Meaning
Tax investigative procedures examine the prices set for transactions between related parties to ensure they reflect the arm’s length principle and prevent the illegal shifting of profit. A transfer pricing audit is a formal review by the tax authorities that focuses on the purchase and sale of goods, services, and intellectual property between a local subsidiary and its foreign parent. It governs the adjustment of the company’s taxable income if the prices used in these deals are found to be different from what independent companies would have paid.
This audit authority stops when the statute of limitations expires, which is usually ten years for these types of international tax issues.
Comparable Analysis
Benchmark studies are used to compare the company’s profit margins with those of similar businesses in the same industry. During a transfer pricing audit, the tax bureau looks for independent companies that perform similar functions and take on similar risks. They use this data to create a range of acceptable profits.
If the company being audited has a profit that is lower than this range, the bureau will assume that the prices were set to move profit out of the country. The burden is on the company to provide a reason for the difference, such as a high marketing cost or a period of poor economic conditions. This analysis requires a deep understanding of the local market and the global supply chain.
Having a strong set of comparable data is the only way to defend against a tax adjustment.
Documentation Review
Record keeping is the most important defense for any multinational company facing an inquiry into its pricing policies. Every year, companies above a certain size must prepare a contemporaneous transfer pricing report that justifies the prices they used in their internal deals. During a transfer pricing audit, the tax officials will scrutinize this report along with the company’s contracts, invoices, and accounting books.
They look for consistency between the stated policy and the actual transactions. If the documentation is missing or incomplete, the bureau has the power to use its own methods to calculate the tax, which often results in a much higher bill. The bureau also checks for any royalty payments or service fees that do not seem to have a clear business benefit.
Proper documentation shows the bureau that the company is acting in good faith.
Adjustment Power
Final decisions by the tax authorities can lead to large back tax payments and significant interest charges. If a transfer pricing audit finds that the prices were not at arm’s length, the bureau will issue a notice of adjustment. The company must then pay tax on the additional income the bureau has identified.
In addition to the tax, the company must also pay interest, which is calculated based on the lending rate of the central bank. These adjustments can be very large and can affect the company’s financial results for many years. To avoid this, many companies enter into an advanced pricing agreement with the authorities to agree on the pricing method in advance.
This provides more certainty for the company and reduces the risk of a future audit. Consistent monitoring of internal prices is the only way to manage this significant tax risk.