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

Tax transparency - Global Forum launches country-by-country reviews

18-Mar-2010

The international fight against cross-border tax evasion has entered a new phase with the launch by countries participating in the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information of a peer review process covering a first group of 18 jurisdictions: Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Botswana, Canada, Cayman Islands, Denmark, Germany, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Jersey, Mauritius, Monaco, Norway, Panama, Qatar, Trinidad & Tobago.

Tax - The Bahamas expands its network for international exchange of tax information

10-Mar-2010

The Bahamas has today signed agreements allowing for exchange of tax information with the seven Nordic economies (Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden).

Tax - Andorra makes progress on exchange of information

24-Feb-2010

The Principality of Andorra has today signed tax information exchange agreements with the 7 Nordic economies (Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden).

India plays key role in taking forward the G20’s pledge to ensure greater tax transparency

12-Feb-2010

India hosted the second meeting of the Steering Group of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information on 11 and 12 February 2010. The Steering Group, which guides the work of the Global Forum, considered the core documents required to launch the peer review process. It also examined the progress of the Global Forum in moving forward on the mandate given to it by the G20 in November 2009.

Comments on the Public Discussion Draft “The Granting of Treaty Benefits With Respect to the Income of Collective Investment Vehicles”

10-Feb-2010

On 9 December 2009, the OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs released for public comment a Public Discussion Draft of a Report which contains proposed changes to the Commentary on the OECD Model Tax Convention dealing with the question of the extent to which either collective investment vehicles (CIVs) or their investors are entitled to treaty benefits on income received by the CIVs. The OECD has now published the comments received on this consultation draft.

Comments on the public discussion draft “Tax Treaty Issues related to Common Telecommunications Transactions”

10-Feb-2010

On 25 November 2009, the OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs released for public comments a draft Report which contains proposed changes to the Commentary on the OECD Model Tax Convention dealing with tax treaty issues related to common telecommunication transactions. The OECD has now published the comments received on this consultation draft.

Comments on the public discussion draft “The application of tax treaties to state-owned entities, including Sovereign Wealth Funds”

10-Feb-2010

On 25 November 2009, the OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs released for public comments a draft Report which contains proposed changes to the Commentary on the OECD Model Tax Convention dealing with the application of tax treaties to state-owned entities, including Sovereign Wealth Funds. The OECD has now published the comments received on this consultation draft.

OECD releases draft documentation for cross-border tax claims

08-Feb-2010

The OECD has released for public comment draft documentation for implementing a streamlined procedure for portfolio investors to claim reductions in withholding rates pursuant to tax treaties or domestic law in the source country. The draft documentation was developed to provide standardised documentation that could be used by countries that wish to adopt the “best practices” described in a report released by the OECD for public comment on 12 January 2009. Interested parties are invited to submit their comments on the draft documentation by 31 August 2010.

OECD survey shows that more than 80% of businesses cannot recover all of their foreign VAT

05-Feb-2010

On 5 February 2010, the OECD’s Committee on Fiscal Affairs released a report focusing on VAT/GST relief for foreign businesses.  The report highlights the difficulties businesses face when they try to recover VAT incurred abroad. The report is based on a survey of more than 300 businesses. It revealed that refund procedures are considered difficult for 72% of businesses and that nearly 21% of the respondents are unable to recover any of their foreign VAT.

OECD releases draft Guidelines on the application of VAT/GST to the international trade in services and intangibles for public consultation

05-Feb-2010

The OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs invites public comments on draft Guidelines on the application of value added taxes to the international trade in services and intangibles. These draft Guidelines consider business-to-business supplies and, in particular the identification of the jurisdiction with taxing rights. They form the first part of the OECD’s International VAT/GST Guidelines currently under development. Comments should be sent before 30 June 2010 to Jeffrey Owens, Director, CTPA (jeffrey.owens@oecd.org).

Public comments on the revised draft of the new Article 7 of the OECD Model Tax Convention

28-Jan-2010

On 24 November 2009, the OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs released for public comment a proposed draft of the new Article 7 of the Model Tax Convention. The OECD has now published the comments received on this consultation draft.

OECD establishes tax and development task force

28-Jan-2010

On 27 January, tax and development experts decided to set up an Informal Task Force on Tax and Development. With developing countries and other key stakeholders – including NGOs and business – as members, the Task Force will develop clear and effective mechanisms to make progress in the field of tax and development. With a mapping out of existing international efforts as its first assignment, participants agreed on a general set of principles to guide followup action and recognized the importance of working together and with other relevant international institutions. See the full Statement.

Public comments on the proposed revision of Chapters I-III of the Transfer Pricing Guidelines

14-Jan-2010

On 9 September 2009, the OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs released for public comment a proposed revision of Chapters I-III of the Transfer Pricing Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and Tax Administrations. The OECD has now published the comments received on this document.

Chile enacts law on access to bank information, implements tax standard

14-Dec-2009

A new law on access to bank information will enable Chile to exchange banking information under existing tax treaties, thereby complying with the internationally agreed tax standard for exchange of information.

OECD releases report on Granting of Treaty Benefits with respect to the Income of Collective Investment Vehicles

09-Dec-2009

From 9 December 2009 to 31 January 2010

The OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs has released as a discussion draft a Report which contains proposed changes to the Commentary on the OECD Model Tax Convention dealing with the question of the extent to which either collective investment vehicles (CIVs) or their investors are entitled to treaty benefits on income received by the CIVs. Comments should be sent before 31 January 2010 to Jeffrey Owens, Director, CTPA (jeffrey.owens@oecd.org).

OECD issues updated Bribery Awareness Handbook for Tax Examiners

09-Dec-2009

To mark the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention,  the Bribery Awareness Handbook for Tax Examiners has been updated to include the Recommendation on Tax Measures for Further Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. This requires countries to explicitly prohibit the tax deductibility of bribes to foreign public officials and promotes enhanced co-operation between tax authorities and law enforcement agencies both at home and abroad to counter corruption. 

OECD process will help identify and resolve potential tax impediments to emissions trading

10-Dec-2009

After the climate conference in Copenhagen it will be essential to ensure effective policy instruments. Emission trading is a powerful tool that can spur low-cost reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. But to work well in practice, some tax issues may need to be addressed. The OECD and its Committee of Fiscal Affairs has put itself at the service of the international community with a policy process bringing together tax and environment experts, including from business.

OECD releases discussion draft on the application of tax treaties to state-owned entities, including Sovereign Wealth Funds

25-Nov-2009

from 25-Nov-2009 to 31-Jan-2010

The OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs invites public comments on draft changes to the Commentary on the OECD Model Tax Convention dealing with the application of tax treaties to state-owned entities, including Sovereign Wealth Funds. The Committee is considering the inclusion of these changes in the next update to the OECD Model Tax Convention, which is tentatively scheduled for the second part of 2010. Comments should be sent before 31 January 2010) to Jeffrey Owens, Director, CTPA (jeffrey.owens@oecd.org).

OECD releases discussion draft on tax treaty issues related to common telecommunication transactions

25-Nov-2009

from 25-Nov-2009 to 31-Jan-2010

The OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs invites public comments on draft changes to the Commentary on the OECD Model Tax Convention dealing with tax treaty issues related to common telecommunication transactions. The Committee is considering the inclusion of these changes in the next update to the OECD Model Tax Convention, which is tentatively scheduled for the second part of 2010. Comments should be sent before 31 January 2010) to Jeffrey Owens, Director, CTPA (jeffrey.owens@oecd.org).

OECD releases revised discussion draft of a new Article 7 (Business Profits) of its Model Tax Convention

25-Nov-2009

24-Nov-2009 to 21-Jan-2010

On 24 November 2009, the OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs approved the release, for public comment, of a revised draft of a new Article 7 (Business Profits) of the OECD Model Tax Convention and of related Commentary changes.  The new Article 7 is aimed at ensuring the full application of the Report on Attribution of Profits to Permanent Establishments that the OECD adopted in 2008. Comments on the revised draft should be sent before 21 January 2010 to Jeffrey Owens, Director, CTPA (jeffrey.owens@oecd.org).

Tax burdens falling in OECD economies as crisis takes its toll

24-Nov-2009

The recession is taking its toll on tax receipts across the OECD. Aggregate tax burdens in OECD economies, calculated as the ratio of tax revenues to gross domestic product, or GDP, were unchanged between 2006 and 2007, and then fell in 2008. 

African Tax Administration Forum launched on 19-20 November 2009

20-Nov-2009

On 19-20 November the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) was launched by the President of Uganda. The ATAF mission is to mobilize domestic resources more effectively and increase the accountability of African States to African citizens whilst actively promoting an improvement in tax administration through sharing experiences, benchmarking and peer reviewing best practices.

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.

See more news and events… Top of page

Video interview

Jeffrey Owens reports progress on OECD work on tax havens, outlining plans to help countries implement OECD standards on tax transparency

Taking forward the G20 Tax Initiative

Tax and the crisis

Tackling tax evasion

Key material

Information for tax examiners on bribery techniques used and tools to detect and identify bribes.

2009 Bribery Awareness Handbook for Tax Examiners

2009 special feature: Changes to the guidelines for attributing revenues to levels of government

Revenue Statistics 1965-2008, 2009 Edition

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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