Update: Member States agree to amend Parent-Subsidiary Directive
The European Union’s (EU) 28 Finance Ministers agreed, on June 20, 2014, to amend the EU’s Parent –Subsidiary Directive (Directive), addressing the effects of tax arbitrage resulting from EU Member States’ varying tax treatments of hybrid loans. The Member States have agreed that the Directive’s benefits should not result in ‘double non-taxation,’ that is, income going untaxed
Belgian corporate tax deduction rejected for stock option plan cost recharged by foreign parent company
Court of Appeal of Brussels confirms four-year old decision of Court of First Instance of Brussels. We refer to our HRS Headline of 26 May 2010. On 25 June 2014, the Court of Appeal of Brussels confirmed the decision of the Court of First Instance of Brussels of 16 April 2010. According to this decision,
Danish National Tax Tribunal publishes its first decision regarding a cash pool arrangement
In early 2014,the National Tax Tribunal (Landsskatteretten) published its first transfer pricing decision regarding a cash pool arrangement. The decision concerns the determination of intercompany interest rates on deposits and borrowings in the cash pool. The National Tax Tribunal ruled that the Danish tax authorities were allowed to disregard the transfer pricing applied by the
EU Member States agree to amend the EU PSD to tackle hybrid loan arrangements
On 20 June 2014, the EU’s Council of Economic and Finance (ECOFIN) Ministers took place in Luxembourg. ECOFIN agreed amongst others on the amendments to the Parent-Subsidiary directive (PSD) and adopted conclusions on the report of the Code of Conduct Group on Business Taxation. Proposed amendments on the Parent – Subsidiary directive The ECOFIN agreed
Formal EU State Aid investigation into certain tax rulings
On June 11, 2014, the European Commission opened a formal State Aid investigation procedure into the transfer pricing arrangements and corporate taxation of certain companies in Ireland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. See this link for more information. Wider inquiry into tax rulings In parallel to these three formal investigations, the Commission will continue its wider inquiry
Non-application of NID to foreign permanent establishment and real estate
The Belgian tax authorities have recently issued a practice note with regard to the Belgian notional interest deduction (‘NID’) and the possibility for the taxpayer to file a tax claim or request an ex officio tax relief. Companies subject to Belgian (non-resident) corporate income tax may deduct a notional interest reflecting the economic cost of
Brazil enacts new rules impacting dividend withholding, interest deductions, goodwill amortization and CFCs
The Brazilian government on May 14, 2014 enacted Law No. 12.973/2014, converting into law Provisional Measure 627/2013 (PM 627). The key provisions of the enacted law are the revocation of the Transitional Tax Regime (RTT) and new rules regarding the treatment of dividends, interest on net equity (INE), amortization of goodwill, and controlled foreign corporations
Luxembourg – Adoption of law revising corporate exit tax rules
On 13 May 2014, the Luxembourg Parliament approved the law (bill n. 6556) amending some of Luxembourg tax provisions that were considered not to be compliant with EU law. The changes are most notably in the area of exit taxation for corporate entities. Key changes: Deferral of the tax liabilities arising upon migration; and “Roll-over”