Taxpayers may never fully understand the myriad demands of global transfer pricing compliance. One thing that can help, though, is sharing experiences and discussing strategy.
International Tax Review and TPWeek are gearing-up for another Global Transfer Pricing Forum this month. This year's forum will be held in Paris on September 24 and 25 at the Westin Hotel and, after a year of preparation, we are looking forward to seeing some of the biggest movers and shakers in transfer pricing under one roof to discuss the year's most significant events.
Just because the forum is in its 12th year does not mean it is getting old-hat. There is still a constant demand for this type of forum and the debate is always high-level and informative.
This year's event can boast the attendance of Marlies de Ruiter and Joe Andrus, from the OECD's tax treaties, transfer pricing and financial transactions division, just months after the organisation's release of the draft on intangible assets and before the next public meeting in November. International Tax Review is looking forward to hearing how the officials have been coping with the feedback so far and how that feedback is helping to contribute to a final draft on this difficult issue.
We also have a host of revenue authority representatives from a number of different countries around the world to bring together the different perspectives of their jurisdiction when it comes to tax policy, regulation and implementation. Up for discussion is the officials' view of how documentation rules are working, whether legal certainty in transfer pricing matters can be enhanced, whether advance pricing agreements operate effectively in this respect, the future for joint audits, litigation versus settlement and alternative dispute resolution.
Branching-out of our Western strong-hold for the past 11 years, we are now taking this successful format to Asia, where the demand for transfer pricing forums is particularly high, and we will be at Raffles Singapore on 28 and 29 November. Among other things, there will be a stronger focus on the UN's practical manual for transfer pricing in developing countries, which has experienced a strong participation so far from the region.
From other events we hold in Asia, such as the Asia Tax Forum in May and the India Tax Forum in September, we know that transfer pricing now warrants its own event rather than a single panel.
The region is enhancing its transfer pricing regulations and compliance requirements and it is sometimes hard for taxpayers to keep up. Hearing from experts and officials in the region will help to iron out some of the common problems.
On a broader platform, the changes in the Asian tax environment are highlighted in our Asia focus in this month's issue (see page 44).
Last year's Global Transfer Pricing Forum in London was an all-round success and, at the time of writing this, the numbers already show this year in Paris will raise the bar even higher. I look forward to seeing you there.
Sophie Ashley
Managing editor
TPWeek.com
