Details of fiscal risks
Philips is, as mentioned before, exposed to fiscal uncertainties. This section further describes this exposure. Please refer to note (5) Income taxes for additional disclosure relating to income taxes. Transfer pricing uncertaintiesPhilips has issued transfer pricing directives, which are in accordance with guidelines of the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development. As transfer pricing has a cross-border effect, the focus of local tax authorities on implemented transfer pricing procedures in a country may have an impact on results in another country. In order to mitigate the transfer pricing uncertainties, audits are executed by Corporate Fiscal and Internal Audit on a regular basis to safeguard the correct implementation of the transfer pricing directives. Tax uncertainties on general service agreements and specific allocation contractsDue to the centralization of certain activities in a limited number of countries (such as research and development, centralized IT, corporate functions and head office), costs are also centralized. As a consequence, for tax reasons these costs and/or revenues must be allocated to the beneficiaries, i.e. the various Philips entities. For that purpose, apart from specific allocation contracts for costs and revenues, general service agreements (GSAs) are signed with a large number of entities. Tax authorities review the implementation of GSAs, apply benefit tests for particular countries or audit the use of tax credits attached to GSAs and royalty payments, and may reject the implemented procedures. Furthermore, buy in/out situations in the case of (de)mergers could affect the tax allocation of GSAs between countries. The same applies to the specific allocation contracts. Tax uncertainties due to disentanglements and acquisitionsWhen a subsidiary of Philips is disentangled, or a new company is acquired, related tax uncertainties arise. Philips creates merger and acquisition (M&A) teams for these disentanglements or acquisitions. These teams consist of specialists from various corporate functions and are formed, amongst other things, to identify hidden tax uncertainties that could subsequently surface when companies are acquired and to reduce tax claims related to disentangled entities. These tax uncertainties are investigated and assessed to mitigate tax uncertainties in the future as much as possible. Several tax uncertainties may surface from M&A activities. Examples of uncertainties are: applicability of the participation exemption, allocation issues, and non-deductibility of parts of the purchase price. Tax uncertainties due to permanent establishmentsIn countries where Philips starts new operations, the issue of permanent establishment may arise. This is because when operations in new countries are led from other countries, there is a risk that tax claims will arise in the new country as well as in the initial country. Tax uncertainties of losses carried forward and tax credits carried forwardThe value of the losses carried forward is not only subject to having sufficient profits available within the loss-carried-forward period, but also subject to having sufficient profits within the foreseeable future in the case of losses carried forward with an indefinite carry-forward period. The ultimate realization of the Company’s deferred tax assets, including tax losses and credits carried forward, is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income in the countries where the temporary differences, unused tax losses and unused tax credits were incurred and during the periods in which the deferred tax assets become deductible. Additionally, in certain instances, realization of such deferred tax assets is dependent upon the successful execution of tax planning strategies. Accordingly, there can be no absolute assurance that all (net) tax losses and credits carried forward will be realized. | |||||
