Research Paper 226, 12 November 2025
The Taxation of the Digital Economy in Practice: Digital Services Taxes and Other Measures
By Natalia Quiñones, Anchal Khandelwal, Oluwole Olushola Oni, Maryam Maiyaki, Doris Malgwi, Ezekiel Swema, Nickson Omondi, Ivy Watti, Dinesh Thapa, Anne Wanyagathi Maina & Kolawole Omole
Digital businesses continue to grow and generate substantial revenue in market jurisdictions without maintaining a physical presence. They mainly rely on intangibles, user data and user engagement. International tax rules have not kept pace with these developments, leaving many jurisdictions unable to tax digital economic activity effectively. In response, countries have introduced national measures, such as Digital Services Taxes (DSTs), equalisation levies, and Significant Economic Presence (SEP) taxes, while continuing to engage in multilateral efforts. This paper examines how countries have implemented such measures. The study applies structured case studies of Colombia, India, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, and Tanzania. It analyzes the countries’ legal frameworks, administrative practices, and revenue outcomes, while also identifying shared features and key differences in implementation approaches. The paper explores the conceptual foundations and theoretical justifications for taxing digital revenues at source, highlighting the limitations of current profit allocation rules that overlook the role of the market. Drawing from these country experiences, the study develops a peer learning framework based on emerging best practices while recognizing the challenges in implementation. The study then proposes pathways for harmonizing digital tax measures and outlines essential design elements to inform the development of the early protocol on the taxation of cross border services (which includes digital services) under the United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.