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.
On October 21, 2025, Slovakia’s Parliament approved a law to amend its minimum tax act to provide for the June 2024 and January 2025 OECD Administrative Guidance, as well as EU Directive DAC 9 amendments.
On October 21, 2025, Vietnam released Decision 3563/QD-BTC 2025 on the Administrative Procedures for the Minimum Tax. This includes the final forms to be submitted for notification, registration and returns.
Guernsey has issued the Guernsey Pillar 2 Brief: Issue 1 which includes further detail on the registration process (the actual registration system is planned to be operational during the fourth quarter of 2025).
On October 14, 2025, France released the 2026 Finance Bill. This includes amendments to include the June 2024 OECD Administrative Guidance, as well as DAC 9 implementation.
On October 14, 2025, France released the 2026 Finance Bill. This includes amendments to include the June 2024 OECD Administrative Guidance, as well as DAC 9 implementation.
On October 2, 2025, Hungary released the 2025 Autumn Tax Package. This includes some amendments to the operation of the Transitional CbCR Safe Harbour.
On October 15, 2025, Hungary issued the draft Advance QDMTT Tax Declaration (Form 24GLBADO) as well as filing instructions and a draft XML guide.
On October 10, 2025, Belgium issued a Draft Law to amend its Minimum Tax Act. There are a number of technical amendments (which don’t effect the Minimum Tax calculation), the correction of an error in the original text as well as administrative amendments.
On October 3, 2025 Normative Instruction RFB No. 2282, of October 2, 2025 was published in the Official Gazette. This includes amendments to Brazil’s DMT Law for the OECD June 2024 OECD Administrative Guidance and other sundry amendments.
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