The topic of this thesis is transfer pricing, its significance in international trade and the on-going effort to create appropriate tax rules by both international organisations and the Financial Administration of the Czech Republic. My thesis has a particular focus on a new disclosure to a company's income tax return, that is, the Overview of Transactions with Related Parties. The theoretical part of this thesis addresses the function and significance of transfer pricing in international trade as well as the current development in international and domestic transfer pricing rules. The practical part focuses on an analysis of how the connections between the Overview of Transactions with Related Parties and the financial statements of entities help the Financial Administration to derive significant ratios and conduct systematic data collection to analyse transactions with related parties and detect which entities to audit.

This thesis describes and analyzes the most important areas of bank controlling. Amongst them are: cost management, planning and budgeting, and performance management. The thesis focuses on the newest knowledge in bank controlling and on best practice examples. The thesis also includes practice examples of some bank controlling areas of a particular Czech bank, ČSOB.

ISSUES OF TRANSFER PRICING Transfer pricing has been often-discussed topic in recent years which is unlikely to change in the upcoming years. Given the great importance of transfer pricing in international tax planning, as well as in so called aggressive tax planning, it is a priority for states to set transfer pricing rules based on the arm's length principle in such a way that untaxed profits are not transferred from the jurisdictions where it was generated. Although this is a tax issue concerning the direct taxation, it shall be regulated at least in a coordinated manner by most countries in the world, as the international overlap is the greatest danger to state treasuries. From the perspective of taxpayers, it is often very difficult to meet all obligations regarding the setting of transfer pricing pursuant the arm's length principle, but it can be pointed out that a sufficiently clearly specified rules may be in favor of the taxpayers, because unjustified price manipulation between the related parties may cause some distortion of the functioning of the market. The main purpose of this thesis is to provide a comprehensive overview of transfer pricing issues from the perspective of Czech legislation, especially the Income Tax Act and instructions issued by the Ministry of Finance and the...

Transfer pricing compliance related issues continue to pose challenges to leaders of multinational entities (MNEs) and tax regulators. MNE leaders strive to mitigate the risks of non-compliance violations and double taxation, while tax regulators seek to minimize profit shifting and revenue losses. This multiple case study explored strategies for managing transfer pricing risks against the backdrop of various risks MNE leaders face for non-compliance violations. The cost contribution agreement theory served as the conceptual framework for this study. Data were collected from organizational documents and semistructured interviews conducted with 6 finance executives representing 2 multinational entities in the midwest and southwest regions of the United States who have implemented successful strategies to manage transfer pricing risks. Data were analyzed using Yin's multiple-step thematic analysis process. Following the thematic data analysis 5 themes emerged, including commitment to tax compliance, tax minimization, advance pricing agreement (APA), comparable uncontrolled price method (CUP), and cost plus method (CPM). MNE leaders favor commitment to tax compliance as an effective strategy as penalties for non-compliance increases risks to business functionality. The findings of this study may help business leaders to follow compliance procedures and adopt risk mitigation strategies, while also informing regulators to update tax regulations to reflect current economic realities. The findings of this study could result in positive social change through an enhanced governmental revenue that stimulates economic growth, improves productivity, and promotes technological innovations.

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The profit split method in its current form is a relatively new part of the OECD transfer pricing guidelines for multinationals and tax authorities. First emerging in a 2018 report and recently incorporated in the official guidelines themselves, one might observe that the importance of the method is rapidly growing. This paper examines the inner workings of the profit split method and how the method relates to the arm´s length principle, the use of predetermined formulas and Swedish internal tax law. The OECD firmly states that the profit split method is an application of the arm´s length principle. This paper concludes that the profit split method is somewhat problematic in relation to the arm´s length principle in that it uses a very different methodology than what is described in the classical definitions of the arm´s length principle in tax treaties and internal law, which states that the internal price used by multinationals should not differ from an external market price of the goods or services traded. The profit split method instead uses a formulaic approach to divide the income between states, which in my view is something different than comparing the internal price to an uncontrolled price as described in the definitions of the arm´s length principle. This may cause an unpredictable situation for both multinationals and tax authorities.

The thesis critically examines the Brazilian adoption of arm's length principle and assesses its impact on the country's fiscal sovereignty in cross-border commodities transactions. The arm's length principle is regarded as an useful tool for preventing tax avoidance and ensuring tax neutrality. While the adoption of this principle by Brazil serves as a way of aligning its tax regulations with international standards and enhancing tax transparency, it also raises critical questions regarding the country’s fiscal sovereignty. This is due to the fact that the adoption of the arm's length principle results in decreasing the country’s control over tax policies in order to adhere to global and international standards. The thesis critically examines the motivation behind the adoption of this principle by Brazil and evaluates it under the perspective of the practicability principle. The thesis also assesses the implications on fiscal sovereignty of Brazil and highlights potential conflicts that may arise in the ongoing transformation in the Brazilian tax landscape.

Deviations from arm’s length prices (prices charged between independent persons) charged between connected cross-border companies are corrected by primary transfer pricing adjustments, effected by the tax authorities of a country, resulting in secondary transactions classified as constructive loans, constructive dividends or constructive equity contributions. Tax could be imposed on the secondary transaction, giving rise to a secondary adjustment. For years of assessment commencing on 1 April 2012 secondary transactions, previously regarded as constructive dividends with Secondary Tax on Companies, were amended to be treated as constructive loans with interest adjustments. The primary research problem addressed by this literature study was to establish whether the constructive loan is the appropriate treatment of secondary transfer pricing transactions in the South African context and if not, whether the other alternatives suggested by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) guidelines should be considered. The OECD suggests that a transaction should be characterised in accordance with its substance. Determination of the subjective economic substance may be established by the motives of multinational groups for setting transfer prices. Multinational groups could have various motives for setting transfer prices that deviate from the arm’s length principle, influencing the economic substance of secondary transactions. In order to determine if the treatment of a secondary transaction, as a constructive loan, would be appropriate and reflect the economic substance of adjustments arising as a result of these motives, the characteristics of each alternative were analysed. The characteristics determined for each of the alternatives were then applied to the economic substance arising from a motive, to determine the appropriateness of each of the alternatives as a secondary transaction. Based on the motives for entering into these transactions, an analysis was performed. The findings led to the conclusion that in the case of the economic substance of transactions, which give rise to transfer pricing adjustments, a constructive dividend appears to be the appropriate treatment for a secondary transaction in most circumstances, as opposed to the constructive loan currently applied by South Africa. Constructive loans or constructive equity contributions may be reflective of the economic substance in exceptional circumstances. The study makes recommendations that South Africa should consider amending the current treatment of a secondary transaction as a constructive loan, to a constructive dividend. It was also recommended that overlapping criteria in the dividend definition be eliminated and that further research should be undertaken in order to determine how the exceptional circumstances for characterisation as a constructive loan or constructive equity contribution, should be provided for in the Income Tax Act (58 of 1962). / MCom (South African and International Taxation), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Deviations from arm’s length prices (prices charged between independent persons) charged between connected cross-border companies are corrected by primary transfer pricing adjustments, effected by the tax authorities of a country, resulting in secondary transactions classified as constructive loans, constructive dividends or constructive equity contributions. Tax could be imposed on the secondary transaction, giving rise to a secondary adjustment. For years of assessment commencing on 1 April 2012 secondary transactions, previously regarded as constructive dividends with Secondary Tax on Companies, were amended to be treated as constructive loans with interest adjustments. The primary research problem addressed by this literature study was to establish whether the constructive loan is the appropriate treatment of secondary transfer pricing transactions in the South African context and if not, whether the other alternatives suggested by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) guidelines should be considered. The OECD suggests that a transaction should be characterised in accordance with its substance. Determination of the subjective economic substance may be established by the motives of multinational groups for setting transfer prices. Multinational groups could have various motives for setting transfer prices that deviate from the arm’s length principle, influencing the economic substance of secondary transactions. In order to determine if the treatment of a secondary transaction, as a constructive loan, would be appropriate and reflect the economic substance of adjustments arising as a result of these motives, the characteristics of each alternative were analysed. The characteristics determined for each of the alternatives were then applied to the economic substance arising from a motive, to determine the appropriateness of each of the alternatives as a secondary transaction. Based on the motives for entering into these transactions, an analysis was performed. The findings led to the conclusion that in the case of the economic substance of transactions, which give rise to transfer pricing adjustments, a constructive dividend appears to be the appropriate treatment for a secondary transaction in most circumstances, as opposed to the constructive loan currently applied by South Africa. Constructive loans or constructive equity contributions may be reflective of the economic substance in exceptional circumstances. The study makes recommendations that South Africa should consider amending the current treatment of a secondary transaction as a constructive loan, to a constructive dividend. It was also recommended that overlapping criteria in the dividend definition be eliminated and that further research should be undertaken in order to determine how the exceptional circumstances for characterisation as a constructive loan or constructive equity contribution, should be provided for in the Income Tax Act (58 of 1962). / MCom (South African and International Taxation), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Syftet med studien är att utreda hur OECDs riktlinjer för internprissättning implementerats i svensk respektive amerikansk lagstiftning, för att fastställa i vilken utsträckning redovisningstradition påverkar implementeringen av skattemässiga regler. För att uppfylla syftet har vi utfört en komparativ studie, som baseras på en kvalitativ innehållsanalys, där vi klassificerar regelverken utifrån i vilken utsträckning de är princip- eller regelbaserade. Undersökningen är relevant då internationell internprissättning av många anses vara den mest prioriterade internationella skattefrågan i dagsläget. Det blir därför relevant att undersöka om redovisningstradition påverkar hur internationella regler för internprissättning implementeras i nationell skattereglering. Enligt vår vetskap har inget liknande klassificeringsförsök gjorts tidigare vilket ytterligare förstärker relevansen av utförd undersökning och analys. Vårt bidrag till forskningen är att försöka beskriva hur verkligheten ser ut avseende om nationell redovisningstradition påverkar implementering av internationella skattemässiga regelverk. Vi vill även bidra till att göra diskussionen kring klassificering av regel- och principbaserade standarder mer nyanserad.För att kunna avgöra om regelverken är princip- eller regelbaserade har vi identifierat olika begrepp och definitioner som indikerar om ett regelverk är regelbaserat eller principbaserat. För att identifiera dessa indikatorer har vi studerat både ekonomisk och juridisk litteratur. Utifrån den information som indikatorerna resulterar i presenterar vi argument för varje undersökt regelverk i de olika länderna, gällande i vilken utsträckning de är princip- eller regelbaserade. Således kan sedan slutsatser dras kring i vilken utsträckning nationella redovisningstraditioner påverkar implementering av internationella skatteregler.I studien diskuteras att hur regler kring internationell internprissättning implementeras i nationell lagstiftning inte bara påverkas av normgivande supranationella organisationer som OECD. Påverkan på det sätt som regler kring internprissättning implementeras kan således ske mellan OECD och medlemsländerna men även mellan medlemsländerna. I studien diskuteras även det faktum att det föreligger en debatt kring om klassificeringen av standarder som regel- eller principbaserade är giltig. Vår studie förstärker bilden av att indelningen är aktuell och har förankring i verkligheten.Vår slutsats är att nationell redovisningstradition, avseende om redovisningen bygger på regler eller principer, påverkar implementering av internationella skatteregler. Det blir tydligt då vår studie visar att OECDs riktlinjer för internprissättning är ett principbaserat regelverk. Vidare har vi fastställt att redovisningen i Sverige bygger på principbaserade regelverk. Påverkan från nationell redovisningstradition kan fastställas då OECDs riktlinjer för internprissättning har implementerats rakt av i Sverige. I USA, där redovisningen bygger på regelbaserade regelverk, har däremot OECDs riktlinjer för internprissättning inte implementerats på något område i nationell lagstiftning. I USA utfärdas istället separata regler kring internprissättning. Vår studie visar att dessa är utformade på ett regelbaserat vis. Sammantaget visar detta att nationell redovisningstradition i hög utsträckning påverkar implementeringen av internationella skatteregler. / The purpose of this dissertation is to examine how OECDs Transfer Pricing Guidelines have been implemented in national regulation in Sweden and in the USA. This to determine to which extent national accounting tradition affects the implementation of international tax regulations. To fulfil the purpose we have undertaken a comparative study, which is based upon a qualitative content analysis, where we classify the regulations based on to which extent they are principle-based or rule-based. The study is relevant since international transfer pricing is considered to be one of the most important tax issues in present time. It is due to this fact relevant to examine if accounting tradition affects the way in which international transfer pricing regulations are implemented in national tax regulations. Due to our knowledge there has not been an attempt to accomplish a classification in this manner previously. This enhances the relevance to the study undertaken. Our contribution to the research field is to try to describe the actuality regarding if national accounting tradition affects implementation of international tax regulations. We also want to make the discussion regarding the classification of principle-based and rule-based standards more nuanced.To be able to determine if the regulations are principle-based or rule-based we have identified concepts and definitions that indicates if regulations are rule-based or principle-based. To identify these indicators we have studied both economic and legal literature. Based on the information that the indicators provide we present arguments regarding to which extent the examined regulations, in the different countries, are principle-based or rule-based. Thus, conclusions regarding to which extent national accounting traditions affects implementation of international tax regulations can be made.In the study we discuss that the way in which regulations regarding transfer pricing is implemented in national legislation is not only affected by normative supranational organisations like the OECD. The impact on the way that regulations regarding transfer pricing are implemented can thus take place between OECD and member countries and also between member countries. In the study we also discuss the fact that there is a debate regarding if the classification of standards as rule-based or principle-based is valid. Our study enhances the impression that the classification is valid and relevant.Our conclusion is that national accounting tradition, regarding if accounting is based on rules or principles, affects the implementations of international tax regulations. This becomes clear since our study shows that OECDs Transfer Pricing Guidelines are principle-based. Furthermore we have determined that accounting in Sweden is based upon principle-based regulations. Since OECDs Transfer Pricing Guidelines have been implemented in Sweden IVwithout adjustments we can determine an impact from national accounting tradition. In the USA, which is a country where accounting is based upon rule-based regulations, the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines are not implemented in national regulations. In the U.S. separate regulations regarding transfer pricing are issued. Our study shows that these regulations are formed in a rule-based manner. All together this shows that national accounting tradition largely affect the implementation of international tax regulations.This paper is hereinafter written in Swedish.