This contribution critically assesses
the complex hybrid mismatch rule concerning financial instruments as developed
under the OECD BEPS action 2-proposal and subsequently implemented in the
Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD). Both approaches are compared, starting
with a profound analysis of the OECD initiative. Given their obligation to
implement the European initiative in domestic tax law by 1 January 2020,
domestic legislators now have to deal with the exact meaning of the Directive.
However, the ambiguous text incites uncertainties and will definitely raise incoherencies
between the several EU-Member States.
Both international
initiatives clearly rather aim to counter tax avoidance, instead of creating
coherencies: only double non-taxation is envisaged and the taxpayer is
confronted with a rather technical, hierarchical set of rules increasing his
tax burden, because of an objective incoherent outcome. The solution is hardly
inspired by the fundamental idea of BEPS to tax income where it has been
generated. Given this rather mechanical approach the question is finally raised
whether restrictions on the freedom of establishment and the free movement of
capital can be justified. However, as this article focuses on the task for
domestic legislators, this ultimate question has not been substantially investigated.