Oranjestad, August 20 — Deloitte Dutch Caribbean hosted a lecture by Peter Kavelaars, professor of tax economics at Erasmus University, Rotterdam, and partner/director of the Tax Research Center of Deloitte Tax in the Netherlands. The lecture was organized by Michael-Leo van Romondt, tax partner, Deloitte Dutch Caribbean, and Geert Weber, tax, and focused mainly on three important topics.
The first dealt with recent developments in the Dutch tax system and included a possible tax revision and the tax policy on cars. The second examined interesting developments in the wake of several law cases handled by the European Court of Justice, related to countries such as Aruba. The issue of cross-border fiscal unity was brought up as well, since the European Court of Justice recognizes the challenge it creates.
The main topic for the afternoon examined the international developments involving tax avoidance, also known by its acronym BEPS: Base Erosion and Profit Shifting. Kavelaars explored the measures now being prepared by the EU and the OECD, against BEPS, and informed that these will have to be implemented in the near future. Two other related topics were the strong increase in automatic international information exchange between countries, and the incorporation of antiabuse provisions in national laws and in tax treaties. Kavelaars argued that these and other announced measures, such as country-by-country reporting, would seriously affect the international business community and international tax regimes. Consequently he predicted some turbulent tax developments, imminently looming on the horizon.
The lecture, on a recent Friday afternoon, unfolded at the Aruba Surfside Marina. Van Romondt explained that in light of ongoing developments, Deloitte Dutch Caribbean asked the renown Professor, to once more talk about tax issues.
At the end of the information ecchange guests enjoyed a casual sunset cocktail hour on the lovely deck overlooking the Caribbean with butler-passed hors’ d’oeuvres, where the professor continued to interact with lecture-goers, in a warm friendly atmosphere. The dignitary has written many economic articles on developments in taxation, and co- authored a number of books, and is considered an authority on the fiscal system in the Dutch Caribbean, and in the Netherlands.
Pictured here, snapshots from an interesting afternoon.

Share on: