Intercompany agreements: the relevance explained

A multinational entity (MNE) has its companies and activities located in (several) different countries. These ‘group companies’ often provide each other with goods and services within the MNE. However, national and international rules in the field of transfer pricing require group companies to trade with each other as if they are not related. The conditions of these trades are laid down in contracts, so-called intercompany agreements. In this article we briefly explain the importance of these intercompany agreements and how TPGenie can assist you in creating and managing your intercompany agreements.

What are intercompany agreements?

Intercompany agreements are arrangements made between two (or more) group entities that trade with each other. These agreements determine the conditions under which goods or services are delivered between group companies.

Typical transaction types covered by intercompany agreements include:

Head office and back office services (e.g. finance, tax, legal and HR services) Marketing services Intellectual property licenses IT services and support Revenue/profit sharing Cost sharing R&D services Contract manufacturing Toll manufacturing

Shared services arrangements Sale of goods Sales agency and commissionaire arrangements Loan facilities (e.g. term loans, revolving credit and overdraft facilities) Intercompany debt in security form (e.g. loan notes) Guarantees and other forms of security or financial support Cash pooling Secondment of staff and other mobility arrangements

Intercompany agreements vs. ‘regular’ agreements

Intercompany agreements differ fundamentally from regular agreements. In regular agreements, two parties stand opposite each other, each representing their own interests. In such cases (lengthy) negotiations will take place before an agreement is concluded to the satisfaction of both parties.

On the other hand, there is the intercompany agreement. Here, negotiations take place between two group entities, both of which will ultimately act in the group interest. Therefore, negotiations will not take as long and an agreement can be drafted more easily. Intercompany agreements are often much shorter than regular agreements.

Why are intercompany agreements important?

The contract is the starting point for a detailed picture of a transaction between related parties. Contracts describe what the intentions of the contracting parties were when they entered into the contract. This includes matters such as: the division of responsibilities, the risks and expected outcomes. Contracts are therefore important documents that can confirm that your transfer prices are set correctly.

In addition, in more and more countries it is mandatory to keep proper documentation regarding transfer pricing agreements, including intercompany agreements. Also, some qualifying MNEs will have to use a local file and a master file in which the intercompany agreements are included.

The risks of not having a clear transfer pricing documentation are foreseeable. If the tax authority of a certain country does not agree with the calculated transfer price, a profit correction will have to be made to the companies. If the tax authority of the other country does not accept this correction, double taxation will occur. Apart from the (usually higher) taxation, such discussions entail a lot of administrative work and costs. The tax authorities will carry out an audit and it is then up to the company to provide evidence to substantiate a certain transfer price. This reversal of the burden of proof puts you in a more difficult position. It is often easier to take a position carefully in advance than to have to refute a tax authority’s position afterwards.

Intercompany agreements therefore play an important role in:

• Implementing related party transactions legally;
• Defining (or ‘delineating’) their terms;
• Allocating risk;
• Specifying the pricing, including any post year-end true-up or true-down arrangements;
• Complying with the formal requirements of transfer pricing documentation.

What to keep in mind when drafting intercompany agreements?

As with everything in transfer pricing, contractual provisions must comply with the ‘at arm’s length principle’. The at arm’s length principle states that group companies should deal with each other in the same way and on the same terms as independent parties would. Therefore, ensure that contracts are in line with reality and consistent with comparable transfer pricing documentation. Contracts can prevent, but also cause, questions from tax authorities. It is therefore important that your contracts are in order.

TPGenie can help you with managing and creating your intercompany agreements. With our Intercompany agreements database you can structure the many contracts within your MNE. With the Intercompany agreements creation tool you have possibilities to (bulk) create your agreements including workflow and e-signatures.

Summary

Intercompany agreements are important for multinationals where goods or services are delivered between group entities. They are the starting point to determine whether an MNE has acted ‘at arm’s length’ and ensure that a multinational can defend itself against a tax authority. It is therefore very important that the intercompany agreements are correctly documented. TPGenie can help you achieving this.

TPGenie has numerous features for creating and managing inter-company agreements. Please click the below button to schedule a 15-minute demo of TPGenie and it’s agreement modules.