As part of a report on Luxembourg’s economic position following discussions under Article IV of its articles of agreement the IMF has commented on the current tax reform.

The report notes that implementation of the international tax transparency agenda could impact economic activity and tax revenue. Therefore the limited fiscal space should be used to improve growth prospects while adapting the tax regime to the international environment and ensuring the pension system remains viable.

Luxembourg’s proposed tax changes would mean a significant reduction in personal and corporate taxation from 2017, estimated at a reduction of fiscal revenue by up to 1% of GDP. The IMF comments that the size of the tax reduction should be limited to the amount of available fiscal space. The report also suggests that the envisaged tax relief for home buyers, intended to increase the housing supply, would actually increase the existing imbalances in the real estate market as demand currently outstrips supply.

The initiatives on international tax transparency aim to close the possibilities for tax avoidance. The IMF favors consolidation of the tax base in a tax neutral way. The report comments that the tax reform should widen the corporate tax base and remove special tax regimes at the same time as lowering statutory rates. An example of this is the decision to phase out the IP box regime from mid-2016. To avoid the risk of negative revenue Luxembourg should look at contingency measures such as revising the real estate taxes, which are currently low, to raise more revenue.

The report also recommends continued reform of the pension system to protect its long-term sustainability in view of future demographic changes. This could mean changes to the minimum contributions period and conditions for early retirement.