Expiration of the Chilean Tax Relief for American Shareholders

Expiration of the Chilean Tax Relief for American Shareholders

The Chilean tax reform 2014 established two new general tax systems that came into force on January 1^st of 2017: System A or “Attributed Regime” and System B “Partially Integrated Regime”. Final taxation for non-resident investors, in both regimes, varies and depends on the existence of a Double Taxation Treaty (hereinafter “DTT”) in force between Chile and the residence country of the foreign investor.

Even tough, the United States of America has no DTT in force with Chile, it has been benefited so far from an exemption which due date is December 31, 2019. What happens after that?

Each taxation’s system can be quickly explained as follows:

• System A or “Attributed Regime”: it levies 25% corporate income tax on all taxable income on an accrual basis, and allocates in the same tax year such income to the shareholders. As a result, 35% WHT will be applied to non-residents, irrespective of whether the company distributes dividend or not. This system allows 100% corporate tax credit to all shareholders, whether a DTT applies or not

• System B “Partially Integrated Regime”: it levies corporate income tax at a rate of 25,5% for 2017 and of 27% for 2018, for all taxable income on an accrual basis.  Under this regime, shareholders will still be allowed to defer withholding taxes until profits are effectively distributed, as was before the Tax Reform.

However, corporate tax credit is reduced to 65% and therefore final taxation increases from 35% to 44,45% (from 2018 onwards), unless the foreign shareholder is a resident in a country having a DTT in force with Chile. In this case, the final taxation remains at 35%, same as System A.

A summary is shown below:

The good news is that even tough United States of America has no DTT in force as off the date, it has been benefiting from a transitory clause in System B, that establishes a 100% of corporate tax credit for countries having a DTT with Chile signed before 1^st January 2017, even when it is not in force. The bad news is that this benefit will only last until the end of 2019.

From 2020 on, the general rule would apply again and the only way to access to a final taxation of 35% in System B will be that of being a resident of a country having a DTT in force.

Besides that, it is necessary to bear in mind that Chilean presidential elections are planned for near future-19^th November 2017- and another tax reform would not be surprising. Sebastián Piñera, the candidate with better chances, according to surveys, has already mentioned his intention to introduce a new tax reform. Keep updated following us at www.mazars.cl.