This week, our experts touched on a wide range of topics, from the OECD-led agreement to VAT reform. For a look at what’s making news, here’s our roundup.

The release of the so-called Pandora Papers revealed that the world’s wealthiest people will go to great lengths to protect their assets from the taxman. No surprise there. But what’s come as a bit of shock to many is the revelation that a sparsely populated American state with fewer than a million people has become the new Switzerland when it comes to parking assets away from prying eyes.

A California state judge has denied a bid by online merchants to stop the state from collecting back sales taxes from sellers that keep their inventory in Amazon fulfillment centers.

This week in state tax news: Municipalities in 13 states are suing streaming services over unpaid utility franchise fees, inequities in New York City’s property tax system are exposed, and a business decision by Amazon results in a tax windfall for some California localities but a loss for many more.

Citgo has been denied a $2 million tax refund after a Texas appeals court ruled that net proceeds, not gross proceeds, from selling commodity futures should be included in franchise tax calculations.

Our Spotlight series highlights the careers and lives of tax professionals across the globe. This week’s spotlight is on Enrolled Agent Manasa Nadig. Nadig has more than 20 years of experience in tax preparation and planning and is the Founder-Owner of MN Tax & Business Services, a virtual practice based in southeast Michigan that works with clients worldwide.

The Group of 20 finance ministers have formally backed a global plan to overhaul where and how multinationals are taxed and set a minimum 15% corporate tax rate.