International Proposals

Digital Tax Deadlock: Where Do We Go from Here?

We recently hosted an exclusive webinar discussion to get up to speed on recent digital tax developments and gain insight from leading international tax experts on the OECD’s BEPS project.

EU Member States Pushing EU-wide Vapor Tax

Watch: Taxing the Digital Economy

What changed in the global economy that disrupted traditional means of taxation? Is it worth finding a way to include tax digital goods and services in the tax base? Why are digital services taxes so problematic? Are there better options—ways to adapt our current system without introducing complex and economically harmful policies?

The U.S. Trade Representative Expands Its Digital Services Tax Investigations

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) expanded its digital service tax investigations, announcing Section 301 investigations into digital tax policies in nine countries and the European Union. The announcement follows an investigation of the French digital services tax that was completed in 2019, after which the USTR threatened significant #tariffs in retaliation against France.

Digital Services Taxes: Do They Comply with International Tax, Trade, and EU Law?

A digital services tax like the one implemented by France likely violates both the General Agreement on Trade in Services and a model U.S. free trade agreement. However, it is uncertain whether meaningful relief could be obtained under either regime.

Chaos to the Left of Me. Chaos to the Right of me.

The OECD recently announced that the negotiation timeline for new digital tax proposals has now been pushed back to October due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although the end-of-year deadline for the overall project is still in place.

Profit Shifting: Evaluating the Evidence and Policies to Address It

The OECD has been working to assess the impact of their program of work, and it will be critical for this assessment to take into account impacts not only on revenues, but also on growth and investment.

Comparing Europe’s Tax Systems: International Tax Rules

The ABCs of the OECD Secretariat’s Unified Approach on Pillar 1

If there is double taxation due to digital services taxes or because a country is unwilling to conform to the structure of the Secretariat’s proposal, the impact would be a net negative for many businesses.

Next Steps from the OECD on BEPS 2.0

The continuation of this work is important, but the OECD and policymakers around the world should carefully consider whether these proposals will lead to more certainty, or if they will undermine that goal by simply be a step toward more unilateralism. The impact on cross-border investment will also be a critical issue to consider, and the ongoing impact assessment by the OECD is an important part of the work.

OECD Tackling Harmful Tax Practices

Countries around the world often design their tax policies to become attractive targets for foreign investment. These policies can be anything from a system with special preferences for certain industries to a well-designed tax system based on principles of sound tax policy. Systems that are rife with special preferences and complexities can create distortions in local jurisdictions and across the global economy.

The Challenges of Consensus in the Digital Economy on the International Tax Treaty System

Summary and Analysis of the OECD’s Work Program for BEPS 2.0

From a broad standpoint, agreement at the OECD will require countries to give up some measure of their own tax sovereignty on policies they have designed to minimize the distortionary effects of the corporate income tax. Over the years tax competition has led to some countries adopting policies that are attractive to businesses because they have a more neutral rather than distortionary approach to taxing corporate income. This project could directly undermine that progress by introducing new levels of complexity and distortion that would ultimately have a negative impact on global trade and growth.

Tax Avoidance Rules Increase the Compliance Burden in EU Member Countries

What Happens When Everyone is GILTI?

Secretary Mnuchin, Finance Minister Le Maire, and other tax policy leaders should encourage the OECD and their own research staff to perform serious economic analysis on the alternatives for changing international tax rules before moving forward. It would be quite unfortunate for the world to learn the wrong lessons from U.S. tax reform.

Ready to go on BEPS 2.0?

Learning from Europe and America’s Shared Gross Receipts Tax Experience

From the EU Digital Services Tax Debate—to the OECD?

A Wave of Digital Taxation

Inversions under the New Tax Law

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was meant to boost growth and deter corporate inversions. What does it mean that an Ohio company is still moving its HQ to the UK?