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Title: Investing Today in Brazil: Addressing Recent Tax Challenges


1
Investing Today in Brazil Addressing RecentTax
Challenges
Sponsored by
2
Thin Capitalization
3
Restrictions to Deduction of Expenses
  • Articles 24, 25 and 26 of Law 12,249
  • Restrictions to the deduction of interest
    expenses paid to non-resident parties (Related
    Parties or Low Tax Jurisdictions or Privileged
    Tax Regimes)
  • Restriction to the deduction of other expenses
    paid to non-resident parties domiciled in Low
    Tax Jurisdictions or Privileged Tax Regimes

4
Thin Capitalization Rules
  • Article 24 Concept
  • interest paid or credited by Brazilian sources,
  • to individuals or legal entities, considered
    related as set forth by article 23 of Law 9,430,
    resident or domiciled abroad,
  • not incorporated in a country or territory with
    favorable taxation or subject to a privileged tax
    regime,
  • will only be deductible if the interest expense
    is treated as necessary for the company
    activities and if certain legal requirements are
    met.

5
Thin Capitalization Rules
  • Article 24 interest paid or credited by
    Brazilian sources
  • Only credit transactions (loans, financing) or
    also interest on net equity? Specific rule for
    INE was implicitly repealed?
  • Inclusion of EPP or installment sales?

6
Thin Capitalization Rules
  • Article 24 to individuals or legal entities,
    considered related as set forth by article 23 of
    Law 9,430, resident or domiciled abroad
  • Article 23 Head office, affiliate, branch,
    subsidiary, parent or associated company, under
    common corporate control
  • Applicable to related parties that directly and
    indirectly participate in the capital or also for
    those that indirectly participate.
  • Applicable to commercial relationships

7
Thin Capitalization Rules
  • Article 24 not incorporated in a country or
    territory with favorable taxation or subject to a
    privileged tax regime
  • If country or dependency with favorable taxation
    or privileged tax regime articles 25 and 26

8
Thin Capitalization Rules
  • Article 24 will only be deductible if the
    expenses are treated as necessary for the
    companys activities and if the requirements set
    forth in Brazilian tax laws are met
  • Expenses paid or incurred in transactions or
    operations required for the companys activities
    i.e., those that are usual and normal for the
    type of transactions, operations or activities of
    the company.

9
Thin Capitalization Rules
  • Article 24 will only be deductible if the
    expenses are treated as necessary for the
    company activities and if the requirements set
    forth in Brazilian tax laws are met
  •  
  • (i) If direct participation, indebtedness may
    not be higher than 2x the share participation in
    the net equity of BrazilCo, on the date of the
    interest accrual
  • If no direct participation, indebtedness may not
    be higher than 2x the net equity of BrazilCo, on
    the date of interest accrual
  • (iii) If both tests are met, sum of
    indebtednesses with related parties may not be
    higher than 2x the sum of share participation of
    all related parties in BrazilCos net equity.

10
Thin Capitalization Rules
USCo
FrCo
UKCo
90
10
20
20
BrCo
Loan USCo 200Loan FrCo 200Net Equity 100
11
Thin Capitalization Rules
  • Article 24 Scope of the restriction
  • Funding of all types and terms exception pass
    on transactions by financial institutions
  • Whether or not the agreement is registered with
    the Central Bank of Brazil
  • Debt transactions in which there is a guarantor
    (avalista or fiador), proxy or any intervening
    party that is considered a related party.

12
Thin Capitalization Rules
  • Article 24 Consequences of excess expenses
  • expenses will not be treated as necessary
  • expenses will not be considered deductible for
    IRPJ and CSLL purposes. Formula to be issued

13
Thin Capitalization Rules
  • Article 25 Concept
  • interest paid or credited by Brazilian sources,
  • to individuals or legal entities, incorporated in
    a country or dependency with favorable taxation
    or subject to a privileged tax regime,
  • will only be deductible if the expenses are
    treated as necessary for the company activities
    and if the legal requirements are met.

14
Thin Capitalization Rules
  • Article 25 Tax Havens
  • Country or dependency with favorable taxation
    does not tax income or taxes it at a maximum rate
    lower than 20
  • Privileged tax regime
  • does not tax (local or foreign) income or taxes
    it at a maximum rate lower than 20
  • grants tax benefits to a non-resident individual
    or legal entity without requiring (or contingent
    upon) substantial economic activity
  • does not provide access to information on
    shareholding composition, ownership of goods or
    rights or the economic transactions carried out.

15
Thin Capitalization Rules
  • Article 25 will only be deductible if the
    expenses are treated as necessary for the
    companys activities and if the legal
    requirements are met
  • Expenses that are treated as necessary for the
    company activities and for the maintenance of
    its productive source.
  • Expenses paid or incurred for the transactions or
    operations required for the companys activities.
    Accepted operational expenses are those that are
    usual and normal for the type of transactions,
    operations or activities of the company.

16
Thin Capitalization Rules
  • Article 25 will only be deductible if the
    expenses are treated as necessary for the
    companys activities and if the following legal
    requirement is met
  • the overall amount of indebtedness with all
    entities located in a low tax jurisdiction or in
    a privileged tax regime is higher than 30 of the
    net equity of the Brazilian company.

17
Thin Capitalization Rules
USCo
CaymanCo
LuxCo
90
10
20
20
BrCo
Loan LuxCo 200Loan CaymanCo 200Net Equity
100
18
Thin Capitalization Rules
  • Article 25 Scope of the restriction
  • Funding of all types and terms exception pass
    on transactions by financial institutions
  • Whether or not the agreement is registered with
    Central Bank of Brazil
  • Debt transactions in which there is a guarantor
    (avalista or fiador), proxy or any intervening
    party that is a resident or domiciled in a
    country or dependency with favorable taxation or
    subject to privileged tax regime.

19
Thin Capitalization Rules
  • Article 25 Consequences of excesses
  • expenses will not be treated as necessary
  • expenses will not be considered deductible for
    income tax (IRPJ and CSLL) purposes. Formula to
    be issued

20
Expenses in General
  • Article 26 Concept
  • Expenses for IRPJ and CSLL purposes are not
    deductible,
  • if they derive from payment, credit, delivery,
    use or remittance at any title, directly or
    indirectly,
  • to individuals or companies resident or
    incorporated abroad in a country or territory
    with favorable taxation, or subject to a
    privileged tax regime.
  • Deduction three tests

21
Expenses in General
  • Article 26 Effective beneficiary
  • The individual or company not incorporated with
    the sole or principal purpose of tax savings,
    that receives payments these values for its own
    account and not as agent, trustee or agent on
    behalf of a third entity.
  • If the identification requirement is met, is
    the test accomplished?
  • If the recipient located in a country or
    territory with favorable taxation is just an
    agent, but the effective beneficiary is
    identified, are the requirements met?
  • How can the identification be formalized?
  •   

22
Expenses in General
  • Article 26 of Law 12,249
  • Expressions whose content and scope require a
    specification
  • 1) "operational ability" - which requirements
    should be met?
  • 2) "tax savings" - for whom?
  • 3) tax savings as sole or principal purpose -
    how to determine?

23
Transfer Pricing
24
Transfer pricing Overview
  • Brazilian transfer pricing rules are inconsistent
    with the internationally accepted Organization
    for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
    guidelines
  • Transfer pricing rules apply to the following
    related-party transactions
  • Export of goods, services, or rights
  • Import of goods, services, or rights and
  • Interest bearing contracts not registered before
    the Brazilian Central Bank (Bacen).
  • TP rules do not apply to royalties/technical/scien
    tific and administrative assistance (special
    rules apply to those transactions).

25
Transfer pricing Comparison
OECD Equivalent
Exports
Imports
Market comparison - CUP
PVEX
PIC
CAP (15)
CPL (20)
Cost Plus method
PVV (30)
PRL (20)
Resale minus method
PRL (60)
PVA (15)
26
Proposed resale minus method rejected
  • The Brazilian Congress failed to approve two
    provisional measures published late last year
    that would have replaced the transfer pricing
    resale minus method (PRL) with the a new method,
    known as PVL from its Portuguese acronym
  • Provisional Measure No. 476/09 (PM 476),
    published on 24 December 2009, and Provisional
    Measure No. 478/09 (PM 478), published on 29
    December 2009, were not approved by the Brazilian
    Congress within the constitutionally established
    legal time frame, and thus lost their
    effectiveness as of the date of their enactment
  • PM 478 introduced significant changes to
    Brazilian transfer pricing regulations, revoking
    the PRL 20/60 (the resale minus method), and
    introduced a new method, known as PVL 35. PM
    476/09 was known for revoking article 61, II of
    Provisional Measure No. 472/09, published on 12
    December 2009, which in turn revoked the margins
    on the resale minus PRL method

27
Proposed provisional measures - summary
PM 472 PM 476 PM 478
Main change Article 61, II revoked the transfer pricing margins of resale minus method (PLR) as set forth by article 2 of Law 9,959/00 Revoked article 61, II of PM 472, and reintroduces the margins set forth by article 2 of Law 9,959/00 that were previously revoked by PM 472 Introduced the new PVL method and replaces the PRL 20/60 from January 1, 2010 onwards
Enactment 12/15/2009 12/24/2009 12/29/2009
28
Proposed provisional measures - timeline
  • PM 472 was approved by the Brazilian Congress and
    converted into Law No. 12,249/2010, published on
    June 14, 2010
  • The wording of Law 12,249/2010, however, did not
    include the article that revoked the transfer
    pricing margins of the resale minus method as set
    forth by article 2 of Law 9,959/00. From that
    perspective, there is a significant controversy
    whether the original provisional measure (which
    did include the revocation of the transfer
    pricing margins) should be in effect in the year
    of its enactment, that is, 2009

29
PRL 20/60 x (proposed) PVL 35
30
Resale minus method comparative
Description PRL 20 PRL 60 PVL 35
Applicability Imported goods or rights from related parties that are resold in Brazil. Applicability of services only provided by Normative Instruction, but not in the Law. Imported goods from related parties subject to aggregation value and resold in Brazil Imported goods, services. or rights from related parties resold in Brazil
Statutory margins 20 60 35
Profit margin basis Gross Resale Price NRP less aggregation value in Brazil Proportional NRP less proportional CGS
31
What changes are expected?
  • It is expected that the Brazilian tax authorities
    will try to reintroduce a new resale minus
    method this year, which would be, in principle,
    in force from 2011 if enacted
  • There are also current proposals and discussions
    with the Brazilian transfer pricing tax
    authorities in order to include different sector
    margins on the resale minus method, clarify some
    other uncertainties which where introduced by
    Provisional Measure 478, as well as other
    inconsistencies in the application of the
    transfer pricing methods

32
Resolution 2,689Financial Markets
33
1 - General Rules
  • Pursuant to Resolution 2,689, foreign investors
    are entitled to perform investments in the
    Brazilian financial and capital markets by
    investing in
  • fixed income instruments (bonds, certificates of
    deposit, debentures)
  • derivative instruments (swaps, futures, forwards,
    flexible options)
  • securities (stock, stock options, stock index,
    warrants)
  • mutual funds and
  • other financial instruments generally available
    to Brazilian residents.
  • According to Resolution 2,689, any investor
    residing outside Brazil shall comply with the
    following requirements
  • appointment of an agent (individual or legal
    entity) in Brazil for the purposes of
    representing such investor before third parties
    (who may or may not be the local representative
    for tax purposes) (Agent). If this Agent is not
    a financial institution duly authorized to
    operate in Brazil, the foreign investor should
    appoint a financial institution to be co-obliged
    for the compliance of certain obligations that
    should be observed pursuant to the applicable
    regulation with respect to investments performed
    under Resolution 2,689
  • fulfillment of the application form attached to
    Resolution 2,689
  • enrollment with the Brazilian Securities
    Commission (Comissão de Valores Mobiliários
    CVM), and the Brazilian Taxpayers Registry
    (Cadastro Nacional de Pessoas Físicas CPF, or
    Cadastro Nacional de Pessoas Jurídicas CNPJ,
    as applicable) and
  • registration with the Central Bank of Brazil
    (BACEN).

34
1 - General Rules
  • The foreign investor shall enter into a custody
    agreement with a financial institution authorized
    to render such service (pursuant to Article 5,
    III, of CVM Instruction No. 325).
  • Proceeds remitted to Brazil for the purposes of
    investing in the Brazilian financial and capital
    markets under Resolution 2,689 should not be
    invested in transactions
  • carried out outside stock or commodities
    exchange, electronic systems or organized
    over-the-counter (OTC) market of securities of
    publicly-held companies duly registered for
    negotiation on such markets and
  • involving securities or financial instruments
    traded on non-organized OTC markets or on markets
    that are organized by entities not authorized by
    the CVM.
  • Such limitations do not include initial
    subscriptions, payments of bonuses, conversions
    of convertible debentures into shares, indexes
    referenced in securities, purchases or sales of
    quotas of open-ended investment funds and, if
    previously approved by CVM, delistings, trading
    cancellations or suspensions, judicial agreements
    and the disposition of shares subject to
    shareholders agreements.
  • All proceeds, assets and securities held and
    traded by foreign investors under Resolution
    2,689 should be registered with or deposited in
    institutions or entities authorized to render
    registration and custody services by the BACEN or
    the CVM or be registered in clearing systems
    recognized by the BACEN or by the CVM.
  • The transfer and/or assignment of such
    investments abroad are not allowed, except in the
    case of merger, amalgamation, spin-off, corporate
    reorganization and succession, provided that the
    regulation issued by the BACEN and the CVM are
    complied with.

35
2 - Special Regime for 2689 Investors
  • Foreign investors, not located in Low Tax
    Jurisdictions (LTJs), as provided by Brazilian
    Law (for further details on LTJs please refer to
    section 03), that invest in Brazilian financial
    and capital markets, pursuant to the rules ser
    forth by Resolution No. 2,689 (2,689
    Investors), are subject to a special tax regime
    in connection with the withholding income tax
    (WHT) imposed on gains and earnings related to
    such investment.
  • In this sense, capital gains derived upon
    disposal of shares and other securities, such as
    quotas of closed-end investment funds, by the
    2,689 Investor performed in the stock exchange
    market or an Organized OTC are exempt from
    withholding tax (WHT).
  • Further, earnings derived by the 2,689 Investors,
    generated by the assets composing their
    investment portfolio, are subject to
  • WHT at a 10 rate, in relation to investments in
    variable income investment funds, swap
    transactions and transactions in the future
    market, outside the stock exchange and
  • WHT at a 15 rate in all other cases, including
    fixed income investments.
  •  
  • On the inflow of funds to Brazil, in general, the
    exchange transaction carried out by a 2,689
    Investor in order to invest in Brazilian
    financial and capital markets is currently
    subject to the Tax on Exchange Transactions
    (IOF/Exchange) at a 2 rate.
  • The exchange transactions carried out for the
    outflow of funds from Brazil to abroad in
    connection with return of capital of 2,689
    Investors currently benefits from the zero
    percent rate of IOF/Exchange.
  • ,

36
2 - Special Regime for 2689 Investors
  • On the other hand, if the 2,689 Investor resides
    in a LTJ, the tax regime applicable to it will be
    the same regime applicable to Brazilian residents
    in connection with investments in Brazilian
    financial and capital markets.
  • Therefore, capital gains derived upon disposal of
    shares and other securities by the foreign
    investor are subject to WHT at a 15 rate.
    Further, earnings derived by the foreign
    investors resident in LTJs, including earnings
    from fixed income investments and investments in
    open-end investment funds are subject to WHT at
    general rates varying from 22,5 to 15,
    depending on the type and lifetime of the
    investment.
  • The main tax advantage on the conversion of a
    2,689 Investment over a 4131 Investment is that
    the foreign investor can benefit from the
    non-imposition or reduction of the WHT in future
    capital gains to the extent that it sells in the
    future its shares in the Stock Exchange Market
    with gains and it is not located in a low tax
    jurisdiction.
  • Please find below the detailed taxation for 2,689
    Investor on the following types of investments
  • Direct investments in shares
  • Fixed income investments
  • Share fund FIA
  • Private equity fund FIP and
  • Credit Rights Fund FIDC.

37
2.1 Direct Investments in Shares
  • Tax Aspects
  • The inflow of funds into Brazil for the
    acquisition of shares is subject to the
    IOF/Exchange which currently is imposed at a 2
  • Dividend and Interest on Equity (IE) (which is
    hybrid form of dividend distribution provided for
    in Brazilian law) paid by the invested company to
    the Foreign Investor, as well as the repatriation
    of the invested capital, is currently subject to
    IOF/Exchange at a 0 rate.
  • Dividends paid by the invested company are not
    subject to WHT
  • IE paid by the invested company is subject to WHT
    at a 15 rate, provided that the Foreign Investor
    (as a 2689 Investor) not located in a LTJ (if
    located in a LTJ, a 25 rate applies)
  • Capital gains recognized upon the disposal of
    shares are not subject to WHT, in the event the
    Foreign Investor is not located in a LTJ or at a
    15 rate, if the Foreign Investor is located in a
    LTJ.

Foreign Investor
Acquisition of Shares in the Stock Exchange Market
Abroad
Brazil
Publicly Held Corporation
38
2.2 Fixed Income Investments
  • Tax Aspects
  • The inflow of funds into Brazil for the
    acquisition of shares is subject to the
    IOF/Exchange which currently is imposed at a 2
  • The outflow of the investment, including gains
    and earnings, will be subject to IOF/Exchange at
    a 0 rate
  • Earning derived by the Foreign Investor in
    connection with the fixed income investment will
    be subject to WHT at a 15 rate, provided that
    such investor is not located in a LTJ
  • If the investor is located in a LTJ, the WHT
    would be imposed at rates varying from 22.5 to
    15, depending on the lifetime of the investment.

Foreign Investor
Acquisition of Bonds or other fixed income
instruments
Abroad
Brazil
Fixed Income Investments
39
2.3 Share Fund - FIA
  • Tax Aspects
  • The inflow of funds into Brazil for the
    acquisition or subscription of quotas is subject
    to IOF/Exchange at a 2 rate.
  • The outflow of the investment, including gains
    and earnings, in connection with the Share Fund
    will be subject to IOF/Exchange at a 0 rate.
  • If the Foreign Investor is located outside a LTJ,
    gains recognized upon disposal of the quotas of
    closed end funds in the stock exchange market or
    an Organized OTC are exempt of WHT.
  • If the Foreign Investor is located in a LTJ, such
    gains would be subject to WHT at a 15 rate.
  • Earnings to be received by the Foreign Investor
    would be subject to WHT at a 10 rate.
  • In the event the Foreign Investor is located in a
    LTJ, such earnings would be subject to WHT at a
    15.

Subcription/Acquisition of Quotas of a FIA
Foreign Investor
Abroad
Brazil
FIA
40
2.4 Private Equity Fund - FIP
  • Tax Aspects
  • The inflow of funds into Brazil for the
    acquisition or subscription of quotas is subject
    to IOF/Exchange at a 2 rate.
  • The outflow of gains and earnings in connection
    with the FIP will be subject to IOF/Exchange at a
    0 rate.
  • If the quotaholders are located outside of a LTJ,
    gains and earnings recognized by the 2.689
    Investor as a result of the amortization of
    quotas of the FIP will be subject to the
    imposition of the WHT at a 0 (zero percent)
    rate.
  • This 0 WHT rate would not apply if (i) the
    foreign quotaholder holds (directly or via
    related parties) at least 40 of the quotas of
    the FIP or of the quotas that represent the right
    to receive more than 40 of the earnings of the
    FIP (ii) the FIP has, at any time, debt bonds
    corresponding to more than 5 of its net worth,
    or (iii) the foreign investor is domiciled in a
    LTJ.
  • If the 2689 Investor is resident in a LTJ, it
    will be subject to the same tax treatment
    applicable to Brazilian investors

Subcription/Acquisition of Quotas of a FIP
Foreign Investor
Abroad
Brazil
FIP
41
2.4 Private Equity Fund - FIP
  • Tax Aspects (cont.)
  • Therefore, gains and earnings recognized by
    quotaholders of the FIP would only be taxable on
    the sale or amortization of the corresponding
    quotas. In this context, those gains and earnings
    would be subject to the imposition of the WHT at
    a 15 rate.
  • Such tax treatment is conditioned upon fulfilment
    of the following requirements (i) the portfolio
    of the FIP must be composed by at least 67 of
    shares of corporations (S.A.), convertible
    debentures and subscription bonds, and (ii)
    diversification limits and rules provided for in
    the regulations of CVM must be observed. If these
    two requirements were not met, gains and earnings
    recognized by quotaholders would be subject to
    WHT at aggregate rates varying from 22.5 to 15,
    depending on the lifetime of the investment in
    the FIP.

Subcription/Acquisition of Quotas of a FIP
Foreign Investor
Abroad
Brazil
FIP
42
2.5 Credit Rights Fund FIDC
  • Tax Aspects
  • The inflow of funds into Brazil for the
    acquisition or subscription of quotas is subject
    to IOF/Exchange at a 2 rate.
  • The outflow of the investment, including gains
    and earnings, in connection with the FIDC will be
    subject to IOF/Exchange at a 0 rate.
  • If the Foreign Investor is located outside a LTJ,
    gains recognized upon disposal of the quotas of
    closed-end funds in the stock exchange market or
    an Organized OTC are exempt of WHT.
  • If the Foreign Investor is located in a LTJ, such
    gains would be subject to WHT at a 15 rate.
  • Earnings to be received by the Foreign Investor
    upon redemption or amortization of quotas would
    be subject to WHT at a 15 rate, in the event
    such investor is not located in a LTJ.
  • In the event the Foreign Investor is located in a
    LTJ, such earnings would be subject to WHT at
    rates varying from 22,5 to 15, depending on the
    lifetime of the investment.
  • It is important to mention that the same tax
    treatment described above is applicable to
    Multimarket Funds.

Subcription/Acquisition of Quotas of a FIDC
Foreign Investor
Abroad
Brazil
FIDC
43
3 - Comments on the Concept of Low Tax
Jurisdictions and Privileged Tax Regimes
  • Until December 2008, under Brazilian tax law, a
    LTJ was a country or location that does not
    impose taxation on income, or imposes the income
    tax at a rate lower than 20 or where the laws of
    that country or location impose restrictions on
    the disclosure of shareholding composition or the
    ownership of the investment. There was a list of
    LTJ enacted by the Brazilian Revenue Service by
    means of Normative Instruction 188/2002. More
    recently, some amendments were implemented in
    connection with the concept of LTJ, via Law
    11,727/08, in force as of January 2009, in order
    to include in said concept the provision in the
    sense that the country or location which imposes
    restrictions on the disclosure of shareholding
    composition or the ownership of the investment
    should also be considered as a LTJ. Additionally,
    Law 11,727/08 also created the concept of
    privileged tax regimes.
  • In 2010, a new list was enacted by the Brazilian
    Revenue Service, via Normative Instruction
    1,037/10 (IN 1,037/10), which included both the
    countries considered as LTJs and the locations
    considered as granting privileged tax regimes
    (PTR).
  • In our view, there are solid legal grounds to
    sustain that the list should be interpreted as a
    comprehensive list, so that only the countries
    and locations listed should be viewed as LTJs and
    privileged tax regimes, according to their
    specific qualification. Further, in our opinion,
    there are solid legal grounds to sustain that the
    concept of privileged tax regime only applies for
    the purposes of transfer pricing rules and thin
    capitalization rules.
  • Please find below the countries included in the
    new list.

44
3 - Comments on the Concept of Low Tax
Jurisdictions and Privileged Tax Regimes
  • Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dutch
    Antilles, Aruba, Ascension Island, Bahamas,
    Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Bermudas, Brunei,
    Campione DItalia, Canal Island (Jersey,
    Guernsey, Alderney and Sark), Cayman Island,
    Cyprus, Singapore, Cook Island, Costa Rica,
    Djibouti, Dominica, United Arab Emirates,
    Gibraltar, Grenada, Hong Kong, Kiribati, Lebuan,
    Liban, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Macau, Madeira
    Island, Maldives, Man Island, Marshall Island,
    Mauricio Island, Monaco, Montserrat Island,
    Nauru, Niue Island, Norfolk Island, Sultanate of
    Oman, Panama, Pitcairn Islands, French Polynesia,
    Queshm Island, San Cristovan and Nevis, American
    Samoa, West Samoa, San Marino, Saint Helena
    Island, St. Peter and Miguelão Island, Saint
    Vincent, Santa Lucia, Seychelles, St. Kitts and
    Nevis, Solomon Islands, Swaziland, Switzerland,
    Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, Vanuatu,
    American Virgin Islands, British Virgin Island
    and Tristan da Cunha.
  • According to IN 1,037/10 are PTRs
  • in what concerns the legislation of Luxembourg,
    the regime applicable to the holding companies
  • in reference to the Uruguayan legislation, the
    regime applicable to the Financial Investment
    Companies (Safis), until December 31st, 2010
  • in respect with the legislation of Denmark, the
    regime applicable to the holding companies which
    do not develop substantial economic activity
  • regarding the Netherlands legislation, the regime
    applicable to the holding companies which do not
    develop substantial economic activity
  • in relation with the legislation of Iceland, the
    regime applicable to the International Trading
    Companies (ITC)

45
3 - Comments on the Concept of Low Tax
Jurisdictions and Privileged Tax Regimes
  • in reference to the Hungarian legislation, the
    regime applicable to the companies incorporated
    as KFT offshore
  • in what concerns the legislation of the United
    States of America, the regime applicable to the
    companies incorporated as state Limited Liability
    Company (LLC), whose shareholding control is
    composed of non-residents, not subject to the
    federal income tax
  • regarding the Spanish legislation, the regime
    applicable to the companies incorporated as
    Entidad de Tenencia de Valores Extranjeros
    (E.T.V.Es), and
  • in connection with the legislation of Malta, the
    regime applicable to the International Trading
    Companies (ITC) and the International Holding
    Companies (IHC).
  • On June 23rd, 2010, was enacted Normative
    Instruction n. 1,045, which altered IN 1,037/10.
    According to IN 1,045, the jurisdictions
    mentioned on sections 1 and 2 of IN 1,037/10 may
    file a request for revision of its
    characterization as LTJ or PTR. This request
    shall be forward by a representative of the
    countries government and shall be addressed to
    the BIRS Secretary. It shall be accompanied by
    proof of the content and effectiveness of tax
    legislation, which enables to review the
    classification. This request may grant suspensive
    effects in relation to the tax impacts involving
    the requestor jurisdiction, at the BIRS Secretary
    discretion.
  • On June 25th, 2010 were published Normative Acts
    10 and 11, which declare that Switzerland and
    Netherlands have filed the referred request.
    During the analysis of the request, the force of
    the list on these two countries has been
    suspended. As this procedure is new, we are not
    able to inform how long will it take to BIRS to
    issue a conclusion on the matter.

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4 Recent Challenges 2,689 Investor included in
LTJ by IN 1,037
  • According to abovementioned new list, were added
    to the LTJ roll Ascension Island, Brunei,
    Kiribati, Norfolk Island, Pitcairn Islands,
    French Polynesia, Queshm Island, Saint Helena
    Island, St. Peter and Miguelão Island, Solomon
    Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis, Swaziland,
    Switzerland and Tristan da Cunha.
  • Therefore, it is possible that a 2,689 Investor,
    that was not incorporated in a LTJ before, due to
    the enactment of IN 1,037 list, now its
    considered to be located in a country deemed to
    be a LTJ by the Brazilian Tax Authorities.
  • In light of the issue presented above, the
    following solutions are feasible
  • Liquidation of the assets. The investor would
    liquidated the current assets and then reinvest
    in Brazil as a 4,131 Investor. In this case, the
    rate increase is not avoided, but it limits the
    costs to past operations. An alternative that can
    be implemented in relation to this one is
    withdraw of the investments, transfer of the
    assets abroad to a country which is not
    considered a LTJ and then, after the transfer is
    completed, reinvest from the other country
  • Merger, amalgamation, spin-off, corporate
    reorganization and succession abroad
  • Drop-down of the 2,689 Investments, as this
    operation is considered by the CVM as a corporate
    reorganization abroad (past CVM rulings were in
    this sense) and
  • Change of the companys location abroad. It is
    important to bear in mind that the entity must
    remain the same, despite of the change of
    location.

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