EU: EC recommends taxation of ports in Italy and Spain

The European Commission has proposed, in two separate decisions, that Italy and Spain align their taxation of ports with State aid rules. Cross-border competition plays an important role in the ports sector and the Commission is committed to ensuring a level playing field in this key economic sector.

Ports carry out both non-economic which typically fall within the competence of public authorities and are outside the scope of EU State aid control and economic activities, to which EU State aid rules apply. The commercial operation of port infrastructure, such as providing paid access to the port constitutes an economic activity.

A corporate tax exemption for ports that earn profits from economic activities can provide them with a competitive advantage when they operate on the internal market and therefore involves State aid, which may not be compatible with EU rules. In Italy, ports are fully exempt from corporate income tax.

In Spain, ports are exempt from corporate income tax on their main sources of revenue, such as port fees or income from rental or concession contracts. In the Basque Country, ports are fully exempt from corporate tax. In April 2018, the Commission informed Italy and Spain of its concerns regarding their regimes for the taxation of ports. The Commission takes the preliminary view that, in both Italy and Spain, the existing tax regimes provide the ports with a selective advantage that may breach EU State aid rules.

The Commission has therefore invited Italy and Spain to adapt their legislation in order to ensure that ports, as from January 1, 2020, will pay corporate tax in the same way as other companies in Italy and Spain, respectively.

Full Content: Government Europa

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