Foreign tax credit method
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All income generated by taxpayers is subject to exactly the same treatment from a tax standpoint, regardless of where the income was generated. Therefore, foreign income is treated in the same way as national income.
Foreign income is taken into account when determining the tax payable in Luxembourg using the foreign tax credit mechanism.
Who is concerned
Any company based in Luxembourg which does business abroad via apermanent establishment (e.g., a branch office) or a subsidiary must take into account the tax regime applicable to the income generated by this establishment.
How to proceed
Principle
A Luxembourg company's worldwide income is subject to Luxembourg tax.
However, once the tax rate has been set, Luxembourg will grant a tax credit equal to the tax charged in the foreign State..
This tax credit is, however, limited to the Luxembourg income tax due on the net foreign income.
- if the amount of Luxembourg tax is higher than the foreign tax, all the foreign tax may be offset;
- if the amount of Luxembourg tax is less than the foreign tax, the credit is limited to the amount of Luxembourg tax payable on this income.
The surplus foreign tax (the uncredited portion) may nonetheless be offset against the taxable amount payable by the company in Luxembourg.
Opaque companies
For opaque companies, ICC is not deductible from taxable profit.
The portion that can be offset is therefore determined as follows:
I (deductible foreign tax) =
(R = foreign income net of foreign taxes) x T (overall Luxembourg tax rate)) / (1-T)
Sole proprietorships and partnerships
For sole proprietorships and partnerships, ICC is deductible from taxable profit, and so the formula changes as follows:
I (deductible foreign tax) =
(R = foreign income net of foreign taxes) x T (overall Luxembourg tax rate)) / (1-T + ICC rate)
Companies established in more than one country
Principle
The tax credit calculation cannot be made in a single step: it must be done country by country.
If the Luxembourg company consists of several subsidiaries or branch offices located in different countries, it must therefore prepare, for each country concerned, a separate income statement enabling the relevant net income to be determined together with the corresponding Luxembourg tax charge.
The company may however request the Consolidated income regime by attaching the appendix 'option pour le regime de l'imputation globale' (opting for the consolidated tax credit regime) to its tax return.
For example:
SA Lux receives the following income:
- via its establishment in France:
- gross dividends from France: 100 (withholding tax payable in France: 15);
- other income: 70 (no tax withheld);
- costs related to this income: 80.
- via its establishment in Italy:
- income: 200 (withholding tax in Italy: 50);
- costs related to this income: 100.
The rate of income tax on Luxembourg corporate entities (IRC) is 21 % (we are simplifying by using this rate for the purposes of this example).
The amount of foreign tax to be offset is calculated as follows:
- calculation of the amount of French tax to be offset:
(French net income based on which Luxembourg tax is calculated: R= 100 –15 + 70 – 80 = 75)
I = (75 x 21 %) / (1-21 %) = 11.5 / 0.79 = 19.94
The withholding tax of 15 can be fully offset;
- calculation of the mount of Italian tax to be offset:
I = [(200 – 50 – 100) x 0.21 / (1-21 %) = 13.29
The Italian tax amount of 50 can be offset as 13.29.
The difference of 36.71 is, meanwhile, deductible from the Luxembourg taxable amount.
Who to contact
Administration des contributions directes (ACD)
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Administration des contributions directes (ACD)
- Address:
- 33, rue de Gasperich L-5826 Hesperange Luxembourg
Merci de consulter le site internet ci-dessus pour vous adresser au service compétent.
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
Legal references
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Loi modifiée du 1er décembre 1936
concernant le droit fiscal commercial (Gewerbesteuergesetz)
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Loi modifiée du 10 août 1915
concernant les sociétés commerciales
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Loi modifiée du 4 décembre 1967
concernant l'impôt sur le revenu
