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The Impact of ATAD 2 (Hybrid Mismatch Rules) on Private Equity InvestmentsHello
On 8 August 2019, the Luxembourg legislator released the draft law implementing EU Directive 2017/952 of 29 May 2017 (the “Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive 2” or “ATAD 2”) which provides for a comprehensive framework to tackle hybrid mismatch arrangements in an EU context and in transactions involving third States. This article analyses the scope, limits and mechanism of the new hybrid mismatches rules and considers their potential impact on private equity investments in Luxembourg.
- Introduction
Hybrid mismatches typically result from a different tax treatment of an entity, a permanent establishment or a financial instrument under the laws of two or more jurisdictions and may give rise to double non-taxation (including long-term tax deferrals).
The new hybrid mismatch rules target a variety of different situations including direct hybrid mismatches between associated enterprises, structured arrangements between third parties, imported hybrid mismatches and tax residency mismatches. Most of the hybrid mismatch rules are included in a new version of Article 168ter of the Luxembourg Income Tax Law (“LITL”) which will enter into force on 1 January 2020.
While the primary objective of the hybrid mismatch rules is the elimination of double non-taxation, tax adjustments under the hybrid mismatch rules should likewise not result in economic double taxation. This is ensured through a number of carve-outs and limitations that discharge the application of the hybrid mismatch rules.
ATAD 2 follows the recommendations of the OECD in regard to Action 2 of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (“BEPS”) Project that aim at neutralising the effects of hybrid mismatch arrangements through the application of linking rules that align the tax treatment in two or more jurisdictions. ATAD 2 explicitly states that the explanations and examples in the Final Report on BEPS Action 2 may be a source of interpretation to the extent this guidance is consistent with the provisions of the Directive.
