Outputs:

1) Workshop: A three-day workshop will be held in Santiago, Chile on the last week of March 2020.  The workshop will be delivered by Chile and the OECD. The OECD will support the organization of the workshop in relation to the topics to be discussed, logistics and, for expanding our network for promoting the participation and engaging tax experts.  In addition, the OECD will participate through its international tax experts in panels and as speakers.

The workshop will be focused on advances on the implementation of the BEPS package, transparency standards (such as, the internationally-agreed AEOI standard) and promotion of good tax practices, particularly tax certainty.

Each day of the workshop will focus on one of these topics.

Under each general subject, specific issues will be presented or addressed, for example:

a) In relation to the BEPS package, one session will focus, for instance, on an update on the implementation of the BEPS minimum standards by Inclusive Framework members and within APEC economies.

b) In relation to the transparency standards, one session will focus, for instance, on the Common Reporting Standard and, another session, on opportunities for increasing the effectiveness of exchange of information between tax authorities under their efforts in becoming more digital.

c) In relation to tax certainty, one session will focus, for instance, on the relevance of the Tax Ombudsman and, another session, on joint audits and collaborative processes.

Each session will consist of a general introduction of the technical issue followed by either a panel of APEC members or interaction between participants on the topics presented.  The panels will be formed considering diversity of APEC members with preference to gather economies with different levels of implementation of a given policy.  For some specific topics, breakout discussions or round tables will be carried out gathering APEC economies´ delegates in smaller groups to share experiences, common challenges or identifying key elements.  Each table should point out a rapporteur to take notes and present the main conclusions to the chairs.  Notes will be reviewed and, if applicable, included in the final PSR (authorization will be required for including specific notes).

2) Survey: A survey to evaluate the impact of the workshop will be carried out.  Participants will be surveyed at the beginning and at the end of the workshop to measure the new knowledge acquired during the activity.  The surveys will also allow to obtain information about the initial understanding and knowledge and final perspectives with respect to the topics discussed, the level of interaction, the experiences and best practices that are likely to be followed domestically, among other. In addition, it is expected that the survey will serve as a tool to evaluate the general satisfaction of participants and to identify priorities and next steps to be followed in the nearby future.

3) Evaluation: After the completion of the workshop an evaluation will be carried out. The evaluation will gather general statistical information in relation to the project, such as attendance, gender disaggregated data, participation by international tax experts, among other.  The evaluation will be construed as an asset for the final PSR.

4) Project Summary Report (“PSR”): A PSR will be published focusing on the key aspects and the main conclusions drawn from the workshop, including the information obtain through the survey and the evaluation.  It is expected that the PSR will serve as a guide for next steps and future APEC tax related projects, particularly for following Finance Ministers Meetings and to tax authorities or officials of the APEC economies.

The PSR will not exceed 20 pages and be organized in six chapters:

a) Introduction

b) Formal aspects: attendance to the workshop activities, experts and economies participation, disaggregated information by gender and economies;

c)  Result of the surveys, analysis of differences at the beginning and the end of the workshop, level of learning and evaluation of the relevance of the tools for local implementation.

d) Summary of the most important points addressed on each of the workshop’s topics, including questions and answers.

e) Summary of challenges that APEC economies identified, disaggregated by economies characteristics (e.g. region, level of development, etc.).

f) Conclusions, recommendations and, suggestions to continue working under common grounds in future tax related projects in benefit of the APEC region.

PSR will not only be focused on formal aspects. It will focus on findings and outcomes regarding the objectives of the project, and particularly, on exchanged experiences and the effectives measures proposed for the implementation of the BEPS package and improving transparency standards and other good tax practices.

The final PSRwill be presented on digital version to be published at the APEC website, and at the Chilean Finance Ministry website and social media. 

Outcomes: The following outcomes are expected to be delivered in relation to the objective of the workshop.  For this purpose, it is recognized, however, that each economy is free to implement the tax policy and legal framework that suits its local needs and reality.

1) Addressing challenges for an effective implementation of the BEPS package, transparency standards (such as, the internationally-agreed AEOI standard) and tax certainty as tax policy considerations that enhance certainty, transparency and fairness to the tax system.

2) Acknowledging the importance of international collaboration for an effective implementation of the BEPS package, transparency standards (such as, the internationally-agreed AEOI standard) and tax certainty, and the possibility of adding effectiveness to these measures through tools provided by the digital transformation of modern tax administrations.

3) Emphasize the importance of tax certainty as a relevant factor for the optimization of trade, investment and achievement of a favorable business environment.

4) Digital access to the final PSR on the workshop will be granted to all APEC economies.  The PSR will be a useful tool to address policy considerations in relation to the topics discussed at the workshop and will serve as a base for future tax related projects to be developed by APEC economies.

The surveys will provide information about the initial and final awareness of the participants regarding the topics discussed at the workshop. The knowledge acquired through the participation is part of the outcomes, particularly regarding the outcomes described in numbers 1. to 3. above. 

Beneficiaries: The workshop targets representatives of the Finance Ministries and other officials from APEC economies all of them responsible for the adoption of tax policy or tax legal framework, especially those from developing economies with responsibility for issuing or implementing legislation or regulations regarding international tax matters, e.g., Tax Administration and Ministry of Finance officials.  It is expected that the workshop builds capacity for APEC economies to develop tax policies and legal frameworks of their respective economies aiming at the protection of their tax bases, together with adding tax certainty, transparency and fairness to the tax system, which encourage trade, investment and a favorable business environment in the APEC region.

Between 40 and 50 participants are expected to attend the workshop including APEC economies´ delegates and Chile´s staff. In addition, it is expected the participation of international tax experts from international organizations such as the OECD, the Asian Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, and from acadaemia.

The protection of the tax base, promotion of transparency measures and enhancement of certainty, transparency and fairness of the tax system will benefit, in the long term, all the APEC region.  Accordingly, it is expected that the digital PSR will benefit in general any APEC public official or policy maker, researchers and international organizations in identifying the work led by Chile during its host year and the suggested next steps for APEC economies.