Taxation in Luxembourg, Luxembourg
What are the tax rates in Luxembourg, Luxembourg? How are corporations taxed? Here’s Teleports overview of personal, corporate and other taxation topics in Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
Personal taxation in Luxembourg
Effective personal income tax rate
| Annual income | $25,000 | $40,000 | $80,000 | $125,000 | $200,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate | 7% | 15% | 27% | 31% | 35% |
Teleport city rankings for personal income tax
Personal taxation puts Luxembourg in position 73 of all Teleport Cities.
Basis
Resident individuals are taxed on their worldwide income. Nonresidents are taxed only on Luxembourg-source income.
Residence
An individual is considered a resident of Luxembourg if he/she is domiciled in Luxembourg or his/her customary place of abode is in Luxembourg.
Filing status
Married individuals are jointly taxable. Taxpayers may elect for joint taxation under the same conditions as those that apply to individuals linked by a legal partnership.
Rates
Progressive rates up to 40% apply. Income tax due is increased by: (1) a contribution of 7% to the employment fund (9% for income exceeding EUR 150,000); (2) a 1.4% dependency contribution; and (3) a temporary 0.5% tax to balance the state budget.
Deductions and allowances
Subject to certain restrictions, deductions are permitted for the following: insurance premiums for life, accident and sickness policies; individual pension schemes; alimony and annuities; childcare and housekeeping costs; charitable contributions; interest on personal and mortgage loans; and home saving and loan schemes. Allowances are granted for employment income, dividend and interest income and pension income. Single parents may benefit from an additional abatement.
Taxable income
Luxembourg law distinguishes several categories of income, including income from employment, self-employment, agriculture and business. Losses from one category of income generally may be set off against income from another category in the same year.
Capital gains
Short-term capital gains are taxed as current income (at progressive rates up to 40%); long-term gains receive more favorable treatment, including an exemption of EUR 50,000 for gains realized in a 10-year period and taxation of the remaining long-term gains at 50% of the taxpayer’s global rate. Gains derived by an individual from real estate are considered long-term if the property was held for more than two years. Gains on an individual’s private residence normally are exempt. Gains derived by an individual on shares are long-term if the shares were held for more than six months, and are taxable only if the shareholding exceeds 10%. Gains on movable assets are exempt if the assets were held for more than six months.
Other taxes on individuals
Real property tax
Municipalities in Luxembourg impose a land tax of 0.7% to 1% on the unitary value of real property, including industrial plants. This is multiplied by coefficients fixed by each municipality, and varies according to the type of real estate.
Inheritance/estate tax
To the extent the deceased was resident in Luxembourg at the time of his/her death, inheritance tax is levied in Luxembourg. The tax base is the market value of the entire net estate inheritance at the time of death. Rates range from 0% to 48%,
Capital acquisitions tax
Certain gifts and donations must be registered (notably, those involving immovable property). The rates range from 1.8% to 14.4%, depending on the relationship between the donor and donee.
Social security
Social security contributions apply to wages and salaries and are due from both the employer (at rates of approximately 12% to 15%) and the employee (at 11%). Contributions for both employers and employees are computed on a capped basis (approximately EUR 115,500 for 2016), and must be withheld by the employer. Self-employed individuals must register for social security purposes and pay approximately the same rates as the combined rates for an employer and an employee.
Compliance for individuals
Penalties
Late payment of tax triggers automatic default interest of 0.6% per month. Failure to submit a tax return, or late submission, is subject to a penalty of 10% of tax due and a fine up to EUR 1239.47. If late payment is authorized by the tax authorities, the rate ranges from 0% to 0.2% per month.
Filing and payment
Tax returns are due by 31 March of the year following the tax year. The filing deadline may be extended at the taxpayer’s request. Self-employed individuals must make quarterly prepayments of tax, in amounts that are fixed by the tax authorities based on the most recent final assessment.
Corporate taxation in Luxembourg
Teleport city rankings for corporate income tax
Corporate taxation puts Luxembourg in position 8 of all Teleport Cities.
Basis
Residents are taxed on worldwide income; nonresidents are taxed only on Luxembourg-source income. Foreign-source income derived by residents generally is subject to corporation tax in the same way as Luxembourg-source income. Branches are taxed in the same way as subsidiaries.
Taxation of dividends
Dividends received by a resident company are included in taxable income, unless the participation exemption regime applies.
Residence
A company is resident in Luxembourg if its legal seat or central administration is in Luxembourg.
Losses
Losses may be carried forward indefinitely. The carryback of losses is not permitted.
Incentives
A global investment tax credit is available for 7% of the acquisition value of the first EUR 150,000 of investments made during the year, and 2% of the excess over EUR 150,000. A supplementary investment tax credit of 12% of the acquisition value of qualifying investments made during the tax year also is available.
Rate
A corporate income tax rate of 21% applies to a company whose taxable income exceeds EUR 15,000; otherwise, the rate is 20%. A municipal business tax also may be levied (see “Other” below).
Alternative minimum tax
As from 1 January 2016, the minimum corporate income tax is abolished and is replaced by a minimum net worth tax (see under “Other taxes on corporations,” below).
Surtax
Corporate income tax is increased by a contribution of 7% to the unemployment fund.
Foreign tax credit
Foreign tax paid may be credited against Luxembourg tax if the foreign tax is comparable to Luxembourg corporate income tax. The credit is limited to the amount of Luxembourg income tax payable on the foreign income.
Taxable income
Taxable income is calculated based on the profit as stated in the commercial balance sheet, plus certain adjustments provided for under the tax law (e.g. nondeductibility of taxes, exemption for dividends, etc.).
Holding company regime
See “Participation exemption” above.
Capital gains
Capital gains generally are included in taxable income and taxed at the standard corporate tax rate. However, capital gains derived from the sale of shares may be exempt from corporate income tax in certain cases.
Participation exemption
Dividends and capital gains derived by a qualifying entity from a qualifying shareholding may be exempt from Luxembourg corporate income tax and municipal business tax, notably, if the entity deriving the income holds or commits to hold the participation, directly or indirectly, for an uninterrupted period of at least 12 months and the participation does not fall below 10% or below an acquisition price of EUR 1.2 million (EUR 6 million for capital gains) throughout that period.
Other taxes on corporations
Stamp duty
Stamp duty is levied at various rates on the registration of notary deeds, bailiff deeds and certain acts of the judiciary.
Social security
Employers must make social security contributions (including for pension, illness and accident insurance) on behalf of their employees at a total rate of 12.42% to 15.90%, depending on various factors.
Other
Municipal business tax may be imposed at rates ranging from 6% to 12%, depending on where the undertaking is located.
Transfer tax
Transfer tax is mainly applicable to the transfer of immovable property. The basic rate is 6%, plus a 1% transcription tax. For real estate located in the municipality of Luxembourg, an additional charge amounting to 50% of the transfer tax is imposed. Exemptions are available.
Capital duty
No (except in particular cases). A registration fee of EUR 75 is imposed on incorporation or amendments to bylaws.
Real property tax
Municipalities in Luxembourg impose a land tax of 0.7% to 1% on the unitary value of real property, including industrial plants. This is multiplied by coefficients fixed by each municipality and varies according to the type of real property.
Compliance for corporations
Consolidated returns
Fiscal consolidation is allowed for corporate and municipal business tax purposes, but not for net worth tax purposes. A fiscal unity may be formed vertically by a Luxembourg company, or a Luxembourg permanent establishment of a foreign company subject to tax corresponding to Luxembourg corporate income tax, and its wholly owned (at least 95%) Luxembourg subsidiaries/Luxembourg permanent establishments of a foreign company that are subject to a tax equivalent to Luxembourg corporate income tax.
Penalties
A 0.6% monthly interest charge applies for failure to pay or for late payment of tax. Failure to submit the tax return, or late submission, results in a penalty of 10% of the tax due and a fine up to EUR 1,239.47. In the case of a late payment authorized by the tax authorities, the rate ranges from 0% to 0.2% per month, depending on the period of time.
Rulings
Luxembourg operates a system known as Advance Tax Analysis, enabling taxpayers to request an advance tax decision from the Luxembourg tax authorities. An administrative fee will apply.
Tax year
The tax year for a company is either the calendar year or the company’s accounting year ending in a particular calendar year.
Filing requirements
Corporate income tax, net worth tax and municipal business tax returns must be submitted before 31 May of the following tax year. This date may be extended upon request. Tax returns must be stated in euros, although, in certain circumstances, a company may determine its taxable income in a currency other than the euro.
Other taxation in Luxembourg
Value added tax
Filing and payment
As a minimum, a taxpayer must file an annual VAT return. Based on annual turnover, taxpayers also may be requested to file monthly or quarterly VAT returns, in addition to the annual return.
Other
Taxpayers with an annual turnover of less than EUR 25,000 benefit from a VAT franchise regime.
Rates
The standard rate is 17%. An intermediate rate of 14% applies, e.g. to the management and safekeeping of securities, the sale of wine and printed advertising materials. A reduced rate of 8% applies, e.g. to the supply of gas and electricity; and a super-reduced rate of 3% applies, e.g. to the sale of books, the supply of water, pharmaceuticals, most food products and radio and television broadcasting services. VAT exemptions may apply on certain services, including some financial, health and medical services and leasing of immovable property.
Taxable transactions
VAT is levied on the supply of goods and services.
Registration
In principle, taxpayers must be VAT registered (derogation may apply under certain conditions).
Anti-avoidance rules
Transfer pricing
Luxembourg has specific transfer pricing legislation requiring transactions between related parties to be conducted on arm’s length terms. The tax authorities can request documents to investigate transactions with related parties.
Thin capitalization
There is no specific legislation but, in practice, the tax administration uses a debt-to-equity ratio of 85:15 for the financing of participations.
Investment basics
Accounting principles/financial statements
Luxembourg GAAP/IFRS. Financial statements must be prepared annually.
Principal business entities
These are the public company (societe anonyme or SA), private limited company (societe à responsabilité limitee or Sàrl), partnership and branch of a foreign corporation.
Withholding tax
Dividends
Dividends paid to a nonresident company generally are subject to withholding tax at 15%, unless the rate is reduced under a tax treaty. No tax is withheld on dividends paid to a qualifying company under the EU parent-subsidiary directive, except if the transaction qualifies as an abuse of law under the general anti-abuse rule. Luxembourg has extended the benefits of the directive to parent companies resident in non-EU tax treaty countries, provided conditions similar to those under the Luxembourg participation
Interest
Luxembourg does not levy withholding tax on interest. However, profit-sharing bonds and debt instruments with remuneration linked to the issuer’s profits are taxed as dividends at a 15% rate.
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