U.S. Leads Countries Using Tax Code to Shape Sustainable Corporate Activity

The United States ranked first among 21 countries most actively using the tax code to influence sustainable corporate activity, according to the inaugural edition of the KPMG Green Tax Index, reflecting the country's extensive and long-established program of federal tax incentives for energy generally, including specific incentives for energy efficiency, renewable energy and green buildings.

Japan, the United Kingdom, France, South Korea and China were also among the leading countries using tax as a tool to drive sustainable corporate behavior, according to the index. Key policy areas explored in the index include energy efficiency, water efficiency, carbon emissions, green innovations and green buildings.

"The KPMG Green Tax Index provides important directional insight for corporate sustainability decision makers, CFOs and board members into how countries are using taxes to influence corporate behavior," says John Gimigliano, principal-in-charge of sustainability tax in the Washington National Tax practice of KPMG LLP. "Japan, for example, tops the rankings in its promotion of tax incentives for green vehicle production, while the United States favors a comprehensive system of renewable energy tax incentives. As a result, we're seeing more green cars coming out of Japan and dramatic growth in the U.S. renewable sector."

"These activity-based rankings can be of value to corporate sustainability decision-makers as they allocate budgets and evaluate investments around the world," says John Hickox, advisory partner and U.S. practice leader for Climate Change & Sustainability Services at KPMG LLP.

The KPMG index identified over 200 individual tax incentives and penalties of relevance to corporate sustainability. At least 30 of these have been introduced since January 2011, reflecting the quickening pace of green investment globally.

The KPMG Green Tax Index – Overall Country Rankings

^{*Scoring: The KPMG Green Tax Index attributes scores to green tax incentives and penalties according to arguable value and potential to influence corporate behavior. Scores should be taken as indicative, not absolute, in providing a view of governments with the most active and developed green tax systems in place.}

U.S. Ranking
The United States tops the KPMG Green Tax Index ranking primarily due to its extensive program of federal tax incentives for energy efficiency, renewable energy and green buildings.

According to the KPMG Green Tax Index, the U.S. tax code provides a range of tax credits, including a production tax credit on renewable energy and tax incentives construction of efficient buildings.

The United States uses green penalties less than other Western developed nations apart from Canada. When green tax penalties alone are considered, the United States drops to 14^th.

"The KPMG Green Tax Index demonstrates how important it is for corporations to make sure their head of sustainability and their head of tax are talking," says KPMG's Gimigliano. "At many companies these functions may have never met. One critical lesson from the Green Tax Index is that for companies to enhance the return from its green spend, the tax and sustainability functions should collaborate before the investment decision is made."

"Green investment continues to gain momentum globally and the KPMG Green Tax Index provides a greater understanding of the entire financial picture of green investments, pre- and post-tax," added KPMG's Hickox.

Ranking of Additional Global Economies

• Japan is ranked 2^nd overall but, in contrast to the United States, scores higher on green tax penalties than it does on incentives. Japan also leads the ranking for tax measures to promote the use and manufacture of green vehicles.
• The United Kingdom ranks 3rd and has a green tax approach balanced between penalties and incentives. The United Kingdom scores most highly in the area of carbon and climate change.
• France occupies 4th place in the overall ranking with a green tax policy more heavily weighted toward penalties than incentives.
• South Korea ranks 5^th, and like the United States, has a green tax system weighted toward incentives rather than penalties. South Korea leads the ranking for "green innovation" which suggests that South Korea is especially active in using its tax code to encourage green research and development.
• China ranks 6^th with a green tax policy balanced between incentives and penalties and focused on resource efficiency (energy, water and materials) and green buildings.

"The very investments that can drive change and secure competitive advantage may never be made if green tax systems are not fully understood and used," says KPMG's Gimigliano. "Investments that struggle to make a case on a pre-tax basis can flourish after green tax analysis. Companies should not underestimate the potential of green tax incentives to deliver efficiency and productivity benefits, drive innovation and contribute to the bottom line."