The role of taxation concessions in attracting offshore business : an Asia-Pacific comparison

This article examines the concessions granted through the taxation system to attract regional headquarter companies to Australia. In examining the concessions, the threshold requirements are briefly considered, following which the concessions are analysed to determine their potential efficacy. It may be that by planning the remittance of returns to the regional headquarters best use of the concessions may be made, without wasting any potential benefit provided by the incentive. A comparison is also provided of the Australian concessions with those offered by Singapore and Malaysia, being regimes in the Asia-Pacific region which are competing to attract regional headquarters business.