Winds of change: Energy taxation evolving as oil price slips further

A turbulent year for the energy sector has seen oil prices decreasing by more than half from June 2014 to the beginning of 2015 and brent crude oil dipping below $50 a barrel for the first time since May 2009. This volatility has caused longer term, widespread repercussions across the industry. Jimmie van der Zwaan from Taxand Netherlands looks at some of the consequences impacting the sector, including an increase in M&A activity, tax concessions instigated by governments and major oil companies announcing ravaged profits - and this is before considering the gathering momentum of the OECD's initiatives to tackle base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) in international tax planning.