The European Commission has recently proposed two changes to the Parent-Subsidiary Directive. The first proposed change aims to tackle avoidance using hybrid instruments. The second would introduce a common general anti-abuse rule into the Parent-Subsidiary Directive. Whilst the changes are unlikely to be implemented in the short term, they pave the way for OECD initiatives that are likely to have a more significant impact. The Commission’s proposal may also cast doubt on the legality of existing domestic rules that deny exemption for distributions which are deductible in the source state.
The European Commission has recently proposed two changes to the Parent-Subsidiary Directive. The first proposed change aims to tackle avoidance using hybrid instruments. The second would introduce a common general anti-abuse rule into the Parent-Subsidiary Directive. Whilst the changes are unlikely to be implemented in the short term, they pave the way for OECD initiatives that are likely to have a more significant impact. The Commission’s proposal may also cast doubt on the legality of existing domestic rules that deny exemption for distributions which are deductible in the source state.