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US Senators join call for OECD to ‘align with GRI Tax Standard’

The response to the OECD’s consultation on updating their tax reporting framework has been supportive of adding public disclosure of country-by-country corporate tax payments. About 25% of the responses urged the OECD to align with GRI’s recently launched Tax Standard.

OECD’s Base Erosion Profit Shifting (BEPS) framework requires large companies in OECD countries to provide country-by-country data to tax authorities but not to the public. In their public consultation, which closed on 6 March 2020, 21 of the 78 responses referred to the GRI Tax Standard in pressing for changes to make disclosures publicly available.

One submission, signed by 33 lawmakers from the US Congress and Senate, endorsed the new Tax Standard (GRI 207) by calling on the OECD to ensure reporting is ‘aligned with the Global Reporting Initiative.’ Quoting from this submission:

“GRI sets reporting standards used by 78% of companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and 75% of NASDAQ 250 companies, and the GRI country-by-country reporting standard should inform your deliberations.

GRI developed this standard in consultation with multinational corporations, accounting firms, academics, and other stakeholders in addition to investors. Broadly speaking, aligning the various country-by-country standards would ease recordkeeping burdens for businesses and present a clearer picture to users of these reports.”

Further supportive comments for incorporating the GRI Tax Standard into the OECD policy included: Oxfam, Public Services International, Unison, Action Aid, European Network on Debt & Development (Eurodad), American Sustainable Business Council, Canadian Labour Congress, Australian Centre for Corporate Responsibility, Tax Justice Network, and Financial Accountability & Corporate Transparency (FACT) Coalition.

“With increasing evidence of significant corporate tax avoidance across the world, it is essential all stakeholders have access to information on the taxes paid by businesses in the locations where they operate,” said Tim Mohin, GRI Chief Executive. “These lost payments should be used to advance sustainability and public wellbeing in the societies where the taxes were due. Since GRI launched the first tax transparency standard in December, investors, civil society groups and many others have signalled their support. Backing from high-profile US Senators and Members of Congress shows that the international consensus from policy makers continues to grow.”

 

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