Mark Konza

Australia has made a great show of its intentions to crack down on corporate tax avoidance this year, particularly in the wake of BEPS action at the OECD.

Earlier this year a “small but high-level and experienced” unit was set up, headed by Mark Konza, deputy commissioner, corporate tax erosion, to work with international partners to establish the purpose of Australian businesses in low-tax jurisdictions.

The group aims to get involved in multi-country audits to find evidence of profit shifting. The tax office represents a notable push from an individual government perspective in terms of tackling BEPS.

“In December 2013, Australia assumes the G20 chair, from which we will have a unique opportunity to harness international cooperation to ensure multinational corporations pay a fair share of tax,” says Konza.

Konza says his role as deputy commissioner is to:

• Address BEPS within existing laws - internationally & domestically;

• Understand the impact of the digitalisation of the economy on the taxation system;

• Support policy development; and

• Support the design of the OECD’s Exchange of Information (EOI) Common Reporting Standard (CRS).