What's next for global tax policy, and what does it mean for Australian business?

Complexity is becoming the defining business challenge 

Deloitte’s 2026 Global Tax Policy Survey paints a clear picture: businesses around the world are grappling with an increasingly complex tax environment. While much public debate focuses on tax rates and major reforms, survey respondents say rising compliance obligations, reporting requirements and administrative burdens are having the biggest impact on their organisations.  

In Australia, that observation feels particularly relevant. Across areas as diverse as tax transparency, AI-enabled compliance, sustainability incentives and global tax reform, the common thread is the growing challenge of managing multiple overlapping requirements. 

Transparency moves from disclosure to trust 

Transparency and reporting ranked as the most impactful tax policy themes globally for the third consecutive year, with 84% of respondents expecting public tax disclosures to continue increasing over the next two to three years.  

Australia sits at the forefront of this trend. Public country-by-country reporting, the redesigned Voluntary Tax Transparency Code and the Australian Tax Office’s (ATO) justified trust program reflect a broader shift from disclosure towards controls and accountability.   

As disclosure expectations increase, organisations are finding that success depends less on producing reports and more on establishing robust governance frameworks. Consistent data, clear ownership and board-level assurance are becoming prerequisites for maintaining regulatory confidence and public trust. Globally, survey participants identified sourcing and verifying data, governance alignment and assurance as among their most significant transparency challenges.  

AI is only as powerful as the data behind it 

Digitalisation emerged as another defining theme, with more than half of respondents identifying it among the most impactful policy issues.  

The survey suggests leaders see significant promise in AI-powered tax solutions, particularly through stronger accuracy, efficiency and compliance outcomes. However, implementation costs, complexity and governance concerns remain substantial.  

Australian organisations face another imperative. As the ATO continues to pursue a more digital and data-driven approach to tax administration, businesses are increasingly expected to support positions with real-time, data-led evidence and assurance. 

This means technology alone is unlikely to deliver value. Organisations still reliant on spreadsheets, fragmented systems and manual processes may struggle to realise the benefits of AI and automation. Success still depends on strong foundations:  trusted data, clear accountability and effective governance. 

Global mobility remains uneven 

The survey highlights growing efforts to modernise international tax rules for remote and cross-border work. Reforms to OECD guidance have been broadly welcomed and are expected to reduce some compliance challenges for multinational employers.  

For Australia, however, the picture is more complicated. While employers may benefit from greater certainty, individual workers continue to navigate complex residency rules and tax obligations. Combined with high personal tax rates and rising living costs, these factors may affect Australia's ability to attract globally mobile talent.  

For many organisations, particularly small and medium enterprises, the practical challenge is balancing access to international talent against the compliance costs and administrative complexity created by cross-border employment arrangements. 

From policy reform to implementation 

The implementation of Pillar Two represents another shift from policy design to operational reality. The global minimum tax regime is now in its first major reporting and compliance cycle, with the focus turning to data collection, reporting systems and governance. 

Australian organisations are already experiencing the practical implications. Many groups have discovered the rules extend beyond traditional multinational structures, creating new obligations for entities connected through ownership arrangements and investment structures.  

The challenge is not just understanding the concept of Pillar Two, but also building the systems, processes and coordination needed to comply with it efficiently. 

Strategy increasingly sits at the intersection 

Trade policy, sustainability initiatives and economic incentives are also becoming more interconnected. 

The survey found businesses are redesigning supply chains, diversifying markets and adapting operating models in response to changing trade conditions. Meanwhile, sustainability incentives are increasingly influencing investment decisions, with many organisations actively exploring grants, credits and other funding mechanisms.  

For Australian organisations, these developments reinforce a broader trend: tax can no longer be considered a standalone function. Decisions about investment, talent, supply chains and technology increasingly intersect with tax policy and compliance obligations. 

The organisations best positioned to navigate this environment will be those that treat governance, data and transparency not as compliance exercises but as strategic capabilities. In a world of growing complexity, those capabilities are set to become a genuine source of competitive advantage.