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Robert Stack was also in the
Global Tax 50
2014 |
Last year, the Global Tax 50 praised Robert Stack for
bucking the trend of reticence among tax officials. The US BEPS
representative did not shrink away from the spotlight,
contributing widely to media discussion of relevant issues and
speaking regularly at related events.
This year, Stack has been praised in particular for
defending the rights and interests of the US in multilateral
BEPS discussions as part of his role as the lead US delegate to
the OECD's Committee on Fiscal Affairs.
With many of his compatriots viewing BEPS discussions as an
attack on the US, Stack staunchly defended the arm's-length
principle and pushed back against proposed changes to digital
economy taxation, among other things.
Stack also criticised the UK's unilateral action to
introduce a diverted profits tax (DPT) ahead of final BEPS
deliverables. His denunciation of the UK's move –
which he said hindered further progress at the OECD-level
– also flies in the face of criticism that the US
would not actively engage with the multilateral BEPS
discussions.
"We understand governments are under enormous pressure to
raise revenue and it must be tempting to target non-residents,"
he said, before expressing his disappointment at the DPT at an
event later in the year, at which he went on to say that the
DPT's introduction was probably motivated by the impending
general election and a desire on the part of the government to
be seen as employing a tougher stance on multinational tax
avoidance than the opposition Labour party.
"[This] puts a spotlight on the degree to which political
pressure can trump policy," said Stack.