Report on payments to governments. A critical analysis of related legal regulations

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this article is to analyse and assess the quality, including the clar-ity and understanding of legal regulations on preparing and presenting the report on payments to governments, which is crucial in rhw practical application of such requirements. Methodology/approach: The methods used include studies of legal acts on reports, including related EU Directives and Polish Accounting Act with deductive critical and interpretative analyses of those regulations. Findings: The study demonstrates that both European Union and Polish regulations on reports on payments to governments are unclear, difficult to understand, and can caus-es difficulties and a lack of comparability in practical application of provisions con-structed in this way, which is confirmed by quite rare empirical studies. Research limitations/implications: The article points out the difficulties in under-standing and the practical application of the related regulations. To avoid inconsistenc-es and improper application, legal action should be taken (e.g., it is necessary to improve regula-tions or give additional official guidance). Originality/value: The article provides a thorough analysis of legal regulations for preparing and presenting reports on payments to governments, not done by other Polish authors or in Polish previously.

Keywords

• reports on payments to governments
• green and environmental reporting
• country-by-country reporting
• EC Directive on financial reporting
• act on accounting