Articles | Cases | Research
Many transfer pricing teams still treat risk as an annual documentation exercise. Build the local file, update the benchmark, finalise
BY: Mark Korten – Korten Consulting The Minister of Finance in Mauritius presented the 2020/21 Budget on 11 June 2021. I
Glencore Australia (CMPL) sold copper concentrate produced in Australia to its Swiss parent, Glencore International AG (GIAG).
The tax authorities found that the price paid by Glencore International AG to Glencore Australia for the copper concentrate in the relevant years, according to a price-sharing agreement, was less than the price that might reasonably be expected to have been paid in an arm’s length dealing between independent parties.
In Lexel AB v Skatteverket (Case C‑484/19), the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that Swedish tax legislation, which denied Lexel AB the right to deduct interest payments made to a group company located in another EU Member State (France), infringed upon the freedom of establishment protected under Article 49 TFEU.
The Coca-Cola transfer pricing dispute is a landmark case between The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The case centers on the appropriate transfer pricing method to allocate profits between Coca-Cola’s U.S. parent company and its foreign subsidiaries. The IRS argued that Coca-Cola’s existing transfer pricing method resulted in underpayment of U.S. taxes, leading to a significant tax deficiency.
The Federal Court of Appeal’s ruling in the case between Her Majesty The Queen and Cameco Corporation centers on the application of Canada’s transfer pricing rules, particularly under Section 247 of the Income Tax Act.
The Supreme Court of Zambia ruled on the appeal by Mopani Copper Mines PLC against the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) regarding tax assessments for the charge years 2006/07, 2007/08, and subsequent years. The dispute centered on the transfer pricing practices between Mopani and its shareholder, Glencore International AG (GIAG).
Choose the track that fits your practice focus. All programmes are practitioner-taught, cohort-based, and validated by Middlesex University.
| Dimension | Transfer Pricing | International Taxation | South African Tax Law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jurisdictional audience | Global audience, covers all jurisdictions | Global audience, covers all jurisdictions | South Africa specific, relevant to SADC region |
| Ideal for | TP managers, advisors, in-house tax teams, analysts moving into TP | Advisors and managers dealing with cross-border rules, treaties, planning | Practitioners working with the SA Income Tax Act, cases, compliance |
| Core focus | Methods, comparables, DEMPE, documentation, audits, dispute defence | Treaties, source vs residence, anti-avoidance, PE, relief from double tax | Statutory interpretation, case law, assessments, objections, local practice |
| Primary tools | OECD TP Guidelines, UN Manual, BEPS Actions 8–10, 13, case law | OECD and UN Models, MLI, BEPS 1.0 and 2.0, domestic rules, cases | Income Tax Act, SARS practice notes, Tax Administration Act, SA cases |
| Assessment style | Case-based assignments, file reviews, short written defences | Problem questions, treaty interpretation, position papers | Problem questions, statutory analysis, case commentary |
| Typical outcomes | Build defensible TP files and strategies, improve audit readiness | Design cross-border structures within rules, mitigate double tax | Apply SA tax law accurately, manage reviews and disputes |
| Entry point | Start with PG Certificate, progress to PG Diploma, then MSc, or enter later with suitable experience or credits. | ||
| Award | Best for | What you achieve | Assessment highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| PG Certificate | Foundation to intermediate upskilling | Core concepts, frameworks, and applied techniques | Short case write ups, timed responses, applied tasks |
| PG Diploma | Expanding technical depth and application | Advanced analysis, risk management, documentation quality | Integrated case assignments, policy memos, oral defence |
| MSc | Leaders and specialists building authority | Capstone project and research backed practice outcomes | Research project, viva or presentation, publishable summary |
Practical, practitioner-led certificates designed for immediate on-the-job application. Each course can stand alone or act as a pathway into our postgraduate tracks.
| Dimension | Conducting a Transfer Pricing Trial | Effectively Managing Tax Teams | Indirect Taxation | Tax Risk Management |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jurisdictional audience | Global audience | Global audience | Global audience, with local adaptation | Global audience |
| Ideal for | In-house tax, TP managers, litigators, advisors preparing for audits, ADR, trial | Heads of tax, managers, team leads, controllers, emerging leaders | VAT, GST, customs, finance managers, AP, AR, compliance specialists | Tax managers, risk officers, controllers, advisors building governance |
| Core focus | Case theory, evidence files, expert reports, witness prep, courtroom strategy | Operating models, KPIs, workflows, stakeholder management, coaching | VAT design, place of supply, input credits, exemptions, WHT interactions | Risk identification, controls, documentation, audit readiness, dispute playbooks |
| Delivery mode | Online, live sessions plus guided self-study | Online, live sessions plus guided self-study | Online, live sessions plus guided self-study | Online, live sessions plus guided self-study |
| Duration | 16 weeks, part-time | 16 weeks, part-time | 16 weeks, part-time | 16 weeks, part-time |
| Outcomes | Confident litigation preparation and defence for TP disputes | Stronger execution, clear roles, measurable team performance | Reduced VAT errors, better cash flow, fewer surprises at audit | Structured governance, fewer findings, faster dispute resolution |
| Prerequisites | TP fundamentals recommended | Supervisory experience helpful | Basic VAT knowledge helpful | General tax experience helpful |
| Pathway | Progress to PG Certificate in Transfer Pricing | Progress to Mechanics of Leading Tax Teams, PG Certificate (leadership) | Progress to PG programmes, International Tax or SA Tax Law | Progress to PG Certificate in International Taxation or Transfer Pricing |
| Assessment | End of module progress assessment 5000-word assignment if PG-Cert option elected |
End of module progress assessment 5000-word assignment if PG-Cert option elected |
End of module progress assessment 5000-word assignment if PG-Cert option elected |
End of module progress assessment 5000-word assignment if PG-Cert option elected |