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No / The OECD led BEPS project attempts key changes to the international tax standards to limit harmful tax avoidance. First, it is found that calls for the BEPS project are based on arguments (illicit financial flows and tax competition) that are supported by limited evidence and hence may not offer much fiscal gain to the developing countries. Second, it is found that the BEPS project would, through information sharing, further limit the fiscal jurisdiction of capital importing states. Further it is found that tax competition, even if existing in a limited form, is a result of the international tax architecture and the externalities caused by it. In fact, it is seen that the MNCs actually reduce the inefficiencies created by this tax architecture and thereby reduce transaction costs. By agreeing to the BEPS agenda of information sharing the developing countries would be paying the cost of internalising the externality.

The diploma thesis deals with the concept of International Taxation of Permanent Establishments. The treatment of permanent establishment is defined and compared from both czech and international perspective. Furthermore, there are identified issues that individual countries and the international organization OECD have to deal with under the Action Plan BEPS. Moreover, at the end of the thesis frequency of permanent establishments in the Czech Republic is displayed according to the residence of taxpayers.

This study serves to critically assess the effectiveness of South Africa’s thin capitalisation framework in dealing with Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) through excessive interest deductions by multinational enterprises (MNEs). Given the impact of globalisation in interconnecting economic activities across multiple countries, BEPS presents a major policy concern both internationally and domestically. Thin capitalisation, a situation in which an entity utilises to their tax benefit the deductions/exemption mismatch that arises from crossborder debt financing, is one of the most common methods of BEPS utilised by MNEs. This study aims to ascertain whether the framework is effective in dealing with thin capitalisation whilst balancing the need to attract investment and boost economic development and, to assess whether the framework is reflective of South Africa’s contextual realities. It achieves this by engaging with the South Africa’s legislative framework consisting of s 31 and s 23M of the Income Tax Act and the Draft Note on Thin Capitalisation and their relationship with international tax norms and standards. The study relies on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to identify the international standards and contrasts South Africa’s framework with Canada, a developed and OECD member state. The study concludes that the framework is fraught with uncertainties and administrative difficulties that hinder its effectiveness. It also concludes that the framework’s reliance on the OECD’s standards is misguided and does not reflect South Africa’s contextual realities. This is a stark contrast to Canada which opted for a thin capitalisation approach outside the OECD’s recommendations which more reflects its context. The study thus concludes that South Africa’s thin capitalisation framework is ineffective in dealing with BEPS by way of thin capitalisation.

The master’s thesis deals with the initiative of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, namely the Action plan on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS). The aim of this thesis is to quantify impacts of selected BEPS measures on the tax bases of Czech companies. The paper is divided into a literary summary and a practical part. In the literary summary, important concepts of international taxation are defined and the BEPS action plan and the Anti Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD) are presented here. In the practical part, selected BEPS measures are applied to model examples, and the impact on the tax base of Czech companies in the situation before and after the implementation of specific measures is quantified. The model examples result in an increase in the tax base and the tax liability of Czech companies in the situation after the implementation of the selected BEPS measures. BEPS measures applied to Czech companies in this thesis pose a negative impact on their tax planning.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce (specialising in Taxation) Johannesburg, 2014 / Base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) is a key concern in international tax. In 2010 the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) was tasked with the study of BEPS. In 2013 the OECD released the study report “Addressing base erosion and profit shifting” emphasising BEPS and the risk for the world’s economies and tax bases. The OECD has been focused on BEPS due to several reasons, namely; increase in globalisation, an ever-changing digital economic environment, mismatches of different countries’ tax legislation and the ease with which intellectual property can be transferred. They has released several documents detailing the risk of BEPS as well as an action plan outlining their aim for the transformation of local and international tax. According to the OECD corporate income taxes, as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) is a possible indication of base erosion. In South Africa, the corporate income tax rate as a percentage of GDP has decreased from 7.2 % in 20081 to 5% in 20132. Is this a possible indication of base erosion or profit shifting taking place? Protecting South Africa’s tax base is paramount for future growth of the country and the economy. It is therefore important to identify whether BEPS is a real risk and to determine whether South Africa has adequate legislation in place to protect its tax base. Keywords: Base erosion and profit shifting, BEPS, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, international tax, transfer pricing, thin capitalisation, treaty abuse, treaty shopping

In view of the adopted SDGs in 2015 and their focus on domestic resource mobilisation, this diploma thesis attempts to fulfil two main objectives. First, it aims to describe and analyse the current tax system often labelled not only by developing states as unfit for the 21st century's globalized economy. Second, it tries to provide deeper understanding of reasons that lead certain countries not to support the creation of a UN Tax Body, the only platform where all countries could participate in the negotiating of tax harmonization on an equal footing. Three hypotheses based on a neorealist, liberal and functional regime theory are put forward. Using data obtained from interviews conducted with delegates at the UN, it can be concluded that the organisational infrastructure is the power reflection. While the OECD BEPS mechanism is recognised by many as efficient and sufficient, this is possible due to the enabling power relations that exclude more than hundred developing countries from the negotiation of international tax rules. It can thus be concluded that the current OECD mechanism does not address existing policy loopholes that cause losses to developing countries. To match the SDGs' rhetoric with reality, policy-makers should create a more inclusive and universally agreed on standard-setting...

This study aimed to assess the determinants and deterrents of profit shifting, which can occur as a result of corporate income tax competition, with a view to aid in collecting sufficient tax revenue to meet public spending requirements. The study theoretically and empirically analysed the effectiveness of the introduction of the South African transfer pricing regulations on deterring the occurrence of profit shifting in South Africa using annual financial information of South African parented multinational enterprises for the period 2010 – 2017. The study established that the implementation of transfer pricing regulations resulted in a reduction in profit shifting that became increasingly more prominent as the rules became stricter. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that the South Africa government should allocate sufficient resources to ensure that the transfer pricing regulations are being adhered with an aim to reduce profit shifting from South Africa. / Economics / M. Com. (Economics)