Taxing the Digitalising Economy
Image credit: © Tax Justice Network, pxhere
During 2019 and 2020, governments of over 130 countries, led by the OECD and G20, are considering radical reforms to international rules that shape the taxation of multinational companies. Originally a response to the political outcry when it was reported that large companies such as Google and Facebook pay little tax in many countries in which they operate, it has become an agenda for potentially radical reform to adapt a century-old set of tools to the 21st century economy. ICTD’s work on this topic supports research and debate to help low-income countries navigate a fast-paced and technically complex agenda with a lot at stake.
If you would like to suggest material for our list of key resources or contribute a piece of commentary, please get in touch with us at info@ictd.ac
Blogs:
November 2019
Developing countries are making a significant contribution to the current efforts to reform international tax in the project on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS), despite the obstacles they face in making their participation effective. It is welcome that since 2016 participation in the process was open to all countries, through the Inclusive Framework on…
November 2019
In response to Allison Christians’ blog providing suggestions on how the OECD’s consultation on the unified approach could regain equal footing for developing countries, Ben Dickinson points out that the 135 members of the Inclusive Framework (IF) are working together in a participatory way. In emphasizing the need for countries to negotiate as sovereignties rather…
News and Events:
November 2019
news
David Stewart interviewed ICTD Research Fellow Martin Hearson for the Tax Notes Talk Podcast. The two discussed how the OECD’s work on the taxation of the digital economy affects developing countries, and how they have reacted to the OECD Secretariat’s “Unified Approach under Pillar 1” proposal. Listen to the episode here. Forbes subsequently published the podcast…
November 2019
news
On October 20th, ICTD Research Fellow Dr Martin Hearson presented at the 6th annual World Bank Group and IMF “Tax Sunday” in Washington D.C.. On the theme “Strengthening Tax Systems in a Digitalizing World,” the conference focused on international tax reform and digitalisation in developing economies, as well as the role of innovative technology in…
Key Resources:
Policy Documents
Intergovernmental Organisation
Public comments received on the OECD Secretariat Proposal for a "Unified Approach" under Pillar OneA compilation of submissions to the OECD in response to its proposal for taxing corporate profits outlined in the Inclusive Framework’s May 2019 Programme of Work.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
The Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) Proposal - Pillar TwoThis is the second of two consultation documents published by the OECD secretariat. Its proposed set of rules would allow countries to tax multinational companies where they do not already pay a minimum amount of tax.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
International Tax Reform, Digitalization, and Developing EconomiesThis World Bank discussion paper considers the needs of developing countries in the area of taxing the digitalisating economy, and discusses different options for reform
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
An Assessment of Global Formula ApportionmentA working paper by IMF staff that assesses the impact of sharing out companies’ taxable profits through various formulae. Although this is not a proposal under active consideration, the results are relevant to ‘Amount A’ in the OECD’s proposed unified approach for ‘Pillar One’ of its tax and digitalisation project.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
Secretariat Proposal for a “Unified Approach” under Pillar OneThis is the first of two consultation documents published by the OECD secretariat. It aims to reconcile the three proposals for taxing corporate profits outlined in the Inclusive Framework’s May 2019 Programme of Work.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
3rd Technical Note: Inclusive Framework proposals to address the tax challenges arising in Africa from the digitalisation of the economyA response from the ATAF Cross-Border Tax Technical Committee to the issues raised in the Inclusive Framework’s programme of work. The note identifies some specific areas of concern as well as topics requiring further consideration.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
Programme of Work to Develop a Consensus Solution to the Tax Challenges Arising from the Digitalisation of the EconomyPaper summarising agreement reached at the OECD Inclusive Framework during the first half of 2019, including three options for reform that respond to the proposals set out in January.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
The place of Africa in the shift towards Global Tax Governance: Can the taxation of the digitalised economy be an opportunity for more inclusiveness?Commentary on the OECD discussions from the African Tax Administration Forum, which discusses how African countries can make more effective use of the inclusive Framework.
See resource Government
Report on Profit Attribution to Permanent EstablishmentsA proposal from the Indian government to reform its approach to taxing multinational companies, in a manner consistent with the G-24 proposal tabled three months earlier.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
Tax Issues related to the Digitalization of the EconomyA paper by the UN tax committee's subcommmitee on taxation of the digital economy that offers a commentary on the discussions at the OECD's Inclusive Framework and their implications for developing countries.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
Public comments received on the possible solutions to the tax challenges of digitalisationA compilation of submissions to the OECD in response to its paper on Addressing the Tax Challenges of the Digitalisation of the Economy, as well as video from a public consultation held at its headquarters in Paris.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
Corporate Taxation in the Global EconomyIMF board paper that discusses the strengths and weaknesses of a number of proposals for reforming international corporate tax rules and their implications for developing countries.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
Addressing the Tax Challenges of the Digitalisation of the Economy: Public Consultation DocumentPaper summarising agreement reached at the OECD Inclusive Framework to consider radical reforms to international tax rules, and outlining a number of proposals from developed and developing countries.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
2nd Technical Note: Inclusive Framework proposals to address the tax challenges arising in Africa from the digitalisation of the economyThe ATAF secretariat’s summary of the three proposals in the OECD’s public consultation document, and a discussion of how African countries can work through ATAF to respond.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
Addressing the Tax Challenges of the Digitalisation of the Economy – Policy NoteShort paper summarising agreement reached at the OECD Inclusive Framework to consider radical reforms to international tax rules, and outlining a number of proposals from developed and developing countries.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
Proposal for Addressing Tax Challenges Arising from DigitalisationProposal to reform international tax rules from a group of developing countries, led by India, Colombia and Ghana, aimed at influencing discussions in the OECD's Inclusive Framework.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
1st Technical Note: The tax challenges arising in Africa from the digitalisation of the economyThis document sets out the position of ATAF’s Cross-Border Tax Technical Committee ahead of the OECD Inclusive Framework meeting at which the broad direction of travel was agreed.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
Fair Taxation of the Digital EconomyA package of measures proposed by the European Commission focused on the challenges being considered by the OECD, including both a long term solution compatible with OECD tax rules, and a controversial interim solution that was disliked by some EU members as well as by the United States.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
Tax Challenges Arising from Digitalisation – Interim Report 2018Report endorsed by the OECD's Inclusive Framework, including developing as well as developed countries, which gives a conceptual framework explaining why digitalisation challenges existing tax rules, and proposes to reach an agreed solution by 2020.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
Addressing the Tax Challenges of the Digital Economy, Action 1 - 2015 Final ReportThe final report from the OECD's 'BEPS' project's workstream on the digital economy. This report emphasises that digitalisation is a transformation across the economy, rather than limited to a few large technology firms. It doesn't give a solution to the problems identified.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
Protecting the Tax Base in a Digital EconomyChapter from a UN tax committee handbook discussing the challenges of tax planning by highly digitalised firms from a developing country perspective.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
Action Plan on Base Erosion and Profit ShiftingThe work programme for the OECD's 'BEPS' project between 2013 and 2015, which was intended in part to address the difficulties face dby governments taxing large digitalised businesses.
See resource Intergovernmental Organisation
Addressing Base Erosion and Profit ShiftingThe report that launched the OECD's 'BEPS' project, in part a response to the public controversies surrounding tax planning by large digital firms.
See resource Government
Report of the Task Force on Taxation of the Digital EconomyA report for the French government that discussed the ways in which highly digitalised business models differ from conventional business models, and how international tax rules could adapt.
See resourceCommentary
Academic
Digitalization and Developing CountriesTax Notes Talk podcast episode with Martin Hearson and David D. Stewart, discussing how the OECD’s work on taxation of the digital economy affects developing countries.
See resource Civil Society
Taxing Intangibles, Financial Technology (FinTech) and the Digitalised EconomyMaterials from the 7th Pan-African Conference on Illicit Financial Flows in Nairobi, which focused on taxing the digitalised economy.
See resource Civil Society
International Corporate Tax Reform: towards a fair and comprehensive solutionThis paper gives a perspective on the OECD’s Programme of Work from the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation
See resource Academic
Global inequalities in taxing rights: An early evaluation of the OECD tax reform proposalsThis paper provides an evaluation of the redistribution of taxing rights associated with the leading proposals of the OECD, IMF and the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation (ICRICT).
See resource Civil Society
International Corporate Tax Reform and The ‘New Taxing Right’A summary of the detailed discussions that took place at a workshop on 4-5 July attended by senior officials from the OECD and the UN Tax Committee and from several tax authorities in Africa, as well as twelve BMG members and other researchers.
See resource Academic
Re-Allocation of Taxing Rights for Big Data Business ModelsAn alternative proposal for international tax reform that incorporates digitalisation without explicitly seeking to redistribute the tax base
See resource Media
Africa demands taxing rights on digital economyA summary of the ATAF High-Level Tax Policy Conference on the theme “Ensuring Africa’s voice in the debate on taxing the digital economy”.
See resource Academic
Taxing the Digitalised Economy: Closing in on ReformVideos from a conference at the Said Business School, in which participants from international organisations, governments, businesses and academia discussed the challenges of taxing digitalised multinationals.
See resource Media
A rare chance to fix the global corporate tax systemOp-ed from the co-chair of the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation arguing for radical reform through the Inclusive Framework discussions.
See resource Media
Is Africa equipped to tax its digital economy?Interview with Michael Hewson, Director of an African Transfer Pricing Advisory Firm, on taxing the digital economy in Africa.
See resource Civil Society
The greatest opportunity for reallocating taxing rights in a generation: now or never for the OECDCommentary on the OECD discussions from a campaign group that urges radical reform to give developing countries a greater share of the tax base from multinational companies.
See resource Academic
Residual Profit Allocation by IncomeA proposal for corporate tax reform originally drafted before the OECD’s “Unified approach” was published in October 2019, but on which the OECD proposal appears to draw.
See resource Media
Corporate Taxation in the Global EconomyBlog by the Managing Director of the IMF to coincide with the launch of its paper on 'Corporate Taxation in the Global Economy'. Available in عربي, 中文, Español, Français, 日本語, Português, Русский.
See resource Academic
The Digital Services Tax as a Tax on Location-Specific RentA proposal for treating the challenges of taxing the digital economy in a similar way to the taxation of oil, gas and mining industries.
See resource Business
Taxing the Digital Economy – Why is Africa not getting its fair share?Discussion from a South African accountancy and business advisory firm of the digital taxation debate and the OECD process from an African perspective.
See resource Business
Business Principles for Addressing the Tax Challenges of the Digitalizing EconomyA set of principals from the main business lobby group at the OECD designed to influence discussions in the Inclusive Framework.
See resource Media
How Apple Sidesteps Billions in TaxesOne of the first and most influential media articles discussing the tax planning strategies of large digital companies.
See resource Media
Google 2.4% Rate Shows How $60 Billion Is Lost to Tax LoopholesOne of the first and most influential media articles discussing the tax planning strategies of large digital companies.
See resource