This consolidated version of the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines includes the revised guidance on safe harbours adopted in 2013, as well as the recent amendments made by the Reports on Actions 8-10 and 13 of the BEPS Actions Plan and conforming changes to Chapter IX.

Transfer pricing is an area of tax law that has significantly expanded over the last decades. With the globalisation of business activities, the threat of international double taxation, and the need for States to monitor transfer prices to avoid the illegitimate erosion of their tax base, transfer pricing has become a key question for multinational enterprises and tax administrations. The book provides a general overview on the fundamentals of transfer pricing from an OECD perspective. The book also illustrates the fundamentals of transfer pricing with concrete examples based on the structures often used by multinational enterprises when entering into cross-border intercompany transactions. This book is primarily addressed to students reading international tax courses, but may also be of use to tax professionals in matters pertaining to transfer pricing.

The phenomena of increasingly global business enterprises with valuable intangible property expose companies to transfer pricing enforcement by different countries around the world. Many of these countries are increasingly aggressive in enforcing their local transfer pricing rules, as they attempt to protect their tax revenue base. To avoid double taxation of the same income in this environment, companies often are required to deal with the highly specialized, bilateral treaty-based competent authority process developed to prevent double taxation at a time when trade mainly involved only two established countries. Even more challenging today, companies and tax authorities increasingly are faced with the potential for multiple taxation of the same income, as supply chains cross many borders and as the tax authorities of emerging countries become players in the global taxation process, and the resulting stresses, strains, and limitations of the bilateral treaty-based competent authority process have become more apparent. In light of the high-dollar risks presented by the increased enforcement efforts of tax authorities worldwide, the complexity of the ever-changing, inherently uncertain transfer pricing standards, and the continually evolving business models of businesses adapting to the constantly changing global economy, companies need practical guidance to permit them to develop and defend their transfer pricing strategies. Transfer Pricing Answer Book gives companies such guidance by discussing all aspects of transfer pricing, from initially planning a transfer pricing strategy, to alternative ways to defend the strategy from attack by two or more tax authorities, to resolving a case before competent authorities, to bringing a transfer pricing case to court. The book's non-technical discussion is presented in a question and answer format that will appeal to readers regardless of their prior level of experience or familiarity with taxes in general and transfer pricing in particular. Transfer Pricing Answer Book is an invaluable resource for company executives and their advisors who are seeking to better understand this important area of tax law that has become such an important economic facet of so many businesses.

In a global economy where multinational enterprises (MNEs) play a prominent role, governments need to ensure that the taxable profits of MNEs are not artificially shifted out of their jurisdiction and that the tax base reported by MNEs in their country reflects the economic activity undertaken therein. For taxpayers, it is essential to limit the risks of economic double taxation.

The arm's length principle serves as the domestic and international standard to evaluate transfer prices between members of multinational enterprises for tax purposes. The OECD has adopted the arm's length principle in Article 9 of its Model Income Tax Convention in order to ensure that transfer prices between members of multinational enterprises correspond to those that would have been agreed between independent enterprises under comparable circumstances. The arm's length principle provides the legal framework for governments to have their fair share of taxes, and for enterprises to avoid double taxation on their profits. This timely book contains a comparative analysis of the legal basis for the arm's length principle and the contents of the arm's length rules in US tax law as well as in the OECD Model Tax Convention and Transfer Pricing Guidelines. It includes a thorough review of international case law on transfer pricing from the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. The book ends with an analysis of the issues associated with the application of the arm's length principle for multinational enterprises in a global economy.

Advanced praise for Transfer Pricing Methods "Feinschreiber and a team of renowned executives have provided the definitive transfer-pricing guide to this challenging area. At a time when many companies are reviewing documents, policies, and procedures, it's wonderful to have a concise, clearly written reference focused on what may be the most critical corporate tax issue." -Charles R. Goulding, Managing Director, Tax Cooper Industries, Inc. "It is refreshing to find a treatise on transfer pricing that combines practical business considerations, economic theory, and a discussion of technical tax rules in a way that is meaningful not only for large corporate enterprises but also small and medium-sized businesses." -Vikram A. Gosain, JD, CPA, Director of Transfer Pricing General Electric Capital Corporation "This well-written book will be useful both to attorneys new to the practice area and to older hands. It includes very helpful discussions on valuation issues that will be particularly useful for in-house counsel and accountants." -Joseph C. Mandarino, Partner Troutman Sanders, LLP "Feinschreiber and his contributors have cogently explained hundreds of useful facets in the transfer pricing field that have taken others volumes to articulate. The busy professional should consider this book in his or her quest for knowledge in the scintillating tax specialty." -Charles L. Crowley, Partner ITS/Customs and International Trade Practice, Ernst & Young, LLP "Transfer Pricing Methods . . . should become a standard tool for every owner-managed and mid-cap multinational." -Enrique MacGregor, Principal-in-Charge, Transfer Pricing Services Grant Thornton LLP "Bob's vast experience in transfer pricing matters has again been captured between the covers of a book. Thank you, Bob, and your contributing colleagues, for producing another valuable helpmate." -Alan Getz, Vice President and General Manager, Tax Mitsui & Co., Inc. (U.S.A.) "Feinschreiber's current publication is a practical handbook that presents transfer pricing tools that can assist tax professionals of mid-sized companies to optimize profits, manage cash flows, and moderate taxes in a defensible manner." -Per H. Hasenwinkle, National Practice Leader, Transfer Pricing BDO Seidman, LLP

This book addresses the complexity, valuation and administrative nuances, and cultural impacts of resolving this significant cross-border issue when tax disputes arise. In recent years, transfer pricing has become in financial terms the most important tax issue faced by multinational companies and tax authorities worldwide. In times of economic downturn, as experienced in recent years, when tax authorities are challenged for revenue, the handling of these issues requires great care, skill, creativity and a true awareness of the ramifications confronting each tax jurisdiction. This book sets out in detail not only the general laws in each tax jurisdiction impacted by the multinational companies' transfer pricing practices, but also the ancillary concerns of how the issue is interpreted locally as well as related to the OECD Guidelines; the varied approaches to administrative resolution of these issues, including specific alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and the effective uses of advance pricing agreements; correlative adjustment procedures in the event of transfer pricing adjustments; cross-border exchange of information concerns; and how to proceed to litigation if all else fails administratively. It is here that the book delves into the specific procedures for litigation in each country which must be evaluated as part of the overall strategy for controversy resolution. Unfortunately, today litigation is on the rise in numerous jurisdictions and the presumption of an administrative resolution is no longer correct. An additional feature of this book is how practical anecdotes are intertwined into the analysis to give the reader a sense of pragmatism for these issues. To this point, there are the various case studies which highlight the technicalities of the local rules, customs, and practices.

This book discusses the intricate role of transfer pricing and customs value in international business environment. It examines the relationship between valuation for transfer pricing purposes and valuation for customs, and the significance of the relationship for multinational enterprises, tax authorities and customs administrations. The book begins by reviewing relevant international standards such as the OECD Guidelines and the GATT/WTO Customs Valuation Agreement. This is followed by a discussion of related issues such as VAT and administrative matters. Country chapters provide an overview of the applicable legislation and valuation methods, and case studies allow direct comparison between the practices of the different countries. The book concludes by summarizing the existing relationship between transfer pricing valuations and customs valuations, and by suggesting possible solutions towards a more integrated approach.