Another important aspect of comparability is accounting consistency. Where the accounting practices differ in the controlled transaction and the uncontrolled transaction, appropriate adjustments should be made to the data used to ensure that the same type of costs are used in each case to ensure consistency. The gross profit mark ups must be measured consistently between the associated enterprise and the independent enterprise. In addition, there may be differences across enterprises in the treatment of costs that affect gross profit mark ups that would need to be accounted for in order to achieve reliable comparability. In some cases it may be necessary to take into account certain operating expenses in order to achieve consistency and comparability; in these circumstances the cost plus method starts to approach a net rather than gross profit analysis. To the extent that the analysis takes into account operating expenses, its reliability may be adversely affected for the reasons set forth in paragraphs 2.70 – 2.73. Thus, the safeguards described in paragraphs 2.74 – 2.81 may be relevant in assessing the reliability of such analyses.
TPG2017 Chapter II paragraph 2.52
Category: D. Cost plus method, OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines (2017), Part II Traditional transaction method, TPG2017 Chapter II: Transfer Pricing Methods | Tag: Accounting consistency, Accounting standards, Comparability adjustments, Cost plus method, Net profit vs gross profit analysis, Traditional transaction methods, Transfer pricing methods
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- TPG2022 Chapter II paragraph 2.52Another important aspect of comparability is accounting consistency. Where the accounting practices differ in the controlled transaction and the uncontrolled transaction, appropriate adjustments should be made to the data used to ensure that the same type of costs are used in each case...
- TPG2022 Chapter II paragraph 2.56The costs that may be considered in applying the cost plus method are limited to those of the supplier of goods or services. This limitation may raise a problem of how to allocate some costs between suppliers and purchasers. There is a possibility...
- TPG2022 Chapter II paragraph 2.53While precise accounting standards and terms may vary, in general the costs and expenses of an enterprise are understood to be divisible into three broad categories. First, there are the direct costs of producing a product or service, such as the cost of...
- TPG2022 Chapter II paragraph 2.59A is a domestic manufacturer of timing mechanisms for mass- market clocks. A sells this product to its foreign subsidiary B. A earns a 5% gross profit mark up with respect to its manufacturing operation. X, Y, and Z are independent domestic manufacturers...
- TPG2022 Chapter II paragraph 2.58No general rule can be set out that deals with all cases. The various methods for determining costs should be consistent as between the controlled and uncontrolled transactions and consistent over time in relation to particular enterprises. For example, in determining the appropriate...
- TPG2022 Chapter II paragraph 2.54The distinction between gross and net profit analyses may be understood in the following terms. In general, the cost plus method will use mark ups computed after direct and indirect costs of production, while a net profit method will use profits computed after...
Related Case Law
- France vs GE Healthcare Clinical Systems, June 2018, CE n° 409645In this case, the French tax authorities questioned the method implemented by GE Healthcare Clinical Systems to determine the purchase price of the equipment it was purchasing from other General Electric subsidiaries in the United States, Germany and Finland for distribution in France....
- Greece vs “CUP Ltd.”, October 2021, Tax Court, Case No 3495/2021This case deals with the choice of transfer pricing method. Following an audit, an upwards adjustment of the taxable income was issued by the tax authorities. The adjustment was based on application of the cost plus method instead of the CUP method as...
- US vs Perkin-Elmer Corp. & Subs., September 1993, United States Tax Court, Case No. T.C. Memo. 1993-414During the years in issue, 1975 through 1981, the worldwide operations of Perkin-Elmer (P-E) and its subsidiaries were organized into five operating groups, each of which was responsible for the research, manufacturing, sales, and servicing of its products. The five product areas were...
- Peru vs “TP-Packaging”, July 2021, Tax Court, Case No RTF 06526-1-2021“TP Packaging” is mainly engaged in the marketing of packaging materials, which in 2013 required a number of goods and services provided by its related companies. The transfer pricing analysis of the controlled transactions was carried out with “TP Packaging” as the tested...
- Hungary vs “Electronic components Manufacturing KtF”, June 2023, Supreme Court, Case No Kfv.V.35.415/2022/7“Electric Component Manufacturing KtF” is a Hungarian subsidiary of a global group that distributes electronic components in more than 150 countries worldwide. The tax authorities had conducted a comprehensive tax audit of the Hungarian company for the period from 1 October 2016 to...