Changes in the Income Tax Act valid from 1 January 2015 5 February 2015 Dr. Wilfried Serles IB Grant Thornton Consulting, k.s. © 2015 Grant Thornton Consulting, k.s. All rights reserved. Bart Waterloos VGD – AVOS AUDIT s.r.o. Changes in the Income Tax Act New classes and rules for tax depreciation Luxury limits for passenger vehicles Limits on writing off to certain receivables Tax deductible costs after payment Thin capitalization rules Transfer pricing Private use of assets Research and Development super bonus Other changes 2 Changes in depreciation groups 3 The number of depreciation groups was increased from 4 to 6. Assets in the 3rd depreciation group with present period of depreciation of 12 years (production technologies) will be depreciated for 8 years. Assets in the 6th depreciation group with present period of depreciation of 20 years will be depreciated for 40 years. This change concerns assets such as administrative buildings, hotels and residential buildings. Changes in depreciation groups Depreciation groups and period of depreciation from 01.01.2015 Period of Assets Group depre(examples) ciation Computer equipment, office machines, 1 4 years passenger vehicles, telecommunication equipment etc. 2 3 4 5 6 4 6 years Compressors, pumps, fork-lift trucks, furniture, other electric equipment and devices etc. 8 years Generators, transformers, electricity supply devices, furnaces and air-conditioning equipment etc. 12 years Depreciation groups and period of depreciation until 31.12.2014 Period of Assets Group depre(examples) ciation Computer equipment, office machines, 1 4 years passenger vehicles, telecommunication equipment etc. 2 3 Containers, boats, ships, sport and recreational boats etc. Buildings with exception of buildings classified into the 6th depreciation group and engineering works (e.g. roads, 20 years bridges) with exception of engineering works classified into the 4th and 6th depreciation groups Residential buildings, hotels, administrative buildings, buildings for 40 years cultural purposes (e.g. cinemas, theatres), entertainment purposes etc. 6 years Compressors, pumps, fork-lift trucks, furniture, furniture, other electric equipment and devices etc. 12 years Generators, transformers, electricity supply devices, furnaces and airconditioning equipment, containers, boats, ships etc. 20 years Buildings and engineering works (e.g. roads, bridges) 4 Example Change in the method of depreciation period of an administrative building from 20 to 40 years In 2009 the company acquired an administrative building for a purchase price of EUR 500.000. As the administrative building will be classifed to the 6th depreciation group, the depreciation period will be changed from 20 to 40 years with effect from 1 January 2015. The procedure of depreciation will be as follows: 5 Year Calculation Tax depreciation 2009 – 2014 (1 – 6 year) 500 000 EUR / 20 25 000 EUR 2015 – 2042 (7 – 34 year) 500 000 EUR / 40 12 500 EUR 5 Example Determination of the depreciation group for buildings If a building is used for several purposes, the main use will be decisive to determine to which depreciation group it belongs. Use Area used % from the area used Classification code Depreciation group Office space 1 500 m2 50 % 1 220 6 Shops 1 000 m2 33,33 % 1 230 5 500 m2 16,67 % 1 264 6 100 % - Ambulancie Total 3 000 m2 Depreciation group 5: 1 000 m2 i.e. 33,33 % and depreciation group 6: 2 000 m2 i.e. 66,67 % 6 6 Change in method of depreciation 7 The use of the accelerated depreciation method will be limited to the assets classified into the 2nd and 3rd depreciation group. Given this, such assets as electric equipment and devices, air-conditioning equipment, furnaces and furniture can be further depreciated using accelerated depreciation method. All other assets have to be depreciated using the straight-line depreciation method, whereby the method of depreciation must be changed from 1 January 2015, i.e. in case the assets were depreciated using accelerated depreciation method this has to be changed to straight-line depreciation method as of 1 January 2015. Depreciation charges for the previous years will not be adjusted. Example Change in the method of depreciation for assets classified to the 1st depreciation group In January 2014 the company acquired a passenger vehicle for purchase price of EUR 36,000. In 2014 the passenger vehicle was depreciated using the accelerated depreciation method. As the passenger vehicle will be classified into the 1st depreciation group, the depreciation method must be changed from the accelerated to straight-line depreciation method with effect from 1 January 2015. The procedure of changing of the depreciation will be as follows: 8 Year Input price Accelerated depreciation method 2014 2015 2016 2017 36,000 36,000 36,000 36,000 9,000 13,500 9,000 4,500 Change from accelerated to straight-line depreciation method 9,000 9,000 9,000 Residual value 27,000 18,000 9,000 0 Example Change in the method of depreciation in case of reclassification of tangible asset from the 3rd to the 4th depreciation group In January 2010 the company acquired a container for purchase price of EUR 12,000. The container was classified into the 3rd depreciation group with period of depreciation of 12 years and in the years 2010 – 2014 it was depreciated using the accelerated depreciation method. As of 1 January 2015, the container has to be reclassified to the 4th depreciation group (also with depreciation period of 12 years). As the accelerated depreciation cannot be used for the assets classified into the 4th depreciation group as of 1 January 2015, it is necessary to change the accelerated depreciation method to the straight-line depreciation method with effect from 1 January 2015. 9 Example Change of depreciation method in case of reclassification of tangible asset from the 3rd to the 4th depreciation group (acquisition price EUR 12,000) 10 Year Accelerated depreciation Residual value using accelerated depreciation 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 1,000 1,834 1,667 1,500 1,334 1,167 1,000 833 666 500 333 166 11,000 9,166 7,499 5,999 4,665 3,498 2,498 1,665 999 499 166 0 Change from accelerated to straightline depreciation 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 665 - Residual value in case of change to straight-line depreciation 11,000 9,166 7,499 5,999 4,665 3,665 2,665 1,665 665 0 0 0 Losses on sale Losses on sale of passenger vehicles, motorbikes, ships, sport and recreational boats, and losses on sale of property classified into the 6th depreciation group will not be tax deductible any more. Example In January 2013 the company acquired a passenger vehicle for purchase price of EUR 36,000. In March 2015 the company will sell this vehicle for EUR 17,000. The following table shows the impact on the tax base in 2015: 11 Year Tax depreciation Tax residual value 2013 2014 2015 9,000 9,000 0 27,000 18,000 Recorded sales revenues 17,000 Increase of the tax base 1,000 Interruption of depreciation From 1 January 2015 the conditions under which depreciation of tangible assets must be interrupted will be extended: 12 In tax periods, in which the asset is not used for business purposes; In case of change of the tax period to the fiscal year (if the tax period is changed for the second time during a period of two consecutive calendar years); If the validity of the preliminary permission for use of building is not extended. But it will be no longer possible during a tax control, respectively for tax periods over which a tax control has been performed. Changes in financial lease 13 Tangible fixed assets, that were acquired under the financial lease contract have to fulfil the condition of the period of lease representing at least 60% of the period of depreciation. The condition of the minimum duration of the period of lease of 3 years was cancelled. The possibility of depreciation of the assets acquired under the financial lease contract during the period of financial lease, which in the practice led to much shorter period of depreciation, was cancelled. From 1 January 2015 they will be depreciated according to the rules of the standard tax useful life. This new rule applies to subjects of financial lease that were leased under contracts concluded after 1 January 2004. Example Changes in depreciation of the subjects of financial lease In February 2014 the company concluded the contract on financial lease of passenger vehicle at the amount of EUR 24,000 for the period of February 2014 – January 2017. 2014 2015 2016 2017 14 Amount of depreciation (in case of depreciation period of 36 months until 31.12.2014) 7,334 (February – December) 8,000 8,000 666 (January) Amount of depreciation (in case of depreciation period 48 months from 01.01.2015) 6,000 6,000 4,666 Residual value 16,666 10,666 4,666 0 Example Changes in depreciation of the assets acquired under the financial lease contract In January 2013 the Company acquired a building used for administrative purposes with value of EUR 600,000 under the financial lease contract. The period of lease was agreed for a period of 12 years (January 2013 – December 2024). 2013 2014 Annual amount of depreciation (depreciation period of 144 months until 31.12.2014) 50,000 50,000 2015 – 2047 2048 15 - Annual amount of depreciation (depreciation period of 480 months from 01.01.2015) Residual value 15,000 (cumulative amount of depreciation EUR 495,000) 5,000 550,000 500,000 5,000 (residual value as at 31.12.2047) 0 Financial lease / Technical improvements 16 Technical improvements of the subjects of financial lease will not be depreciated separately as „Other assets“ anymore. For the purposes of calculation of tax-deductible depreciation the acquisition costs of the assets acquired under the financial lease contract will be increased by the amount of technical improvements. In this way the period of depreciation will be extended accordingly. Example Depreciation in case of technical improvements of the assets acquired under financial lease contract In January 2015 the company concluded the contract on financial lease of passenger vehicle in the amount of EUR 28,000 for the period of 40 months, from January 2015 to April 2018. In January 2017 technical improvements in the amount of EUR 2,000 will be performed. 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 17 Tax depreciation Residual value 7,000 7,000 7,500 7,500 1,000 21,000 14,000 8,500 1,000 0 Depreciation of passenger vehicle 18 The amendment introduces the luxury limit in the amount of EUR 48,000 for passenger vehicles, but it only concerns taxpayers who use passenger vehicles for business purposes and whose tax profit is lower than EUR 12,000. This limit of tax base will be increased in case of the use of several passenger vehicles, depending on the number of these vehicles. For instance, if a taxpayer uses 2 passenger vehicles, the limit of profit will be EUR 24,000. Taxpayers who do not exceed the respective limit of profit may depreciate the passenger vehicle on the basis of acquisition costs limited to the amount of EUR 48,000. Taxpayers with higher tax profits may depreciate the vehicle in full amount. This rule does not apply to lessors of luxury passenger vehicles who may apply depreciation in individual tax periods up to the amount of income from lease of these vehicles. Example Depreciation of passenger vehicle Top cars sold in 2014 in Slovakia: os Model 11.14 % Oct 2014 % Pos 3 Skoda Octavia 318 5.3% 2 3 757,00 5.3% 1 2 Skoda Fabia 324 5.4% 3 3 725,00 5.2% 2 1 Skoda Rapid 331 5.5% 4 3 571,00 5.0% 3 4 VW Golf 187 3.1% 5 2 524,00 3.5% 4 8 Kia Cee’d 111 1.9% 6 2 376,00 3.3% 5 7 Hyundai i30 117 2.0% 9 1 948,00 2.7% 6 227 Suzuki SX4 0 0.0% 1 1 655,00 2.3% 7 14 Opel Astra 94 1.6% 12 1 281,00 1.8% 8 6 Kia Sportage 152 2.5% 7 1 252,00 1.8% 9 31 VW Polo 49 0.8% 11 1 063,00 1.5% 10 Source: http://bestsellingcarsblog.com/2015/01/slovakia-november-2014-skoda-yeti-vw-golf-sportsvan-shine/#more-49701 19 Example Depreciation of passenger vehicle In 2015 the company will purchase a passenger vehicle for purchase price of EUR 70,000. The following table shows impact during the depreciation period in years 2015-2018: Year 2015 2016 2017 2018 Amount of depreciation from acquisition price of EUR 70,000 17,500 17,500 17,500 17,500 Amount of depreciation from limited acquisition price of EUR 48,000 12,000 12,000 12,000 12,000 Tax base 10,000 12,000 11,000 22,000 Increase of tax base of EUR 5,500 (=17,50012,000) at the tax base < EUR 12,000 5,500 5,500 - For the purposes of calculation of tax residual value the tax depreciation charges in the amount of EUR 17,500 will be used, i.e. the tax non-deductible part of tax depreciation charges will not be considered as tax deductible through the tax residual value of passenger vehicle. 20 Example Depreciation of passenger vehicle In September 2015 the company acquires a passenger vehicle for an amount of EUR 60,000. Based on the new rules, if the tax base of the company: 1. > = 12 000 (yearly depreciation limit from EUR 48,000) – no correction is required. 2. < 12 000 (yearly depreciation limit from 48 000 eur) – the correction to the tax base is required. Year 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 21 Amount of decpreation from acquisition price (60 000/4) 5 000 (15 000/12x4, Sept. - Dec.) 15 000 15 000 15 000 10 000 (15 000/12 000x 8, Jan. – Aug.) Amount of depreciation from limited acquisition prices (48 000/4) 4 000 (12 000/12x4 Sept. - Dec.) 12 000 12 000 12 000 8 000 (12 000/12x8 Jan. – Aug.) Total correction tax base: Increase of Tax Tax base Base if tax base is < 12.000 EUR 10 000 1 000 13 000 7 000 12 500 3 000 - 8 000 2 000 6 000 Example Depreciation of passenger vehicle In January 2015 the company will purchase 2 passenger vehicles, each for purchase price of EUR 70,000. The following table shows impact during the period of depreciation in years 2015-2018: 22 Year Amount of depreciation from acquisition prices of EUR 140,000 (70x2) Amount of depreciation from limited acquisition Tax base prices of EUR 96,000 (48x2) 2015 2016 2017 2018 35,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 24,000 24,000 24,000 24,000 18,000 25,000 11,000 28,000 Increase of the tax base of EUR 11,000 (=35,000-24,000) at tax base < EUR 24,000 11,000 11,000 - Lease of passenger vehicle 23 On the side of lessee the annual tax costs of lease are limited to EUR 14,400 if his tax profit is lower than EUR 14,400. In case of the tax base higher or equal to EUR 14,400 the costs of lease will be tax deductible in full amount. This limit of profit will be increased in case of use of several passenger vehicles, depending on the number of these vehicles. For example, if the taxpayer uses 2 passenger vehicles the limit of profit will be EUR 28,800. Example Lease of passenger vehicle In January 2015 the company will lease a passenger vehicle with value of EUR 70,000 for the period of January 2015 – December 2018, whereby the annual cost of lease will be EUR 20,000. The following table shows impact on the tax base during the period of lease. 24 Year Recorded cost of lease Limited cost of lease Tax base 2015 2016 2017 2018 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 14,400 14,400 14,400 14,400 10,000 12,000 15,000 22,000 Increase of the tax base of EUR 5,600 (=20,00014,400) at tax base < EUR 14,400 5,600 5,600 - Example Lease of passenger vehicle In April 2015 the company will lease a passenger vehicle with value of EUR 60,000 for the period of April 2015 – March 2019, whereby the annual cost of lease will be EUR 18,000. The following table shows impact on the tax base during the period of lease. 25 Year Recorded cost of lease Limited cost of lease Tax base Increase of the tax base at tax base < EUR 14,400 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 13,500 (April – December) 18,000 18,000 18,000 4.500 (January-March) 10.800 (April – December) 14,400 14,400 14,400 3,600 10,000 20,000 11,000 16,000 9.000 2.700 3.600 900 Example Lease of passenger vehicle In January 2015 the company will lease 2 passenger vehicles, each with value of EUR 70,000, for the period of January 2015 – December 2018, whereby annual cost of lease will be EUR 20,000/vehicle. The following table shows impact on the tax base during the period of lease. 26 Year Recorded cost of Limited cost of lease lease for 2 passenger for 2 passenger Tax base vehicles vehicles 2015 2016 2017 2018 40,000 40,000 40,000 40,000 28,800 28,800 28,800 28,800 10,000 12,000 30,000 29,000 Increase of the tax base of EUR 11,200 (=40,000 – 28,800) at tax base < EUR 28,800 11,200 11,200 - Write off of receivables Tax deductible write off of irrecoverable receivables (e.g. in case of termination of bankruptcy proceeding, restructuring or execution proceedings, issue of the court´s ruling or death of the debtor) will be possible only for receivables that were initially included in taxable income. 27 Example Write off of receivable in case of termination of the bankruptcy proceeding due to the lack of assets of the debtor The company reports in the accounting a receivable from loan in the amount of EUR 13,000. The amount of the outstanding principal is EUR 10,000 and outstanding interest on the loan represent the amount of EUR 3,000. Due to the lack of assets of the debtor the bankruptcy proceeding was terminated. The receivable from the loan in the amount of EUR 13,000 will be written off in the year of termination of the bankruptcy proceeding. Impact on the tax base: Bankruptcy proceeding terminated in 2014 28 Bankruptcy proceeding terminated in 2015 Receivable Amount in EUR Accounting Tax write off Amount in write off 2014 2014 EUR Accounting write off 2015 Tax write off 2015 Principal Interest 10,000 3,000 10,000 3,000 10,000 3,000 0 3,000 10,000 3,000 10,000 3,000 Tax deductible costs after payment The amendment extends the group of costs that will be tax-deductible no sooner than settled: 29 Costs of marketing studies and other studies, costs of market survey; Costs of consulting and legal services; Payments to taxpayers resident in states with which the Slovak Republic has not concluded international double taxation treaty, will be considered as tax-deductible after the withholding tax will be remitted to the tax authority and the respective notification will be delivered to the tax authority or after the security of tax is performed on these payments; Agency commissions, including those paid under mandate and similar contracts (e.g. commercial on commercial representation), will be tax-deductible after their payment up to 20% of the value of mediated transaction. This provision does not apply to certain financial institutions (e.g. banks, insurance companies and their branches, etc.); Costs of obtaining of standards and certificates will be included in the tax base evenly during their validity, but not longer than during a period 36 months starting from the month of their payment; The change in tax deductibility of costs after their payment will have to be reflected in the calculation of deferred tax. Tax non-deductible reserves Reserves for: unbilled supplies and services, preparation, audit and publication of annual financial statements, including their annex, preparation of tax return will not be tax-deductible any more. 30 Example Tax deductible costs after payment and reserves During the year 2015 the company recorded the following transactions: 31 Invoice for consulting services in the amount of EUR 2,000 and invoice for market survey in the amount of EUR 3,600; none of the invoices was settled by 31.12.2015; Reserve for unbilled supplies in the amount of EUR 4,500; Reserve for the preparation of annual financial statements and tax return for FY2015 in the amount of EUR 4,000; Unpaid contract fine toward the contract partner in the amount of EUR 500. Example Tax deductible costs upon payment and reserves In 2016 the company will pay: 32 Invoice for consulting services from the year 2015 in the total amount of EUR 2,000; Invoice for market survey from the year 2015 in the amount of EUR 3,600; Invoice for unbilled supplies in the amount of EUR 4,500 and invoice for annual financial statements and tax return in 2015 in the amount of EUR 4,000; for this purpose the company used provisions recorded in 2015; The company will record provision for preparation of annual financial statements and tax return in the amount of EUR 3,500; The company will further record contract fines and late payment interest in the amount of EUR 300, which were not paid as of 31.12.2016. Example Tax deductible costs after payment and reserves Illustration of impact on the tax base of the company in 2015 and 2016: 33 Year 2015 2016 Retained earnings Costs of consulting services Costs of market survey Provision for unbilled supplies 16,000 + 2,000 + 3,600 + 4,500 Provision for preparation of annualfinancial statements and tax return + 4,000 Contract fines and late payment interest Tax base Tax 22% + 500 30,600 6,732 20,000 - 2,000 - 3,600 - 4,500 - 4,000 + 3,500 + 300 9,700 2,134 Non-deductible costs 34 Tax deductible advertising items, the value of which must not exceed EUR 17 per unit, do not include tobacco products and alcoholic beverages; these advertising items will be tax-deductible only at producers of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages. Wine is an exception. Wine bottles as advertising gift will be tax deductible in the total amount up to 5% of the tax base of the taxpayer. These limiting rules do not apply to producers of alcoholic beverages. Contract fines and contracted late payment interest or default charges, that were tax-deductible after payment, will not be tax-deductible any more. Tax deductibility of interest costs 35 So-called „thin capitalisation rule“ for financing between related parties is introduced. Costs of credits and loans provided by related party will be tax-deductible up to 25% of EBIDTA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization). Activated interest in fixed assets remains unaffected by this prohibition of deduction. Leasing companies, banks and insurance companies are exempt from this rule. Example Tax deductibility of interest costs A Slovak production company received from its parent company a loan for building of its production plant. Total interest expenses of the company amount to EUR 2,800,000, of which interest paid to the parent company represent the amount of EUR 2,500,000. Profit & Loss Statement Revenues from production line 05+06+07 Revenues from production and services (601,602,606) Production line 09+10 Consumption of material, energy( 501, 502 , 505A) Services (accounting class 51) Gross profit from production and services line 03+04-08 Total personnel costs Depreciation of non-current tangible assets and amortization of non-current intangible assets (551) Other operating revenues(644,645,646,648,655,657) Other operating expenses (543,544,545,546,548,549,555,557) Operating income, line 11-12-18+22-23 Interest revenues (662) Interest expenses (562) Profit/loss from financial activities line +38-39 Profit/loss from commercial activities before taxation line 26 + 46 Income tax from ordinary profit/loss line 49+50 - Payable (591,595) - Deferred (+/-592) Profit/loss from commercial activities after taxation line 47 - 48 36 Line 04 05 08 09 10 11 12 18 22 23 26 38 39 46 47 48 49 50 51 Value 1,200,000 1,200,000 1,250,000 100,000 1,150,000 (50,000) 1,750,000 1,250,000 1,350,000 2,200,000 (3,900,000) 7,600,000 2,800,000 4,800,000 900,000 450,000 50,000 400,000 450,000 Example Tax deductibility of interest costs Indicator (line 47 + line 39 + line 18) 4,950,000 25% of the value of the indicator 1,237,500 Interest on loan from parent company 2,500,000 Increase of the tax base 1,262,500 Additional tax burden 22% 277,750 After consideration of the rate of the corporate income tax the additional tax burden in this specific case represents the amount of EUR 277,750. 37 Transfer pricing From 1 January 2015 it is necessary to include transactions between domestic related parties in the transfer pricing documentation. 38 Example Transfer pricing In 2014 and 2015 the company Alfa SK is engaged in the following transactions with the parent company Alfa AT established in Austria and affiliated related company Beta SK established in Slovakia. The obligation to report the transactions in the transfer pricing documentation in the company Alfa SK in 2014 a 2015: Description of transaction 39 Obligation to include the transaction in the transfer pricing documentation 2014 2015 Purchase of vehicles from Alfa AT yes yes Reception of loan from Alfa AT yes yes Sale of vehicles to Beta SK no yes Purchase of spare parts from Beta SK no yes Provision of business advisory services to Beta SK no yes Reception of maintenance services from Beta SK no yes Private use of assets 40 Costs of acquisition, operation and maintenance of assets that are used for both business and private purposes must be reduced in the proportion to their actual use for private purposes It will be further possible to deduct 80% of costs without provision of special evidence So either proof of actual percentage of use; or the lump-sum of 80% The same percentage will then apply to the depreciation Example Use of assets for private purposes In January 2015 the company will acquire for its employees 10 notebooks at cost of EUR 2,000/unit. The employees can partially use NTB for private purposes. In 2015 the company will incur costs of repair of NTB in the amount of EUR 500. The company will decide to apply the lump-sum amount of 80% on the depreciation charges of NTB and the repair costs. Impact on the tax base: Costs recorded in connection with depreciation and repair of NTB in 2015 Depreciation of NTB for FY2015 Costs of repair Total Amount of costs Adjustment of the tax deducted from tax base in 2015 (in the base in 2015 (80%) amount of 20%) 5,000 4,000 + 1,000 500 400 + 100 5,500 4,400 + 1,100 Amount of costs recorded in 2015 For the purposes of calculation of the tax residual value of NTB the tax depreciation charges in 100% amount have to be used, i.e. the 20% of the tax depreciation charges considered as tax non-deductible will not be reflected in the tax residual value and will represent final tax non-deductible cost. 41 Example Depreciation of passenger vehicle, used for 80% In 2015 the company will purchase a passenger vehicle for purchase price of EUR 80,000. The following table shows impact during the depreciation period in years 2015-2018: 42 Year Really applicable depreciation 2015 2016 2017 2018 20.000 / 16.000 20.000 / 16.000 20.000 / 16.000 20.000 / 16.000 Amount of depreciation from limited acquisition price of EUR 48,000 12,000 12,000 12,000 12,000 Tax base 7,000 14,000 11,000 16,000 Increase of tax base of EUR 4.000 (=16.00012,000) at the tax base < EUR 12,000 4.000 4.000 - Research & Development 43 Research and development will be tax-supported in the following period. The support will have the form of a 125% „super-deduction“ of R&D costs. The super-deduction applies to: All research and development costs Personnel costs of graduates working in the area of research and development Increase of R&D costs Its application is made conditional upon a written research and development project, which must be submitted in case of tax audit. Example Tax deduction of R&D costs In 2015 and 2016 the company will develop a new product. The project will be implemented with participation of employees of company, for whom the legal conditions for recognition of deduction in 2016 are fulfilled (graduates). Calculation of tax deduction in 2016: Recorded R&D costs 44 R&D costs in 2016 In it personnel costs of graduates 7,000 7,000 10,000 12,000 30,000 52,000 Increase of R&D costs (year 2016 – year 2015) 10,000 3,000 6,000 19,000 1,750 - 4,750 Consumption of materials Consumption of energy Personnel costs Total Tax deduction in 2016 (25 %) 20,000 15,000 36,000 71,000 17,750 Total deduction in 2016: 24,250 (= 17,750+1,750+4,750) R&D costs in 2015 Taxation of monetary and non-monetary benefits provided by pharmaceutical companies Subject of taxation: Monetary benefits and non-monetary benefits provided to the health care provider, its employee or health professional by the marketing authorization holder, wholesale distribution authorization holder, production authorization holder and from 01.01.2015 by the pharmaceutical company. Tax rate: 19% Payment of withholding tax/notification obligation: monetary benefits – the tax will be withheld by the provider upon payment of benefits by the 15th day of each month for the previous calendar month. The notification obligation arises to the provider in the same period. non-monetary benefits – obligations resulting for the recipient and the provider of benefits Recipient of non-monetary benefits – will pay the tax before the end of the calendar month following the calendar quarter, in which the non-monetary benefits were received. The notification obligation arises to the recipient in the same period. Provider of non-monetary benefits – The provider of non-monetary benefits must fulfill the notification obligation by the 15th day after the end of the calendar quarter, in which the benefits were provided. 45 Example Taxation of non-monetary benefits provided by pharmaceutical companies In May 2015 a pharmaceutical company provides to the practitioner the free participation in specialized event involving the presentation of new medical products in the seat of the parent company abroad. In addition to the fee for participation, the pharmaceutical company will reimburse to the practitioner the transport and accommodation costs. The pharmaceutical company determined non-monetary benefits for the practitioner on the basis of actually incurred costs in the amount of EUR 1,500. Obligations of the practitioner: tax payment in the amount of EUR 285 by 31.07.2015. Delivery of the notice of payment of the withholding tax to the tax authority (using the form issued by FR SR) Obligations of the pharmaceutical company: submission of the notice of provision of non-monetary benefits (using the form issued by FR SR) by 15.07.2015. In addition to the basic data, the notice will indicate the amount of non-monetary benefits and the date of their provision. 46 Tax losses The amendment explicitly provides that tax losses must be evenly utilized over a period of 4 years. Year Tax base Clearance of tax losses 2014 EUR -200,000 - - 2015 EUR -100,000 - EUR 50,000 (¼ of tax loss 2014) 2016 EUR 80,000 -EUR 75,000 Forfeited tax losses - (max. ¼ of tax losses 2014 and 2015) 2017 EUR 80,000 -EUR 75,000 - (max. ¼ of tax losses 2014 and 2015) 2018 EUR 80,000 -EUR 75,000 (max. ¼ of tax losses 2014 and 2015) 2019 EUR 80,000 -EUR 25,000 (max. ¼ of tax loss 2015) 47 - Foreign services 48 The withholding tax is applicable to services provided by service providers not tax resident in Slovakia (commercial, technical and other consulting services, services of agents, construction and assembly works, etc.) only in case such services would be provided in the territory of Slovakia. It will lead to the decrease of the number of cases affected by the 35% withholding tax rate. Example Consulting services provided by a Liechtenstein company A Liechtenstein company will provide to a Slovak Ltd. consulting services and charge EUR 100,000 for them. Option 1: The services will be provided in Liechtenstein Option 2: The services will be provided in Slovakia 49 Service Invoiced amount Place of provision of Withholding tax service Business consulting 100,000 Slovakia 35,000 Business consulting 100,000 Liechtenstein 0 Other changes 50 Member contributions arising from the voluntary membership of a legal person established in order to protect the interests of the taxpayer in total up to 5% of the tax base, with a ceiling of 30,000 per year. Obsolete stocks The inclusion in the tax base is limited for the cost of inventories at their disposal because of the expiration date. However, conditions are introduced, after fulfilment of which can the cost of liquidated stocks still be considered tax deductible, if the tax payer: - Until the expiry of that period demonstrably takes steps to promote their sale by gradually reducing prices, or - Delivers such food supplies free of charge to the Food Bank of Slovakia. Equally the discarding of inventories due to their classification as dangerous goods under the Consumer Protection Act will not be considered a tax deductible expense. Other changes Sunk costs Sunk costs relate to the amount reported as the acquisition of intangible and tangible fixed assets recorded as assets under construction, upon the cancellation of the work or the permanent stopping of the work, if not relating to damage. This amount is included in the tax base evenly over 36 months from the month in which the taxpayer decided upon the cancellation of work and permanent suspension of work. In the event that there is a work stoppage due to damage, then the costs of failed investments are deemed non-taxable. 51 Contacts Bart Waterloos Dr. Wilfried Serles T +421 2 59 300 400 E bart.waterloos@vgd.eu T +421 2 59 300 400 E wilfried.serles@sk.gt.com VGD – AVOS AUDIT s.r.o. Moskovska 13 SK-811 08 Bratislava IB Grant Thornton Consulting, k.s. Križkova 9 SK-811 04 Bratislava www.vgd.eu www.grantthornton.sk Questions & Feedback 53 Thank you for your attention The material contained in this publication is provided for general information only. The application of the information included in this publication will depend on specific circumstances. We recommend that readers seek professional advice when dealing with any business or legal issues. The material does not represent, nor replaces legal and tax advisory services. No liability is accepted for acts or omissions taken in reliance upon the contents of this publication