Elimination Of Double Taxation In The European Union

Despite the conclusion of tax treaties and despite the enactment of several directives, double taxation continues to occur within the EU, causing severe obstacles for cross-border trade, for the provision of services and capital, and for the free movement of persons. This book collects the expert analysis and recommendations on the following issues: the reasons for the existence (and persistence) of juridical and economic double taxation; double burdens in criminal law; constitutional limits for double taxation; the Lisbon Treaty's abolition of Article 293 EC, which had required Member States to conclude tax treaties in order to abolish double taxation; whether double taxation can be avoided by the application of the four freedoms; prospects for an EU-wide multilateral tax treaty; the proposed Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base; and use of arbitration clauses in tax treaties.

This article examines the notion of the elimination of economic double taxation, an obstacle to the functioning of the internal market, in the context of the EU Parent-Subsidiary Directive (2011/96) (the Directive) and the EU fundamental freedoms. In the context of the fundamental freedoms, its elimination is a necessary step toward achieving national treatment. In contrast, within the framework of the Directive, it is an objective in and of itself, regardless of any discriminatory treatment of cross-border dividends.

The rules of the Member States on the taxation of the foreign business income of companies, whether such rules are based on the fiscal principle of territoriality or on the principle of worldwide taxation, are in conflict with the objective of achievement of the internal market. This objective is indeed difficult to reach when it comes to the taxation of foreign income, given that the Member States are far from taxing companies doing business cross-border as if their operations were purely domestic. Areas of conflict include particularly the taxation of foreign profits, the deduction of foreign losses, the elimination of international double taxation and the attribution of profits to permanent establishments. This dissertation analyses this conflict on the basis of a study of the case law of the European Court of Justice as well as some of the key provisions of the European treaties. It appears that both the fiscal principle of territoriality and the principle of worldwide taxation give rise to complex issues of compatibility with the law of the European Union. Although the analysis conducted throughout the dissertation provides some guidance for the taxation of the foreign business income of companies, it is concluded that the Court cannot, by itself, efficiently resolve the conflict between such taxation and the objective of achievement of the internal market.

In the context of the OECD BEPS Plan and the actions undertaken by the European Union to achieve a fair and efficient corporate tax system, the enhancement of dispute resolution mechanisms between tax administrations is practically the only action aimed at boosting taxpayers' rights, which is evidence of the imbalance between the goal of a fair and efficient system and the corresponding increase in the burden on taxpayers. It is without doubt that the asymmetrical implementation of the BEPS recommendations derived from this framework, both at a domestic and at a double taxation convention (DTC) level, will generate a significant increase in disputes and hence the risk of double taxation will rise. This is why the adoption of adequate tools to mitigate such a scenario is more necessary than ever.In particular in the context of the European Union, the existence of double taxation, derived from the different interpretation and enforcement of a set of rules aimed precisely at eliminating it, arises as a meaningful impediment to the adequate functioning of the single market, as it generates distortions regarding the adoption of investment and finance decisions. This is why the recent enactment of the Directive on tax dispute resolution mechanisms in the European Union (hereinafter the Directive), has to be praised as a crucial achievement in removing unwanted double taxation. The adoption of such an instrument will enable persons affected by double taxation derived from a disparate interpretation or qualification conflict in the context of a DTC signed by EU Member States to initiate a mutual agreement procedure (MAP) between the involved tax authorities and an arbitration procedure should they not reach an agreement. This possibility significantly increases the chances that the double taxation outcome is resolved. Spain must transpose the Directive into domestic law before 30 June 2019 by modifying its existing rules in this area.In this contribution, it will be shown that double taxation has been a relentless concern within the European Union and that the Arbitration Directive is the latest achievement in a long and often unsuccessful path the European Commission has been weaving for decades to address this problem. Also, the most controversial aspects of the Directive will be analysed. Despite being a clear accomplishment overall, this instrument also presents certain relevant issues. Specifically, the scope of the Directive, the relationship between the involved tax authorities and the taxpayer throughout the whole process, and the relationship between the Directive procedures and other analogous procedures will be dealt with.

The hurdles emerging from the parallel exercise of Member States’ tax sovereignty have been examined by the CJEU and intensely discussed by scholars. By uncovering a paradox in the CJEU’s case law, this groundbreaking book provides a constructive alternative to the deadlock created by the CJEU when ruling that international juridical double taxation, although constituting an obstacle to free movement, is not contrary to EU law. The book – the first in-depth treatment of this perspective – enables taxpayers facing international juridical double taxation to understand how their ability to pay is protected under EU law and the limitations that protection faces. Every aspect of the matter is rigorously examined, including the following: important differences between the traditional notion of double taxation and the current definition under Council Directive 2017/1852; legal means and methods designed to eliminate international juridical double taxation and the policies underlying them; freedoms of movement as prohibitions that limit the exercise of Member States’ taxing powers; consideration of expenses related to economic activity and personal and family circumstances; and in-depth discussion of taxation of income derived from source versus residence Member State. Throughout the book, the author refers to the case law of the CJEU on both international juridical double taxation and taxpayers’ ability to pay, as well as the relevant academic literature, allowing the reader to understand the current state of EU law on these matters and their relation. The author’s remarkable venture into this challenging field, with a deeply informed construction of instrumental categories and critical review of their content, culminates with a viable reformulation of the serious and growing problem of international juridical double taxation. The book will be welcomed by taxation professionals in practice, policymakers, and academia.

Upfront planning for international structures is crucial to ensure coverage under bilateral tax treaties. However, because treaty shopping – whereby a third-party national or a corporation sets up a shell company in order to minimize or eliminate income tax – can potentially be facilitated by taking advantage of double taxation conventions, companies must carefully scrutinize and comply with requirements found in the limitation on benefits (LOB) clauses in tax treaties. This second edition of the only publication directly analysing the legal framework and application of LOB clauses in double taxation conventions adds detailed coverage of such major recent developments as the recent tax treaties concluded between the United States (US) and European Union (EU) Member States, the last version of the US Model Tax Convention (2016), the OECD/G20 project on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS), and relevant new rulings handed down by the European Court of Justice. Among the subjects and topics covered are the following: – definition of the concepts of person and residence provided in the OECD model; – concept of beneficial owner; – application of domestic anti-avoidance rules; – adoption of specific provisions to counter the phenomenon of treaty shopping; – determination of sufficient nexus with the state of residence or a real business purpose;and – possible consequences of the incompatibility of LOB clauses with EU law. This new edition will continue to provide tax attorneys, tax professionals, and government officials with the perspective needed for effective decision-making in this realm of international taxation. Academics and researchers in taxation will also appreciate the in-depth and up-to-date coverage of this important subject.

Within the European Union, direct taxation is an area which often provokes controversy due to tensions between the tax sovereignty of the individual Member States and the desire for an integrated internal market. This book offers a critical review of the legislative and case-law developments in this area at the EU level, and reviews the European Commission’s proposed solutions in light of their concerns regarding the proper functioning of the EU’s internal market. Luca Cerioni set out a series of benchmarks determined from the objectives expressed by the European Commission, including: the elimination of double taxation and double non-taxation; the simplification of cross-border tax compliance; the reduction of abusive forum-shopping practices and general aggressive tax planning strategies; legal certainty for all businesses and individuals carrying on activities and receiving income in more than one EU Member State. Cerioni uses these benchmarks to ask which Directives and/or rulings have left legal uncertainty, and which have ended up creating or increasing the scope for aggressive tax planning. The book puts forward a comprehensive solution for a new optimal regime relating to tax residence, which would contribute to the EU project to the mutual benefit of Member States and taxpayers. As a thorough and critical discussion of EU tax rules in force, and of the European Court’s case law in direct taxation, this book will be of great use to academic researchers and students of EU law, tax practitioners, and policy-makers at the EU and national level.

Everywhere,new tax rules are under development to engage with the ever-increasing complexity and sophistication of aggressive tax planning and to reverse the tax base erosion it leads to. The most prominent initiative in this context is the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project of the OECD. Although double non-taxation is among the main issues the BEPS project intends to address, this book shows that this phenomenon has not yet been fully understood. Focusing on the fundamental freedoms and the State aid rules of the EU, this book thoroughly explains the nature of double non-taxation from an EU law perspective, its relation to double taxation, and the impact of EU law on these phenomena. Among the issues dealt with in the course of the analysis are the following: – locating the gaps and inconsistencies among domestic tax systems exploited by taxpayers; – hybrid mismatch arrangements as a prime example of double non-taxation; – political efforts undertaken within the EU in order to address double taxation and double non-taxation; – double non-taxation in the European VAT system; – the convergence of the fundamental freedoms and the State aid rules; – the ECJ’s dilemma with regard to juridical double taxation; – the deviating approach with regard to economic double taxation; – the potential impact of the ECJ’s case law on the EU law compatibility of double non-taxation. The tax jurisprudence of the ECJ is referred to and comprehensively analysed throughout this whole book. A final chapter provides an outlook on possible developments in the future. By providing the first in-depth analysis of EU law’s impact on double non-taxation – and the double taxation relief standards with which it is intimately related – this book takes a giant step towards greater legal certainty in this challenging area of tax law. It will quickly take its place as a major practical analysis which benefits tax authorities, scholars, and tax practitioners across Europe and even beyond.

Following each Member State's need to rebuild a strong and stable economy after the 2007 financial crisis, the European Union (EU) has developed a robust new transparency framework with binding anti-abuse measures and stronger instruments to challenge external threats of base erosion. This is the first and only book to provide a complete detailed analysis of the Anti-Tax Avoidance Package and other recent and ongoing European actions taken in direct taxation. With contributions from both prominent tax academics and Spain's delegates to the European meetings where these rules are debated and promulgated, the book covers such issues and topics as the following: – the development of the EU Strategy towards Aggressive Tax Planning; – recent tax-related jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice; – the Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive; – tax treaties and non-tax treaties with tax consequences both between Member States and between Member States and third countries; – code of conduct for business taxation; – automatic exchange of information; – country-by-country reporting; – arbitration in tax matters; – external strategy for effective taxation regarding non-EU countries; – competition and state aid developments in direct taxation; – the Common Consolidated Tax Base; and – digital significant presence and permanent establishment. As the EU pursues its ambitious tax agenda, taxation's contribution to EU growth and competitiveness and its part in relations with the rest of the world will come into ever clearer focus. In addition to its insights into these trends, the book's unparalleled practical information and analysis will be of great value to tax practitioners dealing with investment analysis, tax planning schemes, and other features of the current international tax landscape.

This book considers the tax provisions of the Treaty of Rome with its late modifications. Particular attention is given to fiscal discrimination, harmonization of VAT, excise duties and other indirect taxes, taxes and the capital market.