Tax cash flow instead of profit, say economists

Original article by Ben Potter
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 10-Dec-18

Leading economists Ross Garnaut and Craig Emerson have proposed a major overhaul of the corporate tax system. They have proposed taxing a company’s cash flow rather than its profits, arguing amongst other things that this would result in increased tax revenue at a lower rate and result in a more level playing field between small companies and multinationals. They add that it would also result in increased investment and reduce the incidence of tax avoidance via profit-shifting.

CORPORATES
APPLE INCORPORATED, CHEVRON CORPORATION, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE, VICTORIA UNIVERSITY, LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, INDUSTRY SUPER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

All options open in PRRT review

Original article by Joanna Mather, Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 5-Jan-17

The review of the petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT), led by former Treasury official Michael Callaghan, will be dispassionate, analytical and objective. Callaghan stressed these qualities of the review in an interview given on 4 January 2017. Treasurer Scott Morrison announced the review in November 2016. Its objective is to find out why PRRT receipts declined from a peak of $A2.5 billion in 2000 to about $A900 million a year.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM PRODUCTION AND EXPLORATION ASSOCIATION LIMITED, INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT WORKERS’ FEDERATION

Resources rent tax will face a ‘sober’ review

Original article by Joanna Mather, Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 1-Dec-16

Treasurer Scott Morrison has revealed plans for an inquiry into Australia’s Petroleum Resources Rent Tax. Government revenue from the tax has fallen sharply in the wake of a downturn in the crude oil price, which has made oil and gas projects less profitable. Shell Australia chairman Andrew Smith argues that revenue from the "super profits"-based tax naturally fluctuates with commodity price changes, and lower government revenue does not mean the PRRT is flawed.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, SHELL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, EXXONMOBIL CORPORATION, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM PRODUCTION AND EXPLORATION ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Resources rent tax will face a ‘sober’ review

Original article by Joanna Mather, Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 1-Dec-16

Treasurer Scott Morrison has revealed plans for an inquiry into Australia’s Petroleum Resources Rent Tax. Government revenue from the tax has fallen sharply in the wake of a downturn in the crude oil price, which has made oil and gas projects less profitable. Shell Australia chairman Andrew Smith argues that revenue from the "super profits"-based tax naturally fluctuates with commodity price changes, and lower government revenue does not mean the PRRT is flawed.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, SHELL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, EXXONMOBIL CORPORATION, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM PRODUCTION AND EXPLORATION ASSOCIATION LIMITED

ATO drops boom on marketing hubs

Original article by Neil Chenoweth
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 10-Aug-16

The use of offshore marketing hubs by resources groups will attract greater scrutiny from the Australian Taxation Office. The proposed crackdown will result in such companies being subject to stricter auditing and disclosure requirements if they are not completely transparent about their marketing arrangements. BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto both use marketing hubs in Singapore, while the ATO is concerned that the oil and gas industry may pursue profit-shifting arrangements as LNG exports ramp up.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, CHEVRON CORPORATION, CHEVRON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, BP PLC, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC, EXXONMOBIL CORPORATION