Tax Reform Agreement Reached Between G7 Nations

Global tax reform has been a popular topic across nations, and has become a heightened discussion subject as the digitalization of the economy has transpired.

As of June 5, 2021, a proposal for a communique issuance has emerged across G7 Nations. These nations include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors met with International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the World Bank Group.

The communique proposes resolutions to several historic economic issues, including a new system to address global tax reform. The new system suggests that notable tax reforms be implemented by the below methodology:

• Implementation of a minimum global tax of 15%, per Country
• Market countries with profits that exceed a 10% margin are entitled to taxing rights on 20% or more of the excess profit for larger commercial multinational corporations. This will also be applicable to companies that do not have a physical establishment in these market countries if they have accumulated significant sales there
• Across all corporations, tax on digital services to be abolished along with other related acts
• If adopted, large multinational corporations will be subject to taxation by Country based on their sales in that Country, regardless of if they have a physical establishment there

Several financial leaders across the globe have shared comments on this newly proposed scheme. United States Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen regarded it as a significant and unprecedented taxation proposal that would “ensure fairness for the middle class and working people” across the globe. British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak stated that the development would assist in making the global tax system more suitable for the “global digital age.” Olaf Scholz, Finance Minister of Germany, regarded the development as a revolution that would be a great adoption for “tax justice and solidarity.”

Employer Considerations:

These proposals must still go through a lengthy review process before they are accepted and implemented. Nations will still have the right to exercise their sovereignty and opt-out of implementing these.

All corporations may be subject to taxation by Country based on their sales in that Country; however, this proposal appears to be targeted towards the largest, most profitable firms.

Tax havens may become increasingly unpopular, and tax law will need to factor in means for determining taxable income thresholds for each market country.