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Corporate Tax

Italy

Parliament recently approved the so-called 'Stability Law' for 2013. The law includes a number of significant measures affecting individual and corporate taxpayers. New provisions include an increase in value added tax, the reintroduction of an elective regime providing for a step-up in the tax basis for participation in unlisted 'revaluation' companies and the introduction of a financial transaction tax.

Law Decree 138/2011, which was later converted to Law 148/2011, introduced new anti-abuse provisions for companies consecutively incurring tax losses and widened the application of provisions concerning non-operating companies that are required to disclose for tax purposes a minimum income determined on the basis of their assets, notwithstanding the actual result of the application of ordinary tax provisions.

In order to encourage corporate self-financing, the government has introduced the allowance for corporate equity, which enables companies to deduct an amount equal to the notional return on invested capital from their taxable income for income tax and corporation tax purposes. Further deductions are available for regional tax on production as an incentive to employers.

Parliament recently approved an austerity package that aims to present a balanced budget for 2012. Its various provisions - with an estimated financial impact of €54 billion - include a number of significant measures for individual and corporate taxpayers. In particular, companies should be aware of new provisions on carry-forward rules, criminal penalties and dormant companies.

Since 2010 Italy's controlled foreign company rules have applied to foreign subsidiaries that are established in whitelisted jurisdictions. The tax authorities have recently issued a circular which provides new guidelines on the application of the controlled foreign company rules to foreign companies in jurisdictions that are not tax havens.

A circular from the tax authorities provides further details on the Italian tax treatment of trusts. It focuses on when an instrument will be considered a 'sham' trust and must be disregarded for income tax purposes. However, many tax experts have criticised the circular for its basis in a misleading interpretation of trust taxation rules and its disregard for general principles of Italian income tax law.

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Offshore Services

Italy

A circular letter recently issued by the Italian tax authorities sheds light on the application of new income tax and indirect tax rules to trusts. The circular letter includes guidance on establishing the place of residence of a trust and considers the application of the 'look-through' rule.