OECD 'disappointed' over 'surprising' UN global tax report - International Consortium of Investigative Journalists

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See Also "A UN Plan to Stop Corporate Tax Abuse" 

At the end of last year, the UN general assembly adopted a resolution from African member states calling to scale up efforts to combat illicit financial flows and tax evasion. A new report by the SG was mandated by the resolution and will be debated at the next session in September.

In the report, Guterres acknowledged OECD efforts to engage non-members, but added that “many of those countries find that there are significant barriers to meaningful engagement in agenda-setting and decision-making.”

“As a result, the substantive rules developed through these OECD initiatives often do not adequately address the needs and priorities of developing countries and/or are beyond their capacities to implement,” he said.

*The UN Secretary-General has called for a shake-up of global tax rules and more power for the UN to set them.
*The OECD, which has traditionally set global tax rules, criticized the UN report, saying it ignored the positive impact of the OECD's work.
*The UN report found that the OECD's rules often do not adequately address the needs of developing countries and are beyond their capacities to implement.
*A recent report by the Tax Justice Network warned that countries could lose nearly $5 trillion to tax havens over the next decade.
*The UN report offers three options for debate, including a legally binding framework convention to establish an overarching system of tax governance.
*The OECD said it would continue to work with the UN and other institutions on global tax cooperation.
However, some advocates called for the OECD to cede some of its influence, saying that global tax negotiations need to be led by a body where all countries participate as equals.