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May 5, 2020 Latvia passes regulations to implement Mandatory Disclosure Rules: A detailed review Executive summary On 14 April 2020, Latvia’s Cabinet of Ministers approved the regulation “Rules on automatic exchange of information on reportable cross-border arrangements” implementing the European Union (EU) Directive on the mandatory disclosure and exchange of cross-border tax arrangements (referred to as DAC6 or the Directive). The Latvian legislation was published on 17 April 2020 and will be effective from 1 July 2020. The Latvian final Mandatory Disclosure Rules (MDR) legislation is broadly aligned to the requirements of the Directive. Unlike the draft legislation issued in December 2019,1 the final Latvian legislation provides for an exemption from reporting where the reporting obligation would breach legal professional privilege (LPP). Detailed discussion Background The Council of the European Union Directive 2018/822 of 25 May 2018 amending Directive 2011/16/EU regarding the mandatory automatic exchange of information in the field of taxation (the Directive or DAC6), entered into force on 25 June 2018.2 The Directive requires intermediaries (including EU-based tax consultants, banks and lawyers) and in some situations, taxpayers, to report certain cross-border arrangements (reportable arrangements) to the relevant EU member state tax authority. This disclosure regime applies to all taxes except value-added tax (VAT), customs duties, excise duties and compulsory social security contributions.3 Cross-border arrangements will be reportable if they contain certain features (known as hallmarks). The hallmarks cover a broad range of structures and transactions. For more background, see EY Global Tax Alert, Council of the EU reaches an agreement on new mandatory transparency rules for intermediaries and taxpayers, dated 14 March 2018. EU Member States are to adopt and publish national laws required to comply with the Directive by 31 December 2019. The key differences between the final Latvian legislation and the Directive are summarized below. This Alert also highlights any clarifications provided by the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers or amendments to the Latvian legislation during the legislative process. Scope of taxes covered The scope of taxes covered under the Latvian final legislation is fully aligned with the Directive and applies to all taxes except VAT, customs duties, excise duties and compulsory social security contributions. Reportable arrangements Under the Directive, an arrangement is reportable if:
Under DAC6, cross-border arrangements are defined as arrangements concerning more than one Member State or a Member State and a third country. The hallmarks can be distinguished as hallmarks which are subject to the main benefit test (MBT), and those which by themselves trigger a reporting obligation without being subject to the MBT. The Latvian final MDR legislation provides the same definition with respect to reportable cross-border arrangements as the Directive. In line with the Directive, the Latvian final MDR legislation does not apply to domestic arrangements. Hallmarks A-E of the Directive Most elements of the hallmarks included in DAC6 are not expressly defined. The Latvian final legislation does not provide any additional clarification or guidance on these elements. The final legislation describes the hallmarks in the same manner as the Directive. Main benefit test In accordance with DAC6, the MBT will be satisfied if it can be established that the main benefit or one of the main benefits which, having regard to all relevant facts and circumstances, a person may reasonably expect to derive from an arrangement, is the obtaining of a tax advantage. The MBT is described in the same manner in the Latvian final legislation. No additional clarification is provided on whether the tax advantage must arise in respect of EU taxes or in respect of worldwide taxes. Intermediaries Under the Directive, intermediaries with EU nexus have the primary obligation to report arrangements to the tax authority. The Directive gives Member States the option to exempt intermediaries from the obligation to report where the reporting obligation would breach legal professional privilege (LPP). If there are no intermediaries which can report, the obligation will shift to the taxpayers. The Latvian final legislation exempts Latvian Sworn Attorneys at Law from reporting due to LPP if they act based on the Latvian Advocacy Law. In such circumstances, the intermediary must notify, without delay, any other intermediary, or if there is no such intermediary, the relevant taxpayer of their reporting obligations. DAC6 defines two categories of intermediaries: promoters and service providers. The Latvian final legislation defines intermediaries by reference to the same two categories. According to the Latvian final legislation, an intermediary is a person who meets at least one of the following conditions:
Therefore, only intermediaries with nexus to Latvia are expected to have a reporting obligation in Latvia. The obligation to report cross-border arrangements is primarily imposed on the intermediary, but in the absence of an intermediary, the reporting obligations shifts to the relevant taxpayer in respect of the cross-border arrangement. The Latvian final legislation does not explicitly comment on whether employees or partners of a legal entity which is acting as an intermediary could themselves be regarded as intermediaries for the purposes of the MDR legislation. The Latvian final legislation also does not provide explanation on whether an entity housing a so-called “in-house” tax team could be regarded as an intermediary in circumstances where it undertakes intermediary type activities for another group entity. Reporting deadlines Under DAC6, for intermediaries (and relevant taxpayers), the trigger events for reporting under the Directive (from 1 July 2020) are when the reportable arrangement is “made available for implementation”; or when the reportable arrangement is “ready for implementation”; or when “the first step of implementation has been made.” The same trigger events apply in the Latvian final legislation. Under the Directive, reporting starts from 1 July 2020 and exchanges between jurisdictions from 31 October 2020. However, reports will retroactively cover arrangements where the first step is implemented between 25 June 2018 and 1 July 2020. The Latvian reporting deadlines fully align with DAC6 reporting deadlines. Article 8ab, paragraph 11 of the Directive gives Member States the option to require relevant taxpayers to file information about their use of the cross-border arrangement on an annual basis. The Latvian final regulation does not impose such annual reporting obligations on relevant taxpayers. Penalties The penalties for non-compliance with the reporting requirements are provided for in the Law on Taxes and Duties of the Republic of Latvia. The Law on Taxes and Duties sets forth the imposition of fines of up to €3,200 if the relevant taxpayer or intermediary has not complied with the reporting requirements within the prescribed time limits or in circumstances where the intermediary or relevant taxpayer has failed to comply with the prescribed preparation and filing procedure. Next steps Determining if there is a reportable cross-border arrangement raises complex technical and procedural issues for taxpayers and intermediaries. Taxpayers and intermediaries who have operations in Latvia should review their policies and strategies for logging and reporting tax arrangements so that they are fully prepared for meeting their obligations. Endnotes 1. See EY Global Tax Alert, Latvia publishes draft proposal to implement Mandatory Disclosure Rules, dated 2 March 2020. 2. For background on MDR, see EY Global Tax Alert, EU publishes Directive on new mandatory transparency rules for intermediaries and taxpayers, dated 5 June 2018. 3. DAC6 sets out a minimum standard. Member States can take further measures; for example, (i) introduce reporting obligations for purely domestic arrangements; (ii) extend the scope of taxes covered; (iii) bring forward the start date for reporting. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For additional information with respect to this Alert, please contact the following: Ernst & Young Baltic SIA, Riga
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