Ad: BlueJ Better Tax Answers. -Accomplish hours of research in seconds -Instantly draft high-quality communications -Verify answers using a library of trusted tax content. Learn more

Keinan: The Case For Residency-Based Taxation of Financial Transactions in Developing Countries

Yoram Keinan (Michigan) has published The Case For Residency-Based Taxation of Financial Transactions in Developing Countries, 9 Fla. Tax Rev. 1 (2008).  Here is part of the Introduction:

The question addressed by this article is whether a developing country (hereinafter “Country D”) is better off adopting a source-based or residency-based taxation regime (or a combination thereof) for cross-border financial transactions. Financial transactions add an important dimension to the general conflict between source-based and residency-based regimes since money is fungible. hus, when a non-resident wishes to invest overseas, the investor can easily switch from one country to another, and will do so if the tax rules in Country D could result in a heavier tax burden.

Nevertheless, for developing countries, choosing between source-based and residency-based taxation is not easy. On the one hand, a source-based regime would allow Country D to keep more tax revenues from non-residents. Assuming that Country D has source rules similar to most other countries with respect to financial transactions, a source-based regime would allow Country D to tax income derived by non-residents from interest and dividends paid by domestic entities. On the other hand, non-residents from countries that have a residency-based taxation regime would be less inclined to invest in Country D, since their home country would impose tax on such non-residents' activity in Country D. This might result in double taxation if no treaty applies, and there is no other relief from double taxation.  Furthermore, as set forth below, residency-based taxation promotes Capital Export Neutrality. As this article concludes, the adoption of a residency-based taxation regime for financial transactions by developing countries would benefit Country D in terms of attracting foreign investment.


About the Author

Ad: BlueJ Better Tax Answers. Blue J's generative AI tax research solution is transforming how tax experts work. Learn more.
Information and rates on advertising on TaxProf Blog

Discover more from TaxProf Blog

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading