Press Release: Tackling Tax Avoidance: Commission tightens key EU corporate tax rules

On 25 November 2013, the European Commission proposed amendments to key EU corporate tax legislation, in order to significantly reduce tax avoidance in Europe.

The proposal will close loopholes in the Parent-Subsidiary Directive, which some companies have been using to escape taxation. In particular, companies will no longer be able to exploit differences in the way intra-group payments are taxed across the EU to avoid paying any tax at all. The result will be that the Parent-Subsidiary Directive can continue to ensure a level-playing field for honest businesses in the Single Market without opening opportunities for aggressive tax planning.

• Primary Source

European Commission: RAPID: Memo, MEMO/13/1040: Questions and Answers on the Parent Subsidiary Directive http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-1040_en.pdf

European Commission: RAPID: Speech, SPEECH/13/969: Midday statement on Parent-Subsidiary Directive http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-969_en.pdf

EurActiv, 26.11.13: Commission starts fight against ‘letter-box’ companies http://www.euractiv.com/innovation-enterprise/commission-starts-fight-letter-b-news-531942

EUObserver, 25.11.13: EU unveils plans to go after tax 'freeloaders' http://euobserver.com/news/122225

Deutsche Welle, 25.11.13: EU Commission to crack down on corporate tax avoidance http://dw.de/p/1AOTL

Euronews, 25.11.13: EU looks to close tax loophole http://www.euronews.com/2013/11/25/eu-looks-to-close-tax-loophole/

EUR-Lex: COM(2013)814: Follow the progress of this proposal through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2013:814:FIN

European Commission: DG Taxation and Customs Union: Taxation: Fight against tax fraud and tax evasion http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxation/tax_fraud_evasion/index_en.htm

European Commission: RAPID: Speech, SPEECH/13/977: EU Taxation: Taking stock and looking ahead http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-977_en.pdf

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