With U.S. Tax Reform Looming, Global Tax Experts to Meet in Washington

OECD_2011

Washington, D.C., May 10, 2011 – With tax reform high on the agenda in Washington, what are the implications for multinational companies?  To help executives and policy makers keep up in this fast-moving area, the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents American business on the global stage, will convene its fifth annual tax conference next month in Washington, D.C., focusing on the work of the 34-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

This 2011 OECD International Tax Conference, June 6-7 at the Four Seasons Hotel, will provide a unique opportunity for the U.S. business community to interact with key representatives from the OECD Center for Tax Policy and Administration, as well as senior tax officials from the U.S. and other OECD countries.

“As the volume, speed and complexity of international business continues to grow, global firms need clear, consistent and stable tax rules more than ever,” said Bill Sample, corporate vice president for worldwide taxation with Microsoft Corp. and chair of USCIB’s Taxation Committee.  “The OECD is the recognized leader in promoting a tax system to facilitate multinational business and dispute resolution. Business participation is critical to the OECD’s success, so we are encouraging companies from all industries to join us at the conference.”

Key questions to be addressed at the conference include: What are the latest international developments affecting permanent establishments?  What about transfer pricing and intangibles?  How are countries working together to improve tax compliance and cooperation?  With its membership growing, how is the OECD working with new members and non-members on tax policy matters?

Speakers at the event are scheduled to include

  • Jeffrey Owens, head of the OECD’s Center for Tax Policy and Administration
  • Thomas Barthold, chief of staff of the Joint Congressional Committee on Taxation
  • Manal Corwin, deputy assistant secretary of the Treasury for international affairs
  • Masatsugu Asakawa of the Japanese finance ministry, incoming chair of the OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs
  • Mary Bennett, head of OECD’s tax treaty, transfer pricing, and financial transactions division
  • Steven Miller, deputy commissioner of the IRS for services and enforcement
  • Michelle Levac of Canada’s revenue agency, chair of the OECD Working Party Taxation of Multinational Enterprises.

“Informed, ongoing dialogue with the OECD secretariat and with OECD member states is crucial for global companies,” according to Carol Doran Klein, USCIB’s vice president and international tax counsel.  “The fact that this year’s conference takes place against the backdrop of potentially far-reaching tax reform in the United States only adds to its importance.”

Details on the conference are available at www.uscibtax.org.

The conference is co-organized by USCIB, the OECD and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD, which officially represents the view of industry in the Paris-based body.  Supporting organizations include the International Fiscal Association – USA Branch, the International Tax Policy Forum, the National Foreign Trade Council, the Organization for International Investment, the Tax Council Policy Institute, the Tax Executives Institute and the Tax Foundation.

USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation.  Its members include top U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world.  With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, including BIAC, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment.  More information is available at www.uscib.org.

Contact:
Jonathan Huneke, VP communications, USCIB
(212) 703-5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org.

Conference agenda, registration form and other information

More on USCIB’s Taxation Committee

OECD website

Staff Contact:   Rick Minor

Senior VP, International Tax Counsel
Tel: 202.682.7376

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