On 12 March 2018 the OECD released the third round of peer reviews relating to improving tax dispute resolution mechanisms to make them more timely, relevant and effective. Action 14 of the action plan on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) was concerned with making dispute resolution more timely, effective and efficient and the peer reviews are part of the follow up work to implement the minimum standard.

The third round consists of eight peer review reports  on the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Korea (Rep), Norway, Poland, Singapore and Spain. Where a country has elected to have its best practices assessed there is also a document available relating to this. The reports contain specific recommendations on implementation of the minimum standard. In due course a second stage of the peer reviews will take place to look at the extent to which the recommendations made in the first stage have been addressed by each country.

These first stage peer review reports are a result of political commitments made by the members of the Inclusive Framework on BEPS and represent measurable progress by the countries in BEPS implementation. The OECD has issued a peer review assessment schedule for conducting peer reviews and publishing reports..

The OECD has also asked taxpayers to submit information in relation to the fifth round of first stage peer reviews on dispute resolution mechanisms which will cover Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Turkey. Input is invited on specific issues relating to access to the mutual agreement procedure (MAP), clarity of the procedures, the availability of guidance on MAP and the timely implementation of MAP agreements. For this feedback a taxpayer input questionnaire is provided and information is requested by 9 April 2018.