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 December 19, 2024, Luxembourg’s Parliament approved a law to amend its Global Minimum Tax Law to implement aspects of the OECD Administrative Guidance.
The Isle of Man has issued a domestic top up tax cessation form for entities that are located in the Isle of Man that are intending to enter liquidation, dissolution or any other form of winding up, or otherwise cease to be located in the Isle of Man for DTUT purposes
On December 13, 2024, the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024 was published in the Official Gazette. It comes into force on December 27, 2024 and includes a domestic minimum top-up tax.
On December 17, 2024, the Dutch Parliament approved a draft law to amend the GMT Law. This includes a number of amendments to implement further aspects of the February 2023 and July 2023 OECD Administrative Guidance and some aspects of the December 2023 OECD Administrative Guidance.
On December 17, 2024, the Chamber of Deputies approved Bill 3817/24 that repeats Provisional Measure No. 1,262/2024 and implements the DMT. It will be sent to the Senate.
In December 2024, the Malaysian Inland Revenue Board (MIRB) issued guidance on the interpretation and administration of the Pillar Two global minimum tax applicable from January 1, 2025.
On 12 December 2024, the Cyprus House of Representatives voted to approve local legislation to implement Pillar 2. The Law will come into effect once it is published in the official Government Gazette.
On December 15, 2024, Bahrain issued Decision no. (172) of 2024 to provide for the Executive Regulations for the DMTT law. This provides the detailed rules for the operation of the DMTT.
On December 10, 2024, the Australian GloBE legislation received Royal Assent.
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