Reforming the taxation of multijurisdictional enterprises in Europe: a tentative appraisal

In 2001, the European Commission proposed replacing the current system of taxation of multinational companies by the taxation of a consolidated base, computed at the level of all the European entities of a multijurisdictional enterprise, and then distributed for taxation purposes between the various jurisdictions in which these entities operate, according to pre-established criteria. This paper proposes a tentative appraisal of that reform based on a case study and an analytical exercise. There is a particular focus on two related issues, the choice of the formula and the composition of the consolidating area – either the entire EU or some Member States within an Enhanced Cooperation Agreement –, and on their impact on the size and interjurisdictional distribution of tax revenue and social welfare, and on the intensity of tax competition.

The tentative policy conclusion is that this paper supports the reform provided that (1) the formula puts emphasis on criteria that the firm may not too easily manipulate, (2) the activities of the multijurisdictional enterprise are enough mobile, (3) the consolidation is made compulsory within the consolidating area, and (4) the consolidating area protects its capacity to actually levy tax by adopting a crediting system vis-à-vis the rest of the world.