27/05/2022 – As part of the ongoing work of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS to implement the Two-Pillar Solution to Address the Tax Challenges Arising from the Digitalisation of the Economy, the OECD is seeking public comments on two consultation documents relating to tax certainty: a Tax Certainty Framework for Amount A and Tax Certainty for Issues Related to Amount A under Pillar One.

 

A central element of Amount A is an innovative Tax Certainty Framework for Amount A which guarantees certainty for in-scope groups over all aspects of the new rules, including the elimination of double taxation. This eliminates the risk of uncoordinated compliance activity in potentially every jurisdiction where a group has revenues, as well as a complex and time-consuming process to eliminate the resulting double taxation. The Tax Certainty Framework incorporates a number of elements designed to address different potential risks posed by the new rules:

• A Scope Certainty Review, to provide an out-of-scope Group with certainty that it is not in-scope of rules for Amount A for a Period, removing the risk of unilateral compliance actions.
• An Advance Certainty Review, to provide certainty over a Group’s methodology for applying specific aspects of the new rules that are specific to Amount A, which will apply for a number of future Periods.
• A Comprehensive Certainty Review to provide an in-scope Group with binding multilateral certainty over its application of all aspects of the new rules for a Period that has ended, building on the outcomes of any advance certainty applicable for the Period.

 

Furthermore, a tax certainty process for issues related to Amount A will ensure that in-scope Groups will benefit from dispute prevention and resolution mechanisms to avoid double taxation due to issues related to Amount A (e.g. transfer pricing and business profits disputes), in a mandatory and binding manner. An elective binding dispute resolution mechanism will be available only for issues related to Amount A for developing economies that are eligible for deferral of their BEPS Action 14 peer review and have no or low levels of MAP disputes.

 

The Inclusive Framework on BEPS has agreed to release the public consultation documents on a Tax Certainty Framework for Amount A (également disponible en français) and Tax Certainty for Issues Related to Amount A (également disponible en français) in order to obtain public comments, but this does not reflect consensus regarding the substance of the documents. The stakeholder input received will assist members of the Inclusive Framework on BEPS in further refining and finalising the relevant rules.

 

Interested parties are invited to send their written comments* no later than 10 June 2022. Instructions for submitting comments can be found in each consultation document. Commentators are asked to submit comments separately for each consultation document, and not to combine them into a single submission.

 

Further information on the two-pillar solution for addressing the tax challenges arising from digitalisation and globalisation of the economy is available at https://oe.cd/bepsaction1.

 

For further information or inquiries, please contact [email protected].

 

*Please note that all written comments received will be made publicly available. Comments submitted in the name of a collective "grouping" or "coalition", or by any person submitting comments on behalf of another person or group of persons, should identify all enterprises or individuals who are members of that collective group, or the person(s) on whose behalf the commentator(s) are acting. Speakers and other participants at the upcoming public consultation meeting will be selected from among those providing timely written comments.