FINANCE & ECONOMICS

Tax is at the top of the international political agenda – what does it mean for you?

The international tax scene has been rapidly evolving over the past decade – and since Danish tax legislation is rooted in the EU and OECD, it is important to be aware of these developments. Assistant Professor Jeroen Lammers, who teaches the new course "International Corporate Tax Policy" on the Master of Tax, gives us an understanding of the origins and complexity of tax rules, and why there may be so much reporting.

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Assistant professor Jeroen Lammers teaches at CBS

To understand the developments in the international tax scene over the past decade, two concepts are essential. One is "tax in the boardroom." The other is "fair share."

These concepts are interconnected and reinforce each other, notes Jeroen Lammers, Assistant Professor at CBS and lecturer on the Master of Tax (this programme is taught in Danish 🇩🇰).

"Tax, especially tax for international companies, has moved to the top of the political agenda. This means we have also seen a shift towards 'tax in the boardroom.' Previously, tax was handled by a technical department, and broadly speaking, only shareholders inquired about how much tax was being paid. This is no longer the case. With the political focus, all companies and boards, as well as everyone within companies, must now address tax issues," he says, adding:

"And it is not just the technical rules; companies must also consider societal attitudes. In this way, there are now significantly more stakeholders beyond shareholders, such as politicians, the media, and NGOs."

This increased focus is linked to the second concept, "fair share."

"A lot of questions revolve around whether companies are paying a fair share of their earnings in tax. This is a focus for the media, NGOs, and politician. Therefore the management of each company must also address this, and it is not only relevant for the largest companies," says Jeroen Lammers.

To understand the developments in the international tax scene over the past decade, two concepts are essential. One is "tax in the boardroom." The other is "fair share."

Jeroen Lammers, Assistant Professor at CBS and lecturer on the Master’s in Taxation programme

3 Reasons to Take the Course International Corporate Tax Policy

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According to Jeroen Lammers, globalisation, digitalisation, and the "vertical integration of supply chains," where companies replace external suppliers with internal solutions, have significantly influenced the distribution of tax revenues worldwide. Additionally, a number of tax avoidance cases have contributed to increased scrutiny of corporate tax affairs. All this leads to many new tax regulations.

"Tax rules must change as society changes. For example, digital companies may have a substantial economic presence in many countries, but the tax rules currently require a physical presence for a country to tax the company. Negotiations are underway to address this challenge. At the same time, questions arise about how much tax revenue should go to market countries where a company is not physically present but still sells its services or goods, and who should bear the loss of this tax revenue?" explains Jeroen Lammers.

And it all comes down to a question of distribution:

"It is more a tax policy issue than a technical tax issue. This political discussion helps explain why international tax agreements result in such complex rules and reporting requirements."

New Course on the Master's in Taxation

Since many Danish tax rules are rooted in EU or OECD regulations, those working with tax in Denmark are influenced by international trends. This is one of the reasons why Jeroen Lammers is teaching the new course "International Corporate Tax Policy" on the Master of Tax.

"This course is different from the other courses on the Master of Tax. We focus more on the political aspects rather than the technical ones. I think it is very important to understand where many tax rules originate and why they can sometimes be so complex, and why there is so much reporting. Whether you are an accountant, employed in the tax authorities, or working with tax in a company, understanding the political layer can help in grasping many of the Danish corporate tax rules," he says.

The course is taught in English, but you can ask questions and take exams in Danish.

Explore all the courses on the Master of Tax and advance from competence to expertise with training in direct and indirect taxes. This programme is taught in Danish 🇩🇰 with a few courses taught in English.

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Tax is at the top of the international political agenda – what does it mean for you?

To understand the developments in the international tax scene over the past decade, two concepts are essential. One is "tax in the boardroom." The other is "fair share."

3 Reasons to Take the Course International Corporate Tax Policy

Would you like to help ensure accurate tax reporting?

Read more

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