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Risks and Transfer Pricing Regulation at the Multinational Enterprises' Routine Units: A Literature Review

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  • Tomáš Buus

Abstract

Multinational enterprises (MNE) allocate valuable intangible assets and strategic functions to the strategy units (usually parent companies) for that allows them to impropriate the majority of the profits there and protect those assets from subsidiaries' risks. The subsidiaries are frequently routine units. Subsequently, the routine units receive low reward, as they perform only routine functions. The OECD transfer pricing guidelines support that practice to the detriment of go-vernment budgets and public by considering the routine units as the low-risk ones. This paper reviews the relevant literature and shows that the traditional view of risk and profit allocation between strategy and routine units is inconsistent with their relative risks, resp. with relative risks of MNE's subsidiary and independent company. The long-term perspective of MNEs' members' downside risks provides correct information for transfer pricing regulation and fiscal authorities. Results of this paper enable proposal of the transfer pricing risk analysis targets and tools.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomáš Buus, 2018. "Risks and Transfer Pricing Regulation at the Multinational Enterprises' Routine Units: A Literature Review," Prague Economic Papers, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2018(6), pages 621-636.
    • Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpep:v:2018:y:2018:i:6:id:678:p:621-636
    DOI: 10.18267/j.pep.678
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    multinational corporation; multinational enterprise; routine unit; stakeholder; risk; profit shifting;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • H87 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - International Fiscal Issues; International Public Goods

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