The European Commission launches a roadmap for a common EU-wide withholding tax reclaim system.
The European Commission has launched its review into the possible introduction of a common, EU-wide system for withholding tax relief with the publication of a roadmap for feedback. This initiative considers the option of introducing a common EU-wide system for withholding tax on dividend and interest payments, together with a system for tax authorities to exchange information and cooperate with each other.
The review is currently at a very early stage, with no specific preferred proposal on the table. However, the Commission will consider the introduction of a fully-fledged EU wide system for withholding tax on interest and dividends within the EU and this could lead to profound changes for those in receipt of cross-border payments of dividends and interest.
Background
The Commission’s action plan for fair and simple taxation supporting the recovery, published in 2020, included as one of its many tax-related proposals, the introduction of a common, standardised EU-wide system for withholding tax relief at source coupled with a new exchange of information and cooperation mechanism between tax administrations, with the dual aims of both significantly lowering tax compliance costs for cross-border investors and also preventing tax evasion.
What is the problem?
The issue identified by the Commission is essentially the burdensome withholding tax relief procedures for cross-border investors in the securities market and, in particular, smaller cross-border portfolio investors.
The Commission point out that when an EU resident makes an investment in securities in another member state, the payments received in return (either dividends or interest) are normally subject to a withholding tax in the country of the investment (source country), at a rate which is often higher than the reduced rate on the basis of an applicable bilateral double taxation convention (DTC). Where this applies, in order to eliminate the double taxation, the non-resident investor is then required to submit a refund claim of the excess tax withheld by the source country. These withholding tax relief mechanisms are regarded as lengthy, resource-intensive and costly for both investors and tax administrations due to the lack of digitalised procedures and the existence of complex and divergent forms across member states. In some cases, these high costs result in non-resident taxpayers foregoing their right to apply for the tax treaty benefits that they are entitled to, thereby leading to double taxation and as a consequence to less attractive net returns than for domestic investments. The existence of inefficient, burdensome and costly procedures for the recovery of excess tax paid in a cross-border context discourages cross-border investment in the Union.
On the other hand, the Commission also notes that the current procedures can be abused as shown recently the existence of an alleged large-scale tax fraud known as ‘cum/ex’ scheme and ‘cum/cum’ scheme in some EU member states, especially Germany. It is notable however that the Commission papers do not make clear how an EU-wide system would prevent such a situation, arising from loopholes within national law, arising. It carries the implication, at least, that certain fundamental underlying rules – such as the question of beneficial owner – would need to be determined at an EU rather than national level.
From the point of view of the Capital Markets Union, inefficient withholding tax relief procedures are one of the main barriers that deter people to invest across borders and hence to free movement of capital and capital market integration. In particular, burdensome procedures for withholding tax have long been identified as a barrier to achieving a single European securities market, undermining investment within the EU.
What is the Commission proposing?
The review is at a very early stage and, as such, does not put forward any concrete proposals as yet. However, the Commission does indicate three options that will be considered as part of the review.
Next steps
The consultation on the roadmap will run until 26 October 2021. After this, the proposal envisages that a full public consultation will take place in the third quarter of 2021 and that adoption of any recommendations would take place in the fourth quarter of 2022.
The reforms considered by the proposal are far reaching and may have significant implications for both taxpayers, intermediaries and businesses which hold investor information. Whilst the aim of simplifying and facilitating the process for double tax relief is laudable, the enhanced reporting requirements may auger significant administrative burdens for those who currently hold and process investor information. It will be important for all stakeholders to take an active part in the consultation process.
Mark Sheiham, Simmons & Simmons
The European Commission launches a roadmap for a common EU-wide withholding tax reclaim system.
The European Commission has launched its review into the possible introduction of a common, EU-wide system for withholding tax relief with the publication of a roadmap for feedback. This initiative considers the option of introducing a common EU-wide system for withholding tax on dividend and interest payments, together with a system for tax authorities to exchange information and cooperate with each other.
The review is currently at a very early stage, with no specific preferred proposal on the table. However, the Commission will consider the introduction of a fully-fledged EU wide system for withholding tax on interest and dividends within the EU and this could lead to profound changes for those in receipt of cross-border payments of dividends and interest.
Background
The Commission’s action plan for fair and simple taxation supporting the recovery, published in 2020, included as one of its many tax-related proposals, the introduction of a common, standardised EU-wide system for withholding tax relief at source coupled with a new exchange of information and cooperation mechanism between tax administrations, with the dual aims of both significantly lowering tax compliance costs for cross-border investors and also preventing tax evasion.
What is the problem?
The issue identified by the Commission is essentially the burdensome withholding tax relief procedures for cross-border investors in the securities market and, in particular, smaller cross-border portfolio investors.
The Commission point out that when an EU resident makes an investment in securities in another member state, the payments received in return (either dividends or interest) are normally subject to a withholding tax in the country of the investment (source country), at a rate which is often higher than the reduced rate on the basis of an applicable bilateral double taxation convention (DTC). Where this applies, in order to eliminate the double taxation, the non-resident investor is then required to submit a refund claim of the excess tax withheld by the source country. These withholding tax relief mechanisms are regarded as lengthy, resource-intensive and costly for both investors and tax administrations due to the lack of digitalised procedures and the existence of complex and divergent forms across member states. In some cases, these high costs result in non-resident taxpayers foregoing their right to apply for the tax treaty benefits that they are entitled to, thereby leading to double taxation and as a consequence to less attractive net returns than for domestic investments. The existence of inefficient, burdensome and costly procedures for the recovery of excess tax paid in a cross-border context discourages cross-border investment in the Union.
On the other hand, the Commission also notes that the current procedures can be abused as shown recently the existence of an alleged large-scale tax fraud known as ‘cum/ex’ scheme and ‘cum/cum’ scheme in some EU member states, especially Germany. It is notable however that the Commission papers do not make clear how an EU-wide system would prevent such a situation, arising from loopholes within national law, arising. It carries the implication, at least, that certain fundamental underlying rules – such as the question of beneficial owner – would need to be determined at an EU rather than national level.
From the point of view of the Capital Markets Union, inefficient withholding tax relief procedures are one of the main barriers that deter people to invest across borders and hence to free movement of capital and capital market integration. In particular, burdensome procedures for withholding tax have long been identified as a barrier to achieving a single European securities market, undermining investment within the EU.
What is the Commission proposing?
The review is at a very early stage and, as such, does not put forward any concrete proposals as yet. However, the Commission does indicate three options that will be considered as part of the review.
Next steps
The consultation on the roadmap will run until 26 October 2021. After this, the proposal envisages that a full public consultation will take place in the third quarter of 2021 and that adoption of any recommendations would take place in the fourth quarter of 2022.
The reforms considered by the proposal are far reaching and may have significant implications for both taxpayers, intermediaries and businesses which hold investor information. Whilst the aim of simplifying and facilitating the process for double tax relief is laudable, the enhanced reporting requirements may auger significant administrative burdens for those who currently hold and process investor information. It will be important for all stakeholders to take an active part in the consultation process.
Mark Sheiham, Simmons & Simmons
