Some Reflections on the ‘Saving Clause’

Abstract

Action 6 of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project deals with tax treaty abuse and proposes inter alia, the inclusion of a seemingly innocuous ‘saving clause’ as new Article 1(3) OECD Model Tax Convention (OECD MC). This clause is aimed at preserving the taxing rights of the residence State. While it changes little with regard to the basic set-up of the OECD MC in one-taxpayer situations, it opens the doors for both Contracting States to tax their residents specifically in two-taxpayer situations which may arise, for example, in cases involving hybrid entities, Controlled Foreign Companies regimes, and transfer pricing adjustments. This article reviews the background of this new OECD MC provision, its longstanding use in US treaty policy, as well as some aspects of its breadth, impact and – intended and arguably unintended – consequences.