EU dispute resolution: time for your voice to be heard
The European Commission has recently released a public consultation on improving double taxation dispute resolution mechanisms, with comments accepted through 10 May 2016. It is a process / Best Practices approach to enact future efficiencies. A summary story and consultation links are provided for reference:
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/common/consultations/tax/double_tax_dispute_en.htm
Click to access survey_consult_doc_double_tax_en.pdf
Highlights:
- Double or multiple taxation by EU Member States is recognized as a barrier to operate freely across borders.
- A legislative proposal is expected by the end of 2016, following the comment period.
- The Mutual Agreement Process (MAP) currently is not bound to reach a solution.
- The EU Arbitration Convention (re: transfer pricing cases and permanent establishment profit attribution) is acknowledged as a current process, but limited in scope.
- The last such public consultation (2010) resulted in an arbitration provision, although it has not been mandated in double tax conventions.
- Stakeholders’ views are requested on the relevance of removing double taxation, EU objectives and proposed solutions.
This document is pivotal in establishing practical and efficient EU dispute resolution mechanisms ongoing, and all interested parties should submit thoughtful input.
The proposal, as noted, would only be effective between EU Member States, not between one Member State and another non-EU jurisdiction or between non-EU jurisdictions. The EU has been a strong proponent in leading global best practices in the post-BEPS environment. Therefore, global consistency of the EU approach is also encouraged, especially by countries having no such dispute mechanism.
Additionally, other countries’ need to rethink sovereignty arguments in trying to evade / negate the effect that such transparent measures would have on their ability to address local tax practices.
Strategizing Multinational Tax Risks 