Executive summary
On 2 July 2019, the Dutch Government published a legislative proposal on the implementation of the European Union (EU) Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive 2 (ATAD 2) which includes anti-hybrid provisions (the proposal). The proposal is generally in line with the draft proposal, published as part of the ATAD 2 internet consultation (Consultation Document), that was initiated on 29 October 2018.1
An EY Global Tax Alert with a detailed discussion of the proposal will be forthcoming; this Alert outlines the proposal’s key measures. The proposal includes a number of additional items and some further clarifications compared to the draft proposal which are listed below. This proposal also may change following parliamentary proceedings later this year and is expected to be enacted before 1 January 2020.
Detailed discussion
Additional items
The proposal includes a new requirement for taxpayers to have documentation available which includes an analysis on the application of the anti-hybrid provisions. If this documentation is requested by the Dutch tax authorities, taxpayers will be given a reasonable time frame to provide this.
Furthermore, in line with ATAD 2, the proposal includes an explicit exemption to the ”reverse hybrid provision” for collective investment vehicles (CIV) which are subject to certain financial regulatory oversight.
Further clarifications
In addition to the examples and explanation provided in the Consultation Document, the proposal clearly states that the inclusion of an item of income, for purposes of income tax levied at the level of an individual, also suffices to meet the ”dual inclusion income” escape which applies for some of the anti-hybrid provisions. The anti-hybrid provisions do not apply if and to the extent the conditions of this escape are met.
In line with ATAD 2, the proposal explicitly states that any obligation to provide relief for income attributable to a hybrid permanent establishment will override the application of the hybrid permanent establishment provisions. The proposal does note that the Netherlands intends to amend its tax treaties to prevent such override going forward.
CV/BV Decree
As was already announced in the Consultation Document, the Dutch Government noted that it will repeal the Decree relating to the application of the Netherlands-United States tax treaty to hybrid entities (CV/BV Decree). Under the CV/BV Decree, treaty benefits (e.g., lowered or exempt dividend withholding tax rates) may be granted if the investors in a (reverse) hybrid entity are tax-treaty eligible. Upon repeal of the CV/BV Decree as of 1 January 2020, dividend distributions from Dutch companies to reverse hybrid entities such as CVs may become subject to the 15% Dutch dividend withholding tax, unless restructuring takes place before that time.
