Page 51 - Strategic Tax Planning for Global Commerce & Investment
P. 51

Strategic Tax Planning for Global Commerce and Investment


                               Neither party is controlled; the transaction is
                                 wholly independent from the taxpayer’s ac-
                                 tivities).


           The transfer pricing rules recommend that a taxpayer compare
           its  totally  controlled  transactions  with  transactions  between  a
           controlled party and an uncontrolled party. The rules, generally,
           do not favor the comparison of wholly independent transactions
           to  determine  price.  The  transfer  pricing  rules  emphasize  the
           requirement to compare between wholly controlled transactions
           with  transactions  between  a  controlled  party  and  uncontrolled
           parties, which is often referred as the in-house comparables.

           Approaches to Transfer Pricing


           Tax  adjustments  based  on  transfer  pricing  is  becoming  an
           important issue for many global companies. The transfer pricing
           rules  have  sought  to  impose  extensive  general  principles  and
           guidelines  that  apply  when  the  taxpayer  selects  the  transfer
           pricing  method.  Incorrect  method  selection  imposes  penalties
           and  additional  taxes  at  home  and  abroad.  In  addition,  the
           administrative  cost  of  complying  with  the  rules  can  be
           expensive,  thus,  implementation  of  the  transfer  pricing  rules
           may impose significant costs on the taxpayer above and beyond
           the taxes themselves.

           As a result of the potential costs of non-compliance, businesses
           must  evaluate  their  strategies  to  the  compliance  requirements
           and, generally, involves reviewing the following factors:


                               The  taxes  imposed  on  the  transfer  pricing
                                 decision
                               The  administrative  time  and  expense  in-
                                 curred
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