markey (Director, Transfer Pricing, PwC Belgium)
The Belgian tax authorities are increasing their manpower, shifting focus areas, and stepping up national and international cooperation with other tax authorities, with a clear view to audit transfer pricing and other international tax matters in a more targeted and efficient way, writes Bram Markey, Director, Transfer Pricing at PwC Belgium. Continue Reading
Ireland, Ghana Sign New Tax Treaty
Ireland and Ghana signed a new tax treaty on February 7, 2018. The procedures to ratify the treaty are underway.
Ireland is also negotiating and renegotiating existing treaties with foreign jurisdictions.
According to the tax authority, Ireland’s existing treaty base will also be updated to incorporate provisions set out in the Multilateral Convention to implement tax treaty-related measures to prevent base erosion and profit shifting.
Italy Enacts New Web Tax, Redefines PE
By Aurelio Massimiano (Partner, Maisto e Associati) and Matteo Cataldi (Associate, Maisto e Associati)
On December 29, 2017, the Italian Government published Law No. 205 of December 27, 2017 (Budget Law) in the Italian Official Journal, which contains key tax measures including a new tax on digital transactions (Web Tax) and revisions to the definition of permanent establishment (PE) in the domestic law.Continue Reading
France Gazettes Revised Transfer Pricing Documentation Requirements
By Terence WILHELM (Attorney at Law, Managing Partner, CARA Avocats, France)
On December 31, 2017, the French Government gazetted Finance Act, 2018, which revises the current transfer pricing documentation requirements in France. Accordingly, companies falling within the ambit of the new requirements will need to newly submit to the tax authority a two-fold documentation comprising “master” and “local” files, developed under Action 13 of the OECD’s base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) project. The revised transfer pricing documentation requirement is inserted in Article L13AA of the French Procedural Tax Book (Livre des procedures fiscales) and is applicable to fiscal years beginning January 1, 2018.
Continue Reading
Cayman Islands Issues Advisory on CbC Reporting Requirement
By Alex Cooper
On February 2, 2018, the Cayman Islands’ Ministry of Financial Services issued an Industry Advisory on the Islands’ country-by-country (CbC) reporting notification requirements.Continue Reading
Norway Publishes Taxpayer Guidance on MAP Framework
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
On February 7, 2018, the Norwegian Government published detailed taxpayer guidance on the mutual agreement procedure (MAP) framework set out in Norway’s tax treaties.Continue Reading
OECD Issues Further CbC Guidance, Updates Preferential Regime Reviews
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The OECD today released additional guidance for tax administrations and multinational corporations on the implementation of country-by-country (CbC) reporting requirement.Continue Reading
Australia Consulting on Draft Legislation to Implement BEPS Convention
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The Australian Government today published for stakeholders’ comments a draft legislation to implement the OECD’s Multilateral Convention to implement tax treaty-related base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) measures in Australia.Continue Reading
Legislative Proposal on EU Rules on Digital Economy Taxation Likely in March 2018
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
The European Commission is likely to table a legislative proposal on EU rules on taxation of profits of multinational corporations in the digital economy by March 2018.Continue Reading
Italy, Colombia Sign Tax Treaty
Italy and Colombia have signed a new tax treaty in line with the base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) project.Continue Reading
Greece, Bulgaria Discuss Ways to Address BEPS Concerns
Senior officials from Greece and Bulgaria met on January 18, 2018, to discuss ways to tackle base erosion and profit shifting by certain Greek businesses, who transfer their headquarters to Bulgaria to benefit from a low corporate tax rate in Bulgaria.Continue Reading
TZA Romania Bulks up Transfer Pricing Strength
Țuca Zbârcea & Asociații Tax SRL, an affiliate of Romanian law firm Țuca Zbârcea & Asociații, has hired transfer pricing specialist Andreea Florian to strengthen its tax advisory practice.Continue Reading
UK, US, Six Others Launch Multilateral Tax Risk Assurance Program For MNEs
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
Eight tax administrations, including the UK and the US, have launched a pilot program for the multilateral risk assessment of multinational corporations.Continue Reading
Panama, Malaysia, Four Others Sign OECD’s BEPS Convention
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
Barbados, Côte d’Ivoire, Jamaica, Malaysia, Panama, and Tunisia have newly signed the base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) Multilateral Convention, the OECD announced on January 24, 2018.Continue Reading
Hong Kong, French Tax Administrations to Exchange CbC Reports
On January 15, 2018, the Government of Hong Kong announced that it has entered into a bilateral arrangement with France to automatically exchange country-by-country (CbC) reports filed by multinational corporations.Continue Reading
Panama, Others Removed from EU’s List of Non-cooperative Tax Jurisdictions
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
Following commitments made at a high political level to remedy EU concerns, the Council of the European Union, on January 23, 2018, removed eight tax jurisdictions, including Panama, from the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes.
New Hire for DLA Piper’s Italian Transfer Pricing Team
On January 17, 2018, multinational law firm DLA Piper announced the appointment of Federico Pacelli as a partner in its international tax practice based in Italy. Federico will be leading the firm’s Italian transfer pricing team.
Ireland, Kazakhstan Tax Treaty Effective
The new tax treaty between Ireland and Kazakhstan became effective on January 1, 2018.
The tax treaty, which was signed by both countries in April 2017, entered into force on December 29, 2017.
Malta’s Tax Regime BEPS Compliant: Finance Minister
Maltese Finance Minister, Edward Scicluna, has stressed that the country’s international tax regime is in line with the OECD’s BEPS proposals.Continue Reading
Paulus Merks Joins Houthoff as Tax Partner
In a major expansion drive, Dutch law firm Houthoff has welcomed Paulus Merks as a new partner in the tax team.Continue Reading
2017 Update to OECD Model Tax Convention Released
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
On December 18, 2017, the OECD released the 2017 edition of the OECD Model Tax Convention, which incorporates significant changes developed under BEPS project.Continue Reading
Over 1,400 automatic exchange relationships in place
The author is Alex Hunter, Editor, TP News. He oversees and updates the publication and also regularly writes news stories about transfer pricing and international tax law. Alex is reachable on email (editor@transferpricingnews.com) and by phone (+447808558597).
There are now over 1,400 automatic exchange relationships in place among tax administrations committed to exchanging country-by-country (CbC) reports as of mid-2018.Continue Reading
Ireland Tax Authority Accepting CbC Reports
The Irish Tax and Customs is has opened the filing facility for the receipt of country-by-country (CbC) reports for fiscal years ending in 2016.Continue Reading
