2018 BEPS global survey

The responses from this year's survey show that companies are continuing to focus on preparing for BEPS with the Boards becoming more engaged in tax governance matters. While most of the respondents expect significant impacts from BEPS, they had not yet implemented any major BEPS-related changes to their businesses, as many of the legislative measures only come in force in 2019-2020. Key findings from the survey indicate that:

• 91% of respondents expect that the additional transfer pricing reporting requirements resulting from the OECD BEPS recommendations will substantially increase their corporate tax compliance burden (only 21% expect consistent interpretation of the new guidelines among tax authorities in different countries);
• 86% of respondents believe that tax structures implemented today are under greater scrutiny by tax administrations now, than they would have been a year ago;
• 85% of respondents are concerned that tax authorities will, irrespective of any actual legislative changes, increase tax audit assessments as a result of the current BEPS debate;
• 80% of the respondents expect public country-by-country reporting to be adopted in the next few years;
• 76% of respondents are concerned about the media, political and activist group interest in corporate taxation, and note that their C-suite has become actively engaged in developing the organization’s tax strategy and in monitoring risk in this area;
• 48% of the respondents are concerned about lack of domestic guidance on the BEPS-related legislative changes.

The rapidly changing tax environment definitely poses many challenges – but, also opportunities – for multinationals and their tax functions. Find out more about BEPS and the Global Tax Reset or download the full survey now.