Deloitte’s take on Pillar Two and global stock-based compensation

Pillar Two Overview:

1. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) introduced Pillar Two rules (also referred to as “Global Anti-Base Erosion” or “GloBE” rules) that will require multinational companies to pay a global minimum level of tax on income from all covered jurisdictions they operate in.
2. Multinational companies in scope for Pillar Two with an effective Pillar Two tax rate below the minimum tax rate of 15% in any covered jurisdictions may be required to pay a top-up tax.
3. Pillar Two top-up taxes are slated to come into effect for accounting periods starting in 2024, and jurisdictions around the world have begun drafting, or in some cases enacted, implementation legislation.
4. The Pillar Two GloBE income/loss computation is generally based on financial accounting net income or loss determined for the constituent entity in preparing consolidated financial statements of the ultimate parent entity. For U.S. based multinationals, this generally means U.S. GAAP financial statements for each entity within the multinational group and includes the amount of stock-based compensation expense recorded in the constituent entity's financial accounts.

The Issue:

As companies digest the new rules and weigh benefits of several elections, the planning considerations around stock-based compensation should be part of the conversation.

The Opportunity:

An intercompany stock compensation charge out arrangement can help support claims for a local non-U.S. compensation deduction. Issuers must assess the amount of stock-based compensation expense that relates to employees of each constituent entity, tax deductibility, and transfer pricing impact, as well as potential impact on employment taxes, prior to pursuing local tax deductions and broader Pillar Two compliance in this area.

The Challenge:

With Pillar Two on the horizon, there is an opportunity for companies to revisit their current processes and policies around global stock-based compensation and global recharge agreements. The requirements to secure a local tax deduction can vary, in some cases significantly, between countries, as well as between different types of stock-based compensation awards, plan participant profiles, and other related factors.

Addressing the items above may vary, though the key phases include:

The impact of stock-based compensation on local tax computations and Pillar Two computations can be complex areas to navigate, though also presents a potentially significant financial benefit for issuers. Deloitte’s global equity and incentive compensation specialists can help identify the guidance applicable to your stock-based compensation program, across award types, participant profiles, and different entity types, with the objective of seeking a tax efficient model for global stock-based compensation costs.