September 21, 2021 Singapore expands transfer pricing guidance Executive summary The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) released the 6th Edition Transfer Pricing Guidelines1 (TPG) on 10 August 2021, which provides updates and additional transfer pricing (TP) guidance in a number of areas as compared to the previous (5th) edition of the TPG, published on 23 February 2018. The 6th Edition TPG does not deviate significantly from the 5th Edition TPG in terms of guidance on the considerations for the application of the arm’s-length principle and TP documentation requirements. However, the various updates and guidance in additional areas (including conditions for mitigating a TP surcharge) are reflective of the IRAS’ continuing focus on TP matters and enforcement of the arm’s-length requirement on taxpayers. This Alert summarizes the key updates and additional guidance provided in the 6th Edition TPG. Detailed discussion Replacement of reference to “TP Consultation” with “TP Audit” While TP audits are not new in Singapore, this change holds significance as it marks a shift to a more stringent, and potentially a much more aggressive enforcement approach by the IRAS in ensuring TP compliance. Further guidance on application of the Berry ratio and value-added cost mark-up The IRAS elaborates on the limited circumstances for the application of alternative profit level indicators such as the Berry ratio and value-added cost mark-up. In the case of the Berry ratio, the IRAS reiterates that it is only appropriate when the value of the functions performed is proportional to the operating expenses and not to sales. Similar principles are to be applied in cases where the value-added cost mark-up is being used. This is consistent with the IRAS’ practice where it commonly challenges taxpayers on the appropriateness of such profit-level indicators. Guidance on remission of TP surcharge Taxpayers are liable to a surcharge equal to 5% of TP adjustments (regardless of whether there is tax payable on the adjustments made). The 6th Edition TPG has included a new section (Section 9) to spell out the circumstances under which the IRAS may consider a full or partial remission of the TP surcharge (including where voluntary or self-initiated retrospective adjustments are made), such as cooperative and responsive behavior of taxpayers, maintenance of contemporaneous TP documentation and good tax compliance records. Additional guidance on arbitration and circumstances under which the IRAS will not accept a Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) or Advance Pricing Arrangement (APA) application The 6th Edition TPG added guidance on the availability of arbitration as a further recourse to resolve issues that have reached a stalemate in a MAP discussion. It also includes the circumstances under which the IRAS will not accept a MAP or APA application after its submission, one of which is where the proposed transaction is not carried out for bona fide commercial reasons or involves a scheme that has, as one of its main purposes, the avoidance or reduction of tax. The IRAS will also not accept an APA request on a related party transaction that is undergoing audit or investigation. Additional guidance on TP aspects of related party services The IRAS has now included formal guidance in the 6th Edition TPG on shareholder activities and duplicate services, which are in alignment with the guidance in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s TPG as well as the practices currently applied by the IRAS. It has also incorporated guidance on the application of the 5% profit mark-up under the OECD’s simplified approach for low value-adding intra-group services, subject to conditions such as meeting the OECD’s definition of low value-adding intra-group services. Guidance on TP aspects of cost contribution arrangements (CCAs) The 6th Edition TPG has included a new section (Section 17) with guidance to determine whether a CCA2 satisfies the arm’s-length principle. It provides a four-step framework on how to apply the arm’s-length principle to a CCA, which is generally aligned with the OECD’s TPG and centers around the determination of the participants’ share of expected benefits to determine the participants’ contribution to the CCA. It also sets out the tax treatment for various payments or adjustments made pursuant to a CCA for TP and income tax purposes, and the types of documentation that should be maintained for a CCA for tax purposes. Additional guidance on TP aspects of financial transactions The 6th Edition TPG expanded guidance on: (a) related-party loans and other types of related-party financial transactions (e.g., cash pooling, hedging, financial guarantees and captive insurance); (b) whether a purported loan should be regarded as a loan for tax purposes (or some other kind of payment, e.g., a contribution to equity capital); and (c) the determination of an arm’s-length interest rate for related party loans when an appropriate comparable uncontrolled price (CUP) is not available. The expanded guidance on the TP aspects of related-party financial transactions is largely aligned with the key principles enunciated in similar TP guidance from the OECD. In addition, the IRAS has now explicitly included a position statement that sets out clearly that it does not regard interest-free related-party loans as arm’s-length transactions, unless taxpayers have reliable evidence that independent parties under comparable circumstances would similarly provide loans without charging any interest. In general, the IRAS expects taxpayers to prepare TP documentation for intercompany loans (where these meet the threshold requirements for the preparation of contemporaneous TP documentation), even if these loans are interest free. Implications Throughout the 6th Edition TPG, the IRAS has impressed upon taxpayers the importance of preparing contemporaneous TP documentation, even if they may not be required to do so, to better manage their TP risk. This signals an increased expectation from the IRAS for taxpayers to support their transfer prices, and for it to be done on a timely basis. Taxpayers should consider:
_________________________________________ For additional information with respect to this Alert, please contact the following: Ernst & Young Solutions LLP, Transfer Pricing Services, Singapore
Ernst & Young LLP (United States), Singapore Tax Desk, Chicago
Ernst & Young LLP (United States), Asia Pacific Business Group, New York
Ernst & Young LLP (United States), Asia Pacific Business Group, Chicago
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