The FACT Coalition sent a letter to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) to urge them to require companies to provide a complete picture of their offshore operations by requiring full disclosure of key financial, tax, and operational data on a country-by-country basis. The full letter can be read below or downloaded here.
Financial Accounting Standards Board Considers Shining a Light on Corporate Tax Practices
On March 17, Richard Phillips of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) and I traveled to Norwalk, Connecticut to participate in a roundtable discussion at the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). This is a little-known, but highly influential body that sets the accounting standards for U.S. companies. The morning discussion focused on a proposal to increase disclosures on corporate financial statements, including new disclosures on revenues and taxes on a country-by-country level. This information is critically important if we are to tackle the problem of offshoring profits in tax havens.
We heard several participants assert that, before any new disclosures are required, board members must ensure they know why it is being required and for what the users of the information will use it. Fair questions.
Unfortunately, I am not sure the discussion on tax disclosures adequately answered them. The focus was more theoretical and principle-based with a heavy reliance on accountant-speak. I greatly appreciated the opportunity to participate, but I confess that I did not fully take the opportunity to offer an alternative perspective. Since hindsight is 20/20, here is what I should have said.
Broad Alliance Calls for Accounting Standards to Require Country-by-Country Tax Reporting in Comment Letter
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A broad alliance of organizations and coalitions submitted comments to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) today—urging the body to require multinational companies to be more transparent about their tax practices. FASB, the private body which sets financial accounting and reporting standards in the United States, has suggested a number of changes to increase the disclosure of foreign tax and income information by companies in their public filings.
The FACT Coalition and a broad alliance of other organizations and coalitions submitted comments to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)—urging the body to require multinational companies to be more transparent about their tax practices.
