Mazars tax essay challenge

Mazars, in collaboration with SMU Tax Society, brings you the first ever Mazars Tax Essay Challenge.

As part of SMU Tax Society's Master Your Tax series, Mazars is inviting SMU Accountancy and Law undergraduate students to brainstorm on the topic The Digital Economy: Breaking Tax Boundaries and submit an essay providing a comprehensive analysis of these tax challenges.

Interested individuals are required to write an analytical essay based on the following topic:

The Digital Economy: Breaking Tax Boundaries

Recent developments in digitalisation changed the face of the global economy, and these changes create challenges for the current basis of international taxation.

Please take into account the following:

  • The business models/features of the digital economy which gave rise to BEPS risks, and the measures developed across the BEPS Project to mitigate such risks;
  • Development of a more comprehensive approach to determine the source of income from e-commerce operations;
  • Expansion of the definition of 'Permanent Establishment' in the context of intensifying digitalisation, and the possibility of adding a new nexus of 'Virtual Permanent Establishment'.  

Requirements for the submission:

  • Calibri, 11pt
  • Single spacing
  • 2 to 4 pages, approximately 600 words on each page
  • Proper citation for references and literature
  • Students are encouraged to be creative in their writing. 

Selection criteria:

Winning entries will be selected by Gene Kwee, Mazars Head of Tax based on the following, among other factors: 

  • Depth and creativity, with an emphasis on the tax aspects;
  • Thoroughness of research done;
  • Organization and writing style;
  • Consideration of tax policy implications. 

The Prizes:

The Top 3 winning essays will be published on the Mazars website with the opportunity to reach wider readership! Not only that, the first prize winner will take home a brand new Apple iPad! Stay tuned for the other prizes to be given away!

  • First Prize: Apple iPad
  • Second Prize: Apple Watch Series 1 (38mm)
  • Third Prize: JBL Flip 4

Deadline of Submission:

Kindly email your entries to tsmu@sa.smu.edu.sg by 3 November, 2017.

Announcement of Winners:

Winners will be notified on 10 November 2017 through Mazars Singapore's official Facebook. An announcement of the winners will also be sent through e-mail by SMU Tax Society. 

The Winners:

Mazars Tax Essay Winners

Our experts

Winner: Mazars Tax Essay Challenge by Terrance Goh

We are happy to share with you the winning essay of the Mazars Tax Essay Challenge by Terrance Goh about "The Digital Economy: Breaking Tax Boundaries."

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1st Runner Up: Mazars Tax Essay Challenge by Mavis Wee

We are happy to share with you the 1st runner up of the Mazars Tax Essay Challenge by Mavis Wee about "The Digital Economy: Breaking Tax Boundaries."

Read more

2nd Runner Up: Mazars Tax Essay Challenge by Benjamin Tay

We are happy to share with you the 2nd runner up of the Mazars Tax Essay Challenge by Benjamin Tay about "The Digital Economy: Breaking Tax Boundaries."

Read more