New draft law improves the Luxembourg investment tax credits to accelerate sustainability transformation

27/07/23

In brief

On 13 July 2023, a draft law (n°8276, hereafter “the draft Law”) was released, aiming to revamp the investment tax credits available under article 152bis of the Luxembourg Income Tax Law (“LITL”).

The aim of the draft Law is notably to support Luxembourg companies in their digital and ecological/energetic transformation.

The most significant change to the rules, in addition to  the increase of applicable rates, consists of an inclusion of certain operating expenses connected with the digital/ecological transformation on which a 18% tax credit may apply.  This change is expected to provide a strong incentive for companies to accelerate their digital and ecological/energetic transition.

In detail

Article 152bis LITL currently offers two forms of investment tax credits: 

  • a tax credit for overall investment (“TCOI”) determined based on the acquisition price or production costs of certain qualifying assets (e.g., tangible depreciable assets) acquired during a given accounting period. The tax credit amounts to 8% for the tranche up to EUR 150,000 and 2% for the tranche exceeding EUR 150,000. 

  • a tax credit for additional investment (“TCAI”) representing 13% of the additional investment in qualifying assets (e.g., tangible depreciable assets) determined under a specific formula. 

The proposed amendments introduced by the draft Law to article 152bis LITL would result notably in the following changes:

1. Repeal of the tax credit for additional investment

The existing 13% TCAI is expected to be fully repealed. 

2. Introduction of a 18% tax credit for investments and operating expenses connected with digital and ecological transformation (“the DET tax credit”)

The new DET tax credit is expected to apply to certain investments and operating expenses connected with digital and ecological transformation, provided they comply with at least one of the objectives listed for each category respectively, as summarised in the table below. 

For investments in tangible depreciable assets, the DET tax credit will be limited to 6% considering that these assets are expected to benefit from the 12% tax credit for global investment (further described below), hence reaching the expected 18% tax credit overall. 

Income derived from investment/expenses related to the acquisition or development of software/patents would not be eligible to the patent box regime foreseen under article 50ter LITL to the extent  the company benefits from a DET tax credit on these investments/expenses.

Also, excluded from the DET tax credit, are:

  • assets that are depreciable over a period of less than three years,
  • automotive vehicles,
  • investments and operating expenses to bring the company into compliance with obligations arising from environmental protection legislation and other legal and regulatory provisions applicable to the establishment and operation of industrial and commercial companies.

The benefit of the DET tax credit requires obtaining

(i)  an eligibility certificate issued by the Minister of Economy, together with the Ministers in charge for finance, the environment and energy, attesting the eligibility of the investment/operating expenses in relation to a project of digital/ecological transformation as defined under the new article 152bis LITL, and

(ii)  an annual certificate issued by the Minister of Economy proving the reality of the project and investment/operating expenses. Such certificate should be attached to the corporate tax return filed with the Luxembourg tax authorities every year.

Projects where cumulative investment/operating expenses over the three consecutive fiscal years of the realisation of the project would remain below EUR 20,000 (excluding VAT) will not be considered in obtaining the eligibility certificate.

3. Increase from 8% to 12% of the rate applicable to the tax credit for overall investment

The existing TCOI remains in place but with (i) an increased rate reaching now 12% and (ii) a repeal of the EUR 150,000 threshold.

As a reminder, the TCOI applies to:

  • investments in depreciable tangible assets other than buildings, livestock, and mineral and fossil deposits,
  • investments in sanitary and central heating installations incorporated into hotel buildings (under certain conditions),
  • investments in certain buildings qualifying as social investment,
  • investments in fixed assets qualifying for special depreciation,
  • acquisitions of software, insofar as they have not been acquired from a related company (to the extent not otherwise qualifying under the DET tax credit already).

We note that for investments in fixed assets qualifying for special depreciation, the applicable rate is increased to 14%.

The TCOI related to the acquisitions of software is capped at 10% of the corporate income tax due for the fiscal year during which the financial year closed and where the acquisition of the software was made. Similar as for the DET tax credit, income derived from the software would be out of scope of the patent box regime foreseen under article 50ter LITL.

4. General provision

The total of the DET tax credit and TCOI would be creditable on the corporate income tax due for the fiscal years during which the investment or operating costs are realised and can be carried forward (except TCOI on software) during 10 subsequent fiscal years if it would not be fully used.

Conclusion

The draft law reshaping the investment tax credit is welcomed and demonstrates a clear ambition of the Luxembourg Government to help companies achieving their digital and ecological transformation journey. If voted in due time, the new regime will take effect as from the 2024 tax year (i.e. financial years closing on or after 1 January 2024).

There are, however, some uncertainties around the question of how the new investment tax credit would fit into the upcoming Pillar 2 rules so as not to lose attractivity towards MNEs falling in the scope of Pillar 2 [The Pillar 2 Directive to be transposed before year-end by the EU Member States being the set of rules aimed at ensuring minimum level (15%) of effective corporate taxation of large multinational groups and large-scale purely domestic groups operating in the Single Market]. As currently foreseen, the credits would not be eligible as qualified refundable tax credits or marketable transferable credits that could qualify as income for the Pillar 2 rules. Therefore, the tax credits would reduce the Luxembourg corporate income tax, and the impact on the jurisdictional effective tax rate should be reviewed in detail for in-scope groups. In addition, the timing of issuance of the eligibility and yearly certificate would have to be monitored to avoid lengthy procedures that would lower the attractiveness of the new provisions.

Commentaries released over the legislative process may provide additional clarifications on the above in due time.

Contact us

Gerard Cops

Tax Partner, Industry & Services Leader, PwC Luxembourg

Tel: +352 49 48 48 2032

Anthony Husianycia

Tax Partner, PwC Luxembourg

Tel: +352 49 48 48 3239

Lilia Samai

Tax Partner, PwC Luxembourg

Tel: +352 621 333 408

Fabien Hautier

Tax Partner, Wellbeing Leader, PwC Luxembourg

Tel: +352 49 48 48 3004

Vincent Lebrun

Tax Leader, PwC Luxembourg

Tel: +352 49 48 48 3193

Géraud de Borman

Tax Partner, Insurance, PwC Luxembourg

Tel: +352 49 48 48 3161

Murielle Filipucci

Tax Partner, Global Banking & Capital Markets Tax Leader, PwC Luxembourg

Tel: +352 49 48 48 3118