Today in my inbox is an blog post in which “Two Richards Talk Fiscal Transparency” – the Richards concerned being one current (Richard Allen) and one former (Richard Hughes) head of division in the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department.I’ve pulled out two interesting things from the blog post and associated paper [pdf]: the statistics showing how… Continue reading Some fascinating snippets from the IMF’s new paper on fiscal transparency
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On the BRICS’ choice of diplomatic language at the OECD
I’ve just been reading through the 2010 update to the OECD model tax treaty [pdf] and in particular the different positions set out by non-OECD countries. This is where countries can put on record their objections to the model treaty, so that potential treaty partners know what they’re getting themselves into. I think the difference… Continue reading On the BRICS’ choice of diplomatic language at the OECD
Do tax treaties increase foreign investment in developing countries?
Ghana also uses Double Taxation Agreements (DTA) to rationalise tax obligations of investors who come from global tax sourced jurisdictions with a view to saving the investors the incidence of double taxation. – Ghana Investment Promotion Centre
Africa may be getting worse, not better, at raising taxes
That is the implication of an interesting blog over at the Guardian, which argues that African GDP statistics are woefully inaccurate. A couple of years ago Ghana revised its GDP estimates dramatically upwards, by 60%, and it seems Nigeria is about to follow suit.
Tax can promote growth and equity, says the IMF…but how?
The relationship between taxes and growth is hardly an easy topic to resolve in a single blog. But the IMF has been saying some interesting things on this subject recently, not least in a paper I reviewed a couple of weeks ago, which had three notable findings: In middle- and high-income countries, there’s a negative… Continue reading Tax can promote growth and equity, says the IMF…but how?
How UK’s Companies House could be making life harder for tax inspectors in developing countries
I was fortunate enough to spend a couple of days last week in discussion with the head of transfer pricing from a small developing country. One of the obstacles that I hadn’t previously understood was that it is sometimes very hard for tax authorities to prove in court that an offshore company is related to… Continue reading How UK’s Companies House could be making life harder for tax inspectors in developing countries
Martin Hearson 