According to the latest TP-related changes in the Serbian Corporate Income Tax law, the taxpayer is not obliged to assess the price according to the “arm’s length” principle in the case of the sale of fixed assets to a related party.
On 14 December 2017, the National Assembly of Republic of Serbia enacted changes and amendments of the Serbian Corporate Income Tax law, in order to harmonise the country’s tax regulation with European Union’s tax regulation.
Subjects to capital gains tax according to the new Serbian Corporate Income Tax law
Regarding transfer pricing, the most important change in the Serbian Corporate Income Tax law is following: n the case of the sale of fixed assets to a related party, on the basis of which capital gain (loss) is calculated, the taxpayer is not obliged to assess the price according to the “arm’s length” principle, since market price is used in calculating capital gain (loss). According to the Article 27, Paragraph 1 of the Serbian Corporate Income Tax law, sales of the following types of fixed assets are subject to capital gains tax:
- property which is or was used for operating activities, including property under construction;
- industrial property (such as patents, industrial designs, etc.);
- interests in the capital of legal entities and other securities, which are recognised as long-term financial placements according to IAS/IFRS, with the exception of bonds issued in accordance with the regulations dealing with settlement of commitments of the Republic of Serbia based on the loan towards economic development and household foreign exchange savings and debtor securities issued in accordance with the law by the Republic, an autonomous province, a local self-government unit or the National Bank of Serbia;
- investment units bought by open investment funds, in accordance with the law dealing with investment funds.
Clarifications
For transactions involving the sale of fixed assets other than the types mentioned above and for transactions involving the purchase of fixed assets, taxpayers are obliged to assess the price according to the “arm’s length” in their local transfer pricing files.
For example, if a Serbian company sells software produced in Serbia to a non-resident parent company, this transaction is not subject to capital gains tax, since software is considered a copyright, not an industrial property. Therefore, the Serbian company is obliged to compare transfer price with the price “out of reach”.
According to the Serbian Corporate Income Tax law, for commercial transactions with a single related party of total value below RSD 8 million (roughly EUR 65,000), the taxpayer is obliged only to disclose them, not to analyse them. In the changes presented, paid and received advances are no longer included in total value of commercial transactions with a related party.
If you would like to know more about the changes and amendments of the Serbian Corporate Income Tax law, please visit the homepage of WTS Serbia.
WTS Klient Hungary is a member of the WTS Global transfer pricing consulting team. As a member of this team we endeavour to find solutions to seemingly impossible problems with the help of personal contacts, regular training and consultations, and relying on the WTS Global central TP team. Should you have questions we are happy to assist you.
