The SPD politician had campaigned for global minimum taxes.
(Photo: imago images / photothek)
Berlin 136 countries have agreed on the details of a global tax reform under the umbrella of the OECD. The industrialized countries organization announced on Friday evening in Paris. The countries represent more than 90 percent of the world’s economic power. Only four countries involved in the year-long process disagreed: Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The three EU members Hungary, Ireland and Estonia, who were skeptical to the last, gave the green light this week after making concessions.
Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz expects the global tax reform to be implemented quickly in Europe. “The approval of the states of the European Union in particular is a great success,” said the SPD candidate for chancellor on Friday. Hungary, Ireland and Estonia only decided at short notice to support the plans. “Today we have taken another important step towards more fair taxation.”
According to the OECD, the reform provides for a minimum tax of 15 percent for large corporations. This should take effect from 2023. In addition, the 100 largest and most profitable corporations in the world should pay more taxes in countries where they do a lot of business. Emerging economies should benefit from this.
Profits in excess of $ 125 billion are said to be taxed elsewhere. So far, large corporations like to move profits from patents or software licenses to low-tax countries and thus significantly reduce their tax burden. Internet giants in particular often hardly pay taxes in the countries where they have the most customers.
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