EC censures Ireland

The

has formally requested

to change its tax law provision by which patent royalties are tax exempt only if research leading to the patent was carried out in

.

The EC claims the provision is incompatible with the freedom of establishment and the free movement of services. 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.

Under Irish legislation (Section 243 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997) tax exemption of received patent royalties is granted only if the research leading to the patent was carried out in Ireland.

The Commission considers this provision contrary to Articles 43, 48 and 49 of the EC Treaty (freedom of establishment and free movement of services) and the corresponding articles of the EEA Agreement.

This provision dissuades Irish companies and individuals from contracting out research to institutions established elsewhere in the EU or in the EEA, since the income from any resulting patents would not be exempt, contrary to the rules which apply to domestic patents. Such legislation also dissuades Irish undertakings and individuals from setting up their research centres in other Member States, which the EC believes infringes their freedom of establishment.

The Commission's opinion is based on the EC Treaty as interpreted by the European Court of Justice in judgments of 10 March 2005 and 8 July 1999 in Cases C-39/04 ('Laboratoires Fournier SA') and C-254/97 ('Baxter and Others').