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Transfer pricing is the No. 1 tax issue for multinationals. So how do the rules differ from country to country? How has the economic crisis impacted them? We surveyed experts and tax authorities in 49 jurisdictions to find out.

Governments around the world are fighting the first global recession we've experienced since World War II, and tax measures are playing a major part - 56%, according to recent OECD figures - in the range of stimulus packages being rolled out globally. Tax policy has gone global in a major way, and in this study from Ernst & Young, tax measures in 24 major jurisdictions are analysed, and a key set of common themes are apparent, resulting in both challenges and opportunities for the tax function. Read more in Worldwide fiscal stimulus - tax policy plays a major role.

The Transfer pricing global reference guide is a tool designed to enable international tax executives to quickly identify the transfer pricing rules, practices, and approaches that have been adopted by over 45 countries. These various approaches must be understood in order to complete both compliance and planning activities.

Managing tax risk continues to be one of the toughest challenges for tax departments around the world. 541 companies from 18 countries took part in this year's survey, enabling us to identify global trends in tax function priorities, time allocation and success measures. Download the "2008 Ernst & Young Tax risk survey: Steady course: uncharted waters" (pdf, 2.5mb)

This publication is intended primarily for transfer pricing and tax professionals with responsibility for the transfer pricing arrangements and documentation within banks, asset management and insurance companies operating internationally. However, FSTP worldwide may also serve (pdf, 279kb) as a guide to consultants, tax practitioners and scholars with an interest in transfer pricing for financial services firms.

This paper aims to provide a thoughtful and thought-provoking discussion of the drivers and future direction of tax compliance, seen in the context of finance function integration (pdf, 1.9mb). We explore how tax could align itself with the corporate objectives as a result of a second wave of centralization that is occurring within organizations.

With a severe economic slowdown in the global economy, cost reduction efforts are taking on increased importance for companies seeking to maintain profitability and remain competitive. Download the new thought leadership (pdf, 712kb) from Ernst & Young's Human Capital professionals.

January 27 2009 saw an Ernst & Young Thought Center Webcast that provided an opportunity to hear analysis and commentary on the makeup of the 111th Congress, the transition to the Obama administration and the administration's proposed economic recovery package.