15/04/2021 - Under BEPS Action 14, jurisdictions have committed to implement a minimum standard to improve the resolution of tax-related disputes between jurisdictions. Despite the significant disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessity to hold all meetings virtually, work has continued with the release today of the stage 2 peer review monitoring reports for Australia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand and Portugal.

 

These reports evaluate the progress made by these eight jurisdictions in implementing any recommendations resulting from their stage 1 peer review. They take into account any developments in the period 1 January 2018 – 31 August 2019 and build on the MAP statistics for 2016-2018.

 

The results from the peer review and peer monitoring process demonstrate positive changes across all eight jurisdictions, although not all show the same level of progress. Highlights include:

• The Multilateral Instrument was signed by all eight jurisdictions and has already been ratified by seven of them, which brings a substantial number of their treaties in line with the standard. In addition, there are bilateral negotiations either ongoing or concluded.
• Australia, Ireland, Japan, Malta, New Zealand and Portugal now have a documented bilateral notification/consultation process that they apply in cases where an objection is considered as being not justified by their competent authority.
• Australia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Portugal have added more personnel to the competent authority function and/or have made organisational improvements with a view to handle MAP cases in a more timely, effective and efficient manner.
• Australia and Malta closed MAP cases within the pursued average time of 24 months. Furthermore, Israel, New Zealand and Portugal decreased the amount of time needed to close MAP cases.
• Ireland and Mexico introduced legislative changes to ensure that MAP agreements can always be implemented notwithstanding domestic time limits, which was already the case for Japan and Portugal.
• All jurisdictions have issued or updated their MAP guidance.

 

The OECD will continue to publish stage 2 peer review reports in batches in accordance with the Action 14 peer review assessment schedule. In total, 82 stage 1 peer review reports and 45 stage 1 and stage 2 peer monitoring reports have now been finalised and published, with the fifth batch of stage 2 reports to be released in a few months.

 

• More on the BEPS Action 14 peer review and monitoring process

 

Media queries should be directed to Pascal Saint-Amans, Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration (+33 1 45 24 91 08), or Achim Pross, Head of the International Co-operation and Tax Administration Division (+33 1 45 24 98 92).