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Shell

Introduction to country-by-country reporting

In this report, we disclose our country-by-country report (CbCR) data for 99 countries and locations in which we have a taxable presence and where we report financial figures. Where CbCR report data are not available for this report, we have provided information from our Payments to Governments Report [A].

Our Payments to Governments Report also discloses other forms of payments. These include production entitlements, royalties, fees and bonus payments. Where made, these payments have been referenced under each applicable country.

We share more information about our presence and purpose in each country and location, as well as relevant financial data which help determine Shell’s overall tax and economic contribution.

The OECD developed and implemented CbCR in 2017 and all large multinational enterprises are required to file reports with tax authorities.

The nature of our business varies and we can have more than one kind of activity wherever we are present. Under OECD rules, CbCR is prepared using aggregated financial data. It is therefore not always possible to draw conclusions about a single entity, business or venture.

This report shows aggregated country data for entities that are consolidated or proportionally consolidated in the Annual Report and Accounts 2020. We also include data for the Shell share of non-consolidated joint ventures and associates. These data are reported in the country where the entity holding the shares is based.

Shell uses International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) data and US dollars as the reporting currency in its CbCR. The main data source is the consolidated Group reporting system, but reliance is also placed on data from local accounting systems for specific items.

The financial information taken from our consolidated Group reporting system has been prepared under Shell’s general financial controls. CbCR reports are not subject to an external audit, statement or opinion.

[A] Payments to Governments Report for 2020.

CBCR Definitions

The OECD requires certain data to be included in CbCR. See below for definitions of the key country-by-country reporting terms.

Revenues

Revenues are disclosed as a split between those from related parties and those from third parties. For CbCR, third parties would include non-consolidated joint ventures and associates for the purposes of our Annual Report and Accounts 2020.

Third-party revenues include sales of products, interest income, dividend income and other income. Related-party revenues include transactions between consolidated Group entities. For example, related-party revenues arise if our Trading organisation buys oil or gas from our Upstream organisation and sells it to our Downstream organisation.

Within one country or location, many of these related party transactions may occur, as Shell entities buy and sell goods, or provide and receive services, to or from each other. Shell includes all these transactions in its aggregated CbCR data. For example, feedstock could be sold to a refinery, refined and then processed further in a chemical plant before being traded by Shell. This can occur within one country or location. In this case, each of these sales between different entities would be counted as related-party revenues. These can represent large amounts.

Profit before tax

Profit or loss before tax is reported in Shell’s Consolidated Statement of Income. Any share of profit or loss from non-consolidated joint ventures and associates is reported under the country where the entity holding the shares is based. This is the profit or loss calculated using Group accounting policies. Local statutory accounts may need to comply with local accounting standards which may be different. The local statutory accounting profit or loss is the basis for the calculation of taxable profits in individual countries or locations. Local tax laws are then applied to the profit or loss. Profit before tax shows the Group accounting result but not the profits subject to tax after compliance with local tax laws.

Tax paid

This includes corporate income tax paid in 2020. In some cases, this may include payments made in relation to previous years or future years as tax payments are often made in arrears or in advance. It also includes accrued withholding taxes on dividend, interest and royalty payments to Shell entities. It does not include withholding taxes collected by Shell on dividends paid to shareholders.

Tax accrued

This is the amount of corporate income tax for 2020 recorded as current-year tax in Shell’s Consolidated Statement of Income. This also includes withholding tax accrued. It does not include prior-year adjustments, deferred tax or provisions for uncertain tax liabilities.

Stated capital

This information is sourced from local statutory accounts and is the amount of money invested in return for shares.

The OECD rules require aggregated data, including for stated capital. This means that when a holding company invests in a subsidiary, which then invests in another subsidiary, all within the same country, each of those investments is counted and aggregated.

Accumulated earnings

Accumulated earnings reflect the profits retained and not used for any other purpose, such as to pay dividends to shareholders.

Number of employees

This is the average number of employees in the year, including permanent and temporary staff on long-term contracts. Some of our businesses are labour-intensive. Others, such as holding companies which hold shares in subsidiaries or joint ventures, are not.

Tangible assets

The data reported in line with CbCR comprise property, plant and equipment and inventories as at the closing balance sheet date on December 31, 2020.

Corporate income tax
This is a direct tax imposed on companies’ profits. It is sometimes levied at a national level but can also be levied on a state or local basis.
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Country
Throughout this report, “country” is used as the primary descriptor for a geographical area because that is the word used by the OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project in their proposal for country-by-country reporting (CbCR). This is one of the four minimum reporting standards to which over 100 countries have committed, covering the tax residence jurisdictions of nearly all large multinational enterprises (MNEs). In this report “country” may also refer to locations, jurisdictions or territories which have their own tax regimes or discrete rules.
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Country-by-country reporting
Country-by-country reporting (CbCR) was introduced for all large multinational enterprises (MNEs) as part of the OECD BEPS project. The report should disclose aggregate data on income, profit, taxes paid and economic activity among tax jurisdictions in which the MNE operates. The report is filed with the main tax authority (typically the tax authority in the country in which the MNE has its head office) which can share it with tax authorities in other countries.
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Dividend
After payment of costs and taxes, a company may choose to make a dividend payment to its shareholders as a return on their investment in the company. After payments of dividends, any remaining surplus is termed ‘retained earnings’ and is available for reinvestment into the business.
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Multinational enterprise or corporation
A multinational enterprise (MNE) or multinational corporation is a company or group of companies with business establishments in two or more countries.
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OECD
OECD stands for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development which is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 38 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade.
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Profit before tax
These are profits after the deduction of operating costs but before the deduction of tax. This number forms the basis on which we apply local tax laws and then pay corporate income tax.
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Royalties
Royalties are generally payment due for the use of an asset. Mineral royalties are payments to governments or other owners for the rights to extract oil and gas resources, typically at a set percentage of revenue less any deductions that may be taken. See Trademark royalties.
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Taxable presence
See Permanent establishment.
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Withholding taxes
A withholding tax is an income tax to be paid to the government by the payer of the income rather than by the recipient of the income. The tax is thus withheld or deducted from the income due to the recipient. Withholding taxes usually apply to royalties, interest or dividends.
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