Category: Permanent Establishments

A permanent establishment is a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.

  • There has to a ‘place of business ’ taking examples such as premises or, in certain circumstances machinery or equipment;
  • The place of business must be “fixed” meaning it must be established at a distinct place with a certain degree of permanence;
  • The business of the enterprise must be carried out through this fixed place of business. Meaning that it should be persons who, in one way or another, are dependent on the enterprise (personnel) that conducts the business of the enterprise.
India vs Hyatt International-Southwest Asia Ltd., December 2023, High Court of Delhi, Case No ITA 216/2020 & CM Nos. 32643/2020 & 56179/2022

India vs Hyatt International-Southwest Asia Ltd., December 2023, High Court of Delhi, Case No ITA 216/2020 & CM Nos. 32643/2020 & 56179/2022

A sales, marketing and management service agreement entered into in 1993 between Asian Hotels Limited and Hyatt International-Southwest Asia Limited had been replaced by various separate agreements – a Strategic Oversight Services Agreements, a Technical Services Agreement, a Hotel Operation Agreement with Hyatt India, and trademark license agreements pursuant to which Asian Hotels Limited was permitted to use Hyatt’s trademark in connection with the hotel’s operation. In 2012, the tax authorities issued assessment orders for FY 2009-2010 to FY 2017-2018, qualifying a portion of the service payments received by Hyatt as royalty and finding that Hyatt had a PE in India. Hyatt appealed the assessment orders to the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, which later upheld the order of the tax authorities. Aggrieved with the decision, Hyatt filed appeals before the High Court. Judgement of the High Court The High Court set aside in part and ... Continue to full case
Luxembourg vs "A" SARL, September 2023, Administrative Tribunal, Case No 43535 (ECLI:LU:TADM:2023:46470)

Luxembourg vs “A” SARL, September 2023, Administrative Tribunal, Case No 43535 (ECLI:LU:TADM:2023:46470)

In 2013 “A” SARL requested a tax ruling confirming that its US branch had sufficient substance to qualify as a permanent establishment. The tax authorities issued the ruling conferming this to be the case, but only premised on the information provided by “A” SARL. The ruling would not be valid if the facts or circumstances described therein were incomplete or inaccurate. In 2016, “A” SARL filed an amended tax return for 2013 in which it had effectively allocated a dividend in kind to the US branch. Despite of the above mentioned tax ruling, the tax authorities disallowed the amendments to the tax return, finding that the US branch did not have sufficient substance to qualify as a permanent establishment. Not satisfied with the decision “A” SARL filed an appeal with the Administrative Court. Judgement of the Administrative Tribunal The Court decided in favour of the ... Continue to full case
Spain vs Compañía Española de Petróleos, S.A., July 2023, Tribunal Supremo, Case No STS 3507/2023 - ECLI:ES:TS:2023:3507

Spain vs Compañía Española de Petróleos, S.A., July 2023, Tribunal Supremo, Case No STS 3507/2023 – ECLI:ES:TS:2023:3507

At issue was whether or not a proportionate share of management and general administrative expenses incurred by the head office in Spain should be allocated to its PE in Algeria. The tax authorities (appelante) argued that, in general, these expenses cannot be individualised and, therefore, a proportional criteria should be used to determine the amount to be allocated to the Algerian PE. Compañía Española de Petróleos, S.A. argued that only management and general administrative expenses related to the purposes of the Algerian PE should be attributed to it. According to the company, the tax authorities had not carried out an appropriate analysis when examining what percentage of these expenses related to the Algerian PE. Judgement of the Supreme Court The Supreme Court decided in favor of Compañía Española de Petróleos S.A. Excerpts (English translation) “The tax authorities point out that in commercial groups there are ... Continue to full case
Germany vs "MEAT PE", July 2023, FG Munich, Case No 7 K 1938/22

Germany vs “MEAT PE”, July 2023, FG Munich, Case No 7 K 1938/22

A Hungarian company had a permanent establishment (PE) in Germany. The PE carried out meat cutting work on the basis of work contracts dated 23 February 2017 with the Hungarian company Z Kft. The PE had concluded a service agreement with A Kft. in which A Kft. undertook to provide administrative services in the area of support for employees posted to Germany and was to receive a fee calculated as a percentage of net sales in return. Following an audit of the PE the German tax authorities issued an assessment of additional taxabel income based on the German ordinance on allocation of profits to permanent establishments. Not satisfied with the assessment a complaint was filed by the PE with the Tax Court. In its complaint the PE argued that the tax authorities corrected all of the PE’s sales in Germany without a corresponding legal basis ... Continue to full case
Germany vs "Z Pipeline", May 2023, FG Düsseldorf, Case No 3 K 1940/17 F

Germany vs “Z Pipeline”, May 2023, FG Düsseldorf, Case No 3 K 1940/17 F

“Z Pipeline” is a limited partnership which operates a network of pipelines. The network runs through Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. During the year in question, “Z Pipeline”‘s administrative HQ was in Germany. Operational control of the pipeline was exercised by an ‘operations centre’ located in the Netherlands. It was not disputed that the pipeline constituted permanent establishments in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands and that the profits should be allocated between the tree countries. The question was how the profits should be allocated. The tax authorities came to the conclusion that the profit should predominantly be allocated to the German permanent establishments. In accordance with the low functions and risks, only a low profit was to be allocated to the respective permanent establishments in Belgium an the Netherlands. The profit allocation was calculated using a cost-plus 30% due to industry and company-specific features. “Z ... Continue to full case
Spain vs. Logistic Branch, December 2022, General Directorate of Taxes, Binding Consultation No V2612-22

Spain vs. Logistic Branch, December 2022, General Directorate of Taxes, Binding Consultation No V2612-22

In a request for a binding consultation the question raised was whether activities carried out in Spain resulted in the existence of a permanent establishment. The General Directorate considered that an enterprise cannot fragment a cohesive operating business into several small operations and argue that each of these is merely engaged in a “preparatory or auxiliary activity”. The Irish company was considered to have a PE in Spain, as it carried out a significant part of all its activity in Spain – not just simple storage/warehousing, but rather multiple logistics operations. Click here for English Translation Click here for other translation V2612-22-ORG ... Continue to full case
France vs Bupa Insurance, December 2022, Conseil d'État, Case No 450796 (ECLI:FR:CECHR:2022:450796.20221221)

France vs Bupa Insurance, December 2022, Conseil d’État, Case No 450796 (ECLI:FR:CECHR:2022:450796.20221221)

In 2009 a British company – Bupa Insurance Limited – absorbed the Danish company International Health Insurance, whose shares it had acquired in 2005 and which had had a French branch since 1993. Following an audit for FY 2009 and 2010, the tax authorities considered that the French branch had passed on to Bupa Insurance Limited, free of charge, the customers associated with its insurance business in France, and considered this transaction to be an indirect transfer of profits within the meaning of Article 57 of the General Tax Code. The Administrative Court of Appeal set aside the assessment and an appeal was then filed with the Conseil d’État by the tax authorities. Judgement of the Supreme Administrative Court The Supreme Administrative Court upheld the decision from the CAA and dismissed the appeal of the tax authorities. Excerpts “3. It is clear from the statements ... Continue to full case
Spain vs "XZ Insurance SA", October 2022, Tribunal Economic-Administrative Central  (TEAC), Case No Rec. 00/03631/2020/00/00

Spain vs “XZ Insurance SA”, October 2022, Tribunal Economic-Administrative Central (TEAC), Case No Rec. 00/03631/2020/00/00

“XZ Insurance SA” is the parent company in a group engaged in insurance activities in its various branches, both life and non-life, finance, investment property and services. An audit was conducted for FY 2013-2016 and in 2020 an assessment was issued in relation to both controlled transactions and other transactions. Among outher issued the tax authorities determined that “XZ Insurance SA” did not receive any royalty income from the use of the XZ trademark by to other entities of the group, both domestic and foreign. In the assessment the tax authorities determined the arm’s length royalty percentage for use of the trademarks to be on average ~0,5%. “In order to estimate the market royalty, the first aspect to be studied is the existence of an internal comparable or comparable trademark assignment contracts. And we have already stated that the absence of valid internal and external comparables ... Continue to full case
Germany vs "GER-PE", September 2022, FG Nürnberg, Case No 1 K 1595/20

Germany vs “GER-PE”, September 2022, FG Nürnberg, Case No 1 K 1595/20

A Hungarian company had a permanent establishment (PE) in Germany. The PE provided installation and assembly services to third parties in Germany. Following an audit of the German PE for FY 2017 the German tax authorities issued an assessment of additional taxabel income calculated based on the cost-plus method, cf. section 32 of the BsGaV (German ordinance on allocation of profits to permanent establishments). Not satisfied with the assessment a complaint was filed with the Tax Court. Judgement of the Tax Court The Court decided in favour of the PE and set aside the tax assessment. Excerpt (English translation) “Pursuant to Section 1 para. 1 sentence 1 AStG, the following applies: If a taxpayer’s income from a business relationship abroad with a related party is reduced by the fact that the taxpayer bases its income calculation on different conditions, in particular prices (transfer prices), than would ... Continue to full case
France vs SA Tropicana Europe Hermes, August 2022, CAA of DOUAI, Case No. 20DA01106

France vs SA Tropicana Europe Hermes, August 2022, CAA of DOUAI, Case No. 20DA01106

SA Tropicana Europe Hermes is a French permanent establishment of SA Tropicana Europe, located in Belgium. The French PE carried out the business of bottling fruit juice-based drinks. In 2009, a new distribution contract was concluded with the Swiss company FLTCE, which was accompanied by a restructuring of its business. Before 1 July 2009, Tropicana was engaged in the manufacture of fresh fruit juices in cardboard packs and purchased fresh fruit juices which it pasteurised. As of 1 July 2009, its activity was reduced to that of a contract manufacturer on behalf of FLTCE, which became the owner of the technology and intellectual property rights as well as the stocks. The re-organisation led to a significant reduction in the company’s turnover and profits. Tropicana Europe was subject to two audits, at the end of which the tax authorities notified it of tax reassessments in respect ... Continue to full case
Netherlands vs "Fertilizer BV", April 2022, Court of Appeal, Case No. ECLI:NL:GHSHE:2022:1198

Netherlands vs “Fertilizer BV”, April 2022, Court of Appeal, Case No. ECLI:NL:GHSHE:2022:1198

In 2016 Fertilizer BV had been issued a tax assessment for FY 2012 in which the tax authorities had imposed additional taxable income of €133,076,615. In November 2019 the district court ruled predominantly in favor of the tax authorities but reduced the adjustment to €78.294.312. An appel was filed by Fertilizer BV with the Court of Appeal. Judgement of the Court of Appeal Various issues related to the assessment was disputed before the Court. Dispute 1: Allocation of debt and equity capital to a permanent establishment in Libya in connection with the application of the object exemption. More specifically, the dispute is whether the creditworthiness of the head office was correctly taken as a starting point and a sufficient adjustment was made for the increased risk profile of the permanent establishment. The Court of Appeal answered this question in the affirmative, referring to the capital ... Continue to full case
India vs UPS Asia Group Pte. Ltd., March 2022, Income Tax Appellate Tribunal - Mumbai, Case No 220/Mum./2021

India vs UPS Asia Group Pte. Ltd., March 2022, Income Tax Appellate Tribunal – Mumbai, Case No 220/Mum./2021

UPS Asia is a company incorporated under the laws of Singapore and is engaged in the business of provision of supply chain management including the provision of freight forwarding and logistic services. In 2012 UPS Asia had entered into a Regional Transportation Services Agreement with UPS SCS (India) Pvt. Ltd. for the provisions of freight and logistics services. Under the Transportation Agreement, UPS Asia arranged to perform international freight transportation and provide overseas support services, while UPS India performed freight and logistics services in India to its India customers and to UPS Asia. Following an audit an assessment was issued according to which UPS Asia had a PE in India in the form of UPS India. Furthermore, profits of Rs.2,09,53,496 was considered attributable to operation in India. The tax authorities held that UPS India constitutes a PE of UPS Asia in India within the meaning ... Continue to full case
Germany vs "Wind-farm PE", November 2021, Bundesfinanzhof, Case No I B 44/21

Germany vs “Wind-farm PE”, November 2021, Bundesfinanzhof, Case No I B 44/21

In 2011 a permanent establishment (PE) of a Danish company was established for income tax purposes in Germany in the form of an offshore wind farm. The PE had no employees of its own either in Germany or in Denmark. The technical and commercial management was carried out by two German service and management companies on the basis of management and service contracts. In 2013 the tax authorities issued an assessment related to taxation of assets which, according to allocation principles in the new AOA (significant people functions), would no longer be allocated to Germany. The tax authorities held that allocation of assets to the permanent establishment is determined on the basis of personnel functions exercised in the permanent establishment. If no personnel functions were carried out in the permanent establishment no assets were to be allocated to it. In the tax authorities view, this ... Continue to full case
Kenya vs PE of Man Diesel, August 2021, High Court of Kenya, Income Tax Appeal No. E125 OF 2020

Kenya vs PE of Man Diesel, August 2021, High Court of Kenya, Income Tax Appeal No. E125 OF 2020

A Permanent Establishment (PE) in Kenya of MAN Diesel and Turbo SE Germany (MAN) entered into a consortium with a firm called MPG Services to engineer, procure and construct an 87 MW generating capacity thermal power plant on behalf of Thika Power Ltd. The role of MAN’s Kenyan PE in the project was mobilization, engineering and design, reservation of the diesel sets, and steam turbine and other start-up costs associated with its part of the works which included supervision of the assembly and installation of engines and commissioning the engines. MAN Germany was to provide for the materials up to the port of export and the PE was to assist in the onshore part which included supervision of the assembly and installation work as well as commissioning the work but did not include supply of equipment. In 2015, the tax authorities initiated an audit which ... Continue to full case
UK vs G E Financial Investments Ltd., June 2021, First-tier Tribunal, Case No [2021] UKFTT 210 (TC), TC08160

UK vs G E Financial Investments Ltd., June 2021, First-tier Tribunal, Case No [2021] UKFTT 210 (TC), TC08160

The case concerned a complex financing structure within the General Electric Group. The taxpayer, GE Financial Investments Ltd (GEFI Ltd), a UK resident company was the limited partner in a Delaware limited partnership, of which, GE Financial Investments Inc (GEFI Inc) a Delaware corporation was the general partner. GEFI Ltd filed UK company tax returns for FY 2003-2008 in which the company claimed a foreign tax credit for US federal income tax. In total, US federal income taxes amounted to $ 303 millions and exceeded the amount of tax due in the UK. The tax authorities opened an enquiry into each of GEFI’s company tax returns for the relevant period, and subsequently issued an assessment where the claims for foreign tax credits was denied in their entirety. Judgement of the Tax Tribunal The tribunal dismissed the appeal of GEFI Ltd and ruled that the UK ... Continue to full case
France vs Valueclick Ltd. Dec 2020, Supreme Administrative Court (CAA), Case No 420174

France vs Valueclick Ltd. Dec 2020, Supreme Administrative Court (CAA), Case No 420174

The issue in the case before the Supreme Administrative Court was whether an Irish company had a PE in France in a situation where employees of a French company in the same group carried out marketing, representation, management, back office and administrative assistance services on behalf of the group. The following facts were used to substantiate the presence of a French PE: French employees negotiated the terms of contracts and were involved in drafting certain contractual clauses with the customers. Contracts were automatically signed by the Irish company – whether this action corresponded to a simple validation of the contracts negotiated and drawn up by the managers and employees in France. Local advertising programs were developed and monitored by employees in France. French employees acted to third parties as employees of the Irish company. Customers did not distinguish between the Irish and the French company. In a 2018 decision ... Continue to full case
Spain vs. VAT PE of Ashland Industries Europe GMBH, November 2020, Supreme Court, Case no 1.500/2020

Spain vs. VAT PE of Ashland Industries Europe GMBH, November 2020, Supreme Court, Case no 1.500/2020

A Swiss company, Ashland Industries Europe GmbH, had not declared a presence in Spain for VAT purposes and did not charge VAT for local sales. However, the Swiss company used the resources of its Spanish subsidiary when performing these local sales of goods in Spain. On that basis, the Spanish tax authorities found that the company had a permanent establishment for in Spain for VAT purposes and issued an assessment. An appeal was filed by Ashland Industries, but the appeal was dismissed by the courts. The Spanish Supreme Court concluded that: “First. To determine whether a permanent establishment can be deemed to exist in the Spanish territory of application of VAT where the only transactions carried out subject to that tax are supplies of goods other than supplies of gas, electricity, heat or refrigeration. Second. If the answer to the previous question is in the ... Continue to full case
Italy vs Gulf Shipping & Trading Corporation Ltd Inc, October 2020, Supreme Court, Case No 21693/2020

Italy vs Gulf Shipping & Trading Corporation Ltd Inc, October 2020, Supreme Court, Case No 21693/2020

The Italian Revenue Agency had notified to Gulf Shipping & Trading Corporation Ltd Inc. several notices of assessment, relating to the tax years 1999 to 2006, contesting undeclared taxable income, having ascertained that the aforesaid company had a permanent establishment in Italy through which it traded in construction materials. The company had lodged separate appeals against the above tax assessments, which were partially upheld by the Tax Commission, which, in particular, had partially recalculated the taxable income in relation solely to transactions involving the sale of stone materials to Italian clients The tax authorities appealed the sentence of the court of first instance. According to the Revenue Agency in regards to “permanent establishment”, what needs to be verified is the fact that, through the fixed place of business, the company based abroad carries out its activity in the Italian territory, i.e. an economically relevant activity ... Continue to full case
Tanzania vs African Barrick Gold PLC, August 2020, Court of Appeal, Case No. 144 of 2018, [2020] TZCA 1754

Tanzania vs African Barrick Gold PLC, August 2020, Court of Appeal, Case No. 144 of 2018, [2020] TZCA 1754

AFRICAN BARRICK GOLD PLC (now Acacia Mining Plc), the largest mining company operating in Tanzania, was issued a tax bill for unpaid taxes, interest and penalties for alleged under-declared export revenues. As a tax resident in Tanzania, AFRICAN BARRICK GOLD was asked to remit withholding taxes on dividend payments amounting to USD 81,843,127 which the company allegedly made for the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 (this sum was subsequently reduced to USD 41,250,426). AFRICAN BARRICK GOLD was also required to remit withholding taxes on payments which the mining entities in Tanzania had paid to the parent, together with payments which was made to other non-resident persons (its shareholders) for the service rendered between 2010 up to September 2013. AFRICAN BARRICK GOLD argued that, being a holding company incorporated in the United Kingdom, it was neither a resident company in Tanzania, nor did it conduct ... Continue to full case
UK vs Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Limited and Irish Nationwide Building Society, August 2020, Court of Appeal ,  Case No [2020] EWCA Civ 1128

UK vs Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Limited and Irish Nationwide Building Society, August 2020, Court of Appeal , Case No [2020] EWCA Civ 1128

This case concerned deductibility of notional interest paid in 2003-7 by two permanent establishments in the UK to their Irish HQs. The loans – and thus interest expenses – had been allocated to the PEs as if they were separate entities. The UK tax authorities held that interest deductibility was restricted by UK tax law, which prescribed that PE’s has such equity and loan capital as it could reasonably be expected to have as a separate entity. The UK taxpayers, refered to  Article 8 of the UK-Ireland tax treaty. Article 8 applied the “distinct and separate enterprise” principle found in Article 7 of the 1963 OECD Model Tax Convention, which used the language used in section 11AA(2). Yet nothing was said in the treaty about assumed levels of equity and debt funding for the PE. In 2017, the First-tier Tribunal found in favour of the ... Continue to full case
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