Strategizing Multinational Tax Risks

The OECD has released its second draft, following its initial draft on 31 October 2014, on BEPS Action 7: Preventing the Artificial Avoidance of PE Status.  Comments, which should be kept as short as possible, on this latest draft should be sent by 12 June 2015.  The discussion draft, and related comments, will be discussed at the Working Party 1 meeting of 22-26 June 2015.

A link to the latest discussion draft is provided for reference:

Click to access revised-discussion-draft-beps-action-7-pe-status.pdf

Key observations:

• Objective is to address commissionnaire arrangements and fragmentation of operations to meet the “preparatory and auxiliary” exception.
• Alternative PE options from the first draft have been reduced to 1 proposal re: each PE avoidance strategy, concluding that Option B re: commissionnaire arrangements, Option E re: specific activity exemptions and Option J re: fragmentation are the best models.
• Follow-up work on attribution of profits issues re: Action 7 would result in additional guidance by the end of 2016, the deadline for negotiation of the multilateral instrument.
• Low-risk distributor arrangements are to be addressed in Action 9, Risks and Capital.
• Par. 5 alternative test: Independent agent exception is disregarded if it meets a control (50 % or more interest) test.  Persons (acting on behalf of an enterprise) habitually concluding contracts or habitually negotiating the material elements of contracts can lead to a PE, disregarding the act of formal conclusion/approval/review in another jurisdiction.  “Contracts” refers to the business proper of the enterprise.
•   Each specific activity exemption would be restricted to activities that are otherwise of a “preparatory or auxiliary” character.  Additional Commentary guidance and examples are provided re: the phrase “preparatory or auxiliary.”
• Re: splitting up of contracts for the 12-month threshold, the concept of “connected enterprises” replaces “associated enterprises” along with anti-abuse rules for determination.

The above captions provide only a snapshot of the detailed proposals and changes included in this latest draft; accordingly all interested parties should review this draft carefully and consider providing succinct comments for consideration in the final guidelines.

As PE is a strong pillar in the foundation of transfer pricing, this draft will chart the course for future PE determinations that may impact current organization structures and where profits from certain activities are taxed.