Australia hits Chevron with US$260M tax bill
by Rod McGuirk, The Associated Press
The multinational energy company lost a court appeal over how it handled loan payments
CANBERRA, Australia—An Australian subsidiary of U.S. energy giant Chevron Corp. lost an April 21 court appeal against a US$260 million tax bill in a ruling with ramifications for how multinational corporations transfer money.
Three judges of the Australian Federal Court unanimously rejected Chevron Australia’s appeal against tax assessments for five years ending in 2008.
The court found the company had reduced its Australian tax cost through tax-deductible interest payments on a $2.5 billion loan from U.S.-based subsidiary Chevron Texaco Funding Corp., which had borrowed the money at a lower rate.
The Australian Taxation Office welcomed the ruling which it said has direct implications for other cases the office is pursuing regarding loans within multinational corporations.
Australia has some of the world’s toughest rules to ensure it collects the correct amount of tax on profits made in the country, said Treasurer Scott Morrison.
Chevron said it was disappointed and might appeal to the High Court of Australia.
“As recognized by the trial court in the dispute, the financing is a legitimate business arrangement and the parties differ only in their assessments of the appropriate interest rate to apply,” a Chevron statement said.
Grant Wardell-Johnson, a tax partner at KPMG, described the ruling as a “critical case.”
“This is a substantial win for the (Australian Taxation) Commissioner, and many taxpayers will need to review their transfer pricing methodologies,” Wardell-Johnson said.
Tax authorities have warned that a number of multinational technology, energy and resources companies will receive bills for combined outstanding taxes owed of $1.5 billion by the end of June. The companies have not been named.
