Dutch EU Presidency To Prioritize BEPS Action
The Netherlands will prioritize action against corporate tax avoidance during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, from now until the end of June.
In a report detailing its plans for its six-month term, the Dutch Government said: “The Netherlands Presidency will prioritize action against tax evasion and tax avoidance, including increasing transparency in efforts to tackle corporate tax avoidance, based on the package of measures agreed as part of the OECD’s Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project in October 2015. During the Netherlands Presidency, the Commission will come forward with a proposal for the conversion of OECD BEPS measures into European legislation. [It] will also see further discussion on the inclusion of a minimum effective taxation clause in the Interest and Royalties Directive.”
Meanwhile, before the end of June, the Commission will publish an action plan for a more effective value-added tax regime, including VAT on cross-border transactions within the EU. In the context of the digital single market, an action plan for an efficient and fraud-proof VAT regime is also expected during this year, including a proposal on VAT rates and e-commerce. On digital taxation, the report said: “The Netherlands Presidency will address these matters if the timing of the publication permits.”
Finally, the Netherlands said it may discuss the Financial Transactions Tax proposals during its term, if those member states who have opted for closer cooperation in this area agree on a proposal for a directive.
