62023CJ0685_SUM
Case C-685/23
Corner and Border S. A.
v
Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira
(Request for a preliminary rulingfrom the Tribunal Arbitral Tributário (Centro de Arbitragem Administrativa – CAAD))
Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of 5 June 2025
(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Directive 2008/7/EC – Article 5(2)(b) – Article 6(1)(d) – Indirect taxes on the raising of capital – Concept of ‘other charges on land or other property’ – Stamp duty on guarantees provided for the purposes of the proper execution of a debenture loan)
Tax provisions – Harmonisation of laws – Indirect taxes on the raising of capital – Directive 2008/7 – Transactions not subject to indirect tax – Concept of formalities relating to loans – Guarantees of obligations arising from a debenture loan –Legally optional guarantees which are connected with the substance of the transaction for the raising of capital – Not included – Guarantees of obligations established by the lender – No effect
(Council Directive 2008/7, Art. 5(2)(b))
(see paragraph 29)
Tax provisions – Harmonisation of laws – Indirect taxes on the raising of capital – Directive 2008/7 – Transactions not subject to indirect tax – Requirement for a broad interpretation – Transactions not expressly covered by the prohibition of taxation – Included – Condition – Transaction forming an integral part of an overall transaction with regard to a raising of capital
(Council Directive 2008/7, Art. 5)
(see paragraph 30)
Tax provisions – Harmonisation of laws – Indirect taxes on the raising of capital – Directive 2008/7 – Transactions not subject to indirect tax – Issue of debentures or other negotiable securities – Concept – Guarantees provided for the purposes of the proper execution of the debenture loan – Included – Possibility of substituting, at a later stage, another lender for the position of the initial lender – Irrelevant
(Council Directive 2008/7, Art. 5(2)(b))
(see paragraphs 31-33)
Tax provisions – Harmonisation of laws – Indirect taxes on the raising of capital – Directive 2008/7 – Duties and value added tax – Other charges on land or other property – Concept – Autonomous and uniform interpretation – Criteria – Possibility to qualify pledges, promises of pledges and transfers of receivables that do not constitute mortgages as other charges on land or other property – Verification a matter for the national court
(Council Directive 2008/7, Art. 6(1)(d))
(see paragraphs 34-44)
Tax provisions – Harmonisation of laws – Indirect taxes on the raising of capital – Directive 2008/7 – Transactions not subject to indirect tax – Guarantees provided for the purposes of the proper fulfilment of the obligations arising from a debenture loan – Imposition of a stamp duty on guarantees – Whether permissible – Condition – Guarantees constituting other charges on land or other property which enable the holder of a receivable to obtain preferential or priority payment of the debt
(Council Directive 2008/7, Arts 5(2)(b) and 6(1)(d))
(see paragraph 45, operative part)
See the text of the decision.