This text analyses the law of treaty interpretation as applied by the WTO Appellate Body. By focusing on the development of the law in practice, and the intersection of customary international law principles with the growth of WTO specific law, the book reveals the complexity of treaty interpretation in a major international law forum.
Analysis of both the concluded and the proposed dispute resolution methods. The relationship between the current developments in tax treaty law and the more general trends of modern dispute resolution in public international law is investigated. Concludes with a summary and evaluation of several alternative methods of dispute resolution in recent treaty practice.
This book addresses the complexity, valuation and administrative nuances, and cultural impacts of resolving this significant cross-border issue when tax disputes arise. In recent years, transfer pricing has become in financial terms the most important tax issue faced by multinational companies and tax authorities worldwide. In times of economic downturn, as experienced in recent years, when tax authorities are challenged for revenue, the handling of these issues requires great care, skill, creativity and a true awareness of the ramifications confronting each tax jurisdiction. This book sets out in detail not only the general laws in each tax jurisdiction impacted by the multinational companies' transfer pricing practices, but also the ancillary concerns of how the issue is interpreted locally as well as related to the OECD Guidelines; the varied approaches to administrative resolution of these issues, including specific alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and the effective uses of advance pricing agreements; correlative adjustment procedures in the event of transfer pricing adjustments; cross-border exchange of information concerns; and how to proceed to litigation if all else fails administratively. It is here that the book delves into the specific procedures for litigation in each country which must be evaluated as part of the overall strategy for controversy resolution. Unfortunately, today litigation is on the rise in numerous jurisdictions and the presumption of an administrative resolution is no longer correct. An additional feature of this book is how practical anecdotes are intertwined into the analysis to give the reader a sense of pragmatism for these issues. To this point, there are the various case studies which highlight the technicalities of the local rules, customs, and practices.
A wide variety of legal approaches and techniques are presented in detail. Includes 18 country reports - from 14 EU Member States plus Norway, Hungary, Latvia, and the Czech Republic - as well as additional essays on such topics as international tax arbitration, social security conventions, the jurisdiction of international courts, and World Bank/ICSID dispute settlement procedures as all of these may be applied to the resolution of tax disputers.
As the interrelationship among tax bases continues to parallel the rapid development of the global economy, disputes among governments as to their right to tax international trade and investments under income tax treaties are expected to increase in number and scope. This study takes an in-depth look at the mechanisms used to resolve such disputes and how they interact with the interests of the various parties involved in the process. The study presents an analysis of the available literature, supplemented by statistical data from North America, Europe and Asia. Analysis of this data leads to interesting insights into the way the dispute resolution process functions when it is applied in different contexts. A comprehensive common framework of analysis, based on a checklist for governments, international organizations and taxpayers, is also developed in the study. This framework lists the main advantages and disadvantages of treaty-related international income tax dispute resolution procedures. The checklist is formulated with the aim to assist readers informing policies and in arguing positions, taking into account the subjective value given by each reader to each listed item. The study concludes by suggesting the creation of a new mechanism for the resolution of tax treaty-related disputes, and advocates, in part, the establishment of a new international organization with links to domestic judicial networks. This mechanism is then subjected to the same common framework analysis and checklist used in earlier parts of the study. The analysis suggests how such a mechanism would mitigate some of the most formidable challenges associated with the current dispute resolution procedures.
Arbitration: the solution to tackle cross-border tax disputes From the increasing integration of the world economy and the lack of rules to govern the taxation of multinational enterprises to cross-border tax disputes: arbitration is one potential solution. Arbitration is not a new development in the international tax arena, but it has not yet been widely implemented in practice. In the last few years, the concept of arbitration in tax matters was revived, mainly following the OECD/G20 BEPS Project, as well as the EU Action Plan on Corporate Taxation. Now arbitration is expected to play a more significant role and enhance the existing framework of cross-border tax dispute resolution. „OECD Arbitration in Tax Treaty Law” constitutes a comprehensive compendium on international tax arbitration and provides in-depth analysis of all relevant aspects of the topic. The introductory chapters provide background information on tax arbitration and comparisons with other areas of law. The book also takes stock of the recent developments in this area within the OECD, the EU, the UN and the United States. It addresses the main concerns that have been raised with regard to arbitration, and compares and contrasts the design of various arbitration clauses. It also considers potential future developments. This compendium on international tax arbitration shows one way how to tackle the rising tide of cross-border tax disputes.
This book provides a concise, practical guide to the European Union’s Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD). Presenting unique insights into the ATAD’s five specific anti-avoidance rules, its chapters explain the background of those rules, the directive’s interactions with relevant jurisprudence, and the challenges posed to the ATAD’s interpretation and implementation in domestic law.
The rules of treaty interpretation codified in the 'Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties' now apply to virtually all treaties, in an international context as well as within national legal systems, where treaties have an impact on a large and growing range of matters. The rules of treaty interpretation differ somewhat from typical rules for interpreting legal instruments and legislation within national legal systems. Lawyers, administrators, diplomats, and officials at international organisations are increasingly likely to encounter issues of treaty interpretation which require not only knowledge of the relevant rules of interpretation, but also how these rules have been, and are to be, applied in practice. Since the codified rules of treaty interpretation came into decree, there is a considerable body of case-law on their application. This case-law, combined with the history and analysis of the rules of treaty interpretation, provides a basis for understanding this most important task in the application of treaties internationally and within national systems of law. Any lawyer who ever has to consider international matters, and increasingly any lawyer whose work involves domestic legislation with any international connection, is at risk nowadays of encountering a treaty provision which requires interpretation, whether the treaty provision is explicitly in issue or is the source of the relevant domestic legislation. This fully updated new edition features case law from a broader range of jurisdictions, and an account of the work of the International Law Commission in its relation to interpretative declarations. This book provides a guide to interpreting treaties properly in accordance with the modern rules.
This book analyses the relationships between tax treaties and domestic law from a constitutional and an international point of view, and how they can be improved in the fields of treaty override, treaty residence and anti-abuse measures. It also shows how the issues raised by these relationships are resolved by tax administrations and courts in selected European and non-European countries.