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Exit Taxes: Case C-64/11 Commission v Spain
By Federico M.A. Cincotta
The CJEU concluded that the taxation of unrealised capital gains on assets assigned to a permanent establishment which ceases to operate in Spain does not amount to a restriction on the freedom of establishment. This is considered a purely domestic situation, since that taxation does not result from a transfer of the place of residence or of the assets of a company to another Member State, but merely from a termination of its activities. However, as decided in National Grid Indus, the immediate taxation of unrealised capital gains on the transfer of the place of residence or of the assets of a company established in Spain to another Member State amounts to a restriction on the freedom of establishment. The right to the freedom of establishment does not preclude capital gains generated in a territory from being taxed, even if they have not yet been realised. By contrast, it does preclude a requirement that that tax be paid immediately.
This article appears in the JHA April 2013 Tax Newsletter, which also features:
- Interest on a Tax Refund Case: C-565/11 Mariana Irime by Federico M.A. Cincotta
- Recovering unlawful “passed on” VAT: ITC v Commissioners for HMRC, 2nd High Court Judgment by Robert Waterson
- Cross Border Group Relief: Marks & Spencer in the Supreme Court by Michael Anderson
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JHA ranked in top tier again in Legal 500 UK 2025
We are happy to announce that JHA's Tax Disputes Team has again been ranked as Tier 1 by Legal 500 today, a ranking we have proudly achieved every year since we began in 2013. A special congratulations to Graham Aaronson KC who has again been recognised in the Hall of Fame category, Iain MacWhannell (ranked as a Leading Partner) and Mei Wong (ranked as a Leading Associate).
This is the latest successful ranking, following previous top-tier rankings in Chambers UK Legal Guide 2024 and Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2024.