OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann opened the 18th Inclusive Framework plenary in Paris on 28 October 2026, highlighting progress on the global minimum tax and outlining priorities for developing countries, emerging tax challenges and digitalisation.
The OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann opened the 18th meeting of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) in Paris on 28 October 2026. He welcomed Guatemala, which joined in January 2026 as the framework’s 148th member.
From Kyoto to today
Ten years ago, 82 countries and jurisdictions met in Kyoto for the framework’s first meeting. Membership now stands at 148, and every member takes part on an equal footing.
The framework has replaced gaps and mismatches in international tax rules with common standards. It has also introduced transparency and a global minimum tax on the profits of the largest multinational enterprises (MNEs).
Results so far
The Secretary-General pointed to measurable outcomes. The ratio of profits to employees in MNE operations in investment hubs fell by 27%. The sensitivity of booked profits to tax rates dropped by up to 40% compared with pre-2015 estimates. Statutory corporate tax rates have stabilised after two decades of decline.
In January 2026, members agreed a side-by-side package that secures the global minimum tax. Around 65 jurisdictions have implemented the rules. Together with the side-by-side arrangement, more than 90% of in-scope MNEs are covered.
A July 2026 OECD economic impact assessment found that the global minimum tax could cut profit shifting by between a quarter and almost half. It could also lift global corporate tax revenues by 3% to 5% a year, with no significant adverse effect on investment or employment in its first year.
Pressure on public finances
Public finances face growing strain. Public debt as a share of GDP is higher today than before the global financial crisis in every G20 country except two. Global growth is expected to slow to 2.9% this year. The Secretary-General said well-designed tax systems matter more than ever. Such systems raise revenue efficiently, support investment and sustain public trust.
Three priorities for the meeting
Helping every member benefit
The first priority is making sure every member benefits. Peer reviews of the BEPS minimum standards have been simplified, and developing countries are gaining better access to Country-by-Country reports. Regional engagement has grown, and the Steering Group has a clearer role. The focus now falls on implementing the minimum standards, Amount B and the Subject to Tax Rule multilateral instrument. The OECD has trained close to 150,000 officials through its tax programmes. A session on domestic resource mobilisation on 29 October 2026, held with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the United Nations, will show where members need support most.
Keeping tax systems fit for change
The second priority is keeping tax systems fit for change. This week, members will launch two workstreams. One covers the tax challenges of the global mobility of workers, with a work plan awaiting approval. The other examines links between tax, inequality and growth, pursued in phases. A report to G20 Finance Ministers in October 2026 found that tax certainty, targeted incentives and lower compliance costs help new and growing firms invest and create jobs. Members will also share experience on using AI in tax administration and on responding to demographic shifts, including ageing populations and large youth cohorts.
A fresh start on digitalisation
The third priority is digitalisation. Members have already invested heavily in this work, including the International VAT/GST Guidelines and the phased implementation of Amount B. On 29 October 2026, discussions will restart with evidence on how the digital economy has evolved. Members will build a shared view of the challenges before they weigh priorities and next steps. The Secretary-General noted that consensus will be hard to reach. The central question is how to prevent fragmentation, protect tax bases and give governments and businesses the certainty they need.
Looking ahead
The 148 members sit at very different stages of development, and they have rarely started from the same position over the past decade. Those differences have not stopped progress, and the framework has produced durable solutions. The OECD will support members throughout the meeting. The Secretary-General wished the meeting a productive and successful outcome.
