Author: Courts of the Czech Republic

Czech Republic vs ARGO-HYTOS s.r.o., January 2023, Supreme Administrative Court, No. 2 Afs 66/2021 – 57

Czech Republic vs ARGO-HYTOS s.r.o., January 2023, Supreme Administrative Court, No. 2 Afs 66/2021 - 57
Following an audit the tax authorities concluded that ARGO-HYTOS s.r.o. sold goods (valves, blocks and hydraulic aggregates) to related parties at a price that differed from the prices that would have been agreed between unrelated parties under the same or similar conditions. Furthermore, according to the tax authorities ARGO-HYTOS s.r.o. did not satisfactorily document the difference from those normal prices. An appeal was filed by ARGO-HYTOS s.r.o. with the Regional Court which was dismissed the action by the above-quoted judgment No 30 Af 21/2019-46 (‘the contested judgment’). In the judgement, the Regional Court concluded that ARGO-HYTOS s.r.o. had not satisfactorily demonstrated the difference between the prices agreed between it and the companies of the ARGO-HYTOS group and the prices which would have been agreed between unrelated parties under the same or similar conditions. The Regional Court held that, if the tax authorities wished to justify ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. Eli Lilly ČR, s.r.o., December 2022, Supreme Administrative Court, No. 7 Afs 279/2021 – 65

Czech Republic vs. Eli Lilly ČR, s.r.o., December 2022, Supreme Administrative Court, No. 7 Afs 279/2021 - 65
Eli Lilly ČR imports pharmaceutical products purchased from Eli Lilly Export S.A. (Swiss sales and marketing hub) into the Czech Republic and Slovakia and distributes them to local distributors. The arrangement between the local company and Eli Lilly Export S.A. is based on a Service Contract in which Eli Lilly ČR is named as the service provider to Eli Lilly Export S.A. (the principal). Eli Lilly ČR was selling the products at a lower price than the price it purchased them for from Eli Lilly Export S.A. According to the company this was due to local price controls of pharmaceuticals. At the same time, Eli Lilly ČR was also paid for providing marketing services by the Swiss HQ, which ensured that Eli Lilly ČR was profitable, despite selling the products at a loss. Eli Lilly ČR reported the marketing services as a provision of services ... Read more

Czech Republic vs Hanácká zemědělská společnost Jevíčko, a.s., December 2022, Regional Court , 52 Af 19/2022-82

Czech Republic vs Hanácká zemědělská společnost Jevíčko, a.s., December 2022, Regional Court , 52 Af 19/2022-82
In the course of the income tax audit conducted on Hanácká, the tax authorities found that interest expenses had been in its calculation of taxable income, corresponding to a rate of 8.5%. The tax authorities determined the arm’s length interest rate to be 2.46% and an adjustment was issued amounting to the difference between the interest deducted (8,5%) and the interest calculated (2,46%). The adjustment was later upheld in court where the court agreed with the tax authority’s conclusion – Hanácká had not discharged the burden of proof under Article 92(3) of the Tax Code by failing to prove, in response to a request for the removal of doubts, that the interest in the two tax periods in question, amounting to CZK 6 040 000, which represented the difference between the interest on the 8,5 % bonds subscribed by persons associated with the applicant within ... Read more

Czech Republic vs ANITA B s.r.o., November 2022, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 4 Afs 381/2021-40

Czech Republic vs ANITA B s.r.o., November 2022, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 4 Afs 381/2021-40
Following an audit the tax authorities issued an assessment of additional income resulting from an adjustment of the tax deductions related to marketing expenses. According to the tax authorities the price agreed between the related parties for advertising space was excessive and not determined in accordance with the arm’s length principle. ANITA B s.r.o. filed an appeal against the assessment. The Regional Court dismissed the appeal as unfounded by judgment of 26 October 2021, No. 62 Af 70/2019-48. The Court concluded that the tax authorities had established that the price agreed between ANITA B s.r.o. and its supplier (ELAPROMO) differed from the price that would have been agreed between unrelated parties. The Court upheld the method chosen by the tax authorities and concluded that ANITA B s.r.o. had failed to prove that the advertising costs claimed were justified in full. An appeal was then filed ... Read more

Czech Republic vs DFH Haus CZ s.r.o., November 2022, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 4 Afs 98/2022-45

Czech Republic vs DFH Haus CZ s.r.o., November 2022, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 4 Afs 98/2022-45
In 2013, DFH Haus CZ s.r.o. filed amended tax returns for 2006, 2010, and 2011, following the German tax authority’s adjustment of its transfer prices in 2006, in order to claim the resulting tax loss for 2006 and apply it against its tax liability in the Czech Republic for 2010 and 2011. The tax authorities disallowed these amendments. A complaint filed by DFH with the regional court was dismissed and an appeal was then filed with the Supreme Administrative Court. Judgement of the Court The Supreme Administrative Court rejected DFH’s appeal and upheld the decision of the tax authorities. Excerpts “[34] On the basis of the foregoing, the Supreme Court of Justice, like the Regional Court, considers that the complainant’s tax loss for 2006, as a relevant fact in terms of the reopening of proceedings, was incurred, assessed and could be deducted from the tax ... Read more

Czech Republic vs DFH Haus CZ s.r.o., November 2022, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 4 Afs 287/2020-54

Czech Republic vs DFH Haus CZ s.r.o., November 2022, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 4 Afs 287/2020-54
In 2013, DFH Haus CZ s.r.o. filed amended tax returns for 2006, 2010, and 2011, following the German tax authority’s adjustment of its transfer prices in 2006, in order to claim the resulting tax loss for 2006 and apply it against its tax liability in the Czech Republic for 2010 and 2011. The tax authorities disallowed the amendments. A complaint filed by DFH with the district court was dismissed and an appeal was then filed with the Supreme Administrative Court. Judgement of the Court The Court rejected DFH’s arguments that the tax loss must be allowed under the Czech-German income tax treaty. DFH could not reduce its tax liabilities in the Czech Republic in 2010 and 2011 with the 2006 tax loss resulting from the German transfer pricing adjustment. The Court noted that the usual purpose of double taxation treaties is to regulate the place ... Read more

Czech Republic vs HPI – CZ spol. s r.o., November 2022, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 9 Afs 37/2022 – 37

Czech Republic vs HPI - CZ spol. s r.o., November 2022, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 9 Afs 37/2022 - 37
HPI – CZ spol. s r.o. is a subsidiary in the Monier group which is active in the production, sales and services of roofing and insulation products. In June 2012 the Monier group replaced an existing cash pool arrangement with a new cash pool arrangement. The documents submitted show that on 1 April 2009 HPI concluded a cash pool agreement with Monier Group Services GmbH , which consisted in HPI sending the balance of its bank account once a week to the group’s cash pooling account – thus making those funds available to the other members of the group, who could use them to ‘cover’ the negative balances in their accounts. The companies that deposited funds into the cash pooling account received interest on these deposits at 1M PRIBOR + 3%; loans from the shared account bore interest at 1M PRIBOR + 3.75%. With effect ... Read more

Czech Republic vs HPI – CZ spol. s r.o., October 2022, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 5 Afs 141/2021 – 37

Czech Republic vs HPI - CZ spol. s r.o., October 2022, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 5 Afs 141/2021 - 37
HPI – CZ spol. s r.o. is a subsidiary in the Monier group. In June 2012 the group replaced an existing cash pool arrangement with a new cash pool arrangement. Following an audit of HPI the tax authorities issued an assessment of additional income for FY 2012 resulting from HPI’s participation in the new cash pool. According to the tax authorities the interest rates applied to HPI’s deposits in the new cash pool (1M PRIBOR + 0.17%) had not been at arm’s length. The tax authorities determined the arm’s length interest rates to be the same rates that had been applied in the previously cash pool arrangement (1M PRIBOR + 3%) from 1 January 2012 to 31 May 2012. HPI filed an appeal and in January 2019 the Regional court set aside the assessment issued by the tax authorities. The Regional Court held that the ... Read more

Czech Republic vs Aisan Industry Czech, s.r.o., April 2022, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 7 Afs 398/2019 – 49

Czech Republic vs Aisan Industry Czech, s.r.o., April 2022, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 7 Afs 398/2019 - 49
Aisan Industry Czech, s.r.o. is a subsidiary within the Japanese Aisan Industry Group which manufactures various engine components – fuel-pump modules, throttle bodies, carburetors for independent car manufactures such as Renault and Toyota. According to the original transfer pricing documentation the Czech company was classified as a limited risk contract manufacturer within the group, but yet it had suffered operating losses for several years. Following a tax audit an assessment was issued resulting in additional corporate income tax for FY 2011 in the amount of CZK 11 897 090, and on top of that a penalty in the amount of CZK 2 379 418. The assessment resulted from application of arm’s length provisions where the profitability of Aisan Industry Czech, s.r.o. had been determined on the basis of the profitability of comparable companies – TNMM method. An appeal was filed by Aisan Industry Czech, s.r.o ... Read more

Czech Republic vs Avon Cosmetics Ltd, February 2022, Municipal Court, Case No 6 Af 36/2020 – 42

Czech Republic vs Avon Cosmetics Ltd, February 2022, Municipal Court, Case No 6 Af 36/2020 - 42
In 2016 the British company Avon Cosmetics Limited (ACL) became the sole licensor of intellectual property rights for Europe, Africa and the Middle East within the Avon Cosmetics Group and was authorised to issue sub-licences to other group companies, including the Czech subsidiary, Avon Cosmetics spol. s r.o.. ACL charged a fee for issuing a sub-licence equal to an agreed-upon percentage of net sales but was then contractually obliged to pay a similar fee to the US companies, Avon Products Inc. and Avon Internetional Operations Inc. ACL applied for relief from WHT on the royalty payments from the Czech subsidiary. The tax authorities concluded that ACL was not the beneficial owner of the royalty income but only an conduit or intermediary. The legal conditions for granting the exemption were not met. ACL did not obtain any real benefit from the royalty fees and was not ... Read more

Czech Republic vs D. D. D. SERVIS OPAVA v. o. s., August 2021, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 1 Afs 109/2021 – 67

Czech Republic vs D. D. D. SERVIS OPAVA v. o. s., August 2021, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 1 Afs 109/2021 - 67
Following an audit the tax authorities issued an assessment of additional income resulting from an adjustment of the tax deductions related to marketing expenses. According to the tax authorities the parties to the transactions were “otherwise related” within the meaning of the Czech arm’s length provisions in § 23 par. b) point 5 of the Income Tax Act. SERVIS OPAVA filed an appeal against the assessment claiming that the tax authorities did not established the existence of a relationship between the parties and therefore had no legal basis for the adjustment. The Regional Administrative Court dismissed the appeal and upheld the decision of the tax authorities. An appeal was then filed against this decision with the Supreme Administrative Court Judgement of the Supreme Administrative Court The court decided in favour of SERVIS OPAVA. The prerequisite for the adjustment of the tax base pursuant to Section ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. LCN GROUP s.r.o., July 2021, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 2 Afs 148/2020 – 37

Czech Republic vs. LCN GROUP s.r.o., July 2021, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 2 Afs 148/2020 - 37
LCN Group had deducted costs in its taxable income for marketing services provided by related parties – PRESSTEX MEDIA SE and TARDEM Media s.r.o. and PAPILIO. The claimed advertising costs from PRESSTEX in FY 2012 was produced and implemented by PAPILIO and subsequently invoiced to LCN Group, virtually unchanged, at a price 23 times higher than the price of the advertising, without the corresponding value added being justified. In relation to FY 2013, LCN Group claimed advertising costs from TARDEM in a similar pattern where the price was increased by up to 56 times. In both tax periods, LCN Group’s advertising/promotion costs were related to sporting events (gymnastics world cup, tennis tournament and golf tournaments). The tax authorities concluded that the prices agreed between the parties was not at arm’s length and issued an assessment. The Regional Court annulled the assessment. It argued that the ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. STARCOM INTERNATIONAL s.r.o., February 2021, Regional Court , Case No 25Af 18/2019 – 118

Czech Republic vs. STARCOM INTERNATIONAL s.r.o., February 2021, Regional Court , Case No 25Af 18/2019 - 118
A tax assessment had been issued for FY 2013 resulting in additional taxes of to CZK 227,162,210. At first the tax administration disputed that the applicant had purchased 1 TB SSDs for the purpose of earning, maintaining and securing income. It therefore concluded that the Starcom Internatioal had not proved that the conditions for tax deductions were met. On appeal, the tax administrator changed its position and accepted that all the conditions for tax deductions were met, but now instead concluded that Starcom Internatioal was a connected party to its supplier AZ Group Czech s.r.o. It also concluded that the transfer prices had been set mainly for the purpose of reducing the tax base within the meaning of Section 23(7)(b)(5) of the ITA. It was thus for the tax authorities to prove that Starcom Internatioal and AZ Group Czech s.r.o. (‘AZ’) were ‘otherwise connected persons’ ... Read more

Czech Republic vs D. D. D. SERVIS OPAVA v. o. s., January 2021, Regional Court in Ostrava, Case No 22 Af 42/2019- 36

Czech Republic vs D. D. D. SERVIS OPAVA v. o. s., January 2021, Regional Court in Ostrava, Case No 22 Af 42/2019- 36
Following an audit the tax authorities issued an assessment of additional income resulting from an adjustment of the tax deductions related to marketing expenses. According to the tax authorities the parties to the transactions were “otherwise related” within the meaning of the Czech arm’s length provisions in § 23 par. b) point 5 of the Income Tax Act. SERVIS OPAVA filed an appeal against the assessment claiming that the tax authorities did not established the existence of a relationship between the parties and therefore had no legal basis for the adjustment. Judgment of the Regional Court The Court dismissed the appeal and upheld the decision of the tax authorities. The court first dealt with the interpretation of § 23 par. b) point 5 of the Income Tax Act. In this regard the court stated that was clear from the content of the administrative file that ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. LCN Group s.r.o., April 2020, Regional Court, Case No 25 Af 76/2019 – 42

Czech Republic vs. LCN Group s.r.o., April 2020, Regional Court, Case No 25 Af 76/2019 - 42
LCN Group s.r.o. had deducted costs in its taxable income for marketing services provided by related parties. Following an audit, the tax authorities concluded that the prices agreed between the parties was not at arm’s length and issued an assessment. Decision of the Regional Court The Regional Court annulled the assessment and decided in favor of the LNC Group. The court held that the tax authorities had not sufficiently dealt with the identification and description of the conditions under which the prices of the controlled transactions had been agreed. The tax authorities had not considered the “commercial strength” and “advertising capacity” of the parties. Click here for English Translation Click here for other translation ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. ACTRAD s.r.o., February 2020, Supreme Administrative Court, No. 7 Afs 176/2019 – 26

Czech Republic vs. ACTRAD s.r.o., February 2020, Supreme Administrative Court, No. 7 Afs 176/2019 - 26
The issue in this case was the pricing of advertising services acquired by ACTRAD s.r.o. from related parties PRESSTEX PRINT and PRESSTEX MEDIA . According to the authorities ACTRAD instead of acquiring advertising and promotional services directly from the sports clubs (which was possible), used the services of intermediaries PRESSTEX PRINT and PRESSTEX MEDIA, who increased the price of the services provided significantly (290, 229 and 102 times), without adding any value to the transaction. The final price paid for the advertisement thus increased 290 times in 2011, 229 times in the first half of 2012 and 102 times in the second half of 2012 compared to the initial invoice. This increase occurred while the content, scope and form of the services remained unchanged. The result of the arrangement was a reduction in the tax bases of ACTRAD s.r.o. The tax authorities issued an assessment ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. Automotoklub Masarykův, January 2020, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No. 9 Afs 232/2018 – 63

Czech Republic vs. Automotoklub Masarykův, January 2020, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No. 9 Afs 232/2018 - 63
At dispute was the definition of the conditions under which a reference price (i.e. a price that would be negotiated between independent persons in normal business relations under the same or similar conditions) cannot be determined and the tax administrator should therefore use the administrative price (i.e. the price determined in accordance with the legal regulation) as the arm’s length price for adjusting the income tax base. In 2013 Automotoklub Masarykův sold K. A. (a person who participated in its management) real estate for the purchase price of CZK 40 000 000. The tax authorities adjusted the tax base in accordance with Section 23(7) of Income tax Act, comparing the agreed (purchase) price with the price determined in accordance with the Act on the Valuation of Property, as amended in the version applicable to the case at hand (hereinafter referred to as the Act on ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. Eli Lilly ČR, s.r.o., December 2019, District Court of Praque, No. 6 Afs 90/2016 – 62

Czech Republic vs. Eli Lilly ČR, s.r.o., December 2019, District Court of Praque, No. 6 Afs 90/2016 - 62
Eli Lilly ČR imports pharmaceutical products purchased from Eli Lilly Export S.A. (Swiss sales and marketing hub) into the Czech Republic and Slovakia and distributes them to local distributors. The arrangement between the local company and Eli Lilly Export S.A. is based on a Service Contract in which Eli Lilly ČR is named as the service provider to Eli Lilly Export S.A. (the principal). Eli Lilly ČR was selling the products at a lower price than the price it purchased them for from Eli Lilly Export S.A. According to the company this was due to local price controls of pharmaceuticals. Eli Lilly ČR was also paid for providing marketing services by the Swiss HQ, which ensured that Eli Lilly ČR was profitable, despite selling the products at a loss. Eli Lilly ČR reported the marketing services as a provision of services with the place of ... Read more

Czech Republic vs Aisan Industry Czech, s.r.o., October 2019, Regional Court, Case No 15 Af 105/2015

Czech Republic vs Aisan Industry Czech, s.r.o., October 2019, Regional Court, Case No 15 Af 105/2015
Aisan Industry Czech, s.r.o. is a subsidiary within the Japanese Aisan Industry Group which manufactures various engine components – fuel-pump modules, throttle bodies, carburetors for independent car manufactures such as Renault and Toyota. According to the original transfer pricing documentation the Czech company was classified as a limited risk contract manufacturer within the group, but yet it had suffered operating losses for several years. Following a tax audit an assessment was issued resulting in additional corporate income tax for FY 2011 in the amount of CZK 11 897 090, and on top of that a penalty in the amount of CZK 2 379 418. The assessment resulted from application of arm’s length provisions where the profitability of Aisan Industry Czech, s.r.o. had been determined on the basis of the profitability of comparable companies – TNMM method. An appeal was filed by Aisan Industry Czech, s.r.o ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. AZETKO s.r.o., September 2019, Supreme Court, No. 5 Afs 341/2017 – 47

Czech Republic vs. AZETKO s.r.o., September 2019, Supreme Court, No. 5 Afs 341/2017 - 47
The tax authorities of the Czech Republic issued an assessment of additional income taxes and penalties for FY 2010 and 2011, because AZETKO s.r.o. according to the tax authorities did not receive an arm’s length remuneration for administration and operation of a website and e-shop on behalf on a related party, Quantus Consulting s.r.o. AZETKO disagreed with the assessment and brought the case to court. The regional court ruled in favor of AZETKO, but the tax administration appealed the decision to the Supreme Administrative Court. Judgement of the Supreme Court The Supreme Court found the tax administrations change in pricing method under the appeal of the case unsubstantiated. The tax administration had originally applied the CUP method, but in the appeal proceedings instead used the net margin transaction method (TNMM). On that basis, the appeal was dismissed by the Court. The conditions for application of ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. J.V., May 2019, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 2 Afs 131/2018 – 59

Czech Republic vs. J.V., May 2019, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 2 Afs 131/2018 - 59
For FY 2007, 2008 and 2009, JV had deducted expenses consisting in the payment for services pursuant to invoices issued by BP Property s.r.o. and TOP ZONEVIEW. The services consisted in the provision and implementation of an advertising campaign. Following an audit the tax authorities adjusted JV’s taxable income by the difference found, since pursuant to Article 23(7)(b)(5) of the Income Tax Act, the prices agreed differed from the prices which would have been agreed between unrelated parties in normal commercial relations under the same or similar conditions. JV contested the decision of the tax authorities but the appeal was dismissed by the Regional Court. The Regional Court held that the applicant’s objection – that he did not know and could not have known about the chain because he had dealt only with the managing director of Property Praha or B.V. – was unfounded. Section ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. M.V., April 2018, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 3 Afs 105/2017 – 22

Czech Republic vs. M.V., April 2018, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 3 Afs 105/2017 - 22
The reason for the adjustment of the tax base was, among other things, the finding that M.V.sold on 4 January 2010 all the stock of goods of the range of garden supplies to AGROTECHNIKA Vaněk s.r.o. (“Agrotechnika”) at an 80% discount on the sales price (i.e. purchase price + margin). M.V. and Agrotechnika were related persons within the meaning of Article 23(7) of Act No 586/1992 Coll., on Income Taxes, as M.V. is the managing director and sole shareholder of Agrotechnika. The sale price after the discount corresponded to approximately 40 % of the purchase price, which, according to the tax administrator, did not correspond to the price that would have been agreed between independent persons in normal commercial relations under the same or similar conditions. The prices established with comparable operators showed that the normal price corresponded to the purchase price of the goods ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. FK Teplice, a. s., November 2017, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 1 Afs 239/2017 – 37

Czech Republic vs. FK Teplice, a. s., November 2017, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 1 Afs 239/2017 – 37
According to the Regional Court, it follows from Section 2 of the Income Tax Act that a footballer is subject to tax in the Czech Republic by reason of his residence, permanent home or other similar criteria if he had resided in the Czech Republic (continuously or in several periods) for at least 183 days in 2011 or if he had a permanent home in the Czech Republic in circumstances from which it can be inferred that he intended to reside there permanently. If at least one of these conditions is met, the footballer would be a Czech tax resident within the meaning of Article 2(2) of the Income Tax Act and would be liable to tax on the basis of that (i.e. residence, permanent home or similar criteria). He would therefore also be a resident of the Czech Republic within the meaning of Article ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. JUTTY GROUP s.r.o., December 2016, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 6 Afs 147/2016 – 28

Czech Republic vs. JUTTY GROUP s.r.o., December 2016, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 6 Afs 147/2016 – 28
On the basis of the detailed evidence provided by the tax administration, the defendant stated that the essence of the case is to assess whether the applicant has proved that the taxable supply declared in invoice No 2010036 took place, i.e. that Dosnetex plus s.r.o. provided the invoiced supply (production of graphic designs) to the applicant. However, it found that Dosnetex plus had become uncontactable at the end of 2010 and had filed a VAT return for the previous period, but that procedures for the removal of doubts had been initiated and that the company had not paid the actual tax assessed on the basis of those procedures. The company did not file an income tax return for 2010. It was established from the Commercial Register that on 12 November 2010 there was a change in the company’s composition, when the company’s managing director, Mr ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. Toll Manufacturer, Sep. 2016, Supreme Administrative Court, No. 5 Afs 194/2015 – 34

Czech Republic vs. Toll Manufacturer, Sep. 2016, Supreme Administrative Court, No. 5 Afs 194/2015 - 34
A Czech toll manufacturer realized losses due to low capacity utilization. Transfer pricing for the manufacturing services, had been determined by applying a cost plus method based on a budget costs without a year-end true-up. In 2008, capacity utilization was low due to market conditions and the company incurred a loss. The tax authority performed a benchmarking study using the transactional net margin method to determine the arm’s length range of net cost plus mark-ups, and issued an adjustment on that basis. The Czech manufacturing company argued that the loss was a result of market conditions and appealed the assessment. The Supreme Administrative court held that capacity utilization risk should be absorbed by the principal and not the low risk toll manufacturer. A low risk toll manufacturer may only end up in a loss position if extra costs result from its own risks – manufacturing ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. JN TRANS s.r.o., November 2014, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 9 Afs 92/2013

Czech Republic vs. JN TRANS s.r.o., November 2014, Supreme Administrative Court, Case No 9 Afs 92/2013
In this case the court accepted the tax authorities’ procedure for determining the arm’s length price for advertising services, whereby the tax authorities took into account conditions such as the size of the advertising space, the type of event, the duration of the advertising, etc., when comparing controlled and uncontrolled transactions The appeal of JN Trans was dismissed by the court. Click here for English Translation Click here for other translation ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. ARROW International CR, a. s., June 2014, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 7 Afs 94/2012 – 74

Czech Republic vs. ARROW International CR, a. s., June 2014, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 7 Afs 94/2012 – 74
The applicant, ARROW International CR, a.s., seeks a judgment of the Supreme Administrative Court annulling the judgment of the Regional Court, and referring the case back to that court for further proceedings. The question of whether the applicant carried out business transactions in the tax year 2005/2006 with a related party (Arrow International, Inc., hereinafter referred to as ‘Arrow US’) in a manner which did not comply with the principles of normal business relations and whether, as a result, the applicant’s basis for calculating the corporate income tax rebate was unjustifiably increased and the special condition for applying the tax rebate under Article 35a(2)(d) of Act No 586/1992 Coll. was breached is decisive for the assessment of the merits of the present case, on income taxes, as in force until 31 December 2006 (‘the Income Tax Act’). Pursuant to Section 35(6) of the same Act, ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. Lessor, March 2014, Supreme Administrative Court, No. 9 Afs 87/2012 – 50

Czech Republic vs. Lessor, March 2014, Supreme Administrative Court, No. 9 Afs 87/2012 - 50
At issue was lease of real estate which was owned by the taxpayer and his wife. He was the managing director of Medinvest and, subsequently, of Long Wave, which were involved in the legal relations in question. He was active in connection with the lease of the properties in question, as managing director of Medinvest, he concluded certain sublease agreements with the final subtenants, and on 1 November 2005, as managing director of Medinvest, he concluded a sublease agreement with Long Wave. Judgement of the Court The Czech Supreme Administrative Court explained that “[t]he purpose of the provision in question is to prevent unwanted shifting of a part of the income tax base between individual income taxpayers and to enable the sanctioning of abusive price speculation in business relations. This includes the so-called “profit shifting” between persons with different tax burdens, which usually occurs when ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. EWE s.r.o., June 2013, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 7 Afs 48/2013 – 31

Czech Republic vs. EWE s.r.o., June 2013, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 7 Afs 48/2013 – 31
EWE s.r.o first criticised the Regional Court for the lack of logical reasoning in the grounds of the judgment, based on evidence that it had established a legal relationship with another person mainly for the purpose of reducing the tax base. Although the facts adduced by the administrative court show that ‘some third parties’ created a relationship between them for that purpose, it does not indicate which evidence shows that it was she who created such a relationship for the purpose of reducing the tax base, as is intended by section 23(7)(b)(5) of the Income Tax Act. This defect in the court’s decision is all the more serious since she herself argued that no evidence was adduced in the administrative proceedings (in the tax inspection report) to show that she was knowingly involved in a chain of otherwise connected persons. It is thus merely the ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. P. S., March 2013, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 5 Afs 34/2012 – 65

Czech Republic vs. P. S., March 2013, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 5 Afs 34/2012 – 65
According to the tax authorities, the prices agreed between the P.S. and her husband, as lessors, and Long Wave, s.r.o. (‘Long Wave’), as lessee, differed from the prices which would have been agreed between independent persons in normal commercial relations under the same or similar conditions. According to the tax authorities, P.S., together with her husband and Long Wave, are persons who have created a legal relationship mainly for the purpose of reducing the tax base. According to the appellant, P.S, the conditions laid down in the judgment of the Supreme Administrative Court of 31 March 2009, No 8 Afs 80/2007-105, were not met and the tax administrator’s procedure for determining the normal price was seriously flawed. Judgement of the Court The Supreme Administrative Court concluded that the appeal as a whole was unfounded and therefore dismissed it Excerpt “In the present case, the complainant ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. Goldfein, March 2013, Supreme Administrative Court, No. 1 Afs 99/2012-52

Czech Republic vs. Goldfein, March 2013, Supreme Administrative Court, No. 1 Afs 99/2012-52
The Czech company, Goldfine, submitted a revised tax return lowering the taxable income for the year. The reason being that the German Parent had losses for the year. The Supreme Administrative Court found that the burden of proof related to arm’s length transfer prices, under those circumstances rests with the taxpayer. Losses at the German parent company was not sufficient proof that transfer prices had been incorrect in the original tax return. The Court ruled i favor of the tax administration. Click here for translation ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. FISH MARKET a.s., January 2013, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 1 Afs 101/2012 – 31

Czech Republic vs. FISH MARKET a.s., January 2013, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 1 Afs 101/2012 - 31
FISH MARKET a.s. was engaged, among other things, in the sale of live freshwater fish and that the margin on sales to a related party (KOLTER, a.s.) was much lower than on sales to other independent companies. The tax authorities therefore began to examine the reasonableness of the difference in the agreed selling prices of the fish. During the audit, the tax administrator found that the quantity of fish purchased from the selected distributors did not affect the price of the goods (e.g. the customer Human purchased 4.8 tonnes of live scaled carp at CZK 45.23 per 1 kg, the trading company Schultheiss GmbH purchased 27 tonnes in the period in question at CZK 46.1 per 1 kg. The claim that KOLTER had taken surplus fish and was therefore charged a lower price was not substantiated by the applicant and no evidence of discounted sales was ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. Corp. February 2011, Supreme Administrative Court, Afs 19/2010-125

Czech Republic vs. Corp. February 2011, Supreme Administrative Court, Afs 19/2010-125
A Czech company (the lessor) owned real estate and rented it to independent parties. An Austrian related company provided management and consulting services to the lessor The service fees significantly increased each year, although the income of the Czech company and the number of lease contracts were constant in the examined years The tax authorities required that the taxpayer prove the actual provision of the services and their relationship to taxable income. The tax authorities rejected this explanation and concluded that the taxpayer had not proven the real condition of the real estate in the examined period. The legal question was: the scope of the burden of proof that rests with the taxpayer with respect to services received from related party The court ruled that: the taxpayer was obliged to prove the relationship of the expensed service fees to its taxable income. Tangible evidence of ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. Českolipská, a. s. January 2011, Supreme Administrative Court 7 Afs 74-2010-81

Czech Republic vs. Českolipská, a. s. January 2011, Supreme Administrative Court 7 Afs 74-2010-81
A lessor rented real estate for a low price to related parties.  The tax authorities claimed that the price was too low and required additional income to be taxed with the lessor. The lessor explained that the low rental fees were due to the poor condition of the real estate that was leased to related parties. The tax authorities rejected this explanation and concluded that the taxpayer had not proven the real condition of the real estate in the examined period. Judgement of the Court The court ruled that: the burden of proof was on the tax authorities and the authorities had to prove all significant parameters of the controlled transaction. The tax authorities must establish the arm’s length price (called the “reference price” in the decision) in order to be able to require that the taxpayer explain the difference between the arm’s length price ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. DATON technology, spol. s.r.o., August 2010, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 2 Afs 53/2010 – 63

Czech Republic vs. DATON technology, spol. s.r.o., August 2010, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 2 Afs 53/2010 – 63
The tax authorities had increased the amount of the tax due to a change in the calculation of interest on loans granted by DATON technology to its partners (managing directors). At issue was whether the amount of the normal interest on loans granted by DATON technology to its managing directors should be determined on the basis of a fixed interest rate for the entire period of the loan or whether changes in the interest rate should be taken into account when calculating the interest as a monetary benefit – income from employment. Judgement of the Court The Supreme Administrative Court did not find that the pleaded ground of appeal was met and therefore dismissed the appeal. In failing to take account of changes in interest rates in 1998, the year for which it imposed the tax, when calculating the interest on the interest-free loan granted ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. O. V., March 2009, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 8 Afs 80/2007 – 105

Czech Republic vs. O. V., March 2009, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 8 Afs 80/2007 – 105
The appellant O.V. disagreed with the tax authority’s conclusion that the rent he paid to his father was not at the normal rate. In support of this claim, he submitted evidence. In connection with the conclusion of the donation contract, the O.V. became both the person liable and the beneficiary of a large easement over the property on plot No 31/1 and the co-owner of the land under the leased building, which was evidenced by documentary evidence, but which the tax administrator ignored and failed to assess. However, these are decisive facts which, in normal commercial relations, have a significant influence on the amount of rent. O.V. also rejected the method of calculating the normal price, which the tax authority determined on the basis of the arithmetic average of the lease contracts selected by it. It considers that this procedure is unlawful because the taxpayer ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. B.p., s.r.o., June 2007, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 8 Afs 152/2005 – 72

Czech Republic vs. B.p., s.r.o., June 2007, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 8 Afs 152/2005 – 72
The subject-matter of the dispute was the exclusion of the rent for lease of machinery and equipment. It referred to the lease and sublease agreements for non-residential premises, machinery and equipment with the companies B.p., s.r.o. and M.-T., s.r.o., by which the parties agreed that the objects of the lease agreements would be used free of charge for a certain period of time – during the trial period. Bp s.r.o. disputed the use of transfer prices in accordance with the arm’s length principle and the question of the tenant’s payment behaviour. It argued economic aspects – the possibility of making a real profit over a longer period of time. According to the taxpayer the tax authority should have examined the possibility of obtaining a total profit for the taxpayer over a five-year period and not simply applied ‘the most ideal course of market economics (i.e ... Read more

Czech Republic vs. Ing. V. K., May 2007, Supreme Administrative Court , Case No 9 Afs 30/2007 – 73

The tax authorities had excluded from the tax deductible expenses claimed by Ing. V. K. an amount for the construction work on the grounds that it had failed to prove that the expenses in question were incurred in accordance with the provisions of Article 24(1) of the Income Tax Act. Ing. V. K. disagreed with the resulting assessment and lodged an appeal Ing. V. K. submitted that the expenditure claimed by it has been proven formally by impeccable invoices issued by existing entities and that it was established beyond doubt in the previous proceedings that it carried out its contracts through subcontracting companies, the implementation of which incurred expenditure. It maintains that the expenditure for the invoiced works was made on behalf of B.6 v.o.s. and that Mr I.S., who issued the invoices on behalf of that company, was authorised to act on its behalf ... Read more