International Business Taxation
Volledige vakbeschrijving
The course “International Business Taxation” builds on the skills and knowledge about double taxation conventions acquired in preceding course “Fundamentals of International Taxation” (TAX4010) or during the bachelor studies of “Fiscaal Recht” or “Fiscal Economics” at Maastricht University. It invites its students to study advanced topics of international tax law in direct tax matters with a strong focus on business taxation. The topics that will be covered in this course include - inter alia - the interpretation of double taxation conventions, solutions for different types of conflicts, advanced issues involving permanent establishments, taxation of dividends, interest, royalties, capital gains and services under double taxation conventions, tax treaty abuse and anti-abuse provisions including the principal purposes test (PPT) rule, and the Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) rules.
While the course covers a wide range of important topics in the area of international business taxation, it does not aim to be comprehensive. Thus, not every relevant issue and topic will be discussed. Instead, the course aims to provide its students with the necessary theoretical background and legal skills to study these other topics independently or in advanced courses. This course is more about legal thinking, research skills and legal argumentation than about practical or technical application of the law. This also means that many of the cases will be controversial and will not have a single solution.
Teaching methods
PBL, Lecture(s), Moot Court
Assessment methods
Moot Court, Written Exam
Doelstellingen van dit vak
- The student is able to demonstrate a systematic understanding of international tax treaty law in the area of business taxation.
- The student has the capacity to identify current issues in the field of international business taxation and provide solutions for the existing challenges, such as solutions for different types of conflicts.
- The student is capable of critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of existing international tax law problems and new complex ideas.
- The student has the skills to develop sound legal arguments and solutions in complex cases based on own research and knowledge.
- The student is able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of different arguments in complex cases of international business taxation.
- The student can clearly express his/her solutions, arguments and views on international tax matters during high-level discussions.
- The student has the knowledge and learning skills essential for the continuation of his/her Master studies.
Voorwaarden
The course “International Business Taxation” is a compulsory course in all LL.M. tax tracks and the M.Sc. track “Fiscal Economics”. Students are assumed to be familiar with the structure of (their) national tax systems and with the fundamentals of DTCs. Students who have earned an LL.B. in “Fiscaal Recht” or a B.Sc. in “Fiscal Economics” at Maastricht University have followed compulsory courses that cover this prerequisite. Maastricht LL.B. graduates in “European Law School” who took the electives “Concepts of Income and Business Taxation” (TAX3009) and “International and European Tax and Customs Law” (TAX3013) as well as all students coming from abroad will be prepared for this course by following the preceding course “Fundamentals of International Taxation” (TAX4010).
Aanbevolen literatuur
In general, the literature needed for the course will be electronically available. A recommendation for printed legal texts will be provided in due time.