OECD Inclusive Framework reaches political agreement on taxing the digitalized economy and a global minimum rate

On 1 July 2021, the G20/Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) - the Inclusive Framework) published a Statement on the key components of global tax reform, agreed by 130 of its members.

Since 2017, the 139 member countries of the Inclusive Framework have been jointly developing a ‘two-pillar’ approach to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalization of the economy. This led to the publication of two detailed ‘Blueprints’ in October 2020 on potential rules for addressing nexus and profit allocation challenges (Pillar One) and for global minimum tax rules (Pillar Two). The proposals were updated and simplified by the United States (US) Biden Administration in April 2021 and formed the basis for the political agreement reached by the G7 countries in June 2021.

Deloitte’s comments

Further to political agreement by the G7, 130 countries have now agreed on the key components for changes to the international tax framework. These countries represent more than 90% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is another huge step for global tax reforms on a coordinated basis.

The OECD estimates that under Pillar One, taxing rights on more than USD 100 billion of profit will be reallocated to market countries each year. The global minimum Corporate Income Tax (CIT) under Pillar Two - with a minimum rate of at least 15% - is estimated to generate around USD 150 billion in additional global tax revenues annually.

An ambitious and challenging timetable has been set with plans for both Pillar One and Pillar Two to apply from 2023, which if achieved would be considerably earlier than expected. There are technical (and some policy) areas that the OECD will continue to work through and US Congress will also need to pass the proposals.

The ‘largest and most profitable’ businesses that will need to reallocate a share of global residual profit to market countries under Pillar One have been confirmed as those with global turnover above €20 billion (until 2031, at least) and a profit margin above 10%. The Inclusive Framework has agreed that the share reallocated to market countries should be in the range of 20-30% (the G7 had previously agreed at least 20%). Extractives and regulated financial services have been confirmed as excluded from scope. Companies within the scope of Amount A will benefit from mandatory binding dispute resolution mechanisms, including transfer pricing and business profits disputes related to Amount A.

A key component of the agreement remains the commitment for the implementation of Pillar One to be coordinated with the removal of unilateral Digital Services Taxes and relevant similar measures.

The countries have also agreed with the G7 that a global minimum tax under Pillar Two should be at least 15%, calculated on a country by country basis. This is likely to co-exist with the US’s Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) regime, provided that this aligns with calculations on a country by country basis (as proposed by the Biden Administration).

The treaty-based subject to tax rule on interest, royalties and other payments is recognized as an integral part for developing countries and has a rate of 7.5% - 9% (on a gross payment rather than net profit basis). Similarly, the marketing and distribution function return (Amount B) will be simplified and streamlined, with a particular focus on the needs of developing countries.

The long list of countries in agreement with the proposals include China, India, Switzerland, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bermuda, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Of the Inclusive Framework countries that have not yet agreed to the proposals, the most notable are European Union (EU) members Ireland and Hungary.

Countries that do not currently levy a CIT or have effective tax rates below the proposed global minimum tax rate of 15% such as the UAE and Bahrain, will face some key decisions. Please refer to our recent tax alert where we have set out how such countries might respond to the global minimum tax.

Nexus and profit allocation rules (Pillar One)

Amount A

Pillar One’s ‘Amount A’ proposal reallocates taxing rights in favor of market countries through the creation of a new taxing right. A share of a group’s global residual profit will be reallocated to market countries using a formulaic approach. No physical presence is required in a market country to create an Amount A nexus/taxable presence. An agreement has been reached that Amount A should apply to multinational businesses with global annual turnover exceeding EUR 20 billion and profitability above a 10% margin. Businesses in the extractive and regulated financial services sectors are excluded from Amount A.

The global annual turnover threshold will be reduced to EUR 10 billion in the future, depending on a successful implementation of Amount A, including in respect of tax certainty. A review to determine the success will be undertaken seven years after the rules enter into force (so expected to be in 2030). Segmentation rules will apply only in exceptional circumstances where a segment disclosed in financial statements meets the scope of the rules. 

A market country will be entitled to an allocation of Amount A if revenues of at least EUR 1 million are generated in that country. For countries with GDP lower than EUR 40 billion, this threshold will be EUR 250,000. Revenues will be sourced to the end market country where goods or services are used or consumed. Detailed sourcing rules will be developed for specific categories of
transactions. Requirements to trace small amounts of sales will be kept to a
minimum.

In-scope businesses will reallocate 20%-30% of their residual profit above a 10% profit level to market countries using a revenue-based allocation key. The 10% profit level will be calculated as the ratio of profit before tax to revenue. Profit amounts will be derived from financial accounts with a small number of adjustments. A marketing and distribution profits safe harbor will limit the Amount A allocation to market countries where residual profits are already taxed. To eliminate double taxation, any Amount A liability will be allocated to entities that earn residual profit and relieved via either exemption or credit.

The administration of the new rules will be streamlined and businesses will be able to manage their compliance through a single entity. Implementation will be coordinated with the removal of all Digital Services Taxes (DSTs) and other relevant similar measures on all companies.

Amount B

Further work will be undertaken in respect of Amount B to simplify and streamline the pricing of ‘baseline marketing and distribution activities’ undertaken by related party distributors.

Tax certainty

Mandatory and binding dispute resolution mechanisms will be available in respect of all issues related to Amount A, including transfer pricing, business profits, and determination of whether an issue falls within the scope of the Amount A dispute resolution mechanism. Some small developing economies that have few or no mutual agreement procedure cases may be considered for an elective (rather than mandatory) dispute resolution process.

Global minimum tax (Pillar Two)

Income inclusion rule and undertaxed payment rule

New rules will ensure that large multinational businesses pay a minimum effective rate of tax of at least 15% on profits in all countries. The income inclusion rule will result in additional ‘top up’ amounts of tax being payable by a parent entity of the group to its tax authority. The undertaxed payment rule will apply as a secondary (backstop) rule where the income inclusion rule has not been applied.

Multinational groups with consolidated revenues of at least EUR 750 million will be in scope, but countries will be free to apply lower thresholds to groups headquartered in their country. Ultimate parent entities that are government entities, international organizations, non-profit organizations, pension funds or investment funds, and any holding vehicles used by such entities, will not be subject to the rules. The allocation method for top-up taxes under the undertaxed payment rule, including in respect of low taxed profits in the country of the ultimate parent, remains to be agreed.

The Pillar Two rules will have the status of a common approach: countries will not be required to adopt them, but if they choose to, implementation must be in a manner consistent with the model rules and Inclusive Framework guidance. Consideration will be given to the conditions under which the US GILTI regime will co-exist with the Pillar Two global minimum tax, including being applied on a country by country (jurisdictional) basis.

Effective tax rate calculations will use a tax base determined by reference to financial accounts, subject to agreed adjustments and mechanisms to address timing differences. There will be a formulaic substance carve-out to exclude income that is at least a 5% return on tangible assets and payroll (7.5% during a five-year transition period). There will also be a de minimis exclusion, and an exclusion for international shipping income. The Inclusive Framework expressed an ambition for the global minimum tax to have a limited impact on businesses
carrying out economic activities with substance and discussions will continue
in respect of the design of the rules in this respect, with a final decision to
be made by October 2021. Implementation will also feature safe harbors and/or
other simplification mechanisms to avoid disproportionate compliance
costs.

Subject to tax rule

The subject to tax rule will allow limited source taxation on related party interest, royalties and a defined set of other payments. The rule will be incorporated into bilateral tax treaties by countries that apply nominal rates of tax below a minimum rate to such receipts where requested by developing country members of the Inclusive Framework. The taxing right will be limited to the difference between the subject to tax minimum rate (between 7.5%-9%) and the tax rate on the payment.

Implementation

An implementation plan will be agreed including: model income inclusion and undertaxed payment rules with coordination mechanisms; a model Subject To Tax rule, together with a multilateral instrument to facilitate its adoption; and transitional rules, possibly deferring implementation of the undertaxed payment rule.

Next steps

The G20 Finance Ministers will discuss the two-pillar proposals on 9 and 10 July 2021. Further technical work, including the implementation plan, will be finalized by October 2021 ahead of further Inclusive Framework and G20 Finance Minister meetings. Further technical work on the fixed marketing and distribution function return (Amount B) is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2022. The new nexus and profit allocation rules (Amount A) will be implemented through a new multilateral instrument which will be available in 2022 and are scheduled

to come into effect in 2023. Pillar Two is also scheduled to come into effect
in 2023.