Article: Fictitious Interest and Dividends Under Tax Treaties and the EU Directives

Abstract

On 24 February 2022 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled in the case Viva Telecom Bulgaria EOOD v. Direktor na Direktsia Obzhalvane i danachno-osiguritelna praktika – Sofia (Case C-257/20) (ECJ, 24 February 2022, Case C-257/20, Viva Telecom Bulgaria EOOD v. Direktor na Direktsia Obzhalvane i danachno-osiguritelna praktika – Sofia, ECLI:EU: C:2022:125), inter alia, that fictitious interest payments do not enjoy withholding tax (WHT) exemption neither under the Interest and Royalties Directive (2003/49) (Council Directive 2003/49/EC of 3 June 2003 on a common system of taxation applicable to interest and royalty payments made between associated companies of different Member States, OJ L 157, 26 June 2003) (IRD) nor under the Parent-Subsidiary Directive (2011/96) (Council Directive 2011/96/EU of 30 November 2011 on the common system of taxation applicable in the case of parent companies and subsidiaries of different Member States, OJ L 345, 29 December 2011) (PSD) (together referred to as the directives). This article questions this finding and argues that fictitious interest and dividends should fall under the IRD and PSD respectively. IRD, PSD, EU corporate taxation, fictitious interest, fictitious dividends, CFC, tax avoidance, transfer pricing adjustment