Investors' recommendations

Policy

Disclosure of a tax policy signed by a board-level representative outlining the company’s approach to taxation and how this approach is aligned with its business and sustainability strategy.

A comprehensive tax policy would:   

• outline the organisation and board view on corporate income tax, referring to its impact on the overall profitability of the company, as well as its broader economic impacts;
• discuss how the company’s tax policy protects stakeholders’ trust, enhances the company’s license to operate and aligns with its corporate values/code of conduct;
• state the company’s risk appetite in relation to tax activities, including examples of acceptable and unacceptable practices and a narrative on major tax risks;
• provide an overview of the firm’s general tax structure and strategies, including the link between where profits are booked and the factors that indicate genuine commercial activity in those locations (e.g. how transfer prices are set within the group and how tax havens are used, if applicable);
• describe the company’s current relationships with tax authorities and other stakeholders (i.e. consumers and civil society organisations) and explain if engagement with stakeholders has impacted the tax policy;
• describe the process to interpret the law and deal with ambiguity;
• discuss advocacy and lobbying activities on tax including membership in trade associations active on tax policy;
• include any reference to third-party standards and guidelines covering tax-related issues;
• commit to ongoing and transparent tax-related reporting.

Governance and risk management 

Information on tax governance and management of the tax policy and related risks.

Good disclosure would provide evidence that:

• tax governance is part of the risk oversight mandate of the board, including the setting of clear responsibilities and mechanisms to maintain compliance with the firm’s tax policy;
• the board discusses the ramifications of the company’s approach to tax on its brand and reputation, including assessing potential stakeholders’ perceptions regarding the “spirit” of tax laws;
• the tax policy and strategy are reviewed at least annually by the full board, in addition to any board committees tasked with assessing risk;
• the company provides regular training and guidance for all relevant staff (including those not directly involved in the execution of the tax strategy) on the links between tax and overall corporate strategy;
• the company provides whistleblowing channels to report tax-related activities or decisions that are not aligned with the company’s tax strategy.

Performance

Transparency on tax strategies, tax-related risks and country-by-country activities.

Detailed reporting would provide an overview of:

• the primary drivers of the gap between the effective tax rate and the weighted average statutory rate based on the firm’s geographic sales mix, with particular emphasis on the key tax strategies employed (including the role, if any, of intellectual property and transfer pricing) and potential regulatory changes related to those strategies;
• the new tax strategies being employed by the company that are leading to increases in the company’s unrecognised tax benefit balances;
• the firm’s intra-company debt balances, including the countries where the debt is held and the average interest rate paid by the firm’s subsidiaries on that debt;
• the most financially-material tax incentives (e.g. tax holidays) provided by various jurisdictions, including information on the expiration date of each incentive, the investment requirements of each incentive, and commentary regarding the likelihood that such incentives will not be renewed;
• country-by-country reporting details, including a list of all subsidiaries and their business nature (as required by the appropriate OECD-BEPS templates);
• current disputes with tax authorities.