With its resolution n. 53/E issued on May 29, 2019 the Italian tax agency issued some important clarifications on the exact scope of the Italian international tax reporting rules in case of foreign assets held through trusts, foundations or similar entities. In particular, the ruling focuses upon the interpretation of the term “beneficial owner”, which applies and is used to identify the individuals subject to the duty to report. Under Italian law (article 4, paragraph…

With its decision n. 5608 of December 10, 2018 the Italian Provincial Tax Court of Milan ruled against the (ab)use of so called “unit linked” life insurance policies for tax avoidance purposes. The decision of the tax court refers to the latest rulings of the Supreme Court on the matter and represents a significant step towards a more decisive step towards a crack-down on a potentially abusive tax practice. Under Italian tax law, in case…

The Italian financial newspaper “Il Sole 24 Ore” reported today that Koering, the French-owned conglomerate which controls some of the most renowned and revered luxury brands in the world, such as Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, Pomellato and others associated to clothing, jewelry, bags and other luxury products, settled a tax case with the Italian tax agency pursuant to which it will pay to Italy the record amount of euro 1.250 billion in assessed and…

By way of ruling n. 55/6/2019 filed on January 21, 2019, the Regional Tax Court of Abruzzo held that no withholding tax exemption under the EU Parent-Subsidiary Directive applies, unless the EU parent company proves that it has been “materially charged” with an income tax on the dividends in its own country of residency. The case concerns a dividend paid by an Italian subsidiary to a EU parent company based in the Netherlands. Upon payment…

In 2015, Italy enacted a special tax regime for high skilled workers who move to Italy to work there for an Italian employer, on assignment to an Italian affiliate of a foreign multinational, or on their own as independent consultants and service providers. Eligible taxpayers (who include Italian citizens, and foreign nationals who are citizens of a country with a tax or exchange of information treaty with Italy) must not have been Italian tax residents…

With its ruling n. 25219 of October 11, 2018, the Italian Supreme Court held that the capital gain realized by a German company from the sale of its shares of stock of an Italian company is exempt from corporate income tax in Italy, pursuant to Article 13, paragraph 4 of the Tax Treaty between Italy and Germany, except in the case the German holding company has engaged in tax evasion by way of abuse of…

With its ruling n. 32255 issued on December 13, 2018 (“Ruling 32255”), the Italian Supreme Court, Fifth Department (Tax) held that a dividend paid by an Italian subsidiary to a parent company established in a EU Member State is not eligible for the dividend withholding tax exemption granted under the provisions of Directive 90/435/EC (the “EU Parent Subsidiary Directive”, transposed into Italian domestic tax law by way of article 27-bis of Italy’s Presidential Decree n.…