Transfer pricing in Luxembourg

Over the last decades, Luxembourg has developed and cemented its position as a prime holding location and a major financial centre within Europe. Multinational enterprises and international investors alike use Luxembourg as a platform to manage their business activities and investments. 0Luxembourg companies may enter into diverse commercial and financial transactions with associated enterprises. The prices charged in regard to these controlled transactions are called transfer prices. For Luxembourg tax purposes, these prices have to adhere to the "arm?s length principle".0The arm?s length principle is the international transfer pricing standard that OECD member countries have agreed should be used for tax purposes by MNE groups and tax administrations. 0The arm?s length principle is firmly ingrained in Luxembourg tax law and has been explicitly stated in article 56 of the Luxembourg Income Tax Law (LITL). In addition, several concepts and provisions under Luxembourg tax law require the arm?s length standard to be respected by Luxembourg companies. 0In 2020, a new chapter X has been added to the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines that provides guidance on transfer pricing aspects of financial transactions which are a common phenomenon in Luxembourg. 0On 18 December 2020, the OECD further provided guidance on the application of the arm?s length principle and the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines to issues that may arise or be exacerbated in the context of the so-called COVID-19 pandemic and the financial turmoil resulting from government responses thereto.0This book analyses all facets of Luxembourg transfer pricing rules and relevant guidance in the 2020 version of the OECD Guidelines.