Last week the OECD secretariat published its proposed ‘unified approach’ to update corporate tax rules for the digital era, or at least for one of the project’s two pillars. The proposal is designed to be “the basis for a negotiation that could result in a political agreement by mid-2020.” This agreement is to be made… Continue reading The OECD’s digital tax proposal: untangling the impact of ‘Pillar One’ on developing countries
Tag: OECD
Developing Countries’ Role in International Tax Cooperation
Over the past year I’ve worked with the secretariat of the Intergovernmental Group of 24* on a paper that discusses how developing countries could engage with a range of international tax cooperation issues. The paper can be downloaded here: Developing countries’ role in international tax cooperation [pdf]. The G-24 plays a caucusing role for its… Continue reading Developing Countries’ Role in International Tax Cooperation
The Panama papers and the OECD: re-reading Havens in a Storm
Last week I re-read Jason Sharman’s classic Havens in a Storm, described by Tax Analysts’ Martin Sullivan as “one of the best books out there for tax experts trying to make sense of big countries’ policies toward tax havens” (Sullivan’s review includes a length summary of the book). I was looking for a hook for… Continue reading The Panama papers and the OECD: re-reading Havens in a Storm
The tax treaty arbitrators cometh
Next month sees the results of the OECD’s Base Erosion and Profit-Shifting project, as well as a discussion at the UN tax committee on alternative dispute resolution in tax treaties. India has apparently vetoed the inclusion of mandatory binding arbitration by default in the OECD model tax treaty, and it remains an optional provision within… Continue reading The tax treaty arbitrators cometh
Capital gains tax avoidance: can Uganda succeed where India didn’t?
I’m writing this post from under a mosquito net on a close Kampala evening. Since arriving on Wednesday I’ve had a whistlestop tour of the issues facing Uganda as it embarks on a review of its tax treaties. So far I’ve met with four tax inspectors, two finance ministry officials, four (count ’em) tax advisers,… Continue reading Capital gains tax avoidance: can Uganda succeed where India didn’t?
What is the UN tax committee for, anyway?
In January, the UN tax committee sent out a call for submissions [pdf] to the update of its transfer pricing manual. The subgroup working on this update will be drafting additional chapters on intra-group services, management fees and intangibles, all topics that greatly interest developing countries and civil society organisations grouped around initiatives such as… Continue reading What is the UN tax committee for, anyway?
Martin Hearson 