We have just launched the result of a new survey in a paper, 'Tax strategy and corporate reputation: Balancing trust and growth', which shows that about two-thirds of CEOs around the world say the international tax system is in urgent need of reform and 70% say the impact of tax on their company's growth is among their top concerns.
The paper analyses CEO attitudes towards tax policy issues and offers companies an approach for creating coherent tax strategy. The paper finds that tax strategy and policies are best dealt with by the Board of Directors and should include consideration of such issues as impact on stakeholders, transparency, governance and controls and communications.
CEOs have a difficult balancing act ahead. The increasing tax burden is a serious concern for many, and changing public attitudes to corporate taxation cannot be ignored. A company's policies on tax, even if perfectly legal, can present a serious risk to corporate reputation.
Key findings
- For CEOs, tax reform is the single biggest issue that needs to be addressed; 65% said that the international tax system doesn't meet the needs of multinationals. However, just 27% feel a consensus on tax reform can be reached among the G20 countries in the near future.
- As CEOs expand their operations at home and abroad, the tax burden is seen as a major barrier to growth; 70% of CEOs cite the impact of tax and its potential to affect growth as a concern, an increase from 62% last year.
- CEOs are extremely aware of the need to rebuild the trust between business and stakeholders. 49% said that a lack of trust in business hampers their prospects for growth, an increase from 37% last year. Many CEOs are emphasising the importance of promoting a culture of ethical behaviour in business decision-making; three-quarters agreed that it was important that their company was seen to be paying its 'fair share' of tax.
- Overall, 63% of CEOs worldwide say that government tax policy and the competitiveness of local tax regimes are key factors in decisions about where to operate their business.
- CEOs have little confidence that their own government or the international community will succeed in making the tax reforms that they need. Just 21% of CEOs felt that their government had been effective in creating a more internationally competitive and efficient tax system.
"The reality is that tax is a cost as well as an obligation. A well thought out tax strategy balances business cost pressures, national fiscal needs and international tax norms in a sustainable way.
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