Deadline for filing of corporate tax returns in 2016
In connection with the introduction of the new digital solution at SKAT for the filing of corporate tax returns for 2015, the deadline was set to September 1, 2016.
For the fiscal year 2016, the submission deadline has been set back to the normal filing deadline, which is 6 months after the end of the fiscal year. For most companies, this will be June 30, 2017 - for those companies that follow the calendar year. The tax return must not, however, be filed later than August 1 in the year after the end of the fiscal year.
Companies with a fiscal year that runs from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017 (tax year 2016), have a deadline of August 1, 2017 (backward offset).
Companies with a fiscal year that runs from April 2, 2016 to April 1, 2017 (tax year 2017), have a deadline of October 1, 2017 (forward offset).
Advance tax for companies in 2016
There is the mandatory ordinary advance tax, calculated by SKAT, and there is also the voluntary advance tax, which the company itself determines.
The ordinary advance tax installments must be paid on March 21 and November 21, respectively.
If the company forms part of a joint assessment, the total advance tax must be paid by the administrating company.
In 2016, the ordinary advance tax is an amount equal to half of the company’s average actual taxes for the tax years 2012, 2013 and 2014. That is 11% of the company’s average income in those years, where 50% is payable in March and 50% in November.
Companies with an expected low income in 2016 may ask SKAT for a reduction in the ordinary advance tax. This can be done online via Self-service Business on SKAT’s website, and the request can be made right up until the deadline for payment of the first and second installments.
If it is estimated that the ordinary advance taxes are insufficient to cover the actual taxes for the 2016 year, the company may make additional voluntary payments. This can be an advantage because by doing so, the company avoids having to pay a non-deductible outstanding tax penalty, which was 3.6% for the tax year 2015. The penalty for the tax year 2016
The company is free to choose between making a voluntary advance tax payment in both March and in November, or in only one of these months. In addition, the company can also make a so-called third voluntary payment, which must first be paid on February 1, 2017. It is important to note that voluntary payment in March will be credited an additional amount, whereas an additional amount must be paid by voluntary payment in November as well as a payment on February 1, 2017. For 2015, the addition to the March/November payment was 0%, whereas the addition to the third voluntary payment was 0.7%. The penalty for the tax year 2016 has not yet been set. This is done at the end of the year. has not yet been set. This is done at the end of the year.
Extraordinary dividends
In capital companies, the distribution of dividends is typically on the agenda for the Annual General Meeting. The distribution of dividends is typically determined based on the company's latest approved annual report.
The Danish Companies Act, however, allows companies to pay dividends at other times during the fiscal year. These are called extraordinary dividends. The Annual General Meeting has the competence to make decisions about extraordinary dividends. The requirements are that the company must have presented at least one annual report and the Annual General Meeting may not approve a higher extraordinary dividend than that proposed or approved by the central management body.
The Annual General Meeting may delegate the competency to the central management body, and this authorization may be financially and time limited.
It is important to note that for extraordinary dividends, the same requirements apply as for ordinary dividends. This means that dividends can only be distributed from the free reserves or retained earnings that have occurred or been released after the period for which the Annual Report has been presented.Depending on the type of company and date of the decision on the extraordinary dividend, an accounting statement must accompany the decision. The central management body assesses whether the accounting statement from the latest annual report may be attached, or whether to prepare an interim accounting statement.
If you have questions about this news or need advice, please contact Simon Kastrupsen by email simon.kastrupsen@azets.com or telephone +45 44 51 81 01.
Transfer pricing and small corporations
Affiliated companies, etc. that trade with each other are covered by the rules stating that trading must be done under market conditions. This is called the arm's length principle. It requires that companies, etc. establish internal rules for billing, etc. - transfer pricing (TP) - between the companies, etc.
In Denmark, there are rules requiring companies, etc. to provide information to the tax authorities on intercompany transactions. They must provide, in many cases, written evidence that such transactions adhere to the arm's length principle.
Who is covered?
The rules apply to affiliated companies, branches and majority shareholders. That is, companies, etc. in which someone holds more than 50% of the capital or controls more than 50% of the votes.
A company that owns more than 50.5% of the shares in another company is then affiliated with this company, even if it only controls 10% of the votes.
Individuals’ shareholdings are included. If an individual owns shares in three different companies, these are affiliated. This applies even if the three companies have different owners, if these are closely related to each other. Corporate definition in this area is not the same as in the joint taxation area, where only companies that are affiliated and individuals’ shares are not included.
Which controlled transactions are covered?
Controlled transactions include all trade and economic relations between the parties. Examples include the provision of goods and services, transfer of assets, intangible assets that are provided and financial accounts. With regard to transactions between a permanent establishment in Denmark and a head office in another country or a permanent establishment abroad and a Danish headquarters, only those transactions for which rules on calculating a permanent establishment income require it to be done at arm's length are covered by the rules on documentation and disclosure.
An important exception
The specific requirements for written documentation of intercompany transactions do not apply to smaller corporations, etc. - that is, corporations with fewer than 250 employees and either a balance below DKK 125 million or a revenue below DKK 250 million.
The assessment of whether the limits are exceeded is determined at the corporate level, where all companies are included (including foreign companies). A small Danish company may therefore well be covered by the rules if it is owned by a large international corporation.
In connection with intercompany transactions with companies, etc. that are outside the EU/EEA or in non-agreement countries, it should always be documented in writing regardless of the corporation’s size. Although the smaller corporations do not need to prepare documentation, they are obligated to act with each other at arm's length.
The disclosure requirement
Affiliated companies - even those that are covered by the exception - are obligated to provide the tax authorities with information on corporate relations. This applies whether they have trade or other transactions with each other or not.
If there are transactions between the companies, they must also provide summary information on the transaction type and size as part of their tax return.