EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 28.1.2016

COM(2016) 25 final

2016/0010(CNS)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE

amending Directive 2011/16/EU as regards mandatory automatic exchange of information in the field of taxation

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

•Reasons for and objectives of the proposal

The European Council Conclusions of 18 December 2014 cite "an urgent need to advance efforts in the fight against tax avoidance and aggressive tax planning, both at the global and EU levels". Since December 2014, the Commission has quickly launched the first steps towards an EU approach. In the meanwhile the OECD has finalized its work in defining the global rules and standards to these ends.

This Directive amending Council Directive 2011/16/EU as part of the Commission's Anti- Tax Avoidance Package, addresses the political priority of fighting against tax avoidance and aggressive tax planning. It also responds to the demands from the European Parliament. It is also in line with the initiatives announced in the Commission's Action Plan on a Fairer Corporate Tax System (COM (2015) 302) to tackle tax avoidance.

Businesses have traditionally viewed tax planning as legitimate on the grounds that they use legal arrangements to reduce their tax liabilities. However, tax planning has become more elaborate in recent years, developing across jurisdictions and shifting taxable profits towards states with beneficial tax regimes. This "aggressive" form of tax planning can take a multitude of forms, such as taking advantage of the technicalities of a tax system or of mismatches between two or more tax systems for the purpose of reducing or avoiding tax liabilities. Its consequences include double deductions (e.g. the same expense is deducted in both the state of source and the state of residence) and double non-taxation (e.g. income is not taxed in either its state of source or in the recipient’s state of residence).

Unlike Small and medium companies or individual taxpayers, Multinational Enterprise (MNE) Groups are in a position that renders them capable of exploiting loopholes in domestic and international tax laws to shift profits from one country to the next in order to reduce their tax bill.

The global economic and financial crisis of the last years had made the public aware of the need to ensure that all contributors pay their fair share of tax payments. This should result in higher tax revenues that would contribute to the reduction of public sector deficits for the benefit of all.

In this context, tax authorities need comprehensive and relevant information on structure, transfer pricing policy and internal transactions with related parties of MNE Groups. With the aim to combat tax avoidance and aggressive tax planning, this Directive imposes transparency requirements on MNE Groups. It requires MNE Groups to provide annually and for each tax jurisdiction in which they do business certain information including the amount of revenue, the profit before income tax, the income tax paid and accrued, the number of employees, the stated capital, the retained earnings and the tangible assets. This information will enable the tax authorities to react to harmful tax practices through changes in the legislation or adequate risk assessments and tax audits. Increased transparency should also incentivize MNE Groups to pay their fair share of tax in the country where profits are made.

The new transparency requirements should ensure that the administrative burden imposed on businesses is minimized. EU MNE Groups should in principle not be obliged to submit the information to of all the EU Member States where they operates, but only to the tax authorities of their of residence. The Directive requires Member States, once they have received the country-by-country report, to share the information with the Member States in which, on the basis of the information in the report, companies of the MNE Group are either resident for tax purposes, or are subject to tax with respect to the business carried out through a permanent establishment.

To ensure an appropriate balancing of reporting burden and benefit to tax administrations, only MNE Groups with total consolidated group revenue equal or higher than
EUR 750 000 000, will be obliged to file the country-by-country report. According to the Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) estimations, approximately 85 to 90 percent of MNE groups will be excluded from the requirement, but the country-by-country report will nevertheless be filed by MNE groups controlling approximately 90 percent of corporate revenues.

Now more than ever, cooperation between Member States’ tax authorities is crucial in order to tackle tax avoidance and aggressive tax planning. EU legislation provides for administrative cooperation between Member States' tax authorities, and sets out a series of instruments to help them to cooperate in collecting their due revenues, including exchange of information. However, the EU needs to continue reinforcing cooperation to ensure the proper functioning of the Internal Market in respect with fundamental rights as enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Council Directive 77/799/EEC 1 was the first response to Member States’ need for enhanced mutual assistance in the field of taxation. It was replaced by Council Directive 2011/16/EU 2 (DAC) that was intended to increase the effectiveness of the previous Directive. In recent years, the Directive has been amended by Directive 2014/107/EU (DAC2) and by Directive EU 2015/2376 (DAC3) providing tax authorities with further instruments to tackle tax fraud and evasion and aggressive tax planning, in the field of financial accounts, tax rulings and advance pricing arrangements.

The purpose of the present proposal is to ensure that Directive 2011/16/EU continues providing for comprehensive and effective administrative co-operation between tax administrations by providing for the mandatory automatic exchange of information regarding country-by-country reports.

This Directive is in line with the international developments. On 5 October 2015 the OECD presented its final reports on the Action Plan on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) which is a major initiative for modifying existing international tax rules. On 15-16 November 2015 the OECD package was also endorsed by the G20 leaders. The work on Action 13 of the OECD’s Action Plan on BEPS resulted in a set of standards for providing information on MNE Groups' transfer pricing positions, including the masterfile, the local file and the country-by-country report. The Directive contributes to the implementation in the Union of the country-by-country report.

Most Member States, in their capacity as OECD members, have committed to implementing the outputs contained in the Final Reports on the 15 Actions against BEPS. It is therefore essential for the good functioning of the Internal Market that Member States transpose political commitments under BEPS into their national systems in a coherent and sufficiently coordinated fashion. This should be the way ahead in order to maximise the positive effects for the Internal Market as a whole. If not, unilateral implementation of BEPS would risk national policy clashes and new obstacles in the Internal Market, which would continue to be fragmented in 28 constituent parts and suffer from mismatches and other distortions.

This initiative aims at achieving a certain degree of uniformity in implementing the BEPS Action 13 across the EU. The Directive also intends to foster fair competition between the different business operators and ultimately to protect the tax base of EU Member States.

The proposal has been specifically designed to allow the automatic information exchange on country-by-country reporting to build on the existing rules in Directive 2011/16/EU relating to the practical arrangements for exchanging information including the use of standard forms.

The Commission’s commitment to making such a proposal for the AEOI on country-by-country reporting is reflected in the Commission's 2016 Work Programme. 3

•Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area

Tax Transparency Package (COM (2015) 136)

The Package contained two main elements: (i) a proposal to introduce the AEOI between Member States on their tax rulings and (ii) an announcement that the Commission was assessing whether additional disclosure obligations of certain corporate tax information should be introduced.

This proposal does not preclude that the Commission decides in the future to propose imposing public disclosure obligations on companies.

Commission's Action Plan on a Fairer Corporate Tax System (COM (2015) 302)

This proposal is in line with the initiatives announced in the Action Plan to tackle tax avoidance.

2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

•Legal basis

The proposal modifies Directive 2011/16/EU as amended by Directive 2014/107/EU 4 and by Council Directive EU 2015/2376 5 by introducing a specific requirement for the AEOI on country-by-country report.

The modifications are contained in Article 1 of the proposal. In particular:

Article 3 (definitions) is amended.

Article 8aa requires Member States to oblige MNE Groups to submit the relevant information (the country by country report) and to automatically exchange that information received with the other Member States concerned.

Article 20 (6) refers to the standard form that will be used for the exchange and Article 21 (7) provides for the practical arrangements.

A new Article 25a on penalties is added.

A new Annex, including the definitions applicable to the proposal, the obligations for MNE Groups and the templates for the exchange of information, is added.

•Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)

The subject-matter of these modifications falls within the same legal basis as Directive 2011/16/EU, i.e. Article 115 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which aims to ensure the proper functioning of the Internal Market. Article 115 TFEU provides for the approximation of such laws, regulations or administrative provisions of the Member States which directly affect the establishment or functioning of the internal market and make the approximation of laws necessary.

To ensure the proper functioning of the internal market, the EU needs to ensure fair competition and a level playing field between SME, non-EU and EU MNE Groups. MNE Groups have the possibility to engage in aggressive tax planning practices due to their cross border activities. For this reason, all MNEs, both EU Groups and non-EU Groups, should be subject to the reporting obligation. Without this element this initiative would be less effective in achieving the ultimate objective of ensuring the proper functioning of the Internal Market.

This proposal complies with the principles of Subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 paragraph 3 of the Treaty on the European Union.

Access by Member States to country-by-country reporting can therefore only be achieved effectively through action at Union level. The objective of ensuring that all Member States receive country-by-country reporting cannot be sufficiently achieved through non-coordinated action taken by each Member State individually. Moreover, the exchange of information that potentially affects the tax bases of more than one Member State requires a common and compulsory approach. It should be taken into account that as MNE Groups normally operate in different Member States, the cross-border element is inherent in the proposed action.

•Proportionality

The specific problem identified as the object of a policy response is the lack of transparency on corporate structures with cross-border relevance and important level of activity, which has negative effects, notably on the proper functioning of the Internal Market. The policy response is limited to addressing MNE Groups operating in several States, either within the European Union or with non-EU jurisdictions. Thus, the proposal represents the most proportionate answer to the identified problem. It is also based on the automatic exchange of basic information allowing each Member State where the company operates to receive information. The proposed amendments consequently do not go beyond what is necessary to address the issues at stake and, in that way, to achieve the Treaty's objectives of a proper and effective functioning of the Internal Market.

This proposal complies with the principles of proportionality as set out in Article 5, paragraph 4 of the Treaty on the European Union.

•Choice of the instrument

The present proposal will expand further the scope of Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) in the EU. An EU initiative is needed both from an internal market perspective and in terms of efficiency and effectiveness:

–    An EU initiative ensures a coherent, consistent and comprehensive EU-wide approach to AEOI in the internal market. It would mean a single reporting approach across Member States which would lead to costs savings both for tax administrations and companies.

–    An EU legal instrument would also ensure certainty for tax administrations and companies within the EU.

–    An EU legal instrument would contribute to the development of the international standard of AEOI on country-by-country reports as discussed and agreed at the OECD.

–    An EU legal instrument based on the DAC would involve the use of the IT arrangements already in place or under development to facilitate information reporting under the DAC. Under this Directive, EU Member States share information in specific formats using a specific communication channel. These formats could easily be extended so as to be usable also for the additional items now proposed for inclusion. As Member States have invested considerable time and money in developing these formats, there would be economies of scale if Member States also exchanged information on the new items using these formats.

3.RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

•Stakeholder consultations

Consultations in the context of the Action Plan on tax fraud and tax evasion of the Recommendations (COM (2012) 722) and other fora    

In its resolution on 21 May 2013, 6 the European Parliament welcomed the Commission's Action Plan and its Recommendations, urged Member States to follow up their commitments and embrace the Action Plan, and emphasised that the EU should take a leading role in global discussions on the fight against tax fraud, tax avoidance and tax havens, in particular in relation to promoting the exchange of information.

The European Economic and Social Committee adopted an opinion on 17 April 2013. 7 The Committee endorsed the Commission's Action Plan and supported its efforts to find practical solutions aimed at reducing tax fraud and tax evasion.

Over recent years, Member States have worked in the Code of Conduct Group to improve the exchange of information regarding cross-border rulings and in the area of transfer pricing. Conclusions of this Code of Conduct Group have been communicated to the Council on a regular basis in the form of reports. 8  

Most Member States are members of the OECD and have participated in lengthy and detailed discussions on the anti-BEPS Actions, including on the elaboration of technicalities, between 2013 and 2015. The OECD organised extensive public consultations with stakeholders on each of the anti-BEPS Actions. Furthermore, the Commission has debated internally and with OECD experts several BEPS topics, in particular where the Commission has had doubts about the compatibility of certain ideas and/or proposed solutions with EU law.

In the second half of 2014, the Italian Presidency of the Council launched the idea of an 'EU - BEPS Roadmap' and the Presidency encouraged consistency with parallel OECD initiatives, while respecting EU law. This approach was endorsed by the High Level Working Party on Taxation and pursued by the subsequent Presidencies. Discussions on the EU - BEPS Roadmap continued into 2015. The aim was to contribute to the OECD debate and pave the way towards a smooth implementation of the future OECD Recommendations, whilst taking account of EU specificities.

The Commission's public consultation on tax transparency provided stakeholders with the possibility to comment on different aspects of corporate transparency in particular on the basis of country-by-country reporting. The possible options presented were mainly focused on public reporting by enterprises but included the exchange of information between tax administrations as required by BEPS Action 13. The Commission received in total 422 responses, of which most provided useful feedback regarding either public or non-public tax transparency measures. As regards BEPS Action 13, although business were not keen on tax authorities exchanging such information the majority of other respondents were in favour.

Member States

•Impact assessment

After its report on Addressing Base Erosion and Profit Shifting was published in early 2013 and the so-called Action Plan on BEPS was endorsed by the G20 Leaders in September 2013, the OECD embarked on a 2-year period of intensive work which led to the delivery of 13 reports, in November 2015. These reports lay down new or reinforced international standards as well as concrete measures to help countries tackle BEPS. In this framework, OECD/G20 members are committed to this comprehensive package and to its consistent implementation.

Many Member States, in their capacity as OECD Members, have, in some areas very urgently, embarked on the transposition of the output of the BEPS project into their national laws. Considering this, it is critical to make fast progress on agreeing rules for coordinating the implementation of the conclusions on BEPS in the EU. In the light of a great risk of fragmentation of the internal market, which would possibly result from uncoordinated unilateral actions by Member States, the Commission is putting forward, in this proposal, solutions for achieving coherence a certain degree of uniformity in implementing the BEPS Action 13 across the EU.

The Commission has made every effort to respond simultaneously to both the urgency to act, and the imperative need to avoid that the functioning of the internal market is compromised either by unilateral measures adopted by Member States (whether OECD members or not) acting on their own, or lack of action by other Member States altogether. The possibility of proposing soft law was also considered as an option but was discarded as inappropriate for securing a coordinated approach.

To provide up-to-date analysis and evidence, a separate Staff Working Document (SWD) accompanying the proposal provides an extensive overview of existing academic work and economic evidence in the field of base erosion and profit shifting. This is based on recent studies, amongst others, by the OECD, the European Commission and European Parliament. The SWD highlights the drivers and most common identified mechanisms which, according to the OECD reports, are linked to aggressive tax planning. It summarises the conclusions of an in-depth review of key mechanisms for aggressive tax planning on a basis of analysis per Member State, as carried out on behalf of the Commission in 2015. The SWD outlines how implementation of BEPS Action 13 through this proposal complements other initiatives to implement the OECD BEPS reports in the EU and contribute towards a common minimum level of protection against tax avoidance.

Against this background, no impact assessment was carried out for this proposal on the following grounds: there is a strong link to the OECD BEPS work in particular with BEPS Action 13; the SWD supplies a significant body of evidence and analysis; stakeholders were extensively involved in consultations on the technical elements of the proposed rules at a previous stage; and, in particular, there is an urgent current demand for coordinated action in the EU on this matter of international political priority.

4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS

The impact of the proposal on the EU Budget is presented in the financial statement accompanying the proposal, and will be met within available resources. The costs of the additional IT tools to facilitate the communication of information between Member States would be funded out of the FISCALIS 2020 programme provided for in Regulation (EU) 1286/2013 which provides financial support for activities to improve administrative cooperation between tax authorities in the EU.

2016/0010 (CNS)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE

amending Directive 2011/16/EU as regards mandatory automatic exchange of information in the field of taxation

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 113 and 115 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament 9 ,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee 10 ,

Acting in accordance with a special legislative procedure,

Whereas: 

(1)In recent years, the challenge posed by tax fraud and tax evasion has increased considerably and has become a major focus of concern within the Union and at global level. The automatic exchange of information constitutes an important tool in this regard and the Commission in its Communication of 6 December 2012 containing an Action plan to strengthen the fight against tax fraud and tax evasion highlighted the need to promote vigorously the automatic exchange of information as the future European and international standard for transparency and exchange of information in tax matters. The European Council in its conclusions of 22 May 2013 requested the extension of automatic information exchange at Union and global levels with a view to combatting tax fraud, tax evasion and aggressive tax planning.

(2)As Multi National Enterprise (MNE) Groups are active in different countries, they have the possibility of engaging in aggressive tax planning practices that are not available for domestic companies. When MNEs do so, purely domestic companies, normally small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may be particularly affected as their tax burden is higher than that of MNE Groups. On the other hand, all Member States may suffer revenue losses and there is the risk of competition to attract MNE Groups by offering them further tax benefits. There is therefore a problem for the proper functioning of the Internal Market.

(3)Union tax authorities need comprehensive and relevant information on MNE Groups regarding their structure, transfer pricing policy and internal transactions in and outside the EU. That information will enable the tax authorities to react to harmful tax practices through changes in the legislation or adequate risk assessments and tax audits, and to identify whether companies have engaged in practices that have the effect of artificially shifting substantial amounts of income into tax-advantaged environments.

(4)Increased transparency towards tax authorities could have the effect of giving MNE Groups an incentive to abandon certain practices and pay their fair share of tax in the country where profits are made. Enhancing transparency for MNE Groups is therefore an essential part of tackling base erosion and profit shifting.

(5)Resolution of the Council and of the representatives of the governments of the Member States on a code of conduct on transfer pricing documentation for associated enterprises in the European Union (EU TPD) already provides EU MNE Groups in the Union with a method to provide tax authorities with information on global business operations and transfer pricing policies (masterfile) and information on the concrete transactions of the local entity (local file). However, the EU TPD dos not provide at present any mechanism for the provision of a country-by-country report.

(6)In the country-by-country report, MNEs Groups should provide annually and for each tax jurisdiction in which they do business the amount of revenue, profit before income tax and income tax paid and accrued. MNE Groups should also report number of their employees, stated capital, retained earnings and tangible assets in each tax jurisdiction. Finally, MNE Groups should identify each entity within the group doing business in a particular tax jurisdiction and should provide an indication of the business activities each entity engages in.

(7)In order to enhance the efficient use of public resources and reduce the administrative burden for MNE Groups, the reporting obligation should only apply to MNE Groups with annual consolidated group revenue exceeding a certain amount. The Directive should ensure that the same information is collected and made available to tax administrations in a timely manner throughout the EU.

(8)To ensure the proper functioning of the Internal Market, the EU has to provide for fair competition between EU MNE Groups and non-EU MNE Groups for which one or several of their entities are located in the EU. Both of them should therefore be subject to the reporting obligation.

(9)Member States should lay down rules on penalties applicable to infringements of national provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive and should ensure that those penalties are effective, proportionate and dissuasive and that they are implemented

(10)To ensure the proper functioning of the internal Market, it is necessary to ensure that Member States adopt coordinated rules on transparency obligations of MNE Groups.

(11)As regards exchange of information between Member States, Council Directive 2011/16/EU of 15 February 2011 on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation and repealing Directive 77/799/EEC already provides for the mandatory automatic exchange of information in a number of fields. Its scope should be enlarged to provide for the mandatory automatic exchange of country-by-country reports between Member States.

(12)The mandatory automatic exchange of country-by-country reports between Member States should in each case include the communication of a defined set of basic information that would be accessible to those Member States in which, on the basis of the information in the country-by-country report, one or more entities of the MNE Group are either resident for tax purposes, or are subject to tax with respect to the business carried out through a permanent establishment of an MNE Group.

(13)In order to minimise costs and administrative burdens both for tax administrations and for MNE Groups, it is necessary to provide rules that are in line with the international developments and contribute positively to their implementation. On 19 July 2013 the Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) published an Action Plan on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS Action Plan) which is a major initiative for modifying existing international tax rules. On 5 October 2015 the OECD presented its final reports that were endorsed by the G20 Finance Ministers. During the meeting of 15 and 16 November 2015, the OECD package was also endorsed by the G20 leaders.

(14)The work on Action 13 of the BEPS Action Plan resulted in a set of standards for providing information for MNE Groups, including the masterfile, the local file and the country-by-country report. It is therefore appropriate to take into account the OECD standards when establishing the rules on the country-by-country report.

(15)Union action in the area of country-by-country reporting should continue to take particular account of future developments at OECD level. In implementing this Directive, Member States should use the 2015 Final Report on Action 13 of the OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Project, developed by the OECD, as a source of illustration or interpretation of this Directive and in order to ensure consistency in application across Member States.

(16)It is necessary to specify linguistic requirements for the exchange of information between Member States on country-by-country report. It is also necessary to adopt the practical arrangements necessary for the upgrading of CCN network. In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of Articles 20(6) and 21(7), implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

(17)In order to enhance the efficient use of resources, facilitate the exchange of information and avoid the need for each Member State to make similar adjustments to their systems the exchange of information should be made through the common communication network (CCN) developed by the Union. The practical arrangements necessary for the upgrading of the system should be adopted by the Commission in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 26(2) of Directive 2011/16/EU.

(18)The scope of mandatory exchange of information should therefore be extended to include the automatic exchange of information of the country-by-country report.

(19)This Directive respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised in particular by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. 

(20)Since the objective of this Directive, namely the efficient administrative cooperation between Member States under conditions compatible with the proper functioning of the internal market, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the uniformity and effectiveness required, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective.

(21) Directive 2011/16/EU should therefore be amended accordingly.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

Directive 2011/16/EU is amended as follows:

(1)    In Article 3 is amended as follows:

(a)point 9 is replaced by the following

9. 'automatic exchange' means,

(a) for the purposes of Article 8(1) and Articles 8a and 8aa, the systematic communication of predefined information to another Member State, without prior request, at pre-established regular intervals; for the purposes of Article 8(1), reference to available information relates to information in the tax files of the Member State communicating the information, which is retrievable in accordance with the procedures for gathering and processing information in that Member State.

(b) for the purposes of Article 8(3a), the systematic communication of predefined information on residents in other Member States to the relevant Member State of residence, without prior request, at pre-established regular intervals.

(c) for the purposes of provisions of this Directive other than Article 8(1) and 8(3a), Article 8a and Article 8aa, the systematic communication of predefined information provided in points (a) and (b) of this point.”

(b)the following second subparagraph is added:

In the context of Articles 8(3a), 8(7a), 21(2) and 25(2) and (3) any capitalised term shall have the meaning that it has under the corresponding definitions set out in Annex I. In the context of Article 8aa and Annex III, any capitalised term shall have the meaning that it has under the corresponding definitions set out in Annex III.”

(2)    in Section II of Chapter II, the following Article 8aa is inserted:

"Article 8aa

Scope and conditions of mandatory automatic exchange of information on country-by-country report

1.    Each Member State shall take the necessary measures to require the Ultimate Parent Entity of an MNE Group that is resident for tax purposes in its territory, or any other Reporting Entity in accordance with Section II of Annex III, to file a country-by-country report with respect to its Reporting Fiscal Year within 12 months after the last day of the Reporting Fiscal Year of the MNE Group in accordance with Section II of Annex III.

2.    The competent authority of a Member State where the Country-by-Country Report was received pursuant to paragraph 1 shall, by means of automatic exchange, communicate the report to any other Member State in which, on the basis of the information in the country-by-country report, one or more Constituent Entities of the MNE Group of the Reporting Entity are either resident for tax purposes, or are subject to tax with respect to the business carried out through a permanent establishment within the deadline laid down in paragraph 4.

3.    The country-by-country report shall contain the following information with respect to the MNE Group:

   (a)    aggregate information relating to the amount of revenue, profit (loss) before income tax, income tax paid, income tax accrued, stated capital, accumulated earnings, number of employees, and tangible assets other than cash or cash equivalents with regard to each jurisdiction in which the MNE Group operates;

(b)    an identification of each Constituent Entity of the MNE Group setting out the jurisdiction of tax residence of such Constituent Entity, and where different from such jurisdiction of tax residence, the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Constituent Entity is organised, and the nature of the main business activity or activities of such Constituent Entity.

4.    The communication shall take place within 15 months after the last day of the fiscal year of the MNE Group to which the country-by-country report relates. The first country-by-country report shall be communicated for the fiscal year of the MNE Group commencing on or after 1 January 2016.

5.    Article 17(4) shall not apply to information exchanged in accordance with paragraphs 1 to 4 of this Article.”;

(3)    In Article 20, the following paragraph 6 is added:

   6. The automatic exchange of information on country-by-country report pursuant to Article 8aa shall be carried out using the standard form provided in Tables 1, 2 and 3 of Section III of Annex III. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, adopt the linguistic arrangements for that exchange by 31 December 2016. They shall not preclude Member States from communicating information referred to in Article 8aa in any of the official and working language of the Union. However, those linguistic arrangements may provide that the key elements of such information are sent also in another official language of the Union. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 26(2).”;

(4)    In Article 21, the following paragraph 6 is added:

   “6. Information communicated pursuant to Article 8aa (2) shall be provided by electronic means using the CCN network. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, adopt the necessary practical arrangements for the upgrading of the CCN network. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 26(2).”;

(5)    In Article 23, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

   “3. Member States shall communicate to the Commission a yearly assessment of the effectiveness of the automatic exchange of information referred to in Article 8, Article 8a and 8aa as well as the practical results achieved. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, adopt the form and the conditions of communication of that yearly assessment. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 26(2).”;

(6)    the following Article 25a is inserted:

"Article 25a

Penalties

   Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of national provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive and concerning Article 8aa, and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Member States shall by 31 December 2016 notify the Commission of those rules and of those measures and shall notify it without delay of any subsequent amendment affecting them.”;

(7)    Article 26 is replaced by the following:

“Article 26

Committee procedure

1.    The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee on administrative cooperation for taxation. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council(*).

2.    Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.

(*)     Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by the Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13.)";    

(8)    Annex III, the text of which is set out in the Annex I to this Directive, is added.

Article 2

1.Member States shall adopt and publish, by 31 December 2016 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.

They shall apply those provisions from 1 January 2017.

When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.

2.Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

Article 3

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 4

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels,

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

1.FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

1.1.Title of the proposal/initiative

1.2.Policy area(s) concerned in the ABM/ABB structure

1.3.Nature of the proposal/initiative

1.4.Objective(s)

1.5.Grounds for the proposal/initiative

1.6.Duration and financial impact

1.7.Management mode(s) planned

2.MANAGEMENT MEASURES

2.1.Monitoring and reporting rules

2.2.Management and control system

2.3.Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities

3.ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

3.1.Heading(s) of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s) affected

3.2.Estimated impact on expenditure 

3.2.1.Summary of estimated impact on expenditure

3.2.2.Estimated impact on operational appropriations

3.2.3.Estimated impact on appropriations of an administrative nature

3.2.4.Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework

3.2.5.Third-party contributions

3.3.Estimated impact on revenue

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

1.FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

1.1.Title of the proposal/initiative

1.2.Policy area(s) concerned in the ABM/ABB structure 11  

1.3.Nature of the proposal/initiative

☒ The proposal/initiative relates to a new action 

◻ The proposal/initiative relates to a new action following a pilot project/preparatory action 12  

◻ The proposal/initiative relates to the extension of an existing action 

◻ The proposal/initiative relates to an action redirected towards a new action 

1.4.Objective(s)

1.4.1.The Commission's multiannual strategic objective(s) targeted by the proposal/initiative

1.4.2.Specific objective(s) and ABM/ABB activity(ies) concerned

1.4.3.Expected result(s) and impact

Specify the effects which the proposal/initiative should have on the beneficiaries/groups targeted.

1.4.4.Indicators of results and impact

Specify the indicators for monitoring implementation of the proposal/initiative.

1.5.Grounds for the proposal/initiative

1.5.1.Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term

1.5.2.Added value of EU involvement

An EU legal instrument would also ensure certainty for tax administrations and companies within the EU, contribute to the development of the international standard of AEOI on country-by-country reports as discussed and agreed at the OECD and would involve the use of the IT arrangements already in place or under development to facilitate information reporting under the DAC. Under this Directive, EU Member States share information in specific formats using a specific communication channel. These formats could easily be extended so as to be usable also for the additional items now proposed for inclusion. As Member States have invested considerable time and money in developing these formats, there would be economies of scale if Member States also exchanged information on the new items using these formats.

1.5.3.Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past

1.5.4.Compatibility and possible synergy with other appropriate instruments

1.6.Duration and financial impact

◻ Proposal/initiative of limited duration

–◻    Proposal/initiative in effect from [DD/MM]YYYY to [DD/MM]YYYY

–◻    Financial impact from YYYY to YYYY

☒ Proposal/initiative of unlimited duration

–Implementation with a start-up period from YYYY to YYYY,

–The proposal will take effect from 1 January 2017

–followed by full-scale operation.

1.7.Management mode(s) planned 13  

☒ Direct management by the Commission

–☒ by its departments, including by its staff in the Union delegations; the Fiscalis 2020 programme is managed in direct mode.

–◻    by the executive agencies

◻ Shared management with the Member States

◻ Indirect management by entrusting budget implementation tasks to:

–◻ third countries or the bodies they have designated;

–◻ international organisations and their agencies (to be specified);

–◻the EIB and the European Investment Fund;

–◻ bodies referred to in Articles 208 and 209 of the Financial Regulation;

–◻ public law bodies;

–◻ bodies governed by private law with a public service mission to the extent that they provide adequate financial guarantees;

–◻ bodies governed by the private law of a Member State that are entrusted with the implementation of a public-private partnership and that provide adequate financial guarantees;

–◻ persons entrusted with the implementation of specific actions in the CFSP pursuant to Title V of the TEU, and identified in the relevant basic act.

–If more than one management mode is indicated, please provide details in the ‘Comments’ section.

Comments

2.MANAGEMENT MEASURES

2.1.Monitoring and reporting rules

Specify frequency and conditions.

2.2.Management and control system

2.2.1.Risk(s) identified

2.2.2.Information concerning the internal control system set up

2.2.3.Estimate of the costs and benefits of the controls and assessment of the expected level of risk of error

2.3.Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities

Specify existing or envisaged prevention and protection measures.

3.ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

3.1.Heading(s) of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s) affected

Existing budget lines

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines.

New budget lines requested

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines.

3.2.Estimated impact on expenditure

[This section should be filled in using the spreadsheet on budget data of an administrative nature (second document in annex to this financial statement) and uploaded to CISNET for interservice consultation purposes.]

3.2.1.Summary of estimated impact on expenditure

EUR million (to three decimal places)

If more than one heading is affected by the proposal / initiative:

EUR million (to three decimal places)

EUR million (to three decimal places)

3.2.2.Estimated impact on operational appropriations

–◻    The proposal/initiative does not require the use of operational appropriations

–☒    The proposal/initiative requires the use of operational appropriations, as explained below:

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places)

NOTE

The anticipated positive output of this proposal is that i) Member States will receive tax-related information on entities which will put them in an informed position to target tax audits; ii) the general public may view the measure as an active step to ensure that all taxpayers pay their fair share of taxes; iii) companies might limit their aggressive tax planning structures. While Member States will have an increased administrative burden directly related to providing information on country-by-country reports, these costs are expected to be limited given the fact that the reports are prepared by the entities..

3.2.3.Estimated impact on appropriations of an administrative nature

3.2.3.1.Summary

–◻    The proposal/initiative does not require the use of appropriations of an administrative nature

–☒    The proposal/initiative requires the use of appropriations of an administrative nature, as explained below:

EUR million (to three decimal places)

The appropriations required for human resources and other expenditure of an administrative nature will be met by appropriations from the DG that are already assigned to management of the action and/or have been redeployed within the DG, together if necessary with any additional allocation which may be granted to the managing DG under the annual allocation procedure and in the light of budgetary constraints.

3.2.3.2.Estimated requirements of human resources

–◻    The proposal/initiative does not require the use of human resources.

–☒    The proposal/initiative requires the use of human resources, as explained below:

Estimate to be expressed in full time equivalent units

XX is the policy area or budget title concerned.

The human resources required will be met by staff from the DG who are already assigned to management of the action and/or have been redeployed within the DG, together if necessary with any additional allocation which may be granted to the managing DG under the annual allocation procedure and in the light of budgetary constraints.

Description of tasks to be carried out:

3.2.4.Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework

–☒    The proposal/initiative is compatible the current multiannual financial framework.

–◻    The proposal/initiative will entail reprogramming of the relevant heading in the multiannual financial framework.

–◻    The proposal/initiative requires application of the flexibility instrument or revision of the multiannual financial framework.

3.2.5.Third-party contributions

–The proposal/initiative does not provide for co-financing by third parties.

–The proposal/initiative provides for the co-financing estimated below:

Appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places)

3.3.Estimated impact on revenue

–☒    The proposal/initiative has no financial impact on revenue.

–◻    The proposal/initiative has the following financial impact:

–◻    on own resources

–◻    on miscellaneous revenue

EUR million (to three decimal places)

For miscellaneous ‘assigned’ revenue, specify the budget expenditure line(s) affected.

Specify the method for calculating the impact on revenue.

(1) OJ L 336, 27.12.1977, p. 15

(2) Council Directive 2011/16/EU of 15 February 2011 on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation and repealing Directive 77/799/EEC (OJ L 64, 11.3.2011, p. 1).

(3) http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/work-programme/index_en.htm  

(4) OJ L 359 of 16 December 2014.

(5) OJ L 332 of 18 December 2015.

(6)

   European Parliament Resolution of 21 May 2013 on fight against tax fraud, tax evasion and tax havens (Kleva Report) – 2013/2060 (INI).

(7)

   European Economic and Social Committee Opinion of 17 April 2013 on the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council – An action plan to strengthen the fight against tax fraud and tax evasion COM(2012) 722 final (Dandea Report) – CESE 101/2013.

(8) Public Reports by the Code of Conduct Group (Business Taxation) are accessible here .

(9) OJ C , , p. .

(10) OJ C , , p. .

(11) ABM: activity-based management; ABB: activity-based budgeting.

(12) As referred to in Article 54(2)(a) or (b) of the Financial Regulation.

(13) Details of management modes and references to the Financial Regulation may be found on the BudgWeb site: http://www.cc.cec/budg/man/budgmanag/budgmanag_en.html

(14) Diff. = Differentiated appropriations / Non-diff. = Non-differentiated appropriations.

(15) EFTA: European Free Trade Association.

(16) Candidate countries and, where applicable, potential candidate countries from the Western Balkans.

(17) 2016 is the year in which implementation of the proposal/initiative starts.

(18) Technical and/or administrative assistance and expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions (former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research.

(19) 2016 is the year in which implementation of the proposal/initiative starts.

(20) Outputs are products and services to be supplied (e.g.: number of student exchanges financed, number of km of roads built, etc.).

(21) As described in point 1.4.2. ‘Specific objective(s)…’

(22) Year N is the year in which implementation of the proposal/initiative starts.

(23) Technical and/or administrative assistance and expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions (former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research.

(24) AC= Contract Staff; AL = Local Staff; END= Seconded National Expert; INT = agency staff; JED= Junior Experts in Delegations.

(25) Sub-ceiling for external staff covered by operational appropriations (former ‘BA’ lines).

(26) As regards traditional own resources (customs duties, sugar levies), the amounts indicated must be net amounts, i.e. gross amounts after deduction of 25 % for collection costs.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 28.1.2016

COM(2016) 25 final

ANNEX

to the

Proposal for a Council Directive

amending Directive 2011/16/EU as regards mandatory automatic exchange of information in the field of taxation

ANNEX

to the

Proposal for a Council Directive

amending Directive 2011/16/EU as regards mandatory automatic exchange of information in the field of taxation

ANNEX III

Filing rules for Groups of multinational enterprises

SECTION I

DEFINED TERMS

1. "Group" means a collection of enterprises related through ownership or control such that it is either required to prepare Consolidated Financial Statements for financial reporting purposes under applicable accounting principles or would be so required if equity interests in any of the enterprises were traded on a public securities exchange.

2. “Enterprise” means any form of conducting business by any person referred to in points (b), (c) and (d) of Article 3 point 11.

3."MNE Group" means any Group that includes two or more enterprises the tax residence for which is in different jurisdictions, or includes an enterprise that is resident for tax purposes in one jurisdiction and is subject to tax with respect to the business carried out through a permanent establishment in another jurisdiction, and is not an Excluded MNE Group.

4."Excluded MNE Group" means, with respect to any Fiscal Year of the Group, a Group having total consolidated group revenue of less than EUR 750 000 000 or an amount in local currency approximately equivalent to EUR 750 000 000 as of January 2015 during the Fiscal Year immediately preceding the Reporting Fiscal Year as reflected in its Consolidated Financial Statements for such preceding Fiscal Year.

5. "Constituent Entity" means any of the following:

(a) any separate business unit of an MNE Group that is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements of the MNE Group for financial reporting purposes, or would be so included if equity interests in such business unit of an MNE Group were traded on a public securities exchange;

(b) any such business unit that is excluded from the MNE Group's Consolidated Financial Statements solely on size or materiality grounds;

(c) any permanent establishment of any separate business unit of the MNE Group included in (a) or (b) provided the business unit prepares a separate financial statement for such permanent establishment for financial reporting, regulatory, tax reporting, or internal management control purposes.

6. "Reporting Entity" means the Constituent Entity that is required to file a country-by-country report conforming to the requirements in Article 8aa (3) in its jurisdiction of tax residence on behalf of the MNE Group. The Reporting Entity may be the Ultimate Parent Entity, the Surrogate Parent Entity, or any entity described in point 1 of Section II.

7. "Ultimate Parent Entity" means a Constituent Entity of an MNE Group that meets the following criteria:

(a) it owns directly or indirectly a sufficient interest in one or more other Constituent Entities of such MNE Group such that it is required to prepare Consolidated Financial Statements under accounting principles generally applied in its jurisdiction of tax residence, or would be so required if its equity interests were traded on a public securities exchange in its jurisdiction of tax residence;

(b) there is no other Constituent Entity of such MNE Group that owns directly or indirectly an interest described in point (a) in the first mentioned Constituent Entity.

8. "Surrogate Parent Entity" means one Constituent Entity of the MNE Group that has been appointed by such MNE Group, as a sole substitute for the Ultimate Parent Entity, to file the country-by-country report in that Constituent Entity's jurisdiction of tax residence, on behalf of such MNE Group, when one or more of the conditions set out in point b) of point 1 of Section II apply.

9. "Fiscal Year" means an annual accounting period with respect to which the Ultimate Parent Entity of the MNE Group prepares its financial statements.

10. "Reporting Fiscal Year" means that Fiscal Year the financial and operational results of which are reflected in the country-by-country report referred to in Article 8aa(3).

11. "Qualifying Competent Authority Agreement" means an agreement that is between authorised representatives of an EU Member State and a non-Union jurisdictions that are parties to an International Agreement and that requires the automatic exchange of country-by- country reports between the party jurisdictions.

12. "International Agreement" means the Multilateral Convention for Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, any bilateral or multilateral Tax Convention, or any Tax Information Exchange Agreement to which the Member State is a party, and that by its terms provides legal authority for the exchange of tax information between jurisdictions, including automatic exchange of such information.

13. "Consolidated Financial Statements" means the financial statements of an MNE Group in which the assets, liabilities, income, expenses and cash flows of the Ultimate Parent Entity and the Constituent Entities are presented as those of a single economic entity.

14.    The term "Systemic Failure" only applies with respect to a jurisdictions outside the Union and means that a jurisdiction has a Qualifying Competent Authority Agreement in effect with a Member State, but has suspended automatic exchange (for reasons other than those that are in accordance with the terms of that Agreement) or otherwise persistently failed to automatically provide to a Member State country-by-country reports in its possession of MNE Groups that have Constituent Entities in that Member State.

SECTION II

GENERAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

1. A Constituent Entity resident in a Member State which is not the Ultimate Parent Entity of an MNE Group shall file a country-by-country report with respect to the Reporting Fiscal Year of an MNE Group of which it is a Constituent Entity, if the following criteria are satisfied:

(a)the entity is resident for tax purposes in a Member State;

(b)one of the following conditions applies:

i.    the Ultimate Parent Entity of the MNE Group is not obligated to file a country-by-country report in its jurisdiction of tax residence;

ii.    the jurisdiction in which the Ultimate Parent Entity is resident for tax purposes has a current International Agreement to which the Member State is a party but does not have a Qualifying Competent Authority Agreement in effect to which the Member State is a party by the time specified in Article 8aa (1) for filing the country-by-country report for the Reporting Fiscal Year;

iii.    there has been a Systemic Failure of the jurisdiction of tax residence of the Ultimate Parent Entity that has been notified by the Member State to the Constituent Entity resident for tax purposes in the Member State.

Where there are more than one Constituent Entities of the same MNE Group that are resident for tax purposes in the Union and one or more of the conditions set out in point (b) apply, the MNE Group may designate one of such Constituent Entities to file the country-by-country report conforming to the requirements of Article 8aa(1) with respect to any Reporting Fiscal Year within the deadline specified in Article 8aa(1) and to notify the Member State that the filing is intended to satisfy the filing requirement of all the Constituent Entities of such MNE Group that are resident for tax purposes in the Union. That Member State shall, pursuant to Article 8aa(2), communicate the country-by-country report received to any other Member State in which, on the basis of the information in the country-by-country Report, one or more Constituent Entities of the MNE Group of the Reporting Entity are either resident for tax purposes, or are subject to tax with respect to the business carried out through a permanent establishment.

2. By derogation from point 1, when one or more of the conditions set out in point b of point 1 apply, an entity described in point 1 shall not be required to file a country-by-country report with respect to any Reporting Fiscal Year if the MNE Group of which it is a Constituent Entity has made available a country-by-country report in accordance with Article 8aa(3) with respect to such Fiscal Year through a Surrogate Parent Entity that files that country-by-country report with the tax authority of its jurisdiction of tax residence on or before the date specified in Article 8aa(1) and that, in case the Surrogate Parent Entity is tax resident in a jurisdiction outside the Union, satisfies the following conditions:

a)    the jurisdiction of tax residence of the Surrogate Parent Entity requires filing of country-by-country reports conforming to the requirements of Article 8aa(3);

b)    the jurisdiction of tax residence of the Surrogate Parent Entity has a Qualifying Competent Authority Agreement in effect to which the Member State is a party by the time specified in Article 8aa(1) for filing the country-by-country report for the Reporting Fiscal Year;

c)    the jurisdiction of tax residence of the Surrogate Parent Entity has not notified the Member State of a Systemic Failure;

d)    the jurisdiction of tax residence of the Surrogate Parent Entity has been notified in accordance with point 3 by the Constituent Entity resident for tax purposes in its jurisdiction that it is the Surrogate Parent Entity;

e)    a notification has been provided to the Member State in accordance with point 4.

3. Member States shall request that any Constituent Entity of an MNE Group that is resident for tax purposes in that Member State notifies the Member State whether it is the Ultimate Parent Entity or the Surrogate Parent Entity or the Constituent entity referred to in point 1, no later than the last day of the Reporting Fiscal Year of such MNE Group.

4. Member States shall request that where a Constituent Entity of an MNE Group, that is resident for tax purposes in that Member State, is not the Ultimate Parent Entity nor the Surrogate Parent Entity nor the Constituent entity referred to in point 1, it shall notify the Member State of the identity and tax residence of the Reporting Entity, no later than the last day of the Reporting Fiscal Year of such MNE Group.

5. The country-by-country report shall specify the currency of the amounts referred to in that report.

SECTION III

Country-by-country Report

Α. Template for the country-by-country report

Table 1. Overview of allocation of income, taxes and business activities by tax jurisdiction

Table 2 List of all the Constituent Entities of the MNE group included in each aggregation per tax jurisdiction

Table 3: Additional Information

B. General instructions for filling in the country-by-country report

1. Purpose

The template shall be used for reporting a multinational enterprise's (MNE) group allocation of income, taxes and business activities on a tax jurisdiction-by-tax jurisdiction basis.

2. Treatment of Branches and Permanent Establishments

The permanent establishment data shall be reported by reference to the tax jurisdiction in which it is situated and not by reference to the tax jurisdiction of residence of the business unit of which the permanent establishment is a part. Residence tax jurisdiction reporting for the business unit of which the permanent establishment is a part shall exclude financial data related to the permanent establishment.

3. Period covered by the annual template

The template shall cover the fiscal year of the Reporting MNE. For Constituent Entities, at the discretion of the Reporting MNE, the template shall reflect on a consistent basis either of the following information:

(a) information for the fiscal year of the relevant Constituent Entities ending on the same date as the fiscal year of the Reporting MNE, or ending within the 12 month period preceding such date;

(b) information for all the relevant Constituent Entities reported for the fiscal year of the Reporting MNE.

4. Source of data

The Reporting MNE shall consistently use the same sources of data from year to year in completing the template. The Reporting MNE may choose to use data from its consolidation reporting packages, from separate entity statutory financial statements, regulatory financial statements, or internal management accounts. It is not necessary to reconcile the revenue, profit and tax reporting in the template to the consolidated financial statements. If statutory financial statements are used as the basis for reporting, all amounts shall be translated to the stated functional currency of the Reporting MNE at the average exchange rate for the year stated in the Additional Information section of the template. Adjustments need not be made, however, for differences in accounting principles applied from tax jurisdiction to tax jurisdiction.

The Reporting MNE shall provide a brief description of the sources of data used in preparing the template in the Additional Information section of the template. If a change is made in the source of data used from year to year, the Reporting MNE shall explain the reasons for the change and its consequences in the Additional Information section of the template.

C. Specific instructions for filling in the Country-by-Country Report -

1. Overview of allocation of income, taxes and business activities by tax jurisdiction (Table 1)

1.1. Tax Jurisdiction

In the first column of the template, the Reporting MNE shall list all of the tax jurisdictions in which Constituent Entities of the MNE group are resident for tax purposes. A tax jurisdiction is defined as a State as well as a non-State jurisdiction which has fiscal autonomy. A separate line shall be included for all Constituent Entities in the MNE group deemed by the Reporting MNE not to be resident in any tax jurisdiction for tax purposes. Where a Constituent Entity is resident in more than one tax jurisdiction, the applicable tax treaty tie breaker shall be applied to determine the tax jurisdiction of residence. Where no applicable tax treaty exists, the Constituent Entity shall be reported in the tax jurisdiction of the Constituent Entity's place of effective management. The place of effective management shall be determined with internationally agreed standards.

1.2. Revenues

In the three columns of the template under the heading 'Revenues', the Reporting MNE shall report the following information:

(a) the sum of revenues of all the Constituent Entities of the MNE group in the relevant tax jurisdiction generated from transactions with associated enterprises;

(b) the sum of revenues of all the Constituent Entities of the MNE group in the relevant tax jurisdiction generated from transactions with independent parties;

(c) the total of the sums referred to in points (a) and (b).

Revenues shall include revenues from sales of inventory and properties, services, royalties, interest, premiums and any other amounts. Revenues shall exclude payments received from other Constituent Entities that are treated as dividends in the payer's tax jurisdiction.

1.3. Profit (Loss) before Income Tax

In the fifth column of the template, the Reporting MNE shall report the sum of the profit (loss) before income tax for all the Constituent Entities resident for tax purposes in the relevant tax jurisdiction. The profit (loss) before income tax shall include all extraordinary income and expense items.

1.4. Income Tax Paid (on Cash Basis)

In the sixth column of the template, the Reporting MNE shall report the total amount of income tax actually paid during the relevant fiscal year by all the Constituent Entities resident for tax purposes in the relevant tax jurisdiction. Taxes paid shall include cash taxes paid by the Constituent Entity to the residence tax jurisdiction and to all other tax jurisdictions. Taxes paid shall include withholding taxes paid by other entities (associated enterprises and independent enterprises) with respect to payments to the Constituent Entity. Thus, if company A resident in tax jurisdiction A earns interest in tax jurisdiction B, the tax withheld in tax jurisdiction B shall be reported by company A.

1.5. Income Tax Accrued (Current Year)

In the seventh column of the template, the Reporting MNE shall report the sum of the accrued current tax expense recorded on taxable profits or losses of the year of reporting of all the Constituent Entities resident for tax purposes in the relevant tax jurisdiction. The current tax expense shall reflect only operations in the current year and shall not include deferred taxes or provisions for uncertain tax liabilities.

1.6. Stated Capital

In the eighth column of the template, the Reporting MNE shall report the sum of the stated capital of all the Constituent Entities resident for tax purposes in the relevant tax jurisdiction. With regard to permanent establishments, the stated capital shall be reported by the legal entity of which it is a permanent establishment unless there is a defined capital requirement in the permanent establishment tax jurisdiction for regulatory purposes.

1.7. Accumulated Earnings

In the ninth column of the template, the Reporting MNE shall report the sum of the total accumulated earnings of all the Constituent Entities resident for tax purposes in the relevant tax jurisdiction as of the end of the year. With regard to permanent establishments, accumulated earnings shall be reported by the legal entity of which it is a permanent establishment.

1.8. Number of Employees

In the tenth column of the template, the Reporting MNE shall report the total number of employees on a full-time equivalent (FTE) basis of all the Constituent Entities resident for tax purposes in the relevant tax jurisdiction. The number of employees may be reported as of the year-end, on the basis of average employment levels for the year, or on any other basis consistently applied across tax jurisdictions and from year to year. For this purpose, independent contractors participating in the ordinary operating activities of the Constituent Entity may be reported as employees. Reasonable rounding or approximation of the number of employees is permissible, providing that such rounding or approximation does not materially distort the relative distribution of employees across the various tax jurisdictions. Consistent approaches shall be applied from year to year and across entities.

1.9. Tangible Assets other than Cash and Cash Equivalents

In the eleventh column of the template, the Reporting MNE shall report the sum of the net book values of tangible assets of all the Constituent Entities resident for tax purposes in the relevant tax jurisdiction. With regard to permanent establishments, assets shall be reported by reference to the tax jurisdiction in which the permanent establishment is situated. Tangible assets for this purpose do not include cash or cash equivalents, intangibles, or financial assets.

2. List of all the Constituent Entities of the MNE group included in each aggregation per tax jurisdiction (Table 2)

2.1. Constituent Entities Resident in the Tax Jurisdiction

The Reporting MNE shall list, on a tax jurisdiction-by-tax jurisdiction basis and by legal entity name, all the Constituent Entities of the MNE group which are resident for tax purposes in the relevant tax jurisdiction. As stated in point 2 of the General instructions with regard to permanent establishments, however, the permanent establishment shall be listed by reference to the tax jurisdiction in which it is situated. The legal entity of which it is a permanent establishment shall be noted.

2.2. Tax Jurisdiction of Organisation or Incorporation if Different from Tax Jurisdiction of Residence

The Reporting MNE shall report the name of the tax jurisdiction under whose laws the Constituent Entity of the MNE is organised or incorporated if it is different from the tax jurisdiction of residence.

2.3. Main Business Activity(ies)

The Reporting MNE shall determine the nature of the main business activity(ies) carried out by the Constituent Entity in the relevant tax jurisdiction, by ticking one or more of the appropriate boxes.”