Direct taxation: The Commission requests Ireland to amend discriminatory tax provisions relating to Savings Certificates and to certain Government, State-issued and State-guaranteed securities - Main contents

The European Commission has formally requested Ireland to amend the discriminatory treatment resulting from a tax exemption for interest on savings certificates issued by the Irish State and the possibility of a tax exemption of certain Government, State-issued and State-guaranteed securities, while interest on similar foreign certificates and securities is not tax exempt These provisions discriminate against taxpayers who wish to invest in similar financial instruments issued in other Member States. The provisions are incompatible with the free movement of capital, as guaranteed by Article 56 of the EC Treaty and Article 40 of the EEA agreement. The request takes the form of a Reasoned Opinion (second step of the infringement procedure provided for in article 226 of the EC Treaty). If there is no satisfactory reaction to the Reasoned Opinion within two months, the Commission may decide to refer the matter to the European Court of Justice.

Irish legislation exempts from tax interest payable on savings certificates issued by the Irish Ministry of Finance. It also provides for the possibility of an exemption of interest from or capital gains on certain Government, State-issued and State-guaranteed securities paid to persons who are resident in Ireland for less than 3 years.

In the Commission's view the Irish provisions at issue dissuade taxpayers from investing in similar financial instruments issued in other Member States or EEA countries by denying tax exemption for such instruments. The European Court of Justice ruled in Case C-478/98, Commission v Belgium, judgment of 26 September 2000, that any measure taken by a Member States which is liable to dissuade its residents from making investments in other Member States constitutes a restriction on free movement of capital within the meaning of Article 56 of the EC Treaty.

The Commission's case reference number is 2007/2061.

For the press releases issued on infringement procedures in the taxation or customs area see:

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/common/infringements/infringement_cases/index_en.htm

For the latest general information on infringement measures against Member States see:

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/infringements/infringements_en.htm