2021年7月
G7各国は法人税の最低税率を15％以上とする歴史的な合意に達しました。主にアマゾン、グーグル、フェイスブックなどの多国籍大企業（MNCs）を対象とし、売上源泉国から低税国への利益移転を防ぐ目的です。
近年、薬剤特許、ソフトウェア使用権、知的財産などの無形資産の売上を低税オフショアに移転し、高税国での納税を回避する動きが目立ちました。
最低法人税率15％以上の仕組み
最低税率は海外売上に適用。各政府は自国企業が海外で自国税率より低い税率で納税する場合、最低税率で課税可能。5月に最低税率の枠組みが合意され、G7の合意はOECDやG20が採用する15％以上の税率を後押し。投資ファンドや不動産信託投資への適用は協議中です。
シンガポールへの影響
具体的な影響は時期尚早ですが、税制改革は不確定要因を生み、投資決断の遅れが予想されます。IT企業は製造業より移動が容易ですが、熟練労働力の確保が課題。サプライチェーン多様化や市場近接を求める企業は移動の可能性が低いでしょう。
税制改革によりシンガポールの優遇税制の魅力が低下する可能性がありますが、結論は尚早。シンガポールの法人税は17％で、優遇や控除により実効税率は4.25％～17％。多国籍企業はインフラ、法規制、安定政治、グローバル経済へのアクセスなど非税的メリットも重視。
シンガポールは高素质人材、知的財産保護、グローバル金融ハブとして発展を続けます。課題はイノベーションや付加価値活動のサポート強化でコスト削減を図ること。税制改革は中小企業には適用されず、KPMGによると中小企業は多くの地域で経済活動の主体であり、税状況は変わりません。
The Group of Seven (G7) rich nations have recently reached a landmark deal for creation of a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15%.
The tax rate would be used to target mainly the largest and most profitable multinational companies (“MNCs”) such as Amazon, Google, Facebook, and discourage them from shifting profits and tax revenues to lower tax countries regardless of where their sales are made.
Over the years, we have seen income derived from intangible sources such as drug patents, software, and royalties on intellectual property increasingly migrate to lower tax offshore jurisdictions, allowing companies to circumvent paying higher taxes in their home countries.
How would a tax rate work globally?
The global minimum tax rate would apply to overseas profits. Governments are still able to set a local corporate tax rate, and if a company pays a lower tax rate in another country, their home government is entitled to raise the rate to the minimum tax rate, thereby eliminating the advantage of shifting profit.
In May, governments had broadly agreed on the basic design of a minimum corporate tax. The G7 accord creates strong momentum around the 15 per cent and above level which has also been adopted by the OECD and G20.
The inclusion of items such as investment funds and real estate investment trusts is still being debated.
What it means for Singapore
Though it is still too early to predict overall outcomes, the global tax rules create uncertainty which may cause delays in investment decisions. There may not be a standard response across MNCs as certain investments may be categorized differently.
For example, large tech companies can move around more easily compared to those in manufacturing, but even so, is dependent on the availability of a skilled workforce. Companies that are seeking to apply strategies such as diversification of supply chains or require proximity to markets may be less inclined to move.
Nevertheless, the new tax rules aimed mainly at MNCs could see a reduction in the tax advantage that Singapore offers to these businesses. Tax experts say that it remains too early to tell how this will impact Singapore’s attractiveness as a regional and global business hub.
Singapore has a headline corporate tax of 17%, coupled with tax incentives, exemptions, and rebates, the effective tax rate is usually lower, ranging from 4.25% to 17%.
Aside from the tax considerations, MNCs will also consider the non-tax benefits of operating in Singapore. Singapore's infrastructure, rule of law, stable political environment, and reputation for integrity, as well as connectivity to regional and global economies, are among the “intangibles” that companies consider beyond the dollar and cents.
Singapore will remain a relevant regional hub with its availability of highly trained talents, strong protection of intellectual property, and its reputation as a global financial hub.
The cost of doing business will remain a concern for companies; as such, Singapore will need to consider enhancing support for innovation, training, and other value-added activities.
Finally and importantly, the tax reforms will not apply to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as they fall below the expected threshold. According to a KPMG tax expert, the SMEs represent the majority of economic activity in many jurisdictions, and their tax situation will remain unchanged under these proposed rules.
