EU: Consultation on Limiting the Impact of non-EU subsidies
A consultation on measures to limit the impact of non-EU subsidies was launched with the publication of a White Paper by the European Commission on 17 June 2020. The consultation will run until 23 September 2020 and the EU is looking at the
See MoreEuropean Commission to launch proceedings against UK over VAT treatment of commodity traders
It is reported that the European Commission is planning to take a case to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in relation to the value added tax (VAT) treatment of commodity traders in the UK. The European Commission argues that although the UK may
See MoreEU: Report by European Commission on investor residence schemes
On 23 January 2019 the European Commission issued a report on citizenship by investment and citizenship by residence schemes operated by a number of EU Member States. The report looks at current practices and identifies some of the risks from such
See MoreEuropean Commission opens in-depth investigation into Netherlands tax rulings
On 10 January 2019 the European Commission announced that it has opened an in-depth investigation into tax rulings granted by the Netherlands to companies in the Nike group. The rulings may have given the companies an unfair competitive advantage
See MoreEU: European Commission formally notifies Romania on VAT split payment rule
On 8 November 2018 the European Commission sent a formal notice to Romania expressing the view that the VAT split payment mechanism applicable in Romania from 1 January 2018 is not compatible with the EU VAT Directive 2006/112 and is not compatible
See MoreEU: Free trade agreement with Vietnam
On 17 October 2018 the European Commission adopted the free trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and Vietnam. The FTA has been presented for signature to the European Council. A factsheet on the FTA with Vietnam has also been issued and sets out the
See MoreEU: Progress on tax on digital companies
The head of tax for the European Commission has said in an interview on 10 October 2018 that details of a new tax on large technology companies could be agreed by the end of the year. Currently corporate income tax systems in the EU are based on
See MoreEU: Tax Rulings Issued by Luxembourg were not State Aid
On 19 September 2018 the European Commission determined that the non-taxation of certain profits arising to McDonald's Europe Franchising in Luxembourg did not amount to illegal State aid. The Commission had investigated under EU State aid rules
See MoreEU: Proposals on taxation of digital activities
On 21 March 2018 the European Commission proposed rules on taxation of digital business activities in the EU. These tax measures propose to adapt the tax laws for the digital economy. The tax rules for digital businesses including social media
See MoreEU: European Commission issues proposals on VAT
Proposals on value added tax (VAT) published by the European Commission on 18 January 2018 would permit EU countries to apply reduced rates to a wider range of goods and services provided that they still kept a weighted average VAT rate of at least
See MoreEU follows OECD with digital tax consultation
On 26 October 2017, the European Commission published a public consultation on digital taxation. This follows on from the Commission’s September Communication setting out its vision for the need to address digital taxation and some possible
See MoreUK offshore finance companies possibly illegal under EU law
The European Commission announced on 26 October that it has initiated proceedings against the UK on the grounds that its CFC rules may infringe EU State Aid law. The Commission’s challenge focuses on the fact that certain offshore group financing
See MoreEuropean Commission calls for more flexible rule making
In its work programme for 2018, published on 24 October 2017, the European Commission has expressed support for moving from unanimity to qualified majority voting by EU Member States on certain EU legislation, including tax legislation. The
See MoreEU takes action against Amazon and Apple in tax cases
The European Commission issued a statement on 4 October 2017 to the effect that it had ordered Amazon to repay EUR 250 million plus interest that it claims Amazon should have paid in taxes on European sales made by the group through its Luxembourg
See MoreEuropean Commission proposes far reaching VAT reform plans
The European Commission published plans on 4 October 2017 that would fundamentally change the current VAT system applied by EU Member States. The proposals are aimed on the one hand at cutting back on VAT fraud, and on the other at simplifying
See MoreEuropean Commission Communication on taxation of digital business
Following on from a call for action from four EU finance ministers, the European Commission published a report on 21 September 2017 setting out the issues on how to tax digital business and some possible solutions. These included, by way of short
See MoreEuropean Commission to investigate Luxembourg tax rulings
On 19 September 2016 the European Commission announced that it is commencing an investigation into the tax treatment of GDF Suez Group (now known as Engie) in tax rulings issued by Luxembourg. The tax rulings may in the view of the Commission have
See MoreEU Finance Ministers reach preliminary agreement on tax avoidance proposals
It is reported that on 17 June 2016 the EU finance ministers reached preliminary agreement on a modified version of the European Commission’s proposals on countering tax avoidance originally released at the beginning of 2016. Original
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