This book discusses the practical issues faced by the banks, financial institutions, companies engaging in leasing as a form of asset financing, and their tax advisers. The book elaborately deals with the divergent tax treatment in the five most important leasing jurisdictions (ie, US, Japan, Germany, UK and Netherlands) in respect of transaction characterization, depreciation, income-recognition and anti-avoidance rules, as well as divergence in the relevant bilateral tax treaty provisions. Further, the book investigates how the parties to a cross-border leasing transaction may obtain tax advantages due to such divergent tax treatments, and whether and to what extent the general or specific anti-avoidance rules in the jurisdictions may neutralize the tax arbitrage opportunities. Finally, it examines how the framework of the EC Treaty may be relevant for cross-border leasing transactions between the EC Member States.

This book provides a description and analysis of tax systems worldwide. It offers practical guidance on international planning approaches from a team of both tax practitioners and academics. In addition to references to country-specific tax legislation - including laws and rules in all EU Member States plus the United States, as well as special provisions in Australia, Japan, and elsewhere - the book discusses important ECJ decisions and various other case studies.

Financial innovation allows companies and other entities that wish to raise capital to choose from a myriad of possible instruments that can be tailored to meet the specific business needs of the issuer and investor. However, such instruments put increasing pressure on a question that is fundamental to the tax and financial systems of a country – the distinction between debt and equity. Focusing on hybrid financial instruments (HFIs) – which lie somewhere along the debt-equity continuum, but where exactly depends on the terms of the instrument as well as on applicable laws – this book analyses their treatment under both domestic law and tax treaties. Key jurisdictions, including the EU, some of its Member States, and the United States, are covered. Advocating for a broader scope of application of HFIs as part of the financing of companies in Europe alongside traditional sources of debt and equity financing, the book addresses such issues and topics as the following: • problems associated with the debt-equity distinction in international tax law; • cross-border tax arbitrage and linking rules; • drivers behind the use and design of HFIs; • tax law impact of perpetual and super maturity debt instruments, profit participating loans, convertible bonds, mandatory convertible bonds, contingent convertibles, preference shares and warrant loans on HFIs; • financial accounting treatment; • administrative guidance; • influence of the TFEU on Member States’ approaches to classification of HFIs; • interpretation of the Parent-Subsidiary Directive by the European Court of Justice; • applicability of the OECD Model Tax Convention; and • implications of the OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project. Throughout this book, the analysis draws upon preparatory works, case law, and legal theory in English, German, and the Scandinavian languages. In conclusion, the author considers tax policy issues, and identifies and outlines possible high-level solutions. Actual or potential users of HFIs will greatly appreciate the clarity and insight offered here into the capacity and tax implications of HFIs. The book not only examines whether existing legislation is sufficient to handle the issues raised by international HFIs, but also provides an in-depth analysis of the interaction between corporate financing and tax law in the light of today’s financial innovation. Corporate executives and their counsel will find it indispensable in the international taxation landscape that is currently coming into view, and academics and policymakers will hugely augment their understanding of a complex and constantly changing area of tax law.

Authoritative resource for defining tax and tax-related terms. With the addition of over 120 completely new definitions and over 100 substantially revised descriptions, this edition contains more than 2,000 tax terms, clearly and concisely defined in English; alphabetical listing of some 400 English terms together with their French, German, Spanish and Dutch equivalents; cross-referenced listing of terms indicating similar, related and contrasting terms; abbreviations and bibliographical references to aid further research; a list of tax-related organizations, with brief descriptions and Internet addresses; accurate descriptions of both traditional and more obscure terms; expanded coverage of terms relating to customs, VAT, capital taxes, transfer pricing and EU tax law terminology; a separate extensive list of tax-related organizations in some 40 countries.

Copyright © 2019, ICLEL Conferences All rights reserved by ICLEL Conferences

This is the tenth edition of the condensed version of the "OECD Model Tax Convention on Income and on Capital". It contains the full text of the "Model Tax Convention on Income and Capital" as it read on 21 November 2017, but without the historical notes and the background reports included...