Article 10 of the OECD Model Rules defines an entity as either:
– a legal person (except an individual); or
– any arrangement that prepares separate financial accounts.
Note that the First Set of OECD Administrative Guidance also excludes government agencies (both central and local government) that carry out government functions.
The first limb above would generally catch foundations, whilst the second would catch trusts.
This means that trusts and foundations are squarely within the Pillar Two rules and could be a low-taxed entity, an intermediate entity/partially owned parent entity or even an ultimate parent entity (UPE).
Under Article 1.4.1 of the OECD Model Rules, a UPE for the Pillar Two rules is:
Whether a trust is a UPE is an important consideration as (1) in many cases the UPE is required to apply the income inclusion rule to account for top-up tax and (2) the definition of an MNE group hinges on the relationship between the group companies and the UPE.
For instance, take this scenario:
Determining if the trust was the UPE could result in all companies then potentially being within the scope of the Pillar Two rules (subject to any specific exclusions etc). Aside from the application of Pillar Two to the group, the trust could then be liable to account for top-up tax.
This in itself could create issues.
The definition of a group in the Pillar Two rules relies on accounting principles so that there is a group if there is a requirement to prepare consolidated financial statements.
Whilst a trust or foundation may not usually have to prepare consolidated financial statements under an accounting standard, the Pillar Two rules go further.
Article 10 of the OECD Model Rules states that if no consolidated financial statements are prepared a deeming provision applies so that the entity must prepare hypothetical consolidated financial statements as if it was required to prepare them in accordance with an Authorised Financial Accounting Standard that is either an Acceptable Financial Accounting Standard or another financial accounting standard.
As such, a trust or foundation would need to determine if it would be required to prepare accounting standards under an accounting standard.
This would again depend on accounting principles.
Under IFRS for instance, there is a requirement to consolidate if the trust or foundation possesses power over the parent entities, has exposure to variable returns from its involvement with them and has the ability to use its power over them to affect its returns.
In June 2026, the Bahamas issued the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to provide for administrative and compliance amendments to its QDMTT regime.
On June 4, 2026, the Norwegian Ministry of Finance published a consultation paper proposing amendments to the Norwegian Supplementary Tax Act, to implement the OECD Side-by0Side Tax Package. The consultation deadline is August 3, 2026.
On June 1, 2026, SARS issued the ‘Guide to Submit Global Minimum Tax (GMT) Returns on eFiling’ which explains how MNE groups must access, complete, amend and support South African Global Minimum Tax filings through eFiling.
On June 1, 2026, the Belgian Official Gazette published the Royal Decree of May 25, 2026 determining the 2024 Pillar Two QDMTT Return
On May 20, 2026, the Czech Republic issued Decree No. 68/2026 Coll which prescribes the content structure and electronic format for the Czech Pillar Two tax return and the Czech Pillar Two information return. The decree became effective on 21 May 2026.
The Swedish Tax Agency has updated its public guidance on Sweden’s implementation of the Pillar Two global minimum tax regime.
Germany’s Federal Ministry of Finance published the Draft Annual Tax Act, 2026 on May 19, 2026. Key changes include implementation of aspects of the OECD January 2026 Side-by-Side Package.
On May 18, 2026, the OECD provided three Pillar Two updates: a common understanding among jurisdictions relating to late-filing penalties, further Administrative Guidance on the Transitional UTPR Safe Harbour for 52–53-week fiscal years, and an update to the Central Record.
On May 4, 2026, Indonesia Issued Regulation PER-6/PJ/2026 on Pillar Two Administrative Requirements.
This website is not affiliated with or related to the OECD. We provide independent insights and analysis on the OECD Two-Pillar Solution
© 2026 OECDPillars.com
All Rights Reserved