The Brother Group always share our social, economic and cultural resources in all the communities where the Brother Group operates by the Global Charter. As a part of these efforts, we comply with the letter and spirit of tax laws and regulations in each country and region where we conduct business activities and properly fulfill our tax obligations as a responsible taxpayer.
1. Tax Governance
Brother Industries, Ltd. (BIL) has positioned tax risk as one of key risks, and Risk Management Committee conducts an assessment of tax risks including transfer pricing at each Group company once each year and reports the assessment results to the Board of Directors.
In addition, reports on tax risks are made to the Strategy Meeting, which is made up of corporate officers, as necessary.
Information on tax issues in each country and region is shared with the BIL's tax department via regional headquarters as appropriate. Support is obtained from tax accountants and other outside experts, and we engage in discussions with tax authorities when necessary to carry out tax procedures.
We strive to work in good faith with tax authorities and takes measures to maintain and enhance tax-related corporate governance.
2. Transfer Pricing Taxation
With regard to transfer pricing tax risks, the Brother Group complies with local tax laws and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines. We appropriately manage transfer prices with each country and region while sharing information with tax departments and business divisions so that the Brother Group can conduct transactions at arm's length prices, which are properly reported in the three tired approach for transfer pricing documentation in accordance with the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) policy.
We mitigate tax risks associated with transactions that pose high transfer pricing tax risks by using advance pricing agreements (APA).
3. Tax Planning and Tax Avoidance
The Brother Group effectively uses tax incentives that are available in our ordinary business activities in each country and region and endeavor to achieve appropriate tax burden levels throughout the Group, but we do not engage in profit shifting to low tax countries and regions with intention of evading the purport of tax laws.
BIL selects the countries and regions where it establishes subsidiaries for the purpose of conducting ordinary business activities and does not establish subsidiaries in tax haven countries and regions for the purpose of tax avoidance. In cases where a subsidiary is subject to the Controlled Foreign Company taxation, BIL properly files tax returns and makes tax payments.
