Spain, Ireland fastest in closing MAP cases under tax treaties

Spain has been awarded for taking the shortest time in closing transfer pricing cases under the mutual agreement procedure (MAP) set out in tax treaties.

The 2021 MAP Statistics were presented during the OECD Tax Certainty Day, where tax officials and stakeholders took stock of the tax certainty agenda and discussed ways to further improve dispute prevention and resolution. The MAP Award is given in recognition of efforts by competent authorities in dealing with MAP cases.Continue Reading

US suspends digital services tax retaliatory tariffs

US suspends digital services tax retaliatory tariff

On June 2, 2020, USTR initiated investigations into digital services tax adopted or under consideration in ten jurisdictions:  Austria, Brazil, the Czech Republic, the European Union, India, Indonesia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and the UK.Continue Reading

Digital services taxes of Austria, Spain and UK discriminatory: United States

Digital services taxes of Austria, Spain and UK discriminatory

In a release issued on January 14, the USTR said that the each one of these digital services taxes discriminates against US companies, is inconsistent with prevailing principles of international taxation, and burden or restricts US commerce.Continue Reading

Unilateral action on digital economy taxation would heighten trade tensions: OECD

Unilateral action on digital taxation would heighten trade tensions OECD

Gurría was responding to recent statements and exchanges regarding the ongoing negotiations to address the tax challenges of the digitalisation of the economy.Continue Reading

US Trade Representative to investigate digital services tax rules in EU, nine others

US Trade Representative to investigate digital services tax rules in EU, nine others

These ten trading partners are: Austria, Brazil, the Czech Republic, the European Union, India, Indonesia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.Continue Reading

New EU corporate tax avoidance rules enter into force

New EU corporate tax avoidance rules enter into force

The new anti-abuse measures entered into force on January 1, 2019.Continue Reading

OECD’s Work on Harmful Tax Practices on Track

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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New Japan, Spain Tax Treaty to Include MAP Arbitration

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

Mutual Agreement Procedure Statistics Published for 2017

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

Spain’s Patent Box Regime Aligned with BEPS Action 5

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

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