Belgium – corporate tax reform announced
In April 2016, the Federal government, in the framework of the agreement on additional budgetary and recovery measures following the 2016 budgetary control exercise, announced a reform of the Belgian corporate income tax (see our news flash on 11 April 2016). In July 2016, the ‘High Finance Council’ has published a report examining the different
OECD releases discussion draft on branch mismatch structures
On 22 August 2016, the OECD published, for discussion, recommendations for domestic laws that would neutralise the effect of payments involving certain branch mismatch arrangements. This expansion of the final Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action 2 paper, Neutralising the Effects of Hybrid Mismatch Arrangements, issued on 5 October 2015, adds even more complexity
Summary of what has changed during the summer: newly-adopted tax measures
This summer, the Parliament adopted a range of new tax measures (more details below). Other measures are currently under review at the Chamber or pending before the State Council. More details on the new tax measures are announced on our website: Tax reform in Belgium. Patent income deduction The Act of 3 August 2016 providing
New patent income deduction (PID) regime: Innovation Income Deduction
As from 1 July 2016, the existing Belgian patent income deduction (‘PID’) regime has been abolished (Official Gazette of 11 August 2016, 2nd ed.). Indeed, in line with the so-called ‘modified’ nexus approach, the current patent box regime had to be replaced with a BEPS (in particular Action Point 5 of the OECD BEPS Action
OECD releases discussion draft on interest deductions in banking, insurance sectors
On 28 July the OECD released a discussion draft relating to deductions for interest in the banking and insurance sectors. This is part of the ongoing work for BEPS Action 4, Limiting Base Erosion Involving Interest Deductions and Other Financial Payments, which was released as a final report in October 2015. The discussion draft does
PwC’s Brexit monitor
The referendum result on Brexit has not only led to economic and political uncertainty within the UK, but also on mainland Europe. The final impact of Brexit is yet unknown, but will certainly weigh down on our economy, business activity and financial markets. You may find the following PwC Brexit Monitor on the subject matter interesting.
European Commission sets out next steps to boost tax transparency
On 5 July 2016, the European Commission (“Commission”) presented a Communication putting forward the priorities in their work towards a fairer, more transparent and more effective taxation system, together with a proposal to amend the Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (“AMLD”). By means of these initiatives, the Commission wants to address the remaining gaps in the
Parliament has approved Belgian Transfer Pricing Documentation Requirements
On 29 June 2016, the Belgian Parliament adopted the ‘programme law’ (introduced on 2 June 2016) that contains the introduction into Belgian tax law of specific transfer pricing documentation requirements (published in the Belgian Official Gazette of 4 July 2016). These requirements are based on Action 13 of the OECD /G20 BEPS Project. See our post
