Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/226191 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
ZEW Discussion Papers No. 20-059
Publisher: 
ZEW - Leibniz-Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung, Mannheim
Abstract: 
Upon more than 400 judgements on direct taxation, the case law of the European Court of Justice has considerably shaped Member States' tax systems. Based on Member States' tax law adjustments in the context of four landmark rulings on corporate income taxation, we analyse whether case law is a suitable instrument to eliminate tax distortions towards the realisation of a European internal market. Our analysis is based on effective tax burdens using the Devereux/Griffith methodology. Overall, we find that due to Member States' mostly heterogeneous adjustments and varying levels of compliance, cross- border investment continues to be discriminated in some Member States following the Marks & Spencer and National Grid Indus judgements. In addition, differences in the general availability of the rules under scrutiny and design of related provisions, cross-country differences in effective tax burdens and hence distortions to the internal market might persist. We conclude that a comprehensive harmonisation of Member States' tax systems by way of positive integration would be necessary to sustainably eliminate tax obstacles to cross-border business activities.
Subjects: 
European Court of Justice
Internal Market
Effective Tax Rates
Thin Capitalisation Rules
Cross-Border Loss Relief
Controlled Foreign Company Rules
Exit Taxation
JEL: 
H25
K34
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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