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Chapter 16

Chapter 16. International Taxation Issues. Transfer Pricing and Motorola.

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Chapter 16

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  1. Chapter 16 International Taxation Issues

  2. Transfer Pricing and Motorola Motorola, one of the world’s largest mobile-phone companies, has operations that span across the world. As such, it has control over transfer prices between its operations in different countries. In August of 2004, Motorola announced that the Internal Revenue Service was seeking an extra $500M in taxes from the company. The IRS claims that Motorola set transfer prices in order to avoid paying U.S. taxes. They claim Motorola should have had an additional $1.4 billion in U.S. income during the period. As such, the IRS might force Motorola to make adjustments that would shift profit from other countries to the U.S. International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  3. International Tax Issues • What kind of revenue is taxable? • How are expenses determined? • Should direct or indirect taxes be used? • How are cultural differences and attitudes toward enforcement accounted for? International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  4. Direct Taxes • Corporate Income Tax – Two Approaches • Classic System • Income taxed when received • Earnings are taxed twice • Integrated Systems • Attempt to eliminate double taxation • Two ways to integrate • Rate split between income and for profits distributed (Germany) • Imputation – tax remitted earnings and dividend earnings at the same rate, but shareholders get a tax credit (as in EU) • Corporate income taxes have come down recently International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  5. OECD and EU Average Corporate Tax Rates International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  6. Territorial approach Tax income earned in the country where it is generated (Hong Kong) Worldwide approach Tax both domestic and foreign source income Some countries alleviate burden with tax credits, treaties, and deferral of foreign source income Two Methods International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  7. Determination of Expenses • Expenses are usually a matter of timing • As useful lives of assets differ, tax burdens differ • Statutory tax rates and effective tax rates differ due to • Determination of expenses • Tax base • Broadened with U.S. Tax Reform Act of 1986 • Other OECD countries broadened tax bases in 1980s International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  8. Withholding Tax • Income earned by a foreign subsidiary is taxed in the foreign country • Cash returns to the parent are made for dividends and the use of patents, trademarks, processes, etc. • Normally a tax is levied on payments by a subsidiary to a non resident investor • Tax varies from country to country • Depends on existence of tax treaties International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  9. Indirect Taxes • Most important source of government revenue in some countries (France) • Examples • Consumption (sales) taxes • Value Added Tax (VAT) • Excise Taxes • Estate and Gift Taxes • Employment Taxes • User Fees International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  10. Indirect Taxes • Value Added Tax • Major source of funding for the EU • Tax is applied at each stage of production for the value added by the firm to goods purchased from the outside • Tax burden ultimately falls on the consumer • Major method of computation – subtractive method • Tax included in price of goods International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  11. Computation of VAT International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  12. Avoidance of Double Taxation of Foreign Source Income • Credits and Deductions • Must be an income tax to be creditable (U.S.) • Tax credits are only available for taxes directly paid by the U.S. corporation International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  13. Tax Deduction vs. Tax Credit International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  14. Avoidance of Double Taxation of Foreign Source Income • Tax Treaties • Minimize the effect of double taxation • Protect each country’s right to collect taxes • Provide ways to resolve jurisdictional issues • Tend to reduce or eliminate taxes on dividends, interest, and royalty payments • Model Tax Treaty was approved by the U.S. in 1977 • 1994 – U.S. and Canada sign a tax treaty • Reduces tax rates on payments of dividends, interest, and royalties International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  15. U.S. Taxation of Foreign Source Income • The Tax Haven Concept • Tax haven – a place where foreigners receive income or assets without paying high rates of tax upon them • Mailbox companies have sprung up in • Liechtenstein, Vanuatu, Netherlands Antilles • Countries with no income tax include • Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands • Countries with low tax rates (British Virgin Islands) • Countries that exempt income from foreign sources • Hong Kong, Liberia, Panama • Countries that allow special privileges International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  16. U.S. Taxation of Foreign Source Income • The Tax Haven Concept • Goal is to shift income from high tax to tax haven countries • Usually accomplished by using a tax haven subsidiary as an intermediary • Income shifting is generally accomplished by transfer pricing • May countries are concerned about minimizing the use of tax havens • OECD plans to impose sanctions on countries offering “harmful” tax competition International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  17. U.S. Taxation of Foreign Source Income • Deferral principle – income is deferred from U.S. taxation until it is received as a dividend • Exceptions to this principle – Subpart F income of a Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC) • A CFC is a foreign corporation in which “U.S. shareholders” hold more than 50% of the voting stock • U.S. shareholder – a person or enterprise that holds at least 10 percent of the voting stock of the foreign corporation International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  18. U.S. Taxation of Foreign Source Income • Revenue Act of 1962 defined Subpart F income as passive income • Subpart F income is divided into eight groups • Insurance of U.S. risks – income from parents is taxable to the parent when earned by the CFC • Foreign-base company personal holding company income – dividends, interest, royalties and other income from holding rights • Foreign-base company sales income – income from the sale or purchase of goods produced and consumed outside the country where the CFC is incorporated • Foreign-base company services income – income from contracts utilizing technical, managerial, engineering, or other skills International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  19. U.S. Taxation of Foreign Source Income International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  20. U.S. Taxation of Foreign Source Income • Subpart F income is divided into eight groups • Foreign-base company shipping income – income from using aircraft or ships for transportation outside the country where the CFC is incorporated • Foreign-base company oil-related income – income from large oil or natural gas producers in a country outside where the CFC is incorporated • Boycott-related income – income from operations resulting from countries involved in certain international boycotts (such as Arab boycott of Israel) • Foreign bribes – brides paid to foreign government officials International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  21. U.S. Taxation of Foreign Source Income • Implications of Subpart F Income • For CFCs active income is deferred, but passive income must be recognized when earned • Exception – if foreign-based income of a CFC is less than 5% of gross income of $1 million, none of it is Subpart F income • Essentially an American phenomenon International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  22. Tax Effects of Foreign Exchange Gains or Losses • Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are ordinary and are recognized when realized • Gains or losses cannot be recognized while foreign currency balances are being held • IRS treats foreign currency transactions from the two-transactions perspective • IRS does not recognize gains and losses until obligation has been settled International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  23. Tax Effects of Foreign Exchange Gains or Losses • U.S. tax law introduced the Qualified Business Unit (QBU) – a trade or business for which separate books are kept • QBU earnings are divided into two parts • Earnings distributed back to home office • Translated at exchange rate on date of transfer • Earnings retained in foreign office • Translated at average exchange rate (profit-and-loss approach) • Foreign Exchange Gain = Distribution X (AR-ER) • Total branch profits in parent income includes the foreign exchange gain • Tax credit is computed using ER, the effective exchange rate at the time the taxes were paid International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  24. Taxable Earnings from Foreign Corporations • Foreign subsidiaries are not taxed until a dividend is declared, so the parent company does not have to translate statements into $ • Controlled Foreign Corporation • Same rules apply to non-Subpart F income as per a non-CFC situation • Subpart-F income – a constructive dividend has been declared at year-end, so translation into $ is necessary International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  25. Tax Incentives • Two major types • Incentives to attract foreign investors • Usually involve tax holidays • Example – Brazilian government provides a 10 year holiday to invest in the northeast and Amazon regions • Incentives to encourage exports • EU – many export products are zero rated – no VAT • Firms can offer products at lower prices • U.S. and U.K. offer reductions in or eliminations of property taxes for investments International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  26. Tax Incentives • Foreign Sales Corporation Act of 1984 replaced the Domestic International Sales Corporation (DISC) legislation of 1972 • DISC income was taxed to its shareholders at a reduced rate • The FSC was established in response to criticism that the DISC was just a paper shell • WTO ruled that the FSC incorrectly applied the territorial approach only to the export segment of foreign source income • FSCs were phased out by 2001 International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  27. Tax Dimensions of Expatriates • Finding of survey by Business International • U.S. is the only country from the sample that taxes expatriates on worldwide income • U.S. does provide some relief through the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion • Foreign country must be their tax home • Must have foreign income • Citizen of another country or present for entire tax year or 330 days out of any 12 consecutive months International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  28. Intracorporate Transfer Pricing • Transfer pricing – the pricing of goods and services between all combinations of parents and subsidiaries • Transfer pricing is often used to take advantage of tax havens • Factors influencing transfer pricing decisions (Tang survey, 1992) • Corporate profitability • Differential tax rates • Restrictions on repatriation of profits or dividends • Competitive position of foreign subsidiaries International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  29. Intracorporate Transfer Pricing • “The Corporate Shell Game” – Newsweek Newsweek magazine gave an overly simplistic, hypothetical example of a U.S. company that manufactured goods through its German subsidiary and sold them to its Irish subsidiary, which in turn sold the goods back to the U.S. parent company. The goods were manufactured at a cost of $80 by the German subsidiary and sold for the same amount to the Irish subsidiary. Even though the tax rate in Germany is 45 percent, there is no tax on the transaction. The Irish subsidiary then sells the goods to the U.S. parent for $150, earning a profit of $70. Because the tax rate in Ireland is only 4 percent for that transaction, the Irish subsidiary pays only $2.80 in tax. The U.S. parent then sells the goods for $150, earning no profit and paying no tax, even though the U.S. tax rate is 35 percent. Thus, the U.S. company ends up paying only $2.80 in income taxes, and this amount is paid in Ireland. International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  30. Intracorporate Transfer Pricing • Transfer pricing has become increasingly important with the increase in MNEs • Ernst and Young Transfer Pricing 2003 Global Survey Results • 86% of MNE parent companies and 93% of subsidiaries identified transfer pricing as the most important international tax issue they deal with • If companies must make an adjustment, 1 in 3 with be threatened with a penalty and 1 in 7 will pay a penalty • 40% of adjustments result in double taxation • Sales of goods are the most audited, while audits of services and intangibles are increasing International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  31. Intracorporate Transfer Pricing • U.S. Rules • Section 482 of IRS code governs transfer pricing • IRS may reallocate income, deductions, credits, and allowances if it feels tax evasion is occurring • Transactions must be at “arm’s length” • IRS is concerned with five areas • Loans and Advances • Performance of services • Use of tangible property • Use of intangible property • Sale of tangible property International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  32. Intracorporate Transfer Pricing • Methods for Determining Arm’s Length Prices • For tangible property there are six methods • Comparable uncontrollable price method – market price determines transfer price • Resale price method – used if comparable uncontrollable price method cannot be used • Comparable profits method – less common • Cost-plus method – costs of manufacturing plus a normal profit margin • Profits split method – less common • Other methods – less common International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  33. Tax Planning in the International Environment • Choice of Methods of Serving Foreign Markets • Exports of goods and services and technology • Should the firm service products for the parent country or abroad? • Consider the benefits of a sales office abroad • If licensing technology, be aware of withholding taxes and relevant tax treaties • Branch operations • Good to open a branch office at first to offset home country income with foreign losses • Branch remittances are not usually subject to withholding taxes International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  34. Tax Planning in the International Environment • Choice of Methods of Serving Foreign Markets • Foreign Subsidiaries • Income is sheltered from taxation in home country until a dividend is remitted (except for passive income of a CFC) • Cannot recognize losses by the subsidiary in the parent company • More valuable after start-up years International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

  35. Tax Planning in the International Environment • Factors on Location of Foreign Operations • Tax Incentives • Can reduce cash outflow of an investment project • Tax Rates • Tax Treaties • Example – Withholding tax between U.S. and U.K. is 15%, but both countries have 5% withholding agreement with the Netherlands • An arrangement could be made to send dividends from the U.K. to Holland, then to the U.S., and the 15% tax would be partially avoided • Tax planning decisions should not crowd out management control and other essential issues International Accounting & Multinational Enterprises – Chapter 16 – Radebaugh, Gray, Black

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