Taxation

Companies have a responsibility to contribute tax fairly to the societies in which they operate. Tax avoidance and aggressive tax planning deprive governments of revenues needed for essential public services and sustainable development. We’re pushing for stronger action by the OECD to encourage responsible tax practices by corporations.

Our work on taxation

We are helping civil society use the Guidelines to advocate for more corporate tax transparency and responsible tax payment.

What the OECD Guidelines say

The OECD Guidelines expect companies to take a responsible approach to taxation. Companies should:

  • Pay taxes in accordance with both the letter and the intention of applicable tax laws, rather than exploiting legal loopholes to avoid taxation.
  • Take measures to prevent tax avoidance, including by meeting relevant international standards on preventing the abuse of tax treaties.
  • Follow the arm’s-length principle when setting prices for transactions between companies within the same corporate group, helping prevent artificial profit shifting.
  • Be transparent about their tax affairs and align reporting with international standards, including those developed through the OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project.
  • Maintain robust tax risk management and ensure that boards and senior management consider the wider risks and impacts of tax practices, not only financial or regulatory risks.

Get involved

Want to learn more about OECD Watch’s work on this issue? Get in touch with us to find out more about our advocacy and resources, or to discuss how the OECD Guidelines can support your work. Reach out directly.

Recursos relacionados

Taxation factsheet

Get a practical overview of what the OECD Guidelines say about taxation. Available in:

English

Arabic

French

Spanish

Portuguese

Related NCP complaints

See complaints in which taxation issues have been raised by civil society.

Review related complaints

How to use the Guidelines

The OECD Guidelines provide civil society with a framework for engaging companies, governments and other decision-makers on responsible business conduct. You can use the Guidelines to:

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