24 Mar 2004
¿Que Sociedad Holding europea elegir?
En general, los especializados en fiscalidad internacional atienden a las siguientes consideraciones:
Retención por dividendos entrantes
Como miembros de la Unión Europea, las sociedades holding europeas están amparadas por la Directiva Matriz-Filial. Su efecto es que si la sociedad holding controla al menos el 25% de las acciones de una subsidiaria de otro país de la Unión Europea durante al menos 12 meses, cualquier dividendo procedente de esta subsidiaria está libre de retención, si se cumplen todas las condiciones. En algunos países, como España, se exige que el control final recaiga siempre en un residente de la Unión Europea.
Cuando no se cumplen dichas condiciones (o existe normativa anti-elusión), las sociedades holding se basan en la red de convenios de doble imposición, que suelen establecer una limitación a las retenciones sobre dividendos. Dinamarca ha firmado 78 tratados de doble imposición, Bélgica 66, el Reino Unido 110.
Retenciones por dividendos salientes
La mayoría de los países tienen un tipo standard de retención para dividendos salientes (por ejemplo, en el caso de Dinamarca es del 28%). Este tipo puede ser reducido en el caso de convenios de doble imposición y en el caso de aplicarse la Directiva Matriz-Filial.
El tipo estandard en Alemania, Austria, Belgica, Francia y Holanda es del 25%. Si hay convenio de doble imposición, suele estar reducido al 5%-10%. En el caso de convenios de doble imposición, Luxemburgo reduce la retención al 15% y España, si se cumplen las condiciones ideales de la ETVE, un 0%. En el Reino Unido e Irlanda, no hay generalmente retención por dividendos remitidos a otra matriz, lo que les confiere una gran ventaja.
Impuestos de sociedades sobre dividendos recibidos
Dinamarca, a diferencia de otras jurisdicciones de la Unión Europea, no grava los dividendos recibidos por jurisdicciones de baja tributación en el caso de sociedades holding cualificadas. En otras jurisdicciones europeas (Alemania, Austria, Bélgica, Francia, Luxemburgo, Holanda y el Reino Unido) los dividendos recibidos están exentos si la subsidiaria extranjera ha pagado impuestos en la jurisdicción extranjera sobre los beneficios que han dado lugar a los dividendos.
Plusvalías por la venta de participaciones
Las sociedades holding formadas en Francia y el Reino Unido están gravadas por las plusvalías obtenida por la venta de participaciones de una subsidiaria extranjera; no obstante, la nueva regulación británica establece importantes excepciones. En cuanto a Austria, Bélgica, Luxemburgo, Holanda, España y Suiza, éstos países no gravan dicha operación siempre que se cumplan ciertos requisitos.
Costes y cambios
En las comparaciones, generalmente suele aparecer el tema de los costes. En mi opinión, las sociedades holdings holandesas y luxemburguesas, y hasta cierto punto las danesas, se suelen utilizar para ser cuarteles generales de grupos importantes, y de ahí su estructura de costes. La rapidez y bajo coste de las sociedades inglesas las hace más atractiva a pequeños inversores. Las españolas son también económicas, pero deben contar con al menos una persona llevando el día a día de la empresa.
En cuanto a los cambios legislativos, el régimen español y el inglés han dado pruebas de que los cambios han ido a mejor. En el caso danés, no siempre ha sido así.
Salvador Trinxet
Profesor de Fiscalidad Internacional, IESE
11 Jan 2004
La CE entend supprimer les discriminations fiscales à l’encontre des dividendes étrangers
«Les citoyens qui investissent dans des sociétés étrangères ont droit au même traitement fiscal que celui appliqué aux citoyens investissant dans leur pays et les dividendes versés à des non-résidents ne doivent pas être soumis à une imposition plus lourde que celle grevant les dividendes versés aux résidents», a déclaré le commissaire chargé de la fiscalité, Frits Bolkestein.
Approche coordonnée
La communication fournit une analyse des arrêts rendus par la Cour de justice des Communautés européennes en matière d'imposition des dividendes. En substance, la Cour a clairement établi que le fait d'imposer plus lourdement les dividendes entrants ou sortants que les dividendes domestiques constitue une restriction à la libre circulation des capitaux contraire à l’article 56 du traité CE.
La communication porte essentiellement sur l'imposition des actionnaires ayant le statut de personne physique, ce cas de figure étant celui qui pose le plus de problèmes dans la pratique.
L'imposition des dividendes perçus par les sociétés est pour une large part couverte par une directive existante (la directive «mères-filiales» - 90/435/CEE), qui prévoit une exonération de retenue à la source sur le paiement de dividendes entrant dans son champ d'application et un crédit ou une exonération d’impôt entre les mains de la société qui les perçoit).
La Commission propose d’examiner les résultats de son analyse avec les États membres et suggère à ces derniers d'adopter une approche coordonnée pour veiller à ce que leur législation en matière d’imposition des dividendes soit conforme au droit communautaire. L’objectif est de parvenir à supprimer rapidement toute entrave fiscale éventuelle aux investissements transfrontaliers. Cependant, il ne s’agit pas d’harmoniser les législations fiscales nationales, les États membres devant rester libres de choisir le type d'impôt qu’ils prélèvent sur les dividendes ainsi que le type de système d’imposition qu’ils leur appliquent.
Si les États membres ne parviennent pas à trouver des solutions appropriées, la Commission examinera les règles nationales applicables en la matière et prendra les mesures nécessaires pour veiller à ce qu’elles respectent les libertés fondamentales prévues par le Traité, notamment en saisissant la Cour de justice, le cas échéant.
9 Jan 2004
CE to tackle tax discrimination against foreign dividends
The Commission calls on the Member States to co-operate in order to deal quickly with the issues examined in the Communication but this would not involve harmonisation of their systems. If Member States cannot agree on solutions, the Commission will be obliged to initiate legal action against those Member States whose dividend tax rules do not comply with the Treaty.
The Communication is an element of the strategy for the EU's future tax policy that the Commission announced in May 2001.
"Citizens investing in foreign companies are entitled to the same tax treatment as citizens investing in their own country and, likewise, dividends paid to non-residents cannot be taxed at a higher level than dividends paid to residents" said Taxation Commissioner Frits Bolkestein.
Co-ordinated action
The Communication analyses the decisions of the European Court of Justice concerning taxation of dividends. Essentially, the Court has made clear that subjecting inbound or outbound dividends to higher taxation than domestic dividends constitutes a restriction on the free movement of capital in violation of Article 56 of the EC Treaty.
The Communication focuses on the taxation of individual shareholders because this is the area that is most problematic in practice. The taxation of dividends received by companies is to a large extent covered by an existing Directive (the Parent-Subsidiary Directive - 90/435/EEC) which provides for exemption of withholding taxes on the payment of qualifying dividends and credit or exemption in the hands of the company receiving them).
The Commission proposes to discuss its findings with Member States and to suggest co-ordinated action to ensure alignment of their dividend taxation legislation with Community law. The purpose would be to ensure rapid removal of any existing tax obstacles to cross-border investment.
The purpose would not be to harmonise national tax laws, as Member States are and should continue to be free to determine what tax they levy on dividends as well as the type of dividend tax system.Where Member States do not agree on appropriate solutions, the Commission intends to examine the relevant national rules and take the necessary steps to ensure their compliance with the fundamental freedoms of the Treaty, including, where necessary, bringing cases before the Court of Justice.
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4 Nov 2003
Arbitraje para los conflictos de doble imposición
El convenio, aunque ha entrado en vigor el 1 de noviembre del 2003, nace con efectos retroactivos desde enero de 2000 para quince Estados de la UE. Con este convenio, se facilitará la eliminación de la doble imposición en el impuesto de sociedades por ajustes derivados en las relaciones comerciales o financieras entre empresas en la Unión Europea. De esta forma, muchas empresas verán reducida su carga fiscal y eliminará la litigiosidad en los tribunales ordinarios.
Para evitar lagunas, Anexo al convenio se ha estado trabajando, a instancias de la Comisión Europea, en un código de conducta que lo desarrolle y que el Consejo de Ministros de Finanzas (Ecofin) tiene previsto aprobar a mediados de este mes.
El convenio y el código permiten acudir a un comité arbitral en caso de que una empresa multinacional tenga problemas con dos Haciendas estatales por los impuestos que paga a cada una de ellas, derivados de los beneficios de la matriz y sus filiales ubicadas en diferentes países.
Con el presente convenio, las empresas tendrán tres años para invocar el convenio desde el momento en que surja este tipo de problemas. Una vez invocado, se da otro plazo de dos años a las administraciones tributarias para que se pongan de acuerdo y solucionen las discrepancias sobre los beneficios de la empresa. Si en esos dos años no hay acuerdo se activa el comité arbitral que tendrá seis meses para decidir. Por tanto, en un plazo máximo de seis años, cualquier conflicto sobre doble imposición en precios de transferencia se habrá resuelto. Una clara mejora sobre lo actual. Acudir a los tribunales ordinarios (económico-administrativos) supone, en la práctica, dejar en vía muerta el asunto. Sólo los de primera instancia resuelven con un plazo medio de tres años. Si llega a instancias superiores, puede durar décadas, algo que ya ha pasado.
13 Jun 2003
Cross-border Outsourcing: U.S. International Tax Pitfalls, Pratfalls, and Opportunities
Here is the Abstract:
During the past decade, there has been a surge in outsourcing by businesses both in the United States and abroad. In the face of this surge in outsourcing as well as the trend toward outsourcing activities that come closer and closer to a business' "core," some commentators have underscored the need for businesses to make an educated decision about whether and what to outsource.
This article, which, as its title indicates, is particularly concerned with cross-border outsourcing, is written in the same vein. It provides a non-exhaustive examination of the myriad of circumstances under which a decision to outsource the provision of goods or the performance of services to a foreign provider can affect the application of the U.S. international tax regime to the outsourcing business.
The purpose of this article is to foster greater awareness of the sometimes dissonant tax aspects of cross-border outsourcing and thereby impel businesses and their legal advisors to take a more holistic view of the decision to outsource - a view that encompasses not only the potential business benefits and detriments of a decision to outsource, but also the potential tax benefits and detriments of such a decision.
Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=398680 or DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.398680
This Blog/Web Site ("Blog") does not to provide specific legal advice, it is for educational purposes only. This Blog is made available by the international adviser, lawyer or law firm for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice.
The Blog does not constitute legal advice and is not a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed attorney in your state. Any comment posted on the Blog can be read by any Blog visitor; do not post confidential or sensitive information. Any links from another site to the Blog are beyond the control of us.
By using this blog site you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and the Blog.
The Blog should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional adviser or lawyer in your country.
Our firm and do not convey their approval, support or any relationship to any site or organization. The use of this Blog does not implicitly or explicitly convey any warranties or representations as to the accuracy of the information contained herein.
This Blog has created this privacy statement in order to demonstrate our firm commitment to privacy. The following discloses the information gathering and dissemination practices for this Blog.
This Blog takes your privacy very seriously. Our customers told us they want to see clear, easy-to-read information about our privacy commitments and policies. We have made our privacy policies easier to find and easier to read. And we're listening. We welcome your questions and feedback on our privacy policies, and invite you to contact us with your thoughts.
Customer Privacy Controls and Choices:
• You can review and correct your Personal Information collected by us.
• You can limit certain types of solicitation communications from AT&T, including marketing contacts made via telephone, e-mail and text messaging.
• We will provide you with notice of changes to this policy.
Our privacy commitments are fundamental to the way we do business every day. These apply to everyone who has a relationship with this Blog and visitors.
• We will protect your privacy and keep your personal information safe. We use powerful encryption and other security safeguards to protect customer data, when available.
• We will not sell your personal information to anyone, for any purpose. Period.
• We will fully disclose our privacy policies in plain language, and make our policies easily accessible to you.
• We will notify you of any revisions to our privacy policy, in advance. No surprises.
• You have choices about how this Blog uses your information for marketing purposes. Customers are in control.
This Privacy Policy identifies and describes the way This Blog uses and protects the information we collect about visitors. All use of this Blog is subject to this Privacy Policy.
Use of Location Information
• When your wireless device is on, it sends periodic signals to the nearest cell site. We use that information to provide your wireless services;
• You can use your wireless device to obtain a wide array of services based on the approximate location of the device, referred to as Location Based Services, or LBS. The information you receive in connection with your use of LBS may include advertisements related to your request and your location;
Online Activity Tracking and Advertising
• We collect information about your activity on this Blog for a number of purposes using technologies such as cookies, Web beacons, widgets and server log files.
• We and our advertising partners use that information, as well as other information they have or we may have, to help tailor the ads you see on our sites and to help make decisions about ads you see on other sites.
The Information We Collect, How We Collect It, And How We Use It
We collect different types of personal and other information based on your use of our products and services and our business relationship with you. Some examples include:
• Contact Information that allows us to communicate with you -- including your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address;
• Equipment, Performance, Site Usage, Viewing and other Technical Information about your use of our network, services, products or Web sites.
We collect information in 2 primary ways:
• You give it to us when you register to provide comments;
• We collect it automatically when you visit our Blog.
We use the information we collect in a variety of ways, including to:
• Provide you with the best visitor experience possible;
• Deliver customized content that may be of interest to you;
• Address network integrity and security issues;
• Investigate, prevent or take action regarding illegal activities, violations of our Terms of Service or Acceptable Use Policies; and
• For local directory and directory assistance purposes.
Aggregate or Anonymous Information:
We may share aggregate or anonymous information in various formats with trusted entities’ only for purposes such as:
• Our knowledge, and offer of information that may be of interest to you;
• Universities, laboratories and other entities that conduct scientific research; and
• Media research companies for general information only.

