Updated joint statement regarding a compromise on a transitional approach to existing unilateral measures during the interim period before Pillar 1 is in effect
Published 15 February 2024
Background
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On October 21, 2021, the United States, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom (the 鈥淧articipants鈥) reached a political compromise set forth in the Joint Statement from the United States, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom Regarding a Compromise on a Transitional Approach to Existing Unilateral Measures During the Interim Period Before Pillar 1 is in Effect (the October 21 Joint Statement).聽 The Participants committed to remain in close contact to ensure that there is a common understanding of the respective commitments under the October 21 Joint Statement and endeavor to resolve any further differences of views through constructive dialogue.
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On December 18, 2023, the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (the 鈥淚nclusive Framework鈥) issued a statement calling for a finalization of the text of the Pillar 1 multilateral convention by the end of March 2024 with a view to holding a signing ceremony by the end of June 2024.
Extension of the Unilateral Measures Compromise
In light of the revised timeline for adoption and signature of the Pillar 1 MLC, the participants have decided to extend the political compromise set forth in the October 21 Joint Statement until June 30, 2024. This updated joint statement (hereinafter 鈥淯pdated October 21 Joint Statement鈥) incorporates the provisions of the October 21 Joint Statement, subject to the elements decided and described below in this Section. As with the October 21 Joint Statement, this Updated October 21 Joint Statement reflects the political understandings of the Participants, which intend to implement it accordingly.
For purposes of this Updated October 21 Joint Statement:
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The 鈥淚nterim Period鈥 is the period beginning on January 1, 2022, and ending on June 30, 2024 [footnote 1].
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The content of the Annex to the October 21 Joint Statement is replaced with the following text:
Annex
This annex to the Updated October 21 Joint Statement provides an example of the application of the Updated October 21 Joint Statement.聽
Assumed facts: During the Interim Period, XYZ, a corporate taxpayer, pays 鈧130x in taxes to Country A, one of the countries identified in subsection C.1, with respect to its digital services tax, a Unilateral Measure.聽 For Country A, the Interim Period ends on June 30, 2024.聽 On July 1, 2024, Country A implements Pillar 1 Amount A (effective for the calendar year beginning in 2025 and all subsequent years) and repeals its digital services tax on January 1, 2025. XYZ is a member of a MNE group that is subject to Pillar聽1 Amount A tax liability in calendar TY 2025.聽 XYZ鈥檚 corporate income tax liability in Country A with respect to Pillar 1 Amount A is 鈧20x in calendar TY 2025 and 鈧35x in calendar TY 2026.聽 XYZ鈥檚 Interim Pillar聽1 Amount is 鈧50x[footnote 2](i.e., the product of the 鈧20x Pillar 1 Amount A tax liability for TY 2025 and 912/365).聽 XYZ鈥檚 total corporate income tax liability (including but not limited to Pillar 1 Amount A liability) with respect to TY 2025 and TY 2026, before application of the Interim Credit, is 鈧110x and 鈧70x, respectively.
Result: XYZ鈥檚 Credit Amount with respect to Country聽A is 鈧80x (i.e., 鈧130x digital services tax liability during the Interim Period less 鈧50x Interim Pillar聽1 Amount).聽 XYZ鈥檚 TY 2025 corporate income tax liability in Country A with respect to Pillar 1 Amount A of 鈧20x is reduced to 鈧0x by the Interim Credit.聽 The 鈧60x remainder of the Interim Credit (i.e., 鈧80x Credit Amount less 鈧20x Pillar 1 Amount A tax liability for TY 2025) is carried forward and reduces XYZ鈥檚 TY 2026 Country聽A corporate income tax liability to 鈧0x with respect to Pillar 1 Amount A.聽 Accordingly, XYZ has a remaining 鈧25x Interim Credit that is carried forward to TY 2027.聽 XYZ鈥檚 total corporate income tax liability for TY 2025 and TY 2026 after application of the Interim Credit is 鈧90x (i.e., 鈧110x total corporate income tax liability less 鈧20x Interim Credit) and 鈧35x (i.e., 鈧70x total corporate income tax liability less 鈧35x Interim Credit carryforward), respectively.