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To some extent, because of his overlapping careers in academia and politics, the renowned tax scholar Peter Essers is known for his influential insight that ‘the effects of taxation on the political balance of power, and vice versa, are always interlinked with other phenomena, such as wars, crises, religious developments and inequalities in society'. In this widely ranging festschrift, thirty-six prominent tax scholars from all across Europe examine the legacy of Peter Essers'research interests, from the larger philosophical, political, and social factors driving tax history to the reality of the taxing State as experienced by taxpayers and tax officials. The book's outstanding overview of the most relevant technical and policy aspects of European and international taxation includes deeply thoughtful chapters on such topics and issues as the following: developing sustainable corporate tax governance; tax whistleblowing; transfer pricing; balancing qualitative and quantitative approaches to tax research; necessity to reach something close to ‘equal treatment'between the upper and lower social classes; consent and democracy; tax rebellions; tax evasion and tax avoidance; taxation of cross-border remote workers and their employers; mitigation of double taxation of income earned by entertainers and sportspersons; and the international tax treaty network. More than a homage to this scholar's far-reaching contributions, this book is remarkable for the variety and academic rigour of the chapters. The understanding its authors provide of both the broad contours and the intricacies of European and international taxation will be of inestimable value to tax practitioners, policymakers, tax consultants, and academics, as well as interested researchers in economics, political science, and sociology.

Bringing together global experts from diverse legal backgrounds, this comprehensive book offers a rigorous analysis of the complexity of resolving and preventing international tax disputes, covering arbitration, mediation, and dispute management.Analyzing the myriad challenges involved in international tax disputes, this book critically examines the OECD Two Pillar framework, the tax treaty Mutual Agreement Procedures, the OECD MLI arbitration rules, BIT investment arbitration on tax issues, as well as the EU Dispute Resolution Process.Key Features:Written by a team of leading international tax expertsUtilizes fresh insights and international perspectives on policy and administration, including viewpoints from emerging economies in Asia and Latin AmericaOutlines the practical strategies tax authorities and multinational corporate taxpayers may use in preventing, managing, and resolving tax disputes, including collaborative compliancePresenting an authoritative overview of international tax disputes, this book will be indispensable to practitioners in corporate and international tax, controversy and dispute specialists, and investment arbitration lawyers. It is also a crucial resource for scholars of tax law, fiscal policy, arbitration, litigation, and dispute resolution.

The number of international tax disputes is constantly increasing. This is a logical consequence of the pressure that is exerted on the global tax system by a rise in the number of internationally active and mobile taxpayers and tax competition between states on the one hand. On the other hand, the implementation of measures to tackle base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) by multinational enterprises already gives rise to further disputes and another increase of disputes might arise from the latest reforms of the international tax system, namely the Two-Pillar-Solution to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of the economy. Against this background, the time is right for an institutionalised international tax dispute resolution mechanism that takes into account the interests of taxpayers, states, and the public and allows for a swift and binding resolution of international tax disputes ¬– exactly what this timely and thoroughgoing book offers. A comprehensive overview of existing international tax dispute resolution mechanisms – and an analysis of their procedural rules, advantages, and disadvantages – leads to a deeply informed proposal on how they can be further developed in a way that ensures greater fairness and equity for all stakeholders. Among the lines of conflict that characterise international tax disputes, the author sheds clear light on how improvements in the design of dispute resolution mechanisms may be found. This includes these questions: How should a dispute resolution mechanism be structured? Should there be a mandatory resolution if the states cannot agree? In which way should taxpayers participate in the procedure? Should agreements and decisions be published? Should there be an institution to administer the procedure? The book concludes with a draft convention that would implement the author's suggestions. Tax lawyers and other tax professionals worldwide, as well as national tax authorities, will benefit greatly from this book. They will deepen their understanding of the variety of existing tax dispute resolution mechanisms and discover ways to strengthen them. Academics will find ample room to reflect on the key design elements of such mechanisms and how to improve them.

The topics of double non-taxation and hybrid entities have acquired particular importance in a context where transformations in the tax world have led to international commitments materialised in the OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project. In what is the first systematic in-depth analysis of the OECD BEPS Action Plan 2 and hybrid entities, this timely book provides a critical review of the approach adopted by the OECD and proposes a deeply informed alternative method to deal with the problem of hybrid entity mismatches. The author analyses the interaction between the double non-taxation outcome and the use of hybrid entities in an approach not strictly linked to any specific tax jurisdiction. To this end, the analysis includes case studies and examples from a range of jurisdictions emphasising the international tax context, also including the application of tax treaties. Among the seminal matters covered in this edition are the following: foundations of the concepts of double non-taxation and hybrid entities; extensive analysis based on the rules of characterisation of foreign entities for tax purposes in the United States, Spain, Denmark, and Germany, as well as on the Poland/United States and Canada/United States tax treaties; in-depth analysis of the implications of Article 1(2) OECD Model Tax Convention and Article 3(1) Multilateral Instrument (MLI), especially considering the position of developing (source) countries; detailed analysis of the OECD BEPS Action 2 and its recommendations (linking rules), including its implementation in the EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD); and elaborated alternative method to deal with hybrid entity mismatches (reactive coordination rule), which is informed by the tax policy aims of simplicity, coherence, and administrability. Detailed comparisons between the author's proposal and other existing rules elucidate common points and deviations. If merely for its unparalleled clarification of the issues, this book will prove of immeasurable value to practitioners, tax authorities, policymakers and academics concerned with international tax law. Beyond that, as an authoritative guide that promises to reorient the discussion to what really matters in the debate regarding hybrid entity mismatches, this analysis elaborates solutions applicable to a generality of cases worldwide and, therefore, hugely promotes the urgent quest for alternative views.

This title provides a clear introduction to international taxation and presents its material in a global context, explaining policy, legal issues and planning points central to taxation issues, primarily from the viewpoint of a multinational group of companies. It uses examples and diagrams throughout to aid the reader's understanding and offers more in-­depth material on many important areas of the subject. As well as practitioners who are less familiar with international taxation principles, this title is also used as a core text by many undergraduate and post graduate students studying business degrees. It is also widely used by those studying for the CIOT Advanced Diploma in International Taxation.Business is increasingly carried on a global scale and as such an understanding of how international taxation works is very useful for in house finance teams as well as their advisers. The 9th edition is again fully updated to cover important regulatory and legislative developments, including those in light of the ongoing OECD BEPS project implementation. Other key developments include:Progress towards a global minimum corporate tax rate to curb base erosion and tax competition (Pillar 2), eg OECD implementation framework and UK draft legislationNew crypto asset reporting framework released by OECD.Ongoing impact of Covid-19 on international taxationProgress in relation to tackling tax evasion now that country by country reporting is bedding in. Further developments in European direct taxation including the debt-equity bias reduction allowance (DEBRA) and new Directive to prevent the misuse of shell entities. The updating is done by Lynne Oats, Professor of Taxation and Accounting, University of Exeter Business School, and formerly Deputy Director of the Tax Administration Research. She has managed this project since it's inception.

Tax practitioners, multinational companies and national tax authorities have relied on this indispensable resource since its first edition over two decades ago. The Primer provides the reader with an introductory analysis of the major issues that a country must confront in designing its international tax rules and coordinating those rules with the tax systems of its trading partners, with numerous examples drawn from the practices of both developed and developing countries. This fifth edition follows the format and sequence of earlier editions, with updates on ongoing developments with respect to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) base erosion and profit shifting project, the revisions to the OECD Guidelines on Transfer Pricing, and updates to the OECD and UN Model Conventions. Several new sections have been added to the fifth edition. Unquestionably, the most important development in international tax since the publication of the fourth edition in 2018 has been the OECD Inclusive Framework's Pillar One and Pillar Two proposals for dealing with the tax challenges posed by the digital economy. This edition explores in detail both Pillar One, which proposes new nexus and profit-allocation rules for the residual profits of the largest and most profitable digital multinationals, and Pillar Two, which proposes a global minimum tax on large multinationals. Also new to the fifth edition are sections dealing with digital services taxes, hybrid arrangements, and new Article 12B of the UN Model Convention dealing with automated digital services, as well as a brief history of international tax. The book strikes a balance between the specific and the general by illustrating the fundamental principles and structure of international tax with frequent reference to actual practice in a variety of countries. Coverage includes the following: taxation of residents on foreign income and nonresidents on domestic income; mechanisms used to mitigate the risks to taxpayers of international double taxation; transfer pricing rules to prevent the avoidance of tax by multinational corporations; anti-avoidance measures dealing with tax havens, treaty shopping, and other offensive tax planning activities; overview and analysis of the provisions of bilateral tax treaties and the OECD and UN Model Treaties on which they are generally based; and challenges posed by taxation of income derived from the digital economy. &nbs

With the growth of the digitalized economy, VAT on cross-border digital supplies has emerged as an important issue. Yet, views and practices regarding the application of the VAT on these supplies differ significantly across different jurisdictions. A lack of international VAT harmonization can cause double taxation or unintended double non-taxation, resulting in distortions and revenue losses. VAT in the Digital Era considers unilateral and multilateral options for the creation of an internationally coordinated VAT framework. Providing analysis of the status quo in key jurisdictions, the book explores the implications of the digitalized economy for the VAT systems across borders. It outlines possible approaches that can be taken to achieve a more consistent international VAT treatment of cross-border supplies, and the extent to which a multilateral solution would be preferable and achievable at the international level. Bringing together contributions from leading international voices in the VAT law and policy and international taxation fields, VAT in the Digital Era addresses current issues and proposes ways to coordinate VAT rules on cross-border digital supplies. This new book is essential reading for academics, researchers, governments, and other financial organisations involved with the world's most important indirect tax.

The method article of any tax treaty plays an essential role in avoiding juridical double taxation. It determines the extent to which the residence state refrains from taxing an item of income if both contracting states may tax according to the distributive rules of the treaty. Calculating the respective relief can be challenging, as the wording of both articles 23A and 23B of the OECD Model leaves significant room for interpretation. In the European Union, such interpretation is made even more difficult because the application of the method article needs to comply with EU law, in particular with the fundamental freedoms and the State aid rules. Finally, the method article of the OECD Model has – in the aftermath of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Project – undergone adaptations, the impact of which requires further analysis. This book aims to provide an in-depth analysis of all the current issues related to the application of articles 23A and 23B of the OECD Model. The topics discussed include: the method article and unilateral measures to avoid double taxation; the method article and allocation conflicts; conflicts of qualification under articles 23A(1) and 23B(1) of the OECD Model; the credit method and different taxes on income and on capital; the exemption method with proviso safeguarding progression; and relief from double taxation and EU State aid law

This book analyses the legal status of extrinsic instruments under international law for the interpretation of tax treaties.

This authoritative book provides a structural, global view of evolving judicial and doctrinal trends in the understanding of beneficial ownership in international taxation. Despite attempts by the OECD to clarify the concept, it remains ambiguous to tax authorities, courts and scholars alike, which has detrimental effects on the functioning of tax treaties. Błażej Kuźniacki presents a route towards an international autonomous meaning of beneficial ownership in international taxation, while also offering a comprehensive explanation of the divergent understandings and tax policy arguments underpinning its continuing ambiguity.Key Features:Guidance towards solving definitional disputes between taxpayers and tax authoritiesDiscussion of ground-breaking judgments in cases on beneficial ownership from various jurisdictions across the worldComprehensive reflection of tax law in action, particularly in respect of outbound investments that trigger transborder payments of dividends, interest and royaltiesClear demarcation between appropriate and inappropriate usage of beneficial ownership by authorities and courts when addressing the issue of abuse of tax treaties and EU DirectivesBeneficial Ownership in International Taxation will be a crucial resource for lawyers specialising in international taxation, tax practitioners and accountants, along with officials at tax authorities and judges hearing cases in this area. It will also be useful for policy makers working on cross-border taxation, and scholars and students researching international tax law.

Transfer pricing and financial transactions: Issues and developments Since years, issues related to transfer pricing and intra-group financing are prominent in the agendas of both taxpayers and governments. The extreme relevance of these topics and the need to address them has attracted the interest of various international organizations for a long time. Already in 1972, the OECD emphasized that these topics required further attention, and the 1979 OECD Transfer Pricing Report dedicated an entire chapter to issues concerning loans. However, the first OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines issued in 1995 did not include a chapter on these issues. Twenty-five years later, in February 2020, the OECD finally released its 2022 Transfer Pricing Guidelines on Financial Transactions that became Chapter X of the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines. Meanwhile, in 2021, the United Nations included these topics in Chapter 9 of its Practical Manual for Developing Countries. With those welcomed recent developments from the OECD and the UN, the topic is now being extensively discussed, especially considering the necessary implementation of the guidance at the national level and the future answers from the tax courts at national and European levels when dealing with this matter. This publication discusses the most important issues and recent developments related to this topic. Beginning with an in-depth analysis on the accurate delineation of financial transactions, it further deals with the specific transactions concerning loans, financial guarantees, and cash pooling. This book is based on the outcomes of the presentations and discussions held during the WU Transfer Pricing Symposium held in October 2021 at the WU Vienna University of Economics and Business. The authors, apart from providing a theoretical background to the discussed issues, also present case studies that show how those issues can be approached in practice.

The Law of Double Taxation Conventions Cross-border activities or transactions may trigger tax liability in two or more jurisdictions. In order to mitigate the financial burden resulting from these situations, States have entered into numerous double taxation conventions, which provide for rules that allocate the taxing rights between the contracting states. This handbook aims at providing an introduction to the law of double taxation conventions. It is designed for students - irrespective of their national background, but the author believes that it will also be of great help for tax experts who wish to know more about double taxation conventions, as well as for international law experts who wish to understand more about tax law. The handbook does not consider one jurisdiction in particular but rather takes examples from a wide range of different countries and their jurisdictions. It includes an overview of the problem of double taxation, the state practice in the conclusion of double tax conventions and their effects, the interpretation of double taxation conventions and treaty abuse. Furthermore, this updated handbook takes new developments into account occurred since the last edition of the book from 2013, in particular also the changes through OECD´s BEPS project and the Multilateral Instrument. It deals with the latest versions of the OECD Model Tax Conventions on Income and on Capital and the UN Model Double Taxation Convention between Developed and Developing Countries, both published in 2017, as well as the latest version of the OECD Model Double Taxation Convention on Estates and Inheritances and on Gifts.

The work deals comprehensively with the significance of the OECD model commentary for the interpretation of double taxation agreements and processes literature as well as case law beginning with the work of the League of Nations through the first OECD model commentary from 1963 until today. While concluding that the advantage of the model commentary is non-binding soft law, its importance increases against the background of the BEPS initiative which is illustrated by the specific example of the beneficial owner. Finally, ways are explored to increase the importance of the model commentary, such as by including the definitions from the commentary in a so-called multilateral instrument.

This Festschrift celebrates the work of David Rosenbloom and marks the occasion of his 80th birthday. Throughout his illustrious career, David has developed many close friendships in practice, government and academia, and his creativity and dedication have contributed immeasurably to the field of international taxation. David has also shaped the success of others, particularly alumni of NYU's International Tax Program. Members of David's truly global network wrote the scholarly essays that make up this Festschrift. Their contributions engage David's large body of written work, his government service and his professional career, and they demonstrate his impact on the lives and careers of those fortunate enough to have worked and studied with him. The book reflects David's significant influence on international tax and his natural ability to draw people together from the world over and to cultivate their intellectual curiosity.

Cross-border activities or transactions may trigger tax liability in two or more jurisdictions. In order to mitigate the financial burden resulting from these situations, states have entered into numerous double taxation conventions, which provide for rules that allocate the taxing rights between the contracting states. This book provides an introduction to the law of double taxation conventions. Although principally aimed at students, irrespective of their national background, the book will be of value to tax experts who wish to learn more about double taxation conventions, as well as international law experts who wish to gain a better understanding of tax law. The book does not consider one jurisdiction in particular, but rather takes examples from a wide range of different countries and their jurisdictions. It includes an overview of the problem of double taxation, the state practice in the conclusion of double tax conventions and their effects, the interpretation of double taxation conventions and treaty abuse. This revised edition takes into account new developments that have occurred since the previous edition of 2013, in particular the changes through OECD's BEPS Project and the Multilateral Instrument. It deals with the latest versions of the OECD Model Tax Conventions on Income and on Capital and the UN Model Double Taxation Convention between Developed and Developing Countries (both published in 2017), as well as the latest version of the OECD Model Double Taxation Convention on Estates and Inheritances and on Gifts.

The Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (MLI) is the most forceful multilateral initiative to coordinate tax regimes on a worldwide basis since the dawn of modern income taxation over a century ago. This book evaluates two radically opposed viewpoints on the convention—a momentous and revolutionary paradigm shift versus a mechanism that merely continues an ongoing flow of limited policy coordination—with detailed investigations that bring to life the hopes and the realities of the current era of multilateral tax cooperation. Bringing together authors from national jurisdictions across the globe to scrutinize the MLI and its likely future ramifications, the book provides in-depth commentary and analysis in the following sequence: first, a comprehensive discussion of the design and goals of the MLI as a treaty and an institutional framework; second, an overview of the structure of the convention and its take-up across the globe to date; and third, the substantive implementation of the MLI with a wide range of country reports. Practice areas covered include tax law, international law, and international relations. The legal workings and implications of the MLI might still seem mysterious to those whose daily work is impacted by it, and there is as yet little jurisprudence regarding its legal nature or ultimate effect on the bilateral treaties coming within its scope. For these reasons, this pathbreaking book will be warmly welcomed by in-house counsel and law firms advising cross-border investors and firms; nongovernmental organizations involved in policy analysis and issue advocacy; researchers working on technical areas of international tax law; and lawyers interested in international policymaking, including the creation and diffusion of consensus-based fiscal and related regulatory norms across jurisdictions of differing development levels.

Capturing the core challenges faced by the international tax regime, this timely Research Handbook assesses the impacts of these challenges on a range of stakeholders, evaluating various paths to reform at a time when international tax policy is a topic high on politicians'agendas. Expert international contributors present an array of perspectives and approaches to research in the field, but all consider the necessity of fundamental reforms. The Research Handbook offers a reappraisal of the foundations and core concepts of the international tax regime, highlighting the need to adjust nineteenth and twentieth century solutions to the challenges of the twenty-first century. Chapters look at the challenges of embracing globalization, the interdependence of world economics, the ensuing impossibility of truly unilateral international tax policy, and the need to accommodate the expanding cast of players on the political map. With a variety of paths to reform suggested throughout, this Research Handbook will prove an invigorating read for law scholars working on taxation law as well as practitioners and policy makers seeking ways to improve, or navigate, the current state of affairs with international tax law.

International Commercial Tax, 2nd edition takes account of the substantial developments of the last decade. With more than sixty percent new material, the book considers the outcomes of the OECD's BEPS project and the substantial consequential 2017 revisions of the OECD and UN Model tax treaties. With the continuing rise in the economic importance of non-OECD countries and the UK distancing itself from the EU, there has been a refocusing with less direct attention on UK domestic law and greater focus on the approaches of other significant countries, especially other common law jurisdictions. This provides greater flexibility as to how a particular point or issue is illustrated with practical examples. Greater attention is given to the UN Model, which is increasingly important. The book continues to compare the approach under model tax treaties with EU law and is updated with copious references and illustrations from the burgeoning jurisprudence of the EU Court.

This book covers all major topics in international tax law, ranging from permanent establishments and capital gains to the taxation of royalties and technical services, transfer pricing, and General Anti-Avoidance Legislation. It also highlights the Indian “story” of status vs. contract by examining four areas of controversy: permanent establishments, FTS (Fees for Technical Services) & Royalty, capital gains, and transfer pricing. The book approaches the subject of international taxation from two opposing yet related perspectives. One is the tax planning perspective, which involves contracts entered into by individuals and companies; the other is that of state regulation through increasingly complex legislation.The area of permanent establishments demonstrates the dominance of contracts over status, at least with respect to Indian tax law. However, some recent judicial decisions in this area demonstrate the susceptibility of contracts to status-related arguments. The areas of FTS & Royalty as well as those of capital gains and transfer pricing demonstrate the Indian government's attempts to establish, through legislation, the dominance of status over contracts.Whereas traditional textbooks on international tax law focus on the legal technicalities of tax legislation, this book provides tax scholars and lawyers with an understanding of tax planning and tax legislation side by side in each chapter, specifying the respective kind of actual or anticipated tax planning activity that in turn prompted a legislative response. As such, it offers readers a contextual and practical introduction to the complexities of international tax law, as well as an in-depth analysis of the latest debates and controversies in this area.

Technological advancement and globalization have dramatically impacted the business models of multinational enterprises (MNEs). They have opened new markets, enhanced international collaboration and increased the relevance of intangibles in value chains. All of this has undeniably contributed to more economic growth and global prosperity. It has, however, also substantially complicated the world of international tax law, posing complex challenges in day-to-day fiscal practice and causing public concern about aggressive tax planning and potential tax avoidance by MNEs. Difficulties become especially apparent where companies belonging to the same multinational group collectively develop their most valuable (intangible) business assets or centralize the performance of critical group services. MNEs often structure such intragroup collaboration in legal agreements that foresee a joint ownership of results and that allocate the cost of the shared activities in proportion to each participant's anticipated benefits. These agreements are commonly referred to as cost contribution arrangements (CCAs) or cost sharing arrangements (CSAs). They are a pragmatic tool to allocate a significant part of the MNE's costs and income among the participating group companies. At the same time, and for the same reason, they are also frequently found to play a critical role in tax planning structures. This study sets out to investigate why CCAs are accepted as a legitimate transfer pricing instrument, and it analyses the most relevant rules and regulations governing their tax and transfer pricing treatment. It further outlines how effective those rules are at facilitating bona fide CCAs as well as countering the use of CCAs for tax avoidance purposes.

Current Tax Treaty Issues – 50th Anniversary of the International Tax Group comprises contributions focusing on international tax issues marking the 50th anniversary of a group of experts whose collective writings for decades have landmarked the international literature on tax treaties and international tax law in general. The book begins with a part on tax treaty policy and domestic law, including a review of the history of tax treaties and tax policy and international organizations in the tax treaty context. The domestic law aspects focus on a comparison of various features of tax litigation in the Netherlands and in the United Kingdom. It also includes an in-depth analysis of the “preservation principle” under which treaty provisions are prevented from being construed to restrict exclusions, exemptions, credit or other allowances granted by domestic law. Part 1 concludes with a review of the constitutional issues arising from the parliamentary process of approval of tax treaties. Part 2 deals with treaty interpretation and application with a focus on tax treaty application to states and their political subdivisions and local authorities. It also includes a chapter on “treaty access” dealing with policy and practical considerations on access to treaties by commercial entities with a focus on the principal purpose test and the limitation on benefits provision and the handling of characterization issues under treaties. A separate chapter reviews the use of memoranda of understanding for tax treaty interpretation and administration for tax treaty interpretation. Part 2 concludes with an analysis of the use of the OECD Commentaries in the context of BEPS and the MLI. Part 3 is devoted to taxing rules relating to the jurisdiction to tax, a commentary on the PE definition as revised by the 2017 Update to the Model Convention and the taxation of services income. It also analyses the treaty practice on article 21 of the OECD and UN Models. The definition of “beneficial ownership”, with the impact of the preamble to the 2017 Model Convention and the interpretation of the beneficial ownership limitation are also examined. Finally, a critique on the meaning of “beneficial ownership” before and after BEPS and whether the expression has become obsolete is presented. This book presents a unique and detailed insight into the most controversial issues which may be found in the tax treaty context. As such, it is an essential reference source for international tax students, practitioners and academics.

Tax treaty law and EU tax law in connection with hybrid entities Hybrid entities have traditionally been used as an avenue for international tax planning, and extending benefits under tax treaties to such entities has been a source of controversy for many years now. Although the OECD Partnership Report provided solid policy footing on this issue, there was still no common legal basis that countries could rely on for such positions. The increasing focus of countries towards the curbing of tax avoidance and abuse involving hybrid mismatch arrangements culminated in a specific action plan in the BEPS Project being dedicated to the design of domestic rules and the development of treaty provisions that would neutralize the tax effects of such arrangements. This volume provides an in-depth analysis of various aspects of this topic. It is divided into two parts - the first dealing exclusively with tax treaty issues arising in connection with hybrid entities and the second dealing with EU tax law issues surrounding hybrid entities. The former part comprises chapters analysing how tax treaties have historically dealt with this issue with a focus on domestic court jurisprudence, the positions in the OECD and the UN Model Conventions, the developments that have come about owing to the BEPS Project, and the impact of several existing measures, regimes, and vehicles on these tax treaty provisions. The latter part comprises chapters on how hybrid entities are dealt with under primary EU law, under various secondary law directives including the newly enacted Anti-Tax Avoidance Directives, and an analysis of policy solutions offered in this direction.

The main purpose of this book is to review the most fundamental design principles used in international tax policy and some of the most important rules of the current international tax regime. The benchmark for such review is justice as understood in recent theory of political philosophy. The book is structured into three main parts. The first part outlines the international law framework in which the international tax regime operates. It looks at the different sources of international law, such as treaties, customary law, general principles of international law and soft law, in order to demonstrate how these sources are (or are not) influenced by moral theory in general and by the notion of justice in particular. This part aims at demonstrating that the international law framework does not provide for detailed guidance on how to improve the international tax regime. This represents an important contrast with domestic tax systems in which a constitution sets certain orientation lines for the legislator. Based on an in-depth understanding of the international law framework, the second part looks at the recent debate concerning justice in political philosophy. It refers to the existing theories of global justice in order to analyse whether these theories contain elements that can be used to improve the international tax regime. The author concludes this part with his own position on a theory of global justice. The third part reviews some of the most important principles and rules of the international tax regime in respect of their normative validity. That is, the author reviews whether a given principle or rule indeed helps to design a just international tax regime – or whether its application could even lead to injustice. Such analysis is based on the results developed in the second part of the book. The author reviews the following principles: inter-nation equity, ability to pay, efficiency, and the source and benefit principles. In addition, the author discusses the following rules: the arm's length principle, anti-abuse provisions, mandatory arbitration, fiscal transparency and CFC rules.

Wie soll das Steueraufkommen zwischen Industriestaaten und Entwicklungs- oder Schwellenstaaten abkommensrechtlich gerecht aufgeteilt werden? Die vorliegende Abhandlung entwickelt als Antwort darauf ein Prinzip, das sich von der Vorstellung löst, eine zwischenstaatliche Aufteilung des Steuersubstrats müsse sich primär nach dem individuellen Leistungsfähigkeitsprinzip richten. Es stellt vielmehr auf die Fähigkeit der Steuerbehörden ab, Steuern zu erheben. Dieses sog. Prinzip der staatlichen Leistungsfähigkeit wird am Beispiel Vietnams entwickelt. Das Land ist wegen seiner autoritären Staatsform sowie kolonialgeschichtlich entwickelten chinesisch-französisch geprägten Rechtskultur besonders dazu geeignet, das Prinzip herauszufordern. Die Anwendung des Prinzips wird dann an einem »DBA-Betriebsstätten-Dreieckssachverhalt« (Deutschland-Vietnam-Japan) simuliert. Ein Prüfungsschema wird abgeleitet. Implementiert wird es als Korrekturprinzip zum Prinzip der wirtschaftlichen Zugehörigkeit.

This book sheds light on the complexity of the environment in which the BEPS Project operates. It contrasts the commands of the modified nexus approach (BEPS Action 5) with those of EU law, WTO law and international investment agreements. Though it is clear that, as soft law, the Actions of the BEPS Project should remain within the limits established by hard law, the book identifies several instances in which this line has been crossed by the modified nexus approach. This conflict between hard and soft law frameworks is treated as analogous to the notion of fragmentation of international law and, against this backdrop, the book proposes that the notion of institutional dialogue could help build a pathway for a more productive relationship between these frameworks.

Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas.This second edition of the Advanced Introduction to International Tax Law provides an updated and succinct, yet highly informative overview of the key issues surrounding taxation and international law from Reuven Avi-Yonah, a leading authority on international tax. This small but powerful book surveys the nuances of the varying taxation systems, offering expert insight into the scope, reach and nature of international tax regimes, as well as providing an excellent platform for understanding how the principles of jurisdiction apply to tax and the connected tools that are used by countries in imposing taxes. New to this edition:New material on the OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) projectCoverage of the EU's Anti Tax Avoidance PackageAnalysis of the US Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Key features include: defines and discusses the main types of jurisdiction to taxexplains in depth both inbound and outbound taxation on both passive and active incomedelineates the source of income that is crucial for taxing non-residents and foreign tax creditdiscussion of transfer pricing, a variant of source-based taxation that lies at the heart of modern efforts to tax corporations at sourceexplains how the above elements are influenced by tax treaties and looks at the future of the international tax regime.Composed of concise but insightful chapters, this revised second edition will prove to be a key resource for students of international tax law, as well as for scholars within the fields of tax law, international business law and international commercial law.

The problem dealt with in this book stems from the rule that interest is deductible (and dividends are not) in calculating taxable income, unless the interest is caught by thin capitalization or anti-abuse rules. Recently, new analysis has shown that multinational groups can plan their worldwide leverage to minimize their overall tax liability, highlighting the risk of base erosion. This has led some countries and international institutions to introduce or recommend the introduction of new, stricter thin capitalization rules, commonly referred to in this book as “Comprehensive Interest Barriers”. This book, after examining the evolution of the tax treatment of interest and thin capitalization rules, carries out a comparative study of some of the domestic regimes that have adopted this new trend of rules, as well as of the OECD recommended approach under BEPS Action 4 and the interest limitation rule adopted under the Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive. On the basis of the examination of these Comprehensive Interest Barriers, this book concludes that these new rules are not in line with basic international tax principles, namely the net income and ability-to-pay principles, the benefit principle and the arm's length principle. In addition, these new rules create economic double taxation of interest and realign the taxing rights regarding the taxation of cross-border interest from the country of residence of the creditor to the source country. On the basis of these conclusions, this book investigates how to implement a single international standard regarding the adequate (i.e. arm's length) capital structure of an entity by proposing the harmonization of the different capitalization requirements applicable to permanent establishments and subsidiaries (the New Capitalization Standard). By implementing the proposed New Capitalization Standard, an international consensus regarding the amount of capital that should generally be attributed to an entity, as well as the manner in which the said total amount of capital should be split between debt and equity capital, would be crafted, and therefore, a solution to the problem of economic double taxation would also be indirectly achieved. This book also addresses the issue of economic double taxation related to any adjustments to the capital structure.

In recent times, countries have increasingly shifted their focus towards the curbing of tax avoidance and abuse. Accordingly, the G20 countries commissioned the OECD to undertake the BEPS Project, following which the OECD released its Final Reports on 15 distinct Actions in 2015. Further, the OECD also released the Multilateral Instrument, a multilateral tax treaty through which the application of thousands of bilateral tax treaties may be modified as regards the tax treaty-related proposals stemming from the BEPS Project. Presently, while several countries have already implemented large portions of these proposals, others have only implemented them to a limited extent. This may be due to several reasons, such as lack of relevance or administrative capacity, or differing policy priorities. However, as the Inclusive Framework is in the process of peer reviewing the compliance of each member with the minimum standards, more and more countries are implementing at least these minimum standards. Significantly, the BEPS Project has also given rise to new multilateral measures such as the EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive, which has led to a minimum level of harmonization in the European Union regarding some of the BEPS measures. This book explores the various ways in which countries have implemented the key proposals emerging from the BEPS Project. Through contributions made by national reporters from 36 different countries – including developed, developing and emerging economies – the book constitutes an expert guide to the varied perspectives towards the BEPS Project across the globe. While discussing the implementation of the BEPS Project, this study provides an in-depth analysis of the obstacles faced by countries in the implementation phase of the BEPS Project, as well as the interaction of such measures with various domestic legal systems. This book is part of the WU Institute for Austrian and International Tax Law – Tax Law and Policy Series.

The 21st century is characterized by unprecedented economic and technological globalization. An increasingly free cross-border flow of goods, services, capital and workforces has led to a greater integration of economies across the world. These developments have also posed some challenges to national tax systems. A seemingly simple rule most countries have adopted and maintained for decades that residents ought to pay taxes on their worldwide income now has to prove its feasibility in the face of these new realities. There is an open question as to how to administer this residence-based tax regime in a world in which states'administrative capacities are highly restricted to their national borders while their residents increasingly trade, invest and provide services across borders. This book aims to introduce a new way of exploring an old but increasingly important topic in income taxation: the enforcement of taxes on the foreign-source income of resident individuals. Central to this discussion is the emerging “automatic exchange of information” (AEOI) system. The author explores the emerging AEOI Standard among governments as a potential mechanism to address the issues and attempts to provide much-needed historical research, conceptual clarification and theoretical support of AEOI. The author also analyses the need for a fair international legal framework for AEOI and discusses he particularities and challenges associated with establishing such a framework.

Este libro tiene como objetivo analizar la aplicación del artículo 7 del Instrumento Multilateral de la OCDE, recientemente suscrito por Colombia. En particular, se pretende estudiar la aplicación y el alcance del test de propósito principal en los términos planteados por el artículo 7(1) de la convención, el cual es una regla antiabuso general cuya textura abierta puede traducirse en una dosis de incertidumbre para el contribuyente. Se busca analizar la aplicación de la cláusula simplificada de limitación de beneficios planteada en el artículo 7(8) al 7(13) de este instrumento, y, además, realizar algunas consideraciones sobre las implicaciones de los cambios en los preámbulos de los convenios suscritos por Colombia para evitar la doble imposición. Así, el objetivo de Abuso en el instrumento multilateral busca ofrecer un marco conceptual que permita llegar a interpretaciones razonables y —en la mayor medida posible— objetivas, para que los contribuyentes puedan tener certeza de qué estructuras caen en el ámbito de aplicación del artículo 7 y para que las administraciones tributarias puedan fiscalizar con criterios rigurosos.

The topics of double non-taxation and hybrid entities have acquired a particular importance in a context where transformations within the tax world seem to be leading to an international commitment most materially manifested in the OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project. In what is the first systematic in-depth critique of the BEPS Action Plan 2 with regard to hybrid entities, this timely book provides a critical review of the OECD's approach and proposes a deeply informed alternative method based on the tax policy aims of simplicity, coherence and ease of administration. The author analyses the interaction between the double non-taxation outcome and the use of hybrid entities in an approach not strictly linked to any specific tax jurisdiction. To this end, the analysis includes case studies and examples from a range of jurisdictions emphasizing the international tax context, including the application of tax treaties. Among the seminal matters covered are the following: – foundations of the concepts of double non-taxation and hybrid entities, absent of the specific limitations of domestic tax legislation; – extensive analysis based on the rules of characterization of foreign entities for tax purposes in the United States, Spain, Denmark and Germany, as well as on the Poland/United States and Canada/United States tax treaties; – detailed analysis on the implications of Article 1(2) OECD Model Tax Convention and Article 3(1) Multilateral Instrument, especially having in mind the position of developing (source) countries; and – EU tax law as part of the international context, including an extensive analysis on the EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD) I and ATAD II. Detailed comparisons between the author's proposal and other existing rules elucidate common points and deviations. If merely for its unparalleled clarification of the issues, this book will prove of immeasurable value to practitioners, tax authorities, policymakers and academics concerned with international tax law. Beyond that, as an authoritative guide that promises to reorient the discussion to what really matters in the debate regarding double non-taxation and hybrid entities, this analysis elaborates solutions applicable to a generality of cases worldwide, and thus hugely promotes the urgent quest for alternative solutions.

This book explores one of the most fundamental issues of international tax law: the conditions under which a state may assert a taxing claim over business income derived by a person who is neither its national nor its resident. The term “nexus” or “genuine link” is commonly used in international tax scholarship to describe such basic requirements for the exercise of income tax jurisdiction. When it comes to non-residents, income tax is intimately connected to the notion of “source”, in that every state has the right to tax income derived from sources located within its territory. The main purpose is to analyse the appropriateness of different nexus norms used by states in the taxation of non-resident business income. Particular attention is drawn to developments associated with the global economy, e.g. the introduction and expansion of e-commerce and the rise in cross-border services trade. Methodologically, the value-oriented approach is followed, analysing the research question in light of traditional tax policy benchmarks, such as equity, neutrality and administrability. A substantial part of the analysis is devoted to the permanent establishment (PE) concept, which acts as a general proxy for the source of business income in a tax treaty context. One conclusion is that the use of a PE nexus in its traditional forms (i.e. fixed place PE and agency PE) places inappropriate restrictions on the tax jurisdictions of the “market states”, where the customer base for taxpayer goods and services is located and important benefits related to the derivation of non-resident income are provided. This book advocates an evolutionary approach through a new PE-deeming rule based on a de minimis revenue threshold being added to tax treaties, supplementing traditional PE forms. This rule would allow a state to tax a non-resident taxpayer's business income as soon as he derives an ex ante specified amount of gross revenue from catering to customers located in that state, irrespective of physical presence. The proposal suggests that the administrative concerns surrounding the application of such a rule can be resolved in a comprehensive manner, e.g. by relying on an interim withholding regime in respect of business-to-business payments.

Roy Rohatgi on International Taxation'is an introductory text for practitioners and students of international tax law. For many years, this two-volume title has enjoyed a reputation as one of the leading handbooks in this complex area of taxation. With the latest rewrite of this seminal work, the authors provide in-depth treatment of the key topics in international tax, building up from detailed explanation of the basic concepts, all the way to solid analysis of the complex transactional issues. Volume 1, Principles, lays the foundation for this two-volume set. It examines international taxation through the prism of domestic law, explaining the conflicts of laws that give rise to issues seeking resolution in the international arena. This volume also introduces the reader to the world of tax treaties, crucially focusing on income and capital tax treaties, as well as on the main treaties that concern the administration and collection of taxes in the international sphere. In its analysis of income and capital tax treaties, this book takes the OECD Model Convention as the starting point and enriches the discussion with examples from real-life treaties, as well as by contrasting provisions from other Model treaties. The book is rounded out by a generous analysis of jurisprudence from all over the world. What the reader gets is a thoroughly researched handbook, explaining the key principles of international taxation, buttressed with real-world practice and written with practical application in mind. This volume is one of the first authoritative works to include analysis of the provisions of the updated OECD Model Convention (2017) and UN Model Convention (2017).

Die Betriebsstätte stellt im internationalen Steuerrecht einen besonderen Anknüpfungspunkt für das Besteuerungsrecht dar. Trotz fehlender Rechtspersönlichkeit rechtfertigt die Erfüllung des Betriebsstättentatbestandes ein Besteuerungsrecht für den jeweiligen Betriebsstättenstaat. In welcher Höhe das Besteuerungsrecht besteht, wird durch die anzuwendende Gewinnabgrenzungsmethode bestimmt. Erst durch Überarbeitung des OECD-Musterabkommens 2010 besteht der Fokus auf Anwendung einer einzigen Gewinnabgrenzungsmethode. Das deutsche Steuerrecht hat sich diesem OECD-Ansatz (sog. AOA) angeschlossen. Ausgehend von dieser Neuausrichtung in der Betriebsstättengewinnabgrenzung untersucht Aurelia Froitzheim die Umsetzung des neuen Gewinnabgrenzungskonzeptes. Dafür betrachtet sie die Regelungen der OECD und des nationalen Gesetzgebers jeweils getrennt voneinander, um abschließend das Zusammenwirken beider Regelungsbereiche würdigen zu können.Das vorliegende Werk richtetsich an Dozenten und Studenten der Betriebswirtschaftslehre und der Rechtswissenschaft mit Schwerpunkten Betriebswirtschaftliche Steuerlehre, Steuerrecht und Wirtschaftsprüfung, aber auch an Steuerberater, Wirtschaftsprüfer sowie Mitarbeiter von Steuer- und Finanzabteilungen.

Globalization has been under extreme pressure in the wake of the financial crisis. Multinational firms are weighing the costs and benefits of international scale and scope, and are increasingly under pressure to hire local, to source local, and to pay taxes domestically. At the same time global competitive pressures have intensified. This book reviews international business practices from the multinational firm perspective, and provides pathways forward concerning competitiveness and sustainability in global markets. What sets this book apart from others is that the benefits and pitfalls of globalization are addressed. Chapter coverage focuses on the functional areas of the business and how they are impacted by international expansion. Practical case studies supplement chapter coverage and highlight both positive and negative developments in the global business arena. Readers should expect to be challenged on what will be the limits of the multinational firm in the future, and how multinational firms can continue to prosper while at the same time adhere to sustainable business initiatives. Equally useful to both undergraduate and graduate students of international business as well as professional development programs, Global Business: Competitiveness and Sustainability provides a necessary tonic for dealing with today's troubled seas of globalization.

Šime Jozipović untersucht die bisherige Beihilferechtspraxis des EuGH und der EU-Kommission zum internationalen Steuerrecht und erstellt ein umfassendes Prüfungsschema für Steuervorteile, welche aus DBA, Rulings, Außensteuerrecht oder EU-Sekundärrecht resultieren. Hierfür definiert der Autor allgemeingültige Prinzipien der Beihilfeprüfung im Bereich des internationalen Steuerrechts, insbesondere bezüglich der grenzüberschreitenden Zurechnung von Maßnahmen, der Bestimmung des geographischen Ausgangssystems und der wesentlichen Charakteristika der im internationalen Rahmen selektiv begünstigten Gruppen.

The distribution of profits between corporations resident in different jurisdictions gives rise to both significant tax planning opportunities and tax risks. As cross-border transactions between corporations grow in number and complexity, the question of how a profit distribution is classified for corporate income tax purposes becomes increasingly important, particularly in the context of issues such as double taxation, non-taxation and tax neutrality. The OECD BEPS project has only increased the relevance. This unique work discusses the international tax law rules determining which transactions may be classified and taxed as dividends and how possible classification conflicts may be resolved. The author examines the tax classification of various inter-corporate transactions, including: – Payments made under dividend-stripping arrangements. – Fictitious profit distributions. – Economic benefits in the context of transfer pricing. – Returns on debt-equity hybrids. – Interest payments in thin capitalization situations and distributions following liquidation. The analysis of each transaction refers to international tax law. Most weight is given to tax treaties and EU tax law, including the BEPS development. The approaches adopted in different states'national tax law are covered by a more general analysis. The comprehensive coverage and the practical nature of The International Tax Law Concept of Dividend make it an essential acquisition for tax practitioners, researchers and tax libraries worldwide.

The tax aspects of bilateral investment treaties, which, in most cases, provide the investor with the unique opportunity to directly initiate an international dispute settlement process – also known as investor-state dispute settlement – are often overlooked. The increasing number of tax-related investment disputes is a clear indicator of an urgent need to identify and examine the issues emerging in this area in an academic context. The aim of this book is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between taxation and bilateral investment treaties. Twenty-one national reports from countries across the globe have been compiled in this volume. The reports, prepared for the conference “The Impact of Bilateral Investment Treaties on Taxation”, which took place in Rust (Austria) from 2-4 July 2015, help bring to light tax aspects of bilateral investment treaties that have significant unexplored aspects. Tax academics and tax practitioners, along with investment law academics and practitioners, provided their input. A major focus is the attitude taken towards tax matters in the bilateral investment treaties of reporting countries, as is the relationship between double tax treaties and bilateral investment treaties. In addition to the national aspects, the book also outlines global trends and best practices, and in doing so it aims to analyse the consistency of existing policies with the international obligations undertaken in bilateral investment treaties. The general report elaborates extensively on issues connected with tax carve-out provisions in bilateral investment treaties and the arbitration of tax matters. This book is of relevance to practitioners and academics working in tax law and international investment law, as well as students doing research and all who have an interest in the most current issues in these fields of law.

This book analyzes shifting international taxation strategies in pursuit of tax nomads, individuals and companies who minimize their tax obligations among multiple countries. Focusing on the efforts of the United States, the collective endeavours of the European Union and the global initiative of the OECD under G20 guidance, it investigates their attempts to understand and control the mechanisms employed by such nomads. The author directs particular attention to intellectual property, used by multinational corporations to move income from high-tax to low-tax locations. Contrary to claims that globalization hinders tax collection, Vlcek argues that state sovereignty and state power remain the defining characteristic of international taxation. The EU and OECD in turn, he concludes, are leveraging cooperation with the US to force other countries to share taxpayer information with them. This significant work will interest economists, political scientists and tax experts.

This book argues that the proliferation of global trade and the increasing power of free trade arrangements leave income taxes as one of the few remaining measures that can potentially be used for protectionist purposes. It analyzes the interaction between the non-discrimination principles in tax treaties and trade-related agreements including multilateral (WTO), regional (NAFTA, AANZTA) and bilateral free trade agreements. The absence of a non-discrimination obligation with respect to tax measures that apply to non-resident service providers and to non-resident services may, therefore, significantly undermine trade obligations. The book clearly reveals how these tax barriers to trade may unfairly or unnecessarily restrict trade in services, and puts forward a new, more effective non-discrimination obligation in tax matters to be included in tax treaties, one that would more closely parallel the non-discrimination obligations in trade agreements. The book examines the concept of non-discrimination in tax matters from several perspectives, specifically a North American and Australian perspective, as well as a perspective based on EU (and UK) law, focusing on the interaction between these legal systems, bilateral tax treaties, regional trade agreements and, where relevant, the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). The book explores the possibility of a reciprocal influence between tax treaties and trade agreements, and poses the question as to whether tax treaties might do more in providing a non-discrimination principle in the cross-border trade in services.

La obra que analiza a profundidad las disposiciones del Convenio Modelo de la OCDE. Estudio de los conceptos Establecimiento Permanente, Rentas Inmobiliarias y Ganancias de Capital así como de los Métodos para evitar la doble Imposición y el Procedimiento de Acuerdo Mutuo previsto en el Convenio Modelo.

From the winners of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting 11.5 million documents sent through encrypted channels. The secret records of 214,000 offshore companies. The largest data leak in history. In early 2015, an anonymous whistle-blower led investigative journalists Bastian Obermayer and Frederik Obermaier into the shadow economy where the super-rich hide billions of dollars in complex financial networks. Thus began the ground-breaking investigation that saw an international team of 400 journalists work in secret for a year to uncover cases involving heads of state, politicians, businessmen, big banks, the mafia, diamond miners, art dealers and celebrities. A real-life thriller, The Panama Papers is the gripping account of how the story of the century was exposed to the world.

Diana Beck beschäftigt sich mit Qualifikationskonflikten, die sich durch Auslegung und Anwendung der Doppelbesteuerungsabkommen ergeben. Die Autorin systematisiert diese Qualifikationskonflikte und zeigt die Folgen auf, welche sich in einer nicht verhinderten Doppelbesteuerung oder in einer Minderbesteuerung konkretisieren. Schließlich entwickelt sie Lösungsvorschläge, um diesen Besteuerungsfolgen entgegenzuwirken.

Financial innovation allows companies and other entities that wish to raise capital to choose from a myriad of possible instruments that can be tailored to meet the specific business needs of the issuer and investor. However, such instruments put increasing pressure on a question that is fundamental to the tax and financial systems of a country - the distinction between debt and equity. Focusing on hybrid financial instruments (HFIs) - which lie somewhere along the debt-equity continuum, but where exactly depends on the terms of the instrument as well as on applicable laws - this book analyses their treatment under both domestic law and tax treaties. Key jurisdictions, including the EU, some of its Member States, and the United States, are covered. Advocating for a broader scope of application of HFIs as part of the financing of companies in Europe alongside traditional sources of debt and equity financing, the book addresses such issues and topics as the following: • problems associated with the debt-equity distinction in international tax law; • cross-border tax arbitrage and linking rules; • drivers behind the use and design of HFIs; • tax law impact of perpetual and super maturity debt instruments, profit participating loans, convertible bonds, mandatory convertible bonds, contingent convertibles, preference shares and warrant loans on HFIs; • financial accounting treatment; • administrative guidance; • influence of the TFEU on Member States'approaches to classification of HFIs; • interpretation of the Parent-Subsidiary Directive by the European Court of Justice; • applicability of the OECD Model Tax Convention; and • implications of the OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project. Throughout this book, the analysis draws upon preparatory works, case law, and legal theory in English, German, and the Scandinavian languages. In conclusion, the author considers tax policy issues, and identifies and outlines possible high-level solutions. Actual or potential users of HFIs will greatly appreciate the clarity and insight offered here into the capacity and tax implications of HFIs. The book not only examines whether existing legislation is sufficient to handle the issues raised by international HFIs, but also provides an in-depth analysis of the interaction between corporate financing and tax law in the light of today's financial innovation. Corporate executives and their counsel will find it indispensable in the international taxation landscape that is currently coming into view, and academics and policymakers will hugely augment their understanding of a complex and constantly changing area of tax law.

Treaty shopping, also known under the terms of nationality planning, corporate (re-)structuring or corporate maneuvering, implies a strategic change of nationality or strategic invocation of another nationality with the aim of accessing another (usually more favourable) investment treaty for purposes of investment arbitration. When deciding on whether an investment claim based on treaty shopping should be upheld or dismissed, investment arbitral tribunals have been increasingly faced with significant questions, such as: What is treaty shopping and how may legitimate nationality planning be distinguished from treaty abuse in international investment law? Should a claimant that is controlled by a host-State national be considered a protected investor, or should tribunals pierce its corporate veil? Does an investor have to make the investment in good faith, and does it have to make a contribution of its own to the investment it is claiming protection for? When does a corporate restructuring constitute an abuse of process, and which is the role of the notion of dispute in this respect? How efficient are denial of benefits clauses to counter treaty shopping? Treaty Shopping in International Investment Law examines in a systematic manner the practice of treaty shopping in international investment law and arbitral decisions that have undertaken to draw this line. While some legal approaches taken by arbitral tribunals have started to consolidate, others remain unsettled, painting a picture of an overall inconsistent jurisprudence. This is hardly surprising, given the thousands of international investment agreements that provide for the investor´ s right to sue the host State on grounds of alleged breaches of investment obligations. This book analyses and discusses the different ways by which arbitral tribunals have dealt with the value judgment at the core of the distinction between objectionable and unobjectionable treaty shopping, and makes proposals de lege ferenda on how States could reform their international investment agreements (in particular with respect to treaty drafting) in order to make them less susceptible to the practice of treaty shopping.

Dieses Buch untersucht eines der wichtigsten Ziele im internationalen Steuerrecht: die Vermeidung der doppelten oder mehrfachen Besteuerung von natürlichen oder juristischen Personen. Um eine solche zu verhindern, vereinbaren Staaten im Regelfall so genannte Doppelbesteuerungsabkommen miteinander. Diese orientieren sich regelmäßig am OECD-Musterabkommen. Wenn eine Person in mehr als zwei Staaten ansässig ist, müssen mehrere, jeweils bilateral vereinbarte Abkommen «zusammenwirken», um eine doppelte oder mehrfache Besteuerung zu vermeiden. Der Autor untersucht unter Einbeziehung des OECD-Musterkommentars, inwieweit dies gelingt. Er hinterfragt kritisch die im OECD-Musterkommentar seit dem Jahr 2008 vorgesehene, «neue» Vorgehensweise. Durch spezielle Interpretation des Artikel 4 Absatz 1 Satz 2 des OECD-Musterabkommens soll sowohl eine doppelte oder mehrfache Besteuerung vermieden als auch eine Nichtbesteuerung von Einkünften verhindert werden.

The permanent establishment (PE) is a legal form of cross-border direct investment whereby a business presence is maintained as an integral part of the foreign investor. Due to the growing intensity and complexity of international business relations, the PE defi¬nition and the allocation of profi¬ts between head units and PEs have become highly contentious, especially from the perspectives of the major emerging economies of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China). Unsurprisingly, the potential for tax avoidance and the scrutiny of tax authorities have increased enormously. Against this background, this work illustrates and compares the OECD Model Tax Convention with country-specifi¬c source taxation rules, focusing on possible tax system changes and offering reform proposals. Emphasizing the taxable implications of the various rules upon country-speci¬fic PE concepts, the author's treatment covers such issues and topics as the following: – the PE de¬finition of the OECD MC and from the perspective of selected countries; – allocation of business pro¬fits under the Authorised OECD Approach (AOA); – avoidance of PE status; – implementation of a service PE proposal; – construction site PEs established by subcontractors; – existence of an agency PE; and – the OECD project on Base Erosion and Profi¬t Shifting (BEPS). The author uses simulated cross-border national and treaty cases to highlight qualifi¬cation conflicts, thus reinforcing his detailed discussion of source taxation rules of business profi¬ts and relevant case law in Germany, the United States, and the BRIC states. There is also a checklist detailing how companies can avoid unintentionally setting up a PE. The author's deeply informed proposals provide much-needed guiding tax criteria and open the way to greater feasibility and transparency in PE taxation. Because the defi¬nition of PEs has enlarged and the treatment of profi¬t allocation has become more complex, the clari¬fication of the PE concept presented in this book is of inestimable importance for lawyers, of¬ficials, policymakers, and academics concerned with international business taxation in any jurisdiction.

The most thorough treatment of its subject available, this book introduces and analyses the international tax issues relating to international manufacturing and distribution activities, extending from the tax regime in the country where the manufacturing activities are located, through to regional purchase and sales companies, to the taxation of local country sales companies. The analysis includes the domestic tax laws relating to manufacturing and distribution company profits as well as international tax issues relating to income flows and the payment of dividends. Among the topics and issues analysed in depth are the following: – foreign tax credits; – taxation in the digital economy; – tax incentives; – intellectual property; – group treasury companies; – mergers and acquisitions; – leasing; – derivatives; – controlled foreign corporation provisions; – VAT and customs tariffs; – free trade agreements and customs unions; – transfer pricing; – role of tax treaties; – hedging; – related accounting issues; – deferred tax assets and liabilities; – tax risk management; – supply chain management; – depreciation allowances; and – carry-forward tax losses. The book includes descriptions of 21 country tax systems and ten detailed case studies applying the analysis to specific examples. Detailed up-to-date attention is paid to the OECD Action Plan on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) and other measures against tax avoidance. As a full-scale commentary and analysis of international taxation issues for multinational manufacturing groups – including in-depth consideration of corporate structures, tax treaties, transfer pricing, and current developments – this book is without peer. It will prove of inestimable value to all accountants, lawyers, economists, financial managers, and government officials working in international trade environments.

Commercial banks UBS and HSBC embroiled in scandals that in some cases exposed lawmakers themselves as tax evaders… multinationals Google and Apple using the Double Irish and other tax avoidance strategies… governments granting fiscal sweetheart deals behind closed doors (as in Luxembourg) the stream of news items documenting the crisis of global tax governance is not about to dry up. Much work has been done in individual disciplines on the phenomenon of tax competition that lies at the heart of this crisis. Yet, the combination of issues of democratic legitimacy, social justice, economic efficiency, and national sovereignty that tax competition raises clearly requires an interdisciplinary analysis. This book offers a rare example of this kind of work, bringing together experts from political science, philosophy, law, and economics whose contributions combine empirical analysis with normative and institutional proposals. It makes an important contribution to reforming international taxation.