Jurisdictional Sections
Explanation of the jurisdictional data
The jurisdictional sections provide specific information for each of the 137 jurisdictions in the Inclusive Framework subject to the Peer Review. The information is based on the lists of tax agreements provided by those jurisdictions.
Each jurisdictional section contains information on the progress made in the implementation of the minimum standard (A) and on implementation issues (B). It also includes a summary of the jurisdiction’s response to the Peer Review questionnaire (i.e. the list of tax agreements provided). The summary of the jurisdiction’s response is presented in the form of a table in which all its tax agreements in force are listed.
Although the tax agreements between Inclusive Framework members and non-members are not subject to the Peer Review, to recognise the progress made by some jurisdictions, and for the sake of completeness, information on these agreements is also reported.
This section includes a list of the 137 jurisdictions subject to the Peer Review.
Explanations of the data shown in the jurisdictional sections
A. Progress in the implementation of the minimum standard
The first subsection of each of the jurisdictional sections provides specific information on the progress made in the implementation of the minimum standard.
The number of tax agreements:
The jurisdictional sections indicate the number of tax agreements for each jurisdiction and include tax agreements with jurisdictions that are not members of the Inclusive Framework. Such agreements are indicated with an asterisk.
For the purpose of the Peer Review, a tax agreement is a comprehensive agreement for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income (whether or not other taxes are also covered) that is presently in force. It does not include other types of agreements such as inheritance tax treaties, tax information exchange agreements (TIEAs) or other administrative agreements, shipping and air transport agreements, nor does it include non-comprehensive agreements covering only individuals.
The term “agreement” should also be interpreted to mean a treaty relationship. For example, if a state has split into two and each successor state is honouring an agreement concluded by the predecessor state, each successor state is treated as having a separate agreement. In this example, the number of bilateral treaty relationships therefore exceeds the number of signed agreements.
The tax agreements compliant with the minimum standard:
The jurisdictional sections indicate the number of tax agreements that fully comply with the minimum standard for each jurisdiction. Partially compliant agreements, i.e. agreements that contain only one element of the minimum standard, are shown as non-compliant.
Where a jurisdiction has concluded a new tax agreement or an amending protocol that complies with the minimum standard, it is shown as meeting the minimum standard only when the provisions implementing the minimum standard are in force.
Where the minimum standard has been implemented through the MLI, the relevant provisions of the MLI (Article 6 and Article 7) must have started to take effect as of 1 July 2020 for this agreement to meet the minimum standard (Article 35 of the MLI).
The tax agreements subject to a complying instrument:
The jurisdictional sections indicate the number of tax agreements that do not comply with the minimum standard but that are subject to a complying instrument.
A “complying instrument” can be the MLI or an amending protocol that has not entered into force and that could bring the tax agreement into compliance with the minimum standard. It can also be a completely new agreement that complies with the minimum standard that has not yet entered into force.
The complying instrument can only be the MLI if the agreement is notified as an agreement the jurisdiction wishes to cover under the MLI irrespective of whether or not its treaty partner has notified the tax agreement.
MLI information shown for each jurisdiction is generally based on its latest publicly available positions, which will be the definitive position for those jurisdictions that have already deposited their instrument of ratification and provisional for those that have not yet done so.
The tax agreements not listed under the MLI:
When the jurisdiction has signed the MLI, the jurisdictional section indicates the number of tax agreements concluded with members of the Inclusive Framework that have not been notified as agreements the jurisdiction wishes to cover under the MLI and that are not otherwise compliant with the minimum standard. It also indicates whether the relevant treaty partners, if they have signed the MLI, have notified their agreement.
B. Implementation issues
When implementation issues have been identified with respect to a jurisdiction, the second subsection of the jurisdictional sections contains encouragements for the implementation of the minimum standard.
Four different types of targeted encouragement are inserted in the jurisdictional sections:
Jurisdictions that are members of the Inclusive Framework that are signatories to the MLI and that have not yet ratified it are encouraged to do so as soon as possible, noting that their listed agreements under the MLI will start to be compliant after their ratification of the MLI;
“Non-covered agreements” under the MLI (agreements concluded between pairs of signatories to the MLI where one treaty partner has not listed the agreement under the MLI; and agreements concluded between jurisdictions only one of which has signed the MLI)1 will only be compliant if they are listed under the MLI or if their parties enter into bilateral renegotiations to implement the minimum standard;
The OECD Secretariat stands ready to discuss with any jurisdiction that is a member of the Inclusive Framework that has neither signed the MLI nor implemented anti-treaty-shopping measures in its agreements to see how support could be provided to bring those agreements into compliance with the minimum standard; and,
Jurisdictions that are parties to multilateral agreements not compliant with the minimum standard are encouraged to bring the agreement up to date by commencing talks among all the treaty partners, to the extent that no renegotiations are planned or envisaged for the implementation of the minimum standard.
Note
← 1. The non-covered agreements identified in this report are agreements concluded between pairs of signatories to the MLI that are members of the Inclusive Framework and are not subject to bilateral negotiations where one treaty partner has not listed the agreement under the MLI; and agreements concluded between jurisdictions that are members of the Inclusive Framework where only one of the jurisdictions has signed the MLI.