Effective Corporate Tax Rate” and “Digital Business Establishment” in the Corporate Tax Base Proposals

Briefing 10-05-2017

On 25 October 2016, the Commission presented two proposals for two Council directives on a Common Corporate Tax Base, COM (2016)0685 (CCTB) and a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base, COM (2016)0683 (CCCTB). They both are based of Article 115 TFEU (Council decides after consultation of EP- special legislative procedure). As approximation under this Article shall directly affect the establishment or functioning of the internal market the Council decides by unanimity (exception for fiscal provisions in Article 114, par.2 TFEU). The purpose of the proposals is to establish common rules for corporate taxes and to make it possible for corporations to submit a single consolidated tax declaration for the corporation’s activities to the tax authority in only one EU Member State. The proposals shall ensure a corporate tax system that encourages fairness in the internal market as currently businesses with cross-border activity have to comply with up to 28 divergent corporate tax systems (generally, corporate income is taxed at national level).