Microsoft’s $29 Billion Tax Bill Offers Transfer Pricing Lessons

The IRS is demanding $28.9 billion—plus penalties and interest—in back taxes from Microsoft Corp. The issue? A transfer pricing cost-sharing arrangement.

The setup isn’t uncommon. Many tech companies send intellectual property to entities in low-tax countries to be legally owned, developed, maintained, and exploited. Then, they share ongoing costs associated with the intellectual property, which effectively allows them to book revenue and retain profits locally, reducing hefty tax bills in higher-tax countries.

In the case of Microsoft, from 2004 to 2013, the tech giant licensed marketing and technology intangibles to entities in Puerto Rico, Dublin, and Singapore—all under a global cost-sharing arrangement. Due to the transfer pricing arrangement, Microsoft was able to shift 47% of its US revenue to Puerto Rico in the form of payments for imported software.

It raised the question about Microsoft’s business need for such a cost-sharing arrangement. After an initial investigation involving the Puerto Rico manufacturer, the IRS determined the arrangement was “illusory in nature, servicing no material economic purpose except to shift income to Puerto Rico.”

Microsoft has said it will contest the tax bill through the IRS’s administrative appeals office and, if necessary, in court, which would take years to resolve.

In the meantime, taxpayers can learn from this case and be proactive about transfer pricing arrangements involving intangible assets. Here are a few takeaways.

Tax can’t lead the business. Microsoft has openly stated that some of its arrangements were constructed for tax purposes rather than business purposes, but you can’t let the desire for lower tax bills lead business decisions.

Sure, be smart and strategic, but shifting IP to low-tax jurisdictions for the sake of saving tax dollars is visible to tax authorities (and not great for your company’s reputation with consumers), who won’t hesitate to act on it. Business structures should always be based on what’s best for the business.

The IRS is a juggernaut. Historically, the IRS hasn’t had the best track record when cracking down on transfer pricing—most taxpayers worried more about their pricing in other countries. Lately, the stars are aligning for the US tax authority. In 2020, the IRS won a $3.3 billion payout from Coca-Cola Co. over the transfer pricing of intangibles.

Already, the IRS has made some unusually aggressive moves with Microsoft, including hiring a corporate law firm to represent the agency. Now with the $80 billion injection courtesy of the Inflation Reduction Act—a large portion of which is slated for transfer pricing compliance—the IRS will have the resources to go after other companies as well.

Substance matters. Transfer pricing isn’t just a numbers game—even with bona fide cost-sharing arrangements, tax authorities are likely to challenge the substance of the transaction and the buy-in payment.

Profits stemming from intangible assets that land in tax havens or shell companies won’t go unnoticed. Even worse, such arrangements will be viewed as tax avoidance or evasion, and transfer pricing adjustments will be coupled with harsh penalties.

When pricing intangibles, thoroughly evaluate the development, enhancement, maintenance, protection, and exploitation (or DEMPE) functions, which are the primary functions that determine economic ownership of intangibles. Craft the narrative to focus on economic and business substance, not merely legal ownership.

Document, document, document. Transfer pricing documentation may be a compliance requirement, but it’s also a chance to proactively explain business decisions. Documenting transactions contemporaneously gives you the advantage of explaining the rationale behind transactions in real time, as opposed to trying to piece together explanations after the fact.

Narratives matter. Tax authorities may not understand your industry, so it’s important to explain the business and any red flags—for example, business that takes place in tax havens—and make sure documentation is consistent and aligns with reality.

Being proactive about compliance, and mindful of these points, could just spare you the hassle and headaches that Microsoft is sure to face.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc., the publisher of Bloomberg Law and Bloomberg Tax, or its owners.