OECD Tax Deal Delays Spur Countries’ Embrace of Digital Taxes
Government decisions to impose digital services taxes on tech companies have been prompted in part by a lack of progress in global negotiations at the OECD, practitioners, academics and tax authority officials said.
Pillar 2 Side-by-Side System Needs Safeguards, EU Official Says
The so-called side-by-side system for exempting U.S.-parented multinational enterprise groups from some global minimum tax rules will require clear safeguards, a top European Commission official said.
Pharma Industry Weighs Where to Hold Its IP Amid Tariff Turmoil
President Donald Trump’s tariff policies are prompting large pharmaceutical companies to promise investments in US manufacturing, but it might let them keep the crown jewels—their intellectual property—overseas.
UK Could Raise £5 Billion From Digital Tax, Think Tank Says
The UK government shouldn’t drop its digital services tax on tech companies as it would generate up to £5.2 billion ($7 billion) by the end of the current Parliament, according to a tax policy think tank.
Private Equity Backed Tech Deals Face Cross-Border Tax Challenge
The global anti-base erosion, or GloBE, framework is the latest challenge for private equity sponsors acquiring multinational enterprises, as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the G7 continue to scrutinize international tax arbitrage.
EU Commission Expects Pillar 1 Discussions to Resume This Year
The European Commission expects discussions on pillar 1 of the OECD's two-pillar tax reform plan to resume later this year but doesn’t anticipate proposing a new EU digital tax, according to a top EU official.
EU Commission Argues for Strong Stance on Big Tech
Amid President Trump’s tariff threats over EU digital regulation, the European Commission’s strategic foresight report targets U.S. tech giants’ dominance, urging the bloc to reduce dependencies and “be clearer about what it stands for.”
Treasury Would Back 'Revenge Tax' if OECD Doesn't Fulfill Promise
The Trump administration would back efforts by congressional Republicans to institute a “revenge tax” should the OECD fail to follow through on a pledge to exempt American companies from the global minimum tax, a Treasury official told lawmakers.
Bermuda Consults on Proposed Tax Credits Aligned With Pillar 2
The Bermudian government is asking for stakeholder input on draft legislation providing for three proposed refundable tax credits designed to be in line with OECD pillar 2 global minimum tax rules.
OECD Releases Revised BEPS Transparency Framework on Tax Rulings
The OECD inclusive framework on base erosion and profit shifting on September 8 published a set of revisions to the action 5 minimum standard on the exchange of information on tax rulings, including an updated template for exchanges; recommendations for efficiently completing the template; amended terms of references applicable for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and onward; an improved peer review assessment methodology beginning in 2026; and clarifications for identifying tax practice risks and information exchange expectations.
Normalizing the Company Tax at 15 Percent – An Unintended Result of Pillar 2?
Daniel Maggacis examines the adoption of pillar 2 and contemplates whether advocating for a minimum tax rate for multinationals may unintentionally normalize 15 percent as a benchmark for an internationally acceptable company tax rate.
Countries Rework Minimum Tax to Appease US as Concerns Mount
Negotiators at the OECD are racing to rewrite large parts of the global minimum tax framework by year-end to placate the US, a goal that appears elusive as dozens of countries raise concerns about being put at a competitive disadvantage.
Thailand Approves Draft Tax Breaks to Curb Minimum Tax Impact
The Thai government has approved proposals for providing for tax incentives to alleviate the top-up tax burdens of large multinational enterprise groups in scope of the country’s global minimum tax regime.
Side-by-Side Pillar Two Deal a Good Start Toward Tax Simplicity
The June G7 side-by-side agreement on the global minimum tax proposal has come under fire for not being effective enough, but there is little to worry about. If anything, it may improve Pillar Two.
Brazilian Tax Authority Seeks Input on Minimum Tax Changes
The Brazilian tax authority is consulting on draft amendments to its qualified domestic minimum top-up tax, including changes related to the allocation of current covered taxes and deferred taxes and the treatment of securitization vehicles.
EU Faces In-House Challenges on OECD Pillar 2 Changes
Leaked OECD documents detailing possible pillar 2 amendments, intended to allay the Trump administration's global minimum tax concerns, show that the outcome of these international discussions will present its own challenges in the EU.
A Strong Dollar and Section 986(c): GILTI Problems Persist Despite Expense Allocation Changes
Eric M. Lopata examines a common fact pattern that can cause taxpayers to pay global intangible low-taxed income tax on their foreign earnings, even though this residual GILTI tax is not reflective of the local operations or in-country tax paid by a controlled foreign corporation.
Will Trump Tariffs Survive Lawsuits? All About the Legal Battle
The vast majority of President Donald Trump’s tariffs remain in limbo after a federal appeals court ruled that they were issued illegally under an emergency law while agreeing to keep them in place while the case proceeds. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Aug. 29 upheld an earlier decision by the US Court of International Trade. Both courts concluded that Trump wrongfully invoked an emergency law, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), to justify the duties — a rare rebuke as the courts tend to defer to the president on trade matters.
Roos vs. Boomers: Australian Tax Reform
Lee A. Sheppard examines the Australian tax reform debate and makes recommendations concerning the country’s taxes on goods and services, individual income, and corporate income, as well as the proposed cash flow tax.
Confidential OECD Documents Outline Potential Pillar 2 Changes
Leaked OECD documents proposing options for amending the pillar 2 global minimum tax rules in response to concerns from the United States and the business sector provide a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into multilateral negotiations.
IP Poses Risks, Opportunities for Companies’ Tariff Planning
As President Donald Trump’s tariffs make waves in the world economy, multinational companies are mulling what it could mean for their intangible assets like intellectual property and brand recognition.
Canada’s Proposal to Expand Tax Audit Powers Sparks Concerns
Expansion of Canada’s power to gather tax information, as the government is proposing, would open companies and individuals to excessive penalties, more government mistakes, and expensive disputes, tax professionals say.
Italy Prepares to Scrap Digital Services Tax Amid U.S. Threats
Italy is preparing to repeal its digital services tax in the 2026 budget law, according to Finance Ministry sources, after the United States renewed threats to impose tariffs in response to unilateral levies on technology companies.
Zuckerberg Pressed Trump on Digital Taxes Before Tariff Vow (1)
President Donald Trump threatened to inflict “substantial” tariffs on countries that impose digital taxes just days after Meta Platforms Inc. Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg raised concerns about the levies during a White House meeting.
Trump Tariff Threats Put Countries With Digital Taxes in a Bind
Countries that have imposed digital taxes on tech giants such as Amazon.com Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc. are again under threat of retaliatory tariffs from President Donald Trump, forcing them to decide whether to resist or give in to his demands.
Mexico to Raise Tariffs on Imports From China After US Push (2)
The Mexican government plans to increase tariffs on China as part of its 2026 budget proposal next month, protecting the nation’s businesses from cheap imports and satisfying a longstanding demand of US President Donald Trump.
EU Defends Its ‘Sovereign Right’ to Regulate Big Tech
The European Commission denied targeting American companies and defended the EU’s right to regulate businesses within its borders following President Trump’s threats to impose substantial additional tariffs on countries that regulate big tech or impose digital services taxes.