Long-term thinking, convening and discussion has really started to pay off with policy developments, whether that’s around digital taxation, global minimum corporation tax rates, transparency and metrics to assess the role of tax in ESG compliance.
But as policy solutions emerge, one thing remains clear – global tax is a complex function with legitimate tensions and concerns for all stakeholders. It's why real dialogue matters to help ensure good intentions translate into good outcomes.
"Tax can’t solve everything – but as the central compact point between governments, business and citizens its role remains critical in these challenging times. Everyone needs to step up."
With that in mind, KPMG has been developing work quickly ahead of COP26 to help maximize the impact as the world gathers in Glasgow in the fall. You can find more details below about the major webinar event on transparency that was held with over 900 participants from across the globe. You can also read details of KPMG’s important work on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAM).
We have also recently begun a stream of work in collaboration with The B Team looking at tax compliance around ESG metrics.
Looking forward, we are setting up a Great Debate on "whether tax can save the environment" and we will be consolidating our work and thinking around sustainability and global tax. Watch this space. No one could envisage the COVID-19 pandemic and few thought the climate emergency would be approaching so soon. Tax can’t solve everything, but as the central compact point between governments, business and citizens, its role remains critical in these challenging times. Everyone needs to step up.
On a final note, it is with great sadness that I have to tell the global tax community that Robert Phillips, the founder of Jericho Chambers and a collaborator on this responsible tax journey, lost his fight to cancer in June. Robert was one of the key architects of the Global Responsible Tax Project, not least through his work on trust-building. He is greatly missed by all at KPMG and Jericho – and, I know, everyone who had the pleasure of engaging with him at numerous tax events over the years. Our thoughts are with his wife and two sons.
Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you would like to be involved in any of KPMG’s responsible tax work. We hope you will join us on this journey.
Stay safe and take care,
David Linke Global Head of Tax & Legal Services, KPMG August 2021
by David Linke
As organizations of all sizes are ever more exposed to new trends in regulation, David Linke leads the Global Tax & Legal network of professionals in its efforts to work with multinational businesses to respond to those demands and create value. As a leading network, KPMG Tax & Legal professionals are focused on bringing our professional experience and acumen, our global capabilities and connectivity and technology-powered solutions to the most complex tax and legal challenges and transformation projects that tax leaders face.
