German Law Adds New List of Countries to Global Tax Rules

Germany has drafted new rules that will expand the list of places companies must consider when reporting taxes under the global minimum tax framework. The draft, released by the finance ministry, says that firms will need to check whether a country has a qualified domestic minimum top‑up tax. Countries already on the list include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Ireland, Qatar and New Zealand, with many others expected to be added.This change is part of the Pillar Two agreement from 2021, which aims to make sure multinational firms pay at least a 15% tax wherever they operate. By adding the QDMTT list, Germany wants to make the reporting process clearer for businesses. The new draft will help companies know exactly which local taxes they need to include on their global minimum tax returns. Critics argue the move could make compliance more complicated, while supporters say it will reduce tax avoidance. The draft is still pending approval and could change before becoming law.