Globalisation is not new, but the pace of integration of national economies has quickened. Liberalisation opens up the door to globalisation, new technologies make it happen. This has implications for tax policy and administration. Find out more.

What's new

Developing well functioning financial markets: the tax dimension

26-Oct-2009

On October 26-28 in Beijing, China, the International Tax Dialogue conference brought together senior tax policymakers and administrators to discuss how the tax system can best support and promote a healthy and transparent financial environment. The press release is also available in Spanish.

Financial institutions and instruments: tax challenges and solutions

26-Oct-2009

In his opening remarks to the ITD Global Conference, Angel Gurría, OECD Secretary-General, said that innovation in the financial sector creates particular challenges for tax policy makers and administrators, but also offers unique opportunities.

Does tax affect SME creation and growth?

15-Oct-2009

The taxation of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) is an important topic for policy makers, as SMEs make up the vast majority of businesses and typically account for the bulk of employment in OECD countries.  The OECD has just released Tax Policy Study No. 18: “Taxation of SMEs: Key Issues and Policy Considerations”, which examines a broad range of SME tax issues, including: the possible influence of taxation on SME creation, business structure and growth; arguments for and against tax incentives for SMEs; and measures to address a relatively high tax compliance burden on SMEs.

New handbook boosts anti-money laundering efforts

08-Oct-2009

Money laundering is a serious threat to the legal economy and affects the integrity of financial institutions. If left unchecked, it will corrupt society as a whole. The OECD has just released a handbook to help tax administrations detect and deter money laundering.

Dispute Resolution: Country Mutual Agreement Procedure Statistics Released

25-Sep-2009

Two key objectives of the OECD work on the mutual agreement procedure (MAP) under tax treaties were to improve the timeliness of processing and completing MAP cases and to enhance the transparency of the MAP process. To those ends, the OECD has decided to make available to the public, via its website, annual statistics on the MAP caseloads of member countries and of non-OECD economies that agree to provide such statistics.

MAP statistics have now been provided for 2006 and 2007. Statistics for subsequent reporting periods will be posted on the OECD website as they become available.

G20: an update on the move to greater transparency and international cooperation in tax matters

26-Sep-2009

OECD Secretary-General Gurría reported to G20 on progress towards greater transparency and international cooperation in tax matters. Read the latest Progress Report listing where jurisdictions stand in implementing the international standard.

G20 Leaders welcome the expansion of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information

28-Sep-2009

In a statement following their 24-25 September meeting in Pittsburgh, the G20 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the momentum in dealing with tax havens, money laundering, proceeds of corruption, terrorist financing, and prudential standards.

The Council of Europe and OECD are strengthening their joint Convention to combat tax evasion

25-Sep-2009

On the eve of the Pittsburgh G20 Summit, the OECD and the Council of Europe agreed to improve international cooperation to combat tax evasion. The standards set by the joint 1988 Council of Europe and OECD Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters will be updated to reflect the new consensus for closer international co-operation.

OECD holds a major Conference “Transfer Pricing and Treaties in a Changing World”

22-Sep-2009

On 21-22 September 2009, the OECD held a major conference “Transfer Pricing and Treaties in a Changing World”. Almost 700 transfer pricing and treaty experts from over 90 governments (OECD and non-OECD), the private sector, NGOs, academia and international organisations gathered in Paris for the event. In his opening address, Jeffrey Owens, Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, stressed the significance of transfer pricing for OECD as well as non-OECD economies.

Lucerne VAT Conference - Communiqué

10-Sep-2009

The High Level VAT Conference was held in Lucerne on 9-10 September 2009, bringing together senior tax policy officials from 25 OECD countries, the European Commission and 5 non-member economies. The Communiqué is now available.

OECD releases a proposed revision of Chapters I-III of the Transfer Pricing Guidelines

from 09-Sep-2009 to 09-Jan-2010

On 9 September, the OECD released for public comment a proposed revision of Chapters I-III of the Transfer Pricing Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and Tax Administrations. This follows from the release in May 2006 of a discussion draft on comparability issues and in January 2008 of a discussion draft on transactional profit methods, and from discussions with commentators during a two-day consultation that was held in November 2008. Interested parties are invited to submit comments by 9 January 2010 to Jeffrey Owens, Director,CTPA (jeffrey.owens@oecd.org).

The OECD releases the 2009 edition of its Transfer Pricing Guidelines

09-Sep-2009

On 7 September 2009, the OECD released the 2009 edition of its Transfer Pricing Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and Tax Administrations. This edition incorporates an update of Chapter IV to reflect the latest developments in the area of dispute resolution as well as updates to the Foreword, Preface and Council Recommendation. It was released in time for the Conference Transfer Pricing and Treaties in a Changing World.

G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors call for continued action to ensure a level playing field for tax

07-Sep-2009

In a statement following their 5 September meeting in London, in advance of Pittsburgh, the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the financial system, but stated that more needs to be done to maintain momentum.  They also stated that unprecedented progress has been made since the November 2008 G20 Summit with regard to the OECD’s standards of tax information exchange and transparency.

OECD Global Forum consolidates tax evasion revolution in advance of Pittsburgh

03-Sep-2009

Today, on the eve of the Pittsburgh G20 meeting, the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information dealing with tax matters, took major steps to confirm the end of the era of banking secrecy as a shield for tax evaders. Hailing the breakthrough OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría said “what we are witnessing is nothing short of a revolution."

OECD assessment shows bank secrecy as a shield for tax evaders coming to an end

31-Aug-2009

Tax Co-operation 2009: Towards a Level Playing Field - 2009 assessment by the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information is the fourth annual assessment of progress being made towards greater transparency and information exchange in the area of taxation. This report covers 87 jurisdictions, including all the major financial centres around the world.

See more news and events… Top of page

Tax and the crisis

Tackling tax evasion

Tax Co-operation 2009: Towards a Level Playing Field

2009 Assessment by the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information

Comment on the OECD's tax work

Discussion Drafts

www.itdweb.org

A joint initiative by the OECD, IMF and World Bank to facilitate discussion on tax matters

International Tax Dialogue

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