Large multinational companies are regularly suspected of using transfer pricing of intangibles to shift profits from high- to low-tax jurisdictions. We study the optimal transfer prices while endogenizing the location choice of intangibles and considering spillovers. In line with the initial intuition, we find that multinationals locate their intangibles in low-tax jurisdictions and deploy royalty flows to minimize tax payments. However, if multinationals face a trade-off between tax minimization and efficient spillover internalization, the so-called "home bias" might occur. Then, for a large spillover, the intangible is optimally located in the high-tax domestic country. This leads to less severe investment distortions because the spillover is internalized. In addition, the model predicts that curtailing profit shifting possibilities can either harm or facilitate multinationals' overall investments. This depends heavily on unobservable factors such as the underlying accounting system. Therefore, our analysis highlights challenges for the anti-avoidance legislation of governments. / Series: WU International Taxation Research Paper Series

Em decorrência das regras de preço de transferência adotadas no Brasil, os produtos ou mercadorias importados de empresas do mesmo grupo econômico ou que possuem controle comum, faz-se necessário um método de controle para que essas operações sejam lucrativas ou ao menos deem o retorno almejado para as empresas. Esse trabalho tem como objetivo demonstrar o que é o preço de transferência no Brasil, quais são os métodos a serem utilizados, a confecção de um controle dessas operações e a comparação da margem de contribuição de um produto que tenha ajuste de preço de transferência. O desenvolvimento do trabalho foi elaborado através de publicações, livros e as leis pertinentes ao assunto. A correta interpretação e utilização dessas regras são importantes para que as empresas estejam em conformidade com o fisco brasileiro e mensurem o custo correto da operação. / As a result of transfer pricing rules adopted in Brazil, products or goods imported from companies in the same group or have common control, it is necessary a method to control such operations are profitable or at least give the desired return for businesses. This paper aims to demonstrate that the transfer price is in Brazil, which are the methods to be used, making the control of these operations and the comparison of the contribution margin of a product that has set the transfer price. The development work was done through publications, books and laws relevant to the subject. The correct use and interpretation of these rules are important for companies to comply with the Brazilian tax authorities and measure the correct cost of the operation.

The analysis of the legal regulation of transfer pricing in connection with the implementation of ATAD Abstract This diploma thesis deals with the topic of legal regulation of transfer prices. Considering the gradual globalization and the increasing number of multinational enterprises, transfer pricing is a very extensively discussed tax-related topic. It has become even more topical with the implementation of a new Council Directive (EU) 2016/1164 of 12 July 2016 laying down rules against tax avoidance practices that directly affect the functioning of the internal market. Transposition period for the majority of regulations presented in the directive is scheduled to 31 December 2018. The aim of the present thesis is to characterize the current state of legal regulations of transfer pricing in the Czech Republic as well as related supranational regulations. Within the context of the former and the latter, the thesis analyzes the options of the implementation of the Council Directive (EU) 2016/1164 of 12 July 2016 laying down rules against tax avoidance practices that directly affect the functioning of the internal market. Also, the thesis delineates and describes the approach of the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic, including an assumed financial impact of the implementation of individual...

Em decorrência das regras de preço de transferência adotadas no Brasil, os produtos ou mercadorias importados de empresas do mesmo grupo econômico ou que possuem controle comum, faz-se necessário um método de controle para que essas operações sejam lucrativas ou ao menos deem o retorno almejado para as empresas. Esse trabalho tem como objetivo demonstrar o que é o preço de transferência no Brasil, quais são os métodos a serem utilizados, a confecção de um controle dessas operações e a comparação da margem de contribuição de um produto que tenha ajuste de preço de transferência. O desenvolvimento do trabalho foi elaborado através de publicações, livros e as leis pertinentes ao assunto. A correta interpretação e utilização dessas regras são importantes para que as empresas estejam em conformidade com o fisco brasileiro e mensurem o custo correto da operação. / As a result of transfer pricing rules adopted in Brazil, products or goods imported from companies in the same group or have common control, it is necessary a method to control such operations are profitable or at least give the desired return for businesses. This paper aims to demonstrate that the transfer price is in Brazil, which are the methods to be used, making the control of these operations and the comparison of the contribution margin of a product that has set the transfer price. The development work was done through publications, books and laws relevant to the subject. The correct use and interpretation of these rules are important for companies to comply with the Brazilian tax authorities and measure the correct cost of the operation.

O presente estudo buscou identificar indícios da prática de income shifting por meio da manipulação dos preços de transferência por empresas abertas brasileiras, antes e após as alterações nas normas fiscais instituídas pela Lei nº 12.715/12 e pela IN RFB nº 1.312/12. A teoria econômica infere que as firmas multinacionais possuem incentivos a manipular os preços nas transações com suas partes relacionadas, de modo a transferir resultados a localidades com menores cargas fiscais, com o objetivo final de reduzir a carga tributária sobre o lucro total do grupo econômico. Com base na análise de dados em painel de 52 empresas abertas brasileiras que realizaram transações internacionais com partes relacionadas no período de 2010 a 2013, os resultados revelam que as empresas analisadas cujas controladas têm maior volume de transações com partes relacionadas internacionais apresentam menor tributação no grupo consolidado, e que firmas com maiores incentivos ao income shifting possuem maiores indicativos de transferência de resultados entre a controladora e o grupo total. Os resultados indicam que tais relações não sofreram modificações no período de vigência das novas normas tributárias no Brasil. As constatações levantadas representam robustos indícios de que as empresas brasileiras utilizam os preços de transferência para o alcance do income shifting, e que as alterações na legislação fiscal não foram capazes de coibir essa prática no seu primeiro ano em vigor. Os resultados representam uma contribuição importante para a literatura atual, porque trazem evidências inéditas obtidas em empresas sujeitas a regras tributárias domésticas, as quais não foram objeto de estudo empírico até então. / This study investigated evidences of income shifting practice via transfer prices manipulation by Brazilian listed companies, before and after the new fiscal rules promoted by Law nº 12.715/12 and Normative Instruction RFB nº 1.312/12. The economic theory infers that multinational firms have incentives to manipulate prices on intra-group transactions, in order to transfer profits to low-tax locations, aiming to reduce the global tax burden. Based on panel data analysis of 52 Brazilian listed companies with international transactions with related parties in the period from 2010 to 2013, the results reveal that companies whose controlling company has higher volume of transactions with related parties have lower global income tax burden in the consolidated group, and that companies with greater income shifting incentives have greater signs of profit transfers between the controlling company and the consolidated group. Results indicate that there were no changes in these relations in the period when the new tax rules became valid in Brazil. The outcomes represent robust evidences that Brazilian companies make use of transfer prices with aims to achieve income shifting, and the tax rules modifications were not capable to restrain this practice in the first valid year. The results represent a relevant contribution to the current literature, because they bear original and unknown evidences obtained by the exam of firms subjected to domestic tax rules not empirically studied up to now.

O presente estudo tem por objetivo avaliar o regime brasileiro de controle dos preços de transferência sob o enfoque das diferentes visões que o tema pode apresentar. Inicialmente são relatadas suas principais características como a questão do arms length principle, seu histórico e aplicação, para em seguida falar-se acerca da disciplina no âmbito da OCDE e no direito comparado. Na sequência é abordada a legislação brasileira sobre o tema, a posição da jurisprudência, seu confronto com a valoração aduaneira, bem como sua relação com os acordos para se evitar a dupla tributação. Após configurado este cenário de introdução do estudo e seus principais contornos, são efetivamente analisadas as diferentes visões que o tema pode apresentar, notadamente em relação à recepção do arms length, a adoção de margens fixas e a questão da superioridade hierarquica dos tratados para se evitar a dupla tributação e a lei interna, no caso a lei dos preços de transferência / This study examines the Brazilian Transfer Pricing Regime from the standpoint of the different views that the issue may have. Initially the main characteristics are reported, for example, the arm\'s length principle, its history and application, thereafter it advocates the discipline within the OECD and comparative law. Following is addressed the Brazilian Transfer Pricing legislation, the position of jurisprudence facing with the customs valuation, and their relation with the double tax treaty. Once set up this introduction study scenario and its main outlines, are effectively analyzed the different views that the subject may have, especially with respect to the receipt of the arm\'s length principle, the adoption of fixed margins and the issue of hierarchical superiority of double tax treaties and domestic law, in case, transfer pricings law.

本研究探討影響臺灣跨國企業進行移轉訂價規避納稅義務之主要因素，並進一步檢視臺灣現行選案條件之合宜性。此外，本研究驗證陳明進與蔡麗雯（2010）實證研究使用公司「移轉訂價偏離同業毛利率之差異數」作為衡量移轉訂價代理變數之可信度。本研究使用2004年至2013年度經稅捐稽徵機關以不合常規移轉訂價查核調整之公開發行公司案件計101筆資料進行分析。實證結果發現，在其他條件不變情況下，公司毛利率、營業淨利率及純益率低於同業，進行移轉訂價程度愈高；資產報酬率愈高者，進行移轉訂價規避稅賦程度愈高；研發支出愈多及資產規模愈大等發展能力愈強之公司，愈容易進行移轉訂價；海外子公司占所有子公司比率愈高之跨國企業公司，進行移轉訂價程度愈高。另現行移轉訂價選案條件有關損益鉅幅波動及獲利低於集團其他企業，與企業進行移轉訂價並無顯著關係，可能有進一步檢討該項選案條件之必要。 至於檢視以「移轉訂價偏離同業毛利率之差異數」衡量移轉訂價代理變數之合宜性，資產報酬率、營業成長率及企業規模與本研究實證結果一致，惟大股東及董監經理人持股比、四大會計師事務所、負債比例及電子業等其他變數之結果並不一致，顯見以移轉訂價偏離同業毛利率之差異數作為移轉訂價之代理變數，可能與實際查核狀況不儘相同。 / This study examines the major factors affecting multinational enterprises (MNEs) in Taiwan to avoid tax obligation on transfer pricing (TP), and analyzes if the current criteria of TP case selection is appropriate. In addition, this paper tries to verify the credibility of an indicator developed by Chen and Tsai (2010) to estimate abnormal TP transactions of companies. We measure transfer pricing noncompliance in terms of tax audit adjustments made by tax authorities. Base on a sample of 101 TP audits on public companies in Taiwan from 2004 to 2013, our empirical results show that companies which have lower gross profit margin, operation margin and net profit margin than the profit standard of the same business (D_PROFIT), higher return on assets (ROA), higher research and development (RD) expenditure, bigger firm size (SIZE), and higher proportion of foreign affiliates in all subsidiaries (MULTI) have more TP aggressiveness. Moreover, there are no significant relationships between the current criteria on TP case selection in Taiwan such as huge fluctuations in profits (D_CH_NI) and profits below the other companies in the MNE group (D_GROUP) and TP aggressiveness of MNEs. As regards the credibility of the indicator to estimate abnormal TP transactions of companies, we find that the results of ROA, growth rate (GROWTH), and firm size (SIZE) are consistent with this study, but the results of other factors such as shareholding ratios of the major shareholders, the directors, and the supervisors (SH), four major accounting firms (CPA4), ratio of debt (LEV) as well as electronics industry (ELECO) are not consistent with this paper. It means that the indicator to estimate abnormal TP transactions may not reflect the real TP audit adjustments.

South Africa, together with similar countries world-wide, has taken active steps to counter the negative effects of the concept of “Base Erosion and Profit Shifting” by tightening its transfer pricing legislation. The South African 2010 Taxation Laws Amendment Act includes certain changes to bring the transfer pricing rules contained under section 31 of the Income Tax Act no 58 of 1962 up to date. These changes are aimed at bringing the South African transfer pricing legislation in line with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines. The new section 31 is aimed at shifting focus from the old transaction-based wording, to a more substance-focused approach. This implies, therefore, that safe harbours will no longer be the main determinant in establishing whether or not a company is thinly capitalised. The major concerns raised by taxpayers regarding this new approach relate to the uncertainties with regard to its practical application. Thus, the new amendments have brought about various challenges, including, the standardisation of procedures, reducing the cost of compliance, and developing broad databases that can assist with the determination of the arm's length price. This study aims to analyse the practical difficulties with which taxpayers could be faced in the application of this new legislation. The study uses the United Kingdom to assess the effectiveness of the new thin capitalisation rules since their thin capitalisation provisions also appear to have been brought in line with the OECD guidelines. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / Taxation / unrestricted

This study combines macro and micro data to quantify the revenue effects of double tax treaties. First, drawing on administrative information, the study estimates the tax sensitivity of income flows (dividend, interest, and royalty payments) at an aggregate level. The analysis finds important direct revenue costs linked to treaty restrictions on taxing rights, especially for flows into a few major investment hubs. However, high elasticities of income flows also suggest that increases in withholding rates at the individual treaty partner level would not necessarily result in more revenue collection. Second, the study uses firm- level information to estimate the sensitivity of reported profitability to changes in the relevant treaty network. The analysis of the reported earnings of multinational enterprise affiliates in Ukraine suggests that the ownership structure and operations with affiliates in certain jurisdictions explain reported profitability, and should thus receive increased attention in risk assessment and transfer pricing audit activities. / Series: WU International Taxation Research Paper Series

The South African Revenue Service has since 2009 introduced “reference pricing” as a tool to detect undervaluation of customs values of imported clothing and textiles. The term “reference pricing” is not defined in the Customs and Excise Act No.91 of 1964 which is the legislation that governs the importation of goods into the Republic of South Africa. The mandate of the South African Revenue Service, amongst others, is to facilitate legitimate trade. By applying the reference pricing guidelines the South African Revenue Service will target all importers who declare customs values which are less than the reference price for a targeted tariff heading associated with an item of clothing or textile. The Customs and Excise Act No.91 of 1964 is clear in that the transaction value which is the price paid or payable for the imported goods shall be the value used for customs duty purposes. The Customs and Excise Act No.91 of 1964 also requires that the interpretation of the sections 65, 66 and 67 of the said Act shall be subject to the Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (Valuation Agreement). Part I of the Valuation Agreement deals with the rules for customs valuation. Article 17 of part 1 allows for customs administrations to satisfy themselves as to the truth or accuracy of any statement, document or declaration presented for customs valuation purposes. The Technical Committee on Customs Valuation of the World Trade Organisation decided the following in so far as Article 17 of the aforesaid agreement is concerned: “1. When a declaration has been presented and where the customs administration has reason to doubt the truth or accuracy of the particulars or of documents produced in support of this declaration, the customs administration may ask the importer to provide further explanation, including documents or other evidence, that the declared value represents the total amount actually paid or payable for the imported goods, ....” It would appear that the South African Revenue Service is using reference prices as a tool to support its reason for doubting the truth or accuracy of the declared customs values. The indiscriminate use of reference pricing, it is submitted, affects legitimate trade adversely. This treatise provides an understanding of how the customs value should be determined in terms of the Customs and Excise Act No.91 of 1964 and the Valuation Agreement. It then provides a background to reference pricing and how reference pricing will be used to detect undervalued imports of clothing and textiles, the advantages and disadvantages of using reference pricing and a comparative analysis of the approach adopted by the Mexican Tax Administration Service in so far as the use of reference pricing is concerned. It was established that the reference price cannot replace the customs value of an imported clothing item as the customs value is based on the price actually paid or payable for it and not on some arbitrary or fictitious value. The reference price can only be used as a tool to identify importers that are possibly undervaluing the customs values. The disadvantages far outweigh the advantages of using reference pricing. The treatise further provides a background to the use of a valuation database as a risk assessment tool and compares this to the use of reference pricing. The use of reference pricing and its impact on trade facilitation is then discussed as well as whether the use of reference pricing is consistent with the risk management principles as discussed in the World Customs Organisation Risk Management Guide. It was established that the South African Revenue Service has not disclosed the basis of arriving at the reference price per tariff heading that it targets and the use of reference pricing is not sanctioned by any international guideline or agreement. It was also established that the use of reference pricing targets compliant importers unnecessarily and this practice goes against the principles of trade facilitation. The use of reference pricing can be used as a tool to detect undervalued imports of clothing but should not be used as a basis to stop every consignment of clothing simply because the customs value declared is less than the reference price. It should not be used as a stand-alone tool but rather enhanced further with the recommendations provided. In the final analysis, recommendations are provided which seek to enhance the reference pricing mechanism and to further identify and exclude compliant importers and limit the use of reference pricing to target non-compliant importers who undervalue the customs value of imported clothing and textile items.