Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

G20 finance ministers back global tax reform

G20 finance ministers back global tax reform

FINANCE ministers from the G20 economies endorsed a global tax reform on Saturday (10), and urged the hold-out countries to support the deal.

So far, the proposal has been backed by 132 countries.


"We have achieved a historic agreement on a more stable and fairer international tax architecture," the ministers said in a final statement after two days of talks in Venice, hosted by G20 president Italy.

"We endorse the key components of the two pillars on the reallocation of profits of multinational enterprises and an effective global minimum tax," they said.

US treasury secretary Janet Yellen, European Central Bank (ECB) chief Christine Lagarde and Russian finance minister Anton Siluanov were among those who attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, China and India opted for a virtual presence in the meeting.

"The world is ready to end the global race to the bottom on corporate taxation," Yellen said in a statement, adding that it "should now move quickly to finalise the deal".

French finance minister Bruno Le Maire said it was a once-in-a-century opportunity for a "tax revolution".

The tax proposal aims to prevent countries competing to offer the lowest tax rates to attract investment, which often result in multinationals paying derisory levels of tax.

Final agreement is expected in the run-up to the G20 leaders' summit in Rome in October, thereafter, reforms could be in place by 2023.

While some big economies including the US, France and Germany have been pressing for a higher minimum tax rate, a few others have opposed the 15 per cent global minimum tax.

The opposing countries include Ireland, which lured Apple and Google to Dublin with low tax rates.

In their final statement, the G20 ministers "invite" countries to sign up.

However, without having approval of Ireland and other EU hold-outs Hungary and Estonia, the European Union cannot implement the deal.

Some non-governmental groups that analyse the tax affairs of multinationals, like Oxfam, have criticised the reform for letting rich countries keep most of the extra tax revenue.

Indian finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, said that "further work needs to be done to ensure a fairer, sustainable and inclusive tax system which results in meaningful revenue for developing countries".

According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimates an effective 15 per cent rate would generate an additional revenue of $150 billion (£107bn) per year.

The profit reform would initially apply to the top 100 or so companies, and will target firms that use tax-reducing domiciles, such as technology giants Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple.

The changes agreed will ensure "that the right companies pay the right tax in the right places", British chancellor Rishi Sunak said.

More For You

Rachel Reeves

Reeves also gave her clearest signal yet of support for expanding London’s Heathrow airport. (Photo: Getty Images)

Reeves signals focus on lower taxes, less regulation

CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves stated that the country’s finances were now stable following her October budget, adding that her future focus would be on reducing taxes and cutting regulation.

“Now we have wiped the slate clean,” Reeves said, referring to the October budget.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rachel Reeves

Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who has pledged fiscal discipline, faces increasing pressure to address the growing deficit. (Photo: Getty Images)

Government borrowing in December hits four-year high

Government borrowing in December 2024 reached £17.8 billion, the highest level for the month in four years, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This figure is £10.1bn more than in December 2023 and significantly exceeds the £14.6bn forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

Keep ReadingShow less
UK to lead European growth in 2025, predicts IMF

FILE PHOTO: A view of the Bank of England and the financial district, in London, Britain. REUTERS/Mina Kim.

UK to lead European growth in 2025, predicts IMF

BRITAIN is set to have the fastest growth among major European economies this year, according to the International Monetary Fund, a boost to finance minister Rachel Reeves who is under pressure over a slowdown since her party came to power in July.

The IMF has raised its forecast for British growth for 2025 by 0.1 percentage points to 1.6 per cent, making it the third-strongest among the Group of Seven advanced economies after the US and Canada.

Keep ReadingShow less
Reliance Industries

Revenue from operations rose 6.97 per cent year-on-year to £22.99 bn, with growth seen across all divisions. (Photo: Reuters)

REUTERS

Reliance Industries reports 7.38 per cent rise in quarterly profit

RELIANCE INDUSTRIES reported a 7.38 per cent year-on-year increase in profit for the December quarter on Thursday, driven by growth in its consumer-focused divisions.

The company, led by Mukesh Ambani, remains India’s most valuable by market capitalisation.

Keep ReadingShow less
India faces growth challenge
as global uncertainty mounts

Narendra Modi (left) and Nirmala Sitaraman

India faces growth challenge as global uncertainty mounts

AFTER world-beating economic growth last year, India’s policymakers are scrambling to prevent a sharp slowdown as worsening global conditions and declining domestic confidence undo a recent stock market rally.

Last Tuesday (7), Asia’s third-largest economy forecast 6.4 per cent annual growth for the fiscal year ending in March, the slowest in four years and below initial projections, weighed down by weaker investment and manufacturing.

Keep ReadingShow less