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Rio Tinto settles all tax disputes with Australian Tax Office

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Rio Tinto has reached agreements with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) to resolve longstanding tax disputes. The agreements cover transfer pricing and tax matters from 2010 to 2021, ensuring Rio Tinto is not subject to double taxation. As part of the settlement, Rio Tinto will pay an additional A$613 million in taxes, which includes A$55 million in interest and A$22 million in penalties. These resolutions provide certainty for future tax outcomes until 2026.

Positive
  • Resolution of tax disputes with ATO and IRAS ensures no double taxation.
  • Future tax certainty established through 2026.
  • Longstanding disputes settled, enhancing investor confidence.
Negative
  • Additional tax payment of A$613 million may impact short-term cash flow.

MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto has reached agreement with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) on all tax matters in dispute.

The agreement resolves the disagreement relating to interest on an isolated borrowing used to pay an intragroup dividend in 2015. It also separately resolves the pricing of certain transactions between Rio Tinto entities based in Australia and the Group’s commercial centre in Singapore from 2010-2021 and provides certainty for a further five-year period.

Rio Tinto has also reached agreement with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) in relation to transfer pricing for the same periods.

Reaching agreement with both tax authorities ensures Rio Tinto is not subject to double taxation.

As part of this agreement, Rio Tinto will pay to the ATO additional tax of A$613m for the twelve historical years (2010 to 2021). This is in addition to the A$378m of tax paid in respect of the original amended assessments issued by the ATO. Over this period, Rio Tinto paid nearly A$80bn in tax and royalties in Australia.

Peter Cunningham, Rio Tinto Chief Financial Officer, said “We are glad to have resolved these longstanding disputes and to have gained certainty over future tax outcomes relating to our Singapore marketing arrangements. Rio Tinto remains committed to our commercial activities in Singapore and the valuable role played by our centralised commercial team.”

Additional Information

Rio Tinto was issued amended assessments in respect of iron ore marketing in 2017 (A$447m for the 2010 to 2013 years), for aluminium marketing in 2020 (A$86m for the 2010 to 2016 years) and for the intragroup dividend financing matter in 2021 (A$738m for the 2015 to 2018 years).

The agreements separately reached with the ATO and IRAS cover the transfer pricing related to the marketing of all products between Australia and Singapore, including iron ore and aluminium, for all historical years from 2010 to 2021 and the future period to 2026. The ATO settlement payment includes A$55m of interest and A$22m of penalties.

On 20 March 2020, Rio Tinto lodged requests for dispute resolution between the ATO and IRAS under the double tax treaty between Australia and Singapore (as disclosed in Rio Tinto’s 2020 half-year results). As a result of the agreements reached with both tax authorities, those requests have been withdrawn.

Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations, UK

Illtud Harri

M +44 7920 503 600

Matthew Klar

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David Outhwaite

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Media Relations, Americas

Simon Letendre

+1 514 796 4973

Malika Cherry

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Investor Relations, UK

Menno Sanderse

M: +44 7825 195 178

David Ovington

M +44 7920 010 978

Clare Peever

M +44 7788 967 877

Rio Tinto plc

6 St James’s Square

London SW1Y 4AD

United Kingdom

T +44 20 7781 2000

Registered in England

No. 719885

Media Relations, Australia

Jonathan Rose

M +61 447 028 913

Matt Chambers

M +61 433 525 739

Jesse Riseborough

M +61 436 653 412

Investor Relations, Australia

Amar Jambaa

M +61 472 865 948

Rio Tinto Limited

Level 7, 360 Collins Street

Melbourne 3000

Australia

T +61 3 9283 3333

Registered in Australia

ABN 96 004 458 404

riotinto.com

Category: General

Source: Rio Tinto

FAQ

What agreements did Rio Tinto reach with tax authorities?

Rio Tinto reached agreements with the ATO and IRAS to resolve tax disputes covering transfer pricing and tax matters from 2010 to 2021.

How much additional tax will Rio Tinto pay to the ATO?

Rio Tinto will pay an additional A$613 million to the ATO as part of the tax settlement.

What is the significance of the tax agreements for Rio Tinto?

The agreements ensure that Rio Tinto is not subject to double taxation and provide certainty over future tax outcomes until 2026.

Did Rio Tinto have any previous tax assessments?

Yes, Rio Tinto received amended assessments for iron ore and aluminium marketing, totaling A$1.271 billion for various years.

What does the settlement include?

The settlement includes A$55 million in interest and A$22 million in penalties.

Rio Tinto plc

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