Canada v GlaxoSmithKline: 'Should We Modify the Arm's Length Principle?'

This study aims to review transactions conducted by multinational companies operating in Indonesia related to transfer pricing activities. This study uses qualitative methods using two approaches, content analysis, and interviews. The content analysis aims to obtain related party disclosure information in the financial statements as stipulated in PSAK No. 7 (2015). The data used in the financial statements of manufacturing companies in the consumer goods industry sector are included in multinational companies and listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2014-2017. Meanwhile, interviews were conducted to confirm the data obtained through content analysis. The informant in the interview is one of the Polytechnic of State Finance STAN lecturer, who has academic expertise in international tax accounting and transfer pricing. This study concludes that, in general, multinational companies operating in Indonesia have disclosed related party information in their financial statements. Furthermore, the assessment of the fairness of transactions with related parties related to transfer pricing is based on the arm's length principle. The results of this study indicate the need for broader disclosure of financial accounting standards in Indonesia and the harmonization of taxation regulations in Indonesia with tax regulations in other countries related to transfer pricing practices. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk untuk mengulas transaksi-transaksi yang dilakukan oleh perusahaan multinasional yang beroperasi di Indonesia terkait dengan aktivitas transfer pricing. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan menggunakan dua pendekatan, yaitu content analysis dan wawancara. Content analysis bertujuan untuk mendapatkan informasi pengungkapan pihak-pihak yang berelasi dalam laporan keuangan sebagaimana diatur dalam PSAK No. 7 (2015). Data yang digunakan adalah laporan keuangan perusahaan manufaktur sektor industri barang konsumsi yang termasuk dalam kategori perusahaan multinasional dan terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia dari tahun 2014-2017. Sementara itu, wawancara dilakukan dengan tujuan untuk mengkonfirmasi data-data yang diperoleh melalui content analysis. Informan dalam wawancara adalah salah satu dosen Politeknik Keuangan Negara STAN yang memiliki keahlian akademis dalam akuntansi perpajakan internasional dan transfer pricing. Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa secara umum perusahaan multinasional yang beroperasi di Indonesia telah mengungkapkan informasi pihak-pihak berelasi dalam laporan keuangannya. Selanjutnya, penilaian kewajaran transaksi dengan pihak berelasi terkait dengan transfer pricing berdasarkan arm’s length principle. Hasil penelitian ini mengindikasikan perlunya pengungkapan yang lebih luas dalam standar akuntansi keuangan di Indonesia dan harmonisasi peraturan perpajakan di Indonesia dengan peraturan perpajakan di negara lain-lain terkait dengan praktek transfer pricing.

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Applying the Arm’s-Length Principle

Transfer Pricing and Developing Economies: A Handbook for Policy Makers and Practitioners ◽

10.1596/978-1-4648-0969-9_ch4 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 129-204

Author(s):

Joel Cooper ◽

Randall Fox ◽

Jan Loeprick ◽

Komal Mohindra

Keyword(s):

Arm’S Length Principle

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Challenges of Monitoring Tax Compliance by Multinational Firms: Evidence from Chile

AEA Papers and Proceedings ◽

10.1257/pandp.20191045 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 109 ◽

pp. 500-505

Author(s):

Sebastián Bustos ◽

Dina Pomeranz ◽

José Vila-Belda ◽

Gabriel Zucman

Keyword(s):

Multinational Firms ◽

Transfer Pricing ◽

Tax Avoidance ◽

Tax Compliance ◽

Tax Rates ◽

Profit Shifting ◽

Effective Tax Rates ◽

Arm’S Length Principle ◽

Debt Shifting

This paper reviews common challenges of taxing multinational firms, using Chile as a case study. We briefly describe key international tax avoidance methods: profit shifting to low-tax jurisdictions through transfer pricing and debt shifting. We discuss the prevalent policy to tax multinationals--the arm's length principle--and alternative proposals using apportionment formulas. Novel data from Chile show that multinationals make up a large share of GDP but report lower profit and effective tax rates than local firms. In 2011, Chile implemented a reform following OECD guidelines to enforce the arm's length principle. We discuss potential effects on tax collection and welfare.

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