natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Thirdly, at the level of the group, the scheme appears to be advantageous for cross-border situations with inbound interest, where the net interest-receiving company is Hungarian, while the net interest-paying company is non-resident.
Tretjič, zdi se, da je shema na ravni skupine ugodna za čezmejne primere z vhodnimi obrestmi, ko ima družba, ki prejema čiste obresti, sedež na Madžarskem, družba, ki plačuje čiste obresti, pa ne.
Fourthly, the opt-out possibility from the application of the scheme, which can be changed on a yearly basis, was an additional factor for considering that the measure is an exception from the tax system in Hungary.
Četrtič, odločitev o neuporabi sistema, ki se lahko vsako leto spremeni, je dodatni dejavnik, ki kaže, da ukrep pomeni izjemo od davčnega sistema na Madžarskem.
The Commission also had doubts that the above-mentioned exceptions were justified ‘by the nature or general scheme’ of the tax system, and therefore considered the measure to be incompatible with the common market.
Komisija je izrazila tudi pomisleke, da so bile zgoraj navedene izjeme upravičene „z naravo ali splošno shemo“ davčnega sistema, in je zato menila, da je ukrep nezdružljiv s skupnim trgom.
Finally, the Commission was of the opinion that the measure could not be considered existing aid as it does not fulfil any of the conditions set out in Annex IV.3 of the Act of Accession.
Nazadnje, Komisija je menila, da ukrepa ni mogoče šteti za obstoječo pomoč, ker ne izpolnjuje pogojev iz Priloge IV.3 k Aktu o pristopu.
Legal basis of the assessment
Pravna podlaga ocene
The Hungarian authorities consider that owing to the lack of harmonisation at Community level in the field of direct taxation, the measure has to be assessed under the rules of the EC Treaty governing the approximation of laws according to Article 96 and 97 of the EC Treaty and not on the basis of the State aid rules.
Madžarski organi menijo, da je treba zaradi neusklajenosti na ravni Skupnosti na področju neposrednega obdavčenja ukrep oceniti glede na pravila Pogodbe ES, ki urejajo približevanje zakonodaj v skladu s členoma 96 in 97 Pogodbe ES, in ne na podlagi pravil o državni pomoči.
The Hungarian authorities refer to the case law of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which stipulates that direct taxation falls within the competence of Member States but that Member States must exercise this competence consistently with Community law on direct taxation.
Madžarski organi se sklicujejo na sodno prakso Sodišča Evropskih skupnosti, ki določa, da je neposredno obdavčenje v pristojnosti držav članic, vendar da morajo države članice to pristojnost izvajati v skladu z zakonodajo Skupnosti o neposrednem obdavčenju.
In this context, Hungary argues that observance of the freedom of establishment influenced the characteristics of the measure to a large extent.
V tem smislu Madžarska trdi, da je na značilnosti ukrepa v veliki meri vplivalo spoštovanje svobode ustanavljanja.
The objective of the measure
Cilj ukrepa
The objective of the measure is that intra-group loan financing — providing for the optimal allocation of liquidity — could take place without taxation influencing business decisions on operation and financing.
Cilj ukrepa je, da bi lahko financiranje posojil znotraj skupine – ki zagotavlja čim boljšo porazdelitev likvidnosti – potekalo, ne da bi obdavčitev vplivala na poslovne odločitve glede poslovanja in financiranja.
In contrast to the majority of other Member States, there is no group taxation in Hungary.
V nasprotju z večino držav članic na Madžarskem ni obdavčenja v skupini.
Group taxation provides for the possibility to offset the loss of a (domestic) group member against the profit of another (domestic) group member in the same year.
Obdavčenje v skupini zagotavlja možnost izravnave izgube (domačega) člana skupine z dobičkom drugega (domačega) člana skupine v istem letu.
The budgetary resources do not permit the introduction of a full group taxation scheme.
Proračunska sredstva ne omogočajo uvedbe popolnega sistema obdavčenja v skupini.
The Hungarian rule was therefore introduced as an alternative to group taxation, in order to reduce in part the competitive disadvantage compared to other Member States with a full group taxation scheme.
Zato je bilo uvedeno madžarsko pravilo kot nadomestna možnost obdavčenja v skupini, da se deloma zmanjša slabši konkurenčni položaj v primerjavi z drugimi državami članicami s popolnim sistemom obdavčenja v skupini.
By permitting the deduction of 50 % of the interest received and symmetrically — in order to reach the tax policy objective — an increase of its profits by 50 % of the interest paid to affiliated undertakings, the difference between equity and intra-group loan financing is reduced, as the dividend as remuneration for equity financing is tax exempt whereas interest is taxed for loan-financing.
Z odobritvijo 50-odstotnega odbitka prejetih obresti in simetrično (da se doseže cilje davčne politike) povečanja dobička za 50 % obresti, plačanih povezanim družbam, se razlika med lastniškim financiranjem in financiranjem posojil znotraj skupine zmanjša, ker so dividende kot plačilo za lastniško financiranje oproščene davka, medtem ko so obresti obdavčene za financiranje posojil.
According to the Hungarian authorities, the measure represents a kind of partial group taxation, applied only to interest income.
Po mnenju madžarskih organov ukrep pomeni vrsto delnega obdavčenja v skupini, ki se uporablja le za dohodke iz obresti.
It is a generally applicable rule that does not favour any undertaking or the production of goods.
Na splošno velja pravilo, ki ne daje prednosti nobenemu podjetju ali proizvodnji blaga.
Group taxation is a general feature of the tax system in certain Member States, and to the knowledge of the Hungarian authorities, the Commission has not contested its compatibility with the EC Treaty.
Obdavčenje v skupini je splošen element davčnega sistema v nekaterih državah članicah, pri čemer Madžarski ni znano, da bi Komisija izpodbijala njegovo skladnost s Pogodbo ES.
Existence of State aid under Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty
Obstoj državne pomoči v skladu s členom 87(1) Pogodbe ES
The Hungarian authorities consider that the scheme in question does not constitute State aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty, as the criteria concerning (i) economic advantage, (ii) selectivity and (iii) State resources are not fulfilled.
Madžarski organi menijo, da zadevna shema ne pomeni državne pomoči v smislu člena 87(1) Pogodbe ES, ker niso izpolnjena merila v zvezi (i) z gospodarsko prednostjo, (ii) s selektivnostjo in (iii) z državnimi sredstvi.
According to the Opening Decision, the measure grants an advantage (i) at the level of the individual company owing to the possibility of deducting 50 % of the net interest income from the tax base, and (ii) at the level of the whole group when a Hungarian member of the group finances a group member abroad and receives interest income for which the 50 % deduction is also granted.
V skladu z uvodno odločbo ukrep zagotavlja prednost (i) na ravni posamezne družbe zaradi možnosti odbitka 50 % čistih dohodkov iz obresti od davčne osnove ter (ii) na ravni cele skupine, kadar madžarska članica skupine financira članico skupine v tujini in prejme dohodke iz obresti, za katere je prav tako odobren 50-odstotni dobitek.
The Hungarian authorities argue that the measure may provide an advantage to an individual company, but it provides a disadvantage to the other party of the loan transaction, and therefore it is symmetrical in purely domestic relations.
Madžarski organi trdijo, da ukrep lahko zagotavlja prednost posamezni družbi, vendar pomeni negativen učinek za drugo stranko transakcije posojil in je v popolnoma domačih razmerjih zato simetričen.
It may provide an advantage also to the whole group, but this advantage is limited to a faster offsetting of interest losses of a group company against the interest income of the other, as in the case of other group taxation systems.
Zagotavlja lahko tudi prednost celotni skupini, vendar je ta prednost omejena na hitrejšo izravnavo izgub obresti družbe iz skupine z dohodki od obresti druge družbe kot v primeru drugih sistemov obdavčenja v skupini.
The Hungarian authorities further argue that in cross-border situations, if the affiliated company receiving the intra-group loan and paying interest on it is based abroad, the advantage gained will depend on the tax rate applied in the Member State where this company is resident.
Madžarski organi nadalje trdijo, da bo v čezmejnih primerih, če ima povezana družba, ki prejme posojilo znotraj skupine in plača obresti nanj, sedež v tujini, pridobljena prednost odvisna od davčne stopnje, ki se uporablja v državi članici, v kateri ima ta družba sedež.
The advantage is not due to the aid character of the Hungarian measure, but results merely from the difference between the tax rules of Member States, which cannot be taken into account in the assessment of the measure.
Prednost ne temelji na naravi pomoči madžarskega ukrepa, ampak je le posledica razlike med davčnimi pravili držav članic, ki se ne morejo upoštevati pri oceni ukrepa.
If the foreign legislation was the same as the Hungarian legislation, the advantage identified by the Commission would no longer exist.
Če bi bila tuja zakonodaja enaka kot madžarska, prednost, ki jo je ugotovila Komisija, ne bi več obstajala.
Moreover, as stated in the Commission decision on International Financing Activities in the Netherlands [12], the existence of an advantage must be assessed within the framework of the State aid rules purely at national level.
Poleg tega mora biti obstoj prednosti ocenjen v okviru pravil o državni pomoči izključno na nacionalni ravni, kot je navedeno v Odločbi Komisije o dejavnostih mednarodnega financiranja na Nizozemskem [12].
In this respect, Hungary observes that, in domestic situations, the measure does not distort competition and confers no advantage, as it is tax neutral.
V zvezi s tem Madžarska ugotavlja, da v nacionalnem okviru ukrep ne izkrivlja konkurence in ne zagotavlja prednosti, ker je davčno nevtralen.
The Hungarian authorities do not agree with the Commission that the measure confers an advantage for cross-border transactions (with inbound interest).
Madžarski organi se ne strinjajo s Komisijo, da ukrep zagotavlja prednost za čezmejne transakcije (z vhodnimi obrestmi).
Hungary argues that the 16 % effective corporate tax rate may already be an incentive for groups to allocate activities in Hungary.
Madžarska trdi, da je 16 % dejanske stopnje davka od dohodkov pravnih oseb že lahko spodbuda za skupine, da razporedijo dejavnosti na Madžarskem.
A potential advantage is not a tax incentive for multinationals, but results from the freedom of establishment.
Možna prednost ni davčna spodbuda za večnacionalne skupine, ampak izvira iz svobode ustanavljanja.
This principle would have been infringed should the Hungarian authorities have excluded from the scope of the measure groups that have members outside Hungary.
To načelo bi bilo kršeno, če bi madžarski organi iz področja uporabe ukrepa izključili skupine, ki imajo članice zunaj Madžarske.
It is further argued that the measure helps groups to achieve a more efficient allocation of financial resources, similarly to the group taxation systems of other Member States.
Nadalje trdi, da ukrep skupinam omogoča učinkovitejšo dodelitev finančnih sredstev podobno kot v sistemih obdavčenja v skupini v drugih državah članicah.
It is less lenient than tax consolidation systems, which allow the distribution of any type of loss within an administrative unity.
Je bolj strog kot sistemi davčne konsolidacije, ki omogočajo porazdelitev kakršne koli izgube znotraj administrativne celote.
If a measure is a generally applicable provision of the normal corporate taxation, it confers no advantage.
Če ukrep na splošno ustreza običajnemu sistemu obdavčitve dohodkov pravnih oseb, ne zagotavlja prednosti.
The Hungarian authorities consider that this measure is a special group taxation arrangement which is as general as the group taxation system of any other Member State without favouring any undertakings or production of goods.
Madžarski organi menijo, da je ta ukrep posebna ureditev obdavčenja v skupini, ki je tako splošna kot sistem obdavčenja v skupini v kateri koli drugi državi članici, ne da bi zagotavljal prednost posameznemu podjetju ali proizvodnji blaga.
To the knowledge of the Hungarian authorities, the Commission never contested the compatibility of other Member States’ group taxation schemes with the EC Treaty.
Po podatkih madžarskih organov ni Komisija nikoli izpodbijala združljivosti sistemov obdavčenja v skupini drugih držav članic s Pogodbo ES.
The system is an integral part of the general rules for the calculation of the tax base.
Sistem je sestavni del splošnih opravil za izračun davčne osnove.
Therefore it does not confer any economic advantage.
Zato ne zagotavlja gospodarske prednosti.
First, Hungary is of the opinion that the measure is general and constitutes part of the tax system rules.
Prvič, Madžarska meni, da je ukrep splošen in je del pravil davčnega sistema.
Therefore no additional state resources are used, since the normal tax liabilities do not change.
Zato niso uporabljena dodatna državna sredstva, saj se običajne davčne obveznosti ne spremenijo.
The Hungarian authorities also note that the Commission stated in the Opening Decision that the advantage of the measure at group level arises in cross-border situations when the interest-paying company abroad is taxed at an effective rate higher than 8 %.
Madžarski organi ugotavljajo tudi, da je Komisija v uvodni odločbi navedla, da prednost ukrepa na ravni skupine izvira iz čezmejnih primerov, kadar je družba v tujini, ki plačuje obresti, obdavčena po dejanski stopnji, ki je višja od 8 %.
Such an advantage is not imputable to the Hungarian State, neither is it a loss from Hungarian State resources.
Za takšno prednost ni odgovorna Republika Madžarska, prav tako ne pomeni izgube za madžarska državna sredstva.
The advantage is provided by the foreign state that allows the full deduction of interest paid.
Prednost zagotavlja tuja država, ki omogoča celoten odbitek plačanih obresti.
Therefore the potential advantage is not provided from Hungarian state resources precisely in cases where the Commission established the existence of such an advantage.
Zato možna prednost ni zagotovljena iz madžarskih državnih sredstev ravno v primerih, ko je Komisija ugotovila obstoj takšne prednosti.
In addition, the Hungarian authorities note that the corporate tax paid by the interest-receiving member of the group through the application of the measure constitutes revenue for the State which would probably not be obtained without the existence of the measure.
Poleg tega madžarski organi ugotavljajo, da pomeni davek od dohodkov pravnih oseb, ki ga plača članica skupine, ki prejme obresti, prek uporabe ukrepa, dohodek za državo, ki ga verjetno ne bi prejela brez obstoja ukrepa.
The Hungarian authorities argue that the measure is part of the general rules on corporate taxation, therefore it is not selective.
Madžarski organi trdijo, da je ukrep del splošnih pravil o obdavčitvi dohodkov pravnih oseb, zato ni selektiven.
The Commission’s statement that the beneficiaries are undertakings active in various economic sectors reinforces the Hungarian view that the measure is not selective.
Izjava Komisije, da so upravičenci podjetja, ki delujejo v različnih gospodarskih sektorjih, podpira stališče Madžarske, da ukrep ni selektiven.
In each sector of the Hungarian economy there are undertakings (overall more than thousand) that apply the measure.
Podjetja (skupaj več kot tisoč), ki uporabljajo ukrep, so v vsakem sektorju madžarskega gospodarstva.
The measure is applied also in sectors where typically multinational or large enterprises are not present (e.g. agriculture, education, catering).
Ukrep se uporablja tudi v sektorjih, ki so praviloma večnacionalni ali v katerih ni velikih podjetij (npr. kmetijstvo, izobraževanje, gostinstvo).
The Hungarian authorities point out that it cannot consider a measure to be selective if its application is not possible under the same terms for each taxpayer.
Madžarski organi poudarjajo, da za ukrep ne more šteti, da je selektiven, če ga ni mogoče uporabljati pod enakimi pogoji za vse davčne zavezance.
From the point of view of the application of the measure, only companies belonging to groups are in a factually and legally comparable situation.
Z vidika uporabe ukrepa so le družbe, ki pripadajo skupinam, v primerljivem dejanskem in pravnem položaju.
The fact that the measure necessarily has to be applied by undertakings which have at least one affiliated company seems to render the measure selective.
Zaradi dejstva, da morajo ukrep nujno uporabljati podjetja, ki imajo vsaj eno povezano družbo, se zdi ukrep selektiven.
However, the Hungarian authorities argue that a company providing intra-group loans is not in a comparable situation with a company providing loans to independent parties.
Madžarski organi trdijo, da družba, ki zagotavlja posojila znotraj skupine, ni v primerljivem položaju z družbo, ki zagotavlja posojila neodvisnim strankam.
The latter activity may only be pursued by an authorised financial institution as laid down in the Hungarian Act on credit institutions in line with the Banking Directive [13].
To dejavnost lahko opravlja le pooblaščena finančna institucija, ki je pridobila dovoljenje, kot je določeno v madžarskem zakonu o kreditnih institucijah v skladu z bančno direktivo [13].
Companies that finance third parties as their main activity cannot be compared to companies providing intra-group financing in order to optimally distribute liquidity within a group.
Družb, katerih glavna dejavnost je financiranje tretjih oseb, zato ni mogoče primerjati z družbami, ki zagotavljajo financiranje znotraj skupine, da bi se likvidnost znotraj skupine čim bolje porazdelila.
Hungary refers to the Commission’s 27th Report on Competition Policy of 1997 [14], which makes reference to a Dutch measure that reduced the payroll tax levied on employers engaged in research and development.
Madžarska navaja 27. poročilo Komisije o politiki konkurence za leto 1997 [14], ki se sklicuje na nizozemski ukrep, s katerim je bil znižan davek na izplačane plače, ki se je obračunaval delodajalcem na področju raziskav in razvoja.
The measure was not qualified as State aid, since it was not confined to a certain region, sector or undertaking and was provided on the basis of objective criteria.
Ukrep ni bil opredeljen kot državna pomoč, ker ni bil omejen na posamezno regijo, sektor ali podjetje in je bil zagotovljen na podlagi objektivnih meril.
De jure exceptions
Pravne izjeme
The Hungarian authorities consider that most general tax rules have exceptions from their scope of application which are based on economic policy considerations and are in line with the nature and general structure of the tax system.
Madžarski organi menijo, da pri večini splošnih davčnih pravil obstajajo izjeme glede na njihovo področje uporabe, ki temeljijo na vidikih gospodarske politike ter so v skladu z naravo in splošno strukturo davčnega sistema.
As to the exception concerning small companies, the Hungarian authorities note that (1) small companies typically do not provide intra-group financing, (2) the extension of the measure to them would require high administrative costs disproportionate to the potential advantages that they could effectively achieve, (3) the Hungarian Act on Corporate Tax provides for several tax benefits specifically designed for small companies.
Glede izjem v zvezi z malimi podjetji madžarski organi ugotavljajo, da (1) mala podjetja praviloma ne zagotavljajo financiranja znotraj skupine, (2) da bi razširitev ukrepa nanje povzročila višje administrativne stroške, ki bi bili nesorazmerni z možnimi prednostmi, ki bi bile lahko dejansko dosežene, (3) da madžarski zakon o davku od dohodkov pravnih oseb zagotavlja več davčnih ugodnosti, posebej namenjenih malim podjetjem.
Hungary refers to the GIL case [15], where the Court supported the logic that different taxpayers can be treated on a different legal basis of the tax law.
Madžarska se sklicuje na zadevo GIL [15], v kateri je Sodišče podprlo razlago, da se lahko različni davčni zavezanci obravnavajo na različnih pravnih podlagah davčne zakonodaje.
As regards the financial sector, Hungary further states that it did not intend to promote intra-group financing.
V zvezi s finančnim sektorjem Madžarska nadalje trdi, da ni nameravala spodbujati financiranja znotraj skupine.
Despite economic difficulties in Hungary, the companies concerned have operated with considerable profits, and the Hungarian government imposed special taxes on them rather than supporting them.
Kljub gospodarskim težavam na Madžarskem zadevne družbe poslujejo z znatnim dobičkom, madžarska vlada pa jim je naložila posebne davke, namesto da bi jih podprla.
In addition, these companies have special tax status, financial and accounting rules.
Poleg tega imajo te družbe poseben davčni položaj ter finančna in računovodska pravila.
In this regard, the Hungarian authorities also refer to paragraph 27 of the Commission notice on the application of the State aid rules to measures relating to direct business taxation [16]: ‘Specific provisions that do not contain discretionary elements, allowing for example tax to be determined on a fixed basis (for example, in the agriculture or fisheries sectors), may be justified by the nature and general scheme of the system where, for example, they take account of specific accounting requirements or of the importance of land in assets which are specific to certain sectors; such provisions do not therefore constitute State aid (…)’.
V zvezi s tem se madžarski organi sklicujejo tudi na odstavek 27 Obvestila Komisije o uporabi pravil o državni pomoči za ukrepe, ki zadevajo neposredno obdavčitev ustvarjenega dohodka [16]: „Posebne določbe, ki ne vsebujejo diskrecijskih elementov in omogočajo določanje davkov na fiksni osnovi (na primer v kmetijskem in ribiškem sektorju), je mogoče upravičiti z naravo in splošno shemo sistema, če na primer upoštevajo specifične računovodske zahteve ali pomen zemljišča v premoženju, kar je značilno za nekatere sektorje; takšne določbe torej ne predstavljajo državne pomoči […]“.
The Hungarian Government considers that extending the measure to financial service providers, insurance companies, investment companies and venture capital companies would precisely have constituted de facto selectivity as, given the special status of financial services providers (their activities typically/almost exclusively involve loan transactions performed using external resources), they would have obtained disproportionately large benefits in applying the measure.
Madžarska vlada meni, da bi razširitev ukrepa na ponudnike finančnih storitev, zavarovalnice, investicijske družbe in družbe s tveganim kapitalom pomenila dejansko selektivnost, ker bi glede na poseben položaj ponudnikov finančnih storitev (njihove dejavnosti praviloma/skoraj izključno vključujejo transakcije posojil, ki se izvajajo z uporabo zunanjih sredstev) pri uporabi ukrepa pridobili nesorazmerno velike ugodnosti.
Intra-group character
Značilnost znotraj skupine
As stated above, given the regulatory restrictions, non-financial firms may apply the measure only in relation to affiliated companies, since only authorised financial institutions are allowed to provide loans to independent parties.
Kot je navedeno zgoraj, lahko glede na normativne omejitve nefinančna podjetja uporabljajo ukrep le v povezavi s povezanimi družbami, ker lahko le finančne institucije, ki so pridobile dovoljenje, zagotavljajo posojila neodvisnim strankam.
In addition, it must be noted that there are a number of rules in the tax systems of other Member States that are available only to corporate groups (e.g. group taxation).
Poleg tega je treba opozoriti, da davčni sistemi drugih držav članic zajemajo številna pravila, ki so na voljo le skupinam podjetij (npr. obdavčenje v skupini).