European Tax Survey Análise de Portugal em detalhe · 2020. 9. 8. · each item Low, Medium or High, where High is critical to success and Low is not a key measure in your organisation

European Tax Survey Análise de Portugal em detalhe

Janeiro 2014

© 2014 Deloitte & Associados, SROC S.A. 2 Análise de Portugal em detalhe

Índice

Principais conclusões para Portugal 3

Análise em detalhe 9

Sobre o estudo 36

3 Análise de Portugal em detalhe

Principais conclusões para Portugal


Principais conclusões para Portugal (1/5)

• Aproximadamente dois terços dos inquiridos em Portugal indicou que tem um Centro de

Serviços Partilhados no que respeita à função financeira interna, o que é superior ao resultado

médio da EMEA. Três quartos destes inquiridos responderam que uma parte ou a totalidade do

tax compliance é efectuado através desse Centro de Serviços Partilhados.

• Dois terços dos respondentes em Portugal indicaram que o factor mais importante para o

sucesso da sua função é o cumprimento atempado das respectivas obrigações fiscais, o que

acompanha os resultados da EMEA. Salientam ainda a importância atribuída à integração

efectiva no negócio e na estratégia geral da organização, bem como à certeza quanto às

eventuais responsabilidades fiscais.

Por outro lado, a existência de boas relações com a administração fiscal e a redução da taxa de

tributação efectiva, são indicados como os factores com menor relevância para os respondentes

em Portugal. Deste modo, a redução da taxa efectiva já não é a prioridade principal, quer em

Portugal, quer em geral na EMEA.

• Na perspectiva de 73% dos responsáveis pela área dos impostos das sociedades portuguesas

inquiridas, o factor mais preocupante são as constantes alterações da legislação fiscal. O

resultado em Portugal, neste aspecto, é consideravelmente mais elevado, quando em

comparação com a média nos restantes países da EMEA.



Outra preocupação relevante apontada, pelos responsáveis em Portugal é o cumprimento das

respectivas obrigações fiscais, em contraponto com os resultados da EMEA, que apontam o

aumento do escrutínio por parte das autoridades fiscais como a segunda maior preocupação.

• Neste sentido, os responsáveis portugueses salientaram a necessidade de aumentar a

certeza/segurança quanto ao futuro do sistema fiscal, bem como a simplificação do mesmo.

Essas seriam as alterações que, na opinião dos participantes no estudo, teriam maior impacto

positivo no sistema fiscal português.

Tais medidas, na sua generalidade, foram igualmente apontadas pelos inquiridos da EMEA.

Notamos ainda a reduzida relevância atribuída ao eventual decréscimo das taxas de tributação,

quer em Portugal, quer na EMEA.

• A Holanda e o Reino Unido destacam-se como os países onde é mais fácil operar para as

sociedades portuguesas, em contraposição com a Rússia, que é indicada como a jurisdição que

apresenta maiores dificuldades. Surpreendentemente, as opiniões dos participantes

portugueses relativamente a Espanha dividem-se. Neste sentido, a mesma foi indicada como

uma jurisdição favorável por 13% dos inquiridos, apesar de 12% a declararem como uma

jurisdição desafiante para operar.



• Quanto à pergunta sobre a existência de incertezas no que respeita à fiscalidade em Portugal,

85% dos inquiridos salientou que há um elevado grau de incerteza, principalmente devido às

constantes alterações legislativas (89%), uma situação em linha com a tendência dos

resultados da EMEA mas com valores mais acentuados para Portugal. Em segundo lugar, com

44%, os respondentes destacam a demora significativa na resolução dos litígios com a

administração fiscal como outro factor gerador de incerteza, em contraste com a ambiguidade

da parte das autoridades fiscais apontada nas respostas dos restantes países da EMEA.

• Neste âmbito, os inquiridos portugueses ainda consideraram que o grau de segurança ou

certeza, a nível fiscal, no seu país, é substancialmente inferior ao dos outros países europeus.

• Quase metade (48%) dos respondentes de Portugal indicaram ter uma boa relação com as

autoridades fiscais, sendo que tal relação se manteve inalterada no último ano. Contudo, estes

resultados são ligeiramente inferiores à média da EMEA. Apenas 4% dos participantes

portugueses indicam ter uma relação má ou muito má com as autoridades fiscais.

• Os inquiridos indicaram que a administração fiscal em Portugal se foca maioritariamente em

dois impostos: IRC (73%) e IVA (63%), seguidos por preços de transferência/tributação

internacional, IRS e impostos sobre o património.

• 72% das empresas dos respondentes portugueses foram alvo de inspecção por parte da

administração fiscal nos últimos três anos.



• Segundo o estudo, 43% dos inquiridos mostram-se dispostos a contestar uma decisão da

administração fiscal, caso a considerassem injusta. Neste sentido, mais de um quarto dos

respondentes indicaram ainda que a contestação de tal decisão dependeria das circunstâncias

concretas. Tal resultado apresenta-se em claro contraste com os resultados de 2012, em que

70% dos inquiridos indicaram estar dispostos a contestar uma decisão da administração fiscal.

• Menos de metade dos respondentes foram interpelados pelos stakeholders internos, com o

objectivo de apresentar uma justificação da estratégia fiscal adoptada pela organização. Por

outro lado, apenas a 27% dos inquiridos foi solicitada tal justificação por parte de stakeholders

externos, incluindo accionistas.

• Os participantes portugueses indicam que actualmente há um maior nível de discussão e

escrutínio quanto à estratégia fiscal, em comparação com o ano anterior. Consequentemente,

um terço dos respondentes indicam que estão a adoptar uma nova abordagem ao planeamento

fiscal, enquanto outro terço declara que não irá efectuar qualquer alteração.

Neste âmbito, a garantia de que a estratégia fiscal é apoiada formalmente pela organização,

mencionada pelos inquiridos da EMEA como a reacção mais frequentemente adoptada, não é

observada em Portugal.



• Mais de metade dos inquiridos portugueses indica que a estratégia fiscal da empresa foi

sancionada pela respectiva administração, um resultado que acompanha os restantes países

da EMEA. As questões de índole fiscal são discutidas pela administração, em 99% dos casos,

apesar da frequência da discussão ser substancialmente variável.

• Por último, os respondentes destacam que não se dedicam exclusivamente ao tratamento de

assuntos fiscais, indicando que actividades como a gestão do respectivo departamento, a

interligação com outros departamentos da empresa e a interacção com a administração

ocupam a maior parte do seu tempo.

Análise em detalhe


Key

takeaway

Currently, 62% of respondents have a shared service centre for Finance in Portugal, which is clearly

higher than the average of the EMEA.

9. Do you have a shared service centre for Finance within

your company?

38%

62%

47%

53%

No

Yes

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

9a. If yes, is any part of tax compliance delivered by your

company’s shared service centre?

Only 23% of Portuguese respondents do not have the shared service center delivering a part of the tax

compliance.

23%

77%

35%

65%

No

Yes

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

10. When thinking of what success looks like for your

department, which of the following are most important? Rate

each item Low, Medium or High, where High is critical to

success and Low is not a key measure in your organisation.

Low Effective Tax Rate is no longer the highest priority, in line with EMEA.

Low Medium High

PT EMEA PT EMEA PT EMEA

Low Effective Tax Rate 7.4% 12.9% 38.3% 43.3% 52.1% 43.8%

Tax returns and compliance filed on time 3.2% 4.2% 28.7% 24.5% 66% 71.3%

Good relationship with the tax authority 11.7% 5.7% 45.7% 43.6% 39.4% 50.7%

Close integration with the business and its strategy 1.1% 5.3% 36.2% 32.7% 60.6% 62%

Certainty around tax liabilities 3.2% 2.8% 34% 29.2% 60.6% 68%


Key

takeaway

11. Which tax risks and uncertainties concern you most,

weigh on your mind or keep you awake at night? Please rate

each item as Low, Medium or High, where High is one of the

most stressful areas and Low is something you don’t worry

about.

Rapidly changing legislation is a critical concern for heads of tax, especially in Portugal.

Low Medium High

PT EMEA PT EMEA PT EMEA

Compliance - such as getting tax returns filed on time and accurately 14.9% 24.9% 43.6% 46.9% 39.4% 28.2%

Increased tax authority scrutiny - such as outstanding cases with your tax

authority or Tax Audits 14.9% 15% 52.1% 45.7% 30.9% 39.3%

Governance - such as ensuring that tax activities are aligned with wider

corporate objectives and getting buy-in from the Board and business with

regard to tax issues

11.7% 15.4% 53.2% 52.7% 30.9% 31.8%

Tax resources - such as key tax staff leaving or staff shortages 33% 33.6% 51.1% 46.7% 13.8% 19.6%

Technology and systems - such as data quality issues or inadequate finance

systems 20.2% 27.6% 45.7% 47.2% 31.9% 25.2%

Change of tax regulation - for example, the introduction of new tax laws,

keeping up with rapidly changing legislation or dealing with legislation with

which you aren’t familiar

0% 7.6% 23.4% 39.7% 73.4% 52.6%


Key

takeaway

12. What change(s) to your country’s tax legislation do you

think would have the greatest positive impact on your

country’s commercial competitiveness?

The Portuguese tax community is seeking certainty around the future of the tax system (56%) and the

respective simplification (46%), clearly more important than lowering the rates (16% for corporate tax, for

instance).

0%

2%

2%

7%

10%

11%

14%

16%

17%

46%

56%

2%

7%

2%

14%

8%

21%

12%

10%

14%

36%

44%

Fewer tax audits

Reduction of the income tax burden/ tax rate by 1-2% in the rate

Other (please specify)

Reduction of the employment tax rate by 1-2% in the rate

Reduction of the indirect tax burden – GST/VAT by 1-2% in the rate

Very predictable and collaborative tax authority

Simpler compliance systems and processes

Reduction of the corporate tax rate by 1-2% in the rate

Improved tax incentives

Simplification of the tax system

More certainty around the future of the tax system

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

13. Which major European economy is the most challenging

and difficult for your business to operate in, in terms of tax?

Portuguese respondents indicate less difficulties regarding foreign operations than EMEA, which can be

a consequence of leaving less operations in these countries. The countries considered the easiest (the

Netherlands and the United Kingdom) and the most challenging (Russia) to operate are in line with the

EMEA results.

2%

3%

6%

7%

9%

12%

16%

4%

7%

20%

17%

15%

9%

28%

Netherlands

United Kingdom

Italy

Germany

France

Spain

Russia

EMEA

PT


Key

takeaway

14. Please select from the list below if there is another

country that you find more difficult than the one you selected

above

No other specific jurisdiction is seen as more or equally challenging than those already mentioned by

Portuguese respondents. However, Portugal was ranked high by other countries (6%) as a more difficult

country to operate in.

0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

3%

0% 1%

0% 0%

3%

0% 0% 1%

3%

0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

6%

1% 0%

3%

0% 0% 1% 1%

9%

0% 1%

13%

1% 2% 2% 1%

4%

0% 1% 1% 1%

3% 3% 1%

5% 5%

1% 1% 1% 1% 1%

15%

7% 6%

3% 2%

1% 1% 1%

22%

2%

7%

0%

10%

20%

30%

Portugal EMEA


Key

takeaway

15. Which major European economy is most favourable or

easiest for your business to operate in, in terms of tax

The Netherlands, Spain (although Spain is simultaneously reported by a significant number of

respondents as a challenging jurisdiction) and the UK appear to be the economies with which Portuguese companies feel more confortable and easy to deal with, from a tax perspective.

1%

13%

3%

1%

7%

6%

22%

2%

5%

5%

2%

31%

16%

40%

Russia

Spain

France

Italy

United Kingdom

Germany

Netherlands

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

16. Please select from the list below if there is another

country that you find more favourable than the one you

selected above

Belgium and Luxembourg are also seen as favourable jurisdictions by Portuguese companies.

0% 0% 0% 0%

7%

0%

1%

0% 0%

1%

0%

1%

0% 0% 0% 0%

4%

0% 0% 0%

4%

0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

1%

4%

2%

3%

0% 1%

6%

2% 1%

0% 0%

2%

1% 0%

5%

0% 0% 0%

11%

1% 0% 1%

5%

1% 1% 1%

3%

0%

3%

10% 11%

0%

10%

20% Portugal EMEA


Key

takeaway

17. Do you think there is a high degree of tax uncertainty in

your country (in which you are based)?

For the large majority of Portuguese respondents (85%), there is a high degree of tax uncertainty in

Portugal, well above the EMEA results.

2%

85%

39%

61%

No

Yes

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

17a. If Yes, what are the two major causes of tax uncertainty

in your country?

The major cause for tax uncertainty results from frequent changes to legislation for both Portugal and

EMEA. Next in row is the excessive duration of tax disputes, with up to 44% in Portugal (21% overall in

EMEA).

1%

14%

15%

31%

44%

89%

6%

11%

18%

50%

21%

75%

Another factor (please specify)

Weaknesses and ambiguity in advance clearance or rulingsystem

Retrospective changes to legislation

Ambiguity, weaknesses and reversals in the Tax Authorities’ doctrine or publicly available guidance

Long duration of tax disputes

Frequent changes to legislation

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

18. Overall, do you believe tax certainty in your country is:

In this area, Portugal does not score well when compared with the other countries surveyed: 59%

(versus 41% in 2011) consider that tax certainty in Portugal is not as good as what they

experienced in other countries, much higher than the 34% for EMEA.

5%

26%

59%

34%

33%

34%

About the same as in other European countries

Greater than other European countries

Less than other European countries

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

19. How would you describe your company’s relationship with

your local Tax Authority in general?

The relationship between companies and the Tax Authorities in Portugal is stretched: currently 45% of

the respondents perceive their relationship with Portuguese tax authorities as good, while only 3%

indicated their relationship to be excellent. 37% describe their relationship as neither good or bad. These

results are significantly worse than the opinion of EMEA companies.

3%

1%

37%

3%

45%

2%

0%

28%

14%

56%

Poor

Extremely poor

Neither good nor bad

Excellent

Good

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

20. How is your relationship with your Tax Authority

compared to a year ago?

71 % of the Portuguese respondents considered the relationship with the Portuguese tax authorities as

the same as last year, 14% considered it better and only 5% considered it worse, not very different from

the EMEA results.

5%

14%

71%

5%

11%

84%

Worse

Better

The same

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

20a. If you answered 'Better' or 'Worse', please indicate what

you believe are the reasons for the change:

The main reasons given for a change in the relationship with the Portuguese tax authorities are a focus

on risk-based approach from the tax authority and an increased level of scrutiny.

17%

6%

22%

17%

33%

50%

6%

15%

9%

19%

16%

21%

24%

33%

More conservative tax strategy on your part

Decreased level of scrutiny from tax authority

Inconsistent approach and advice from tax authority

More aggressive tax strategy on your part

Increased level of scrutiny from tax authority

Focus on risk-based approach from tax authority

Another factor (please specify)

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

21. In which area(s) is your tax authority focusing most?

The tax areas the Portuguese tax authorities are focusing more on are Corporate income taxes,

appointed by 73% of the respondents, followed by VAT(63%).

21%

3%

2%

1%

22%

29%

63%

73%

6%

7%

4%

7%

18%

35%

54%

57%

Property taxes

Customs and Excise duty


Nothing in particular

Personal income taxes

Transfer pricing and international tax

VAT

Corporate income taxes

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

22. Has your company been audited by a department of a tax

administration in the last three years?

The replies for Portugal align with the general replies for EMEA, as was the case for last year as well.

18%

72%

25%

75%

No

Yes

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

23. If your company was subject to a tax audit and the

outcome was not satisfactory in your opinion, how likely do

you think your company would be to litigate in Court to seek a

more satisfactory resolution?

In Portugal, 29% of the respondents confirmed that their company would be prepared to litigate in Court,

above the EMEA average, whereas in 2012 about 70% said so.

2%

3%

4%

14%

27%

29%

6%

5%

10%

17%

41%

21%

Very unlikely to litigate

Don’t know

Quite unlikely to litigate

Quite likely to litigate

It depends

Very likely to litigate

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

24. Over the past 12 months, have you been asked to justify

your tax strategy by any of the following internal

stakeholders?

56% of the respondents have not been asked to justify their tax strategy by internal stakeholders, slightly

higher than their EMEA counterparts.

9%

0%

23%

7%

6%

56%

9%

4%

17%

11%

16%

51%

Investor relations


Corporate affairs

Employees

Non-executive directors

Not been asked

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

25. Over the past 12 months, have you been asked to justify

your organisation’s tax strategy by any of the following

external stakeholders?

73% of the respondents were not asked to justify their tax strategy before external stakeholders, slightly

above the EMEA results. For those who did, the most relevant external stakeholders were shareholders

and journalists.

0%

2%

13%

0%

7%

73%

3%

4%

12%

2%

9%

67%

MPs

NGOs/Campaigners

Shareholders


Journalists

Not been asked

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

26. Do you think there is generally an increased level of

discussion and scrutiny around corporate tax strategy at the

moment compared with, say, a year ago?

Respondents in Portugal generally believe (65%) there is more discussion and scrutiny nowadays on the

corporate tax strategy, above their EMEA counterparts.

26%

65%

42%

58%

No

Yes

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

26a. If yes, how are you responding to the increased scrutiny

around the tax strategy of organisations?

Portuguese strategies are different from other countries in EMEA, in the sense that they adopt a different

approach to tax planning (38% against 28% in EMEA), or actually do not change their behavior (31% in Portugal against 21% in EMEA).

10%

30%

38%

31%

15%

12%

7%

29%

28%

21%

13%

34%

A reduced amount of tax planning

Developing additional disclosure around tax in financialstatements

Adopting a different approach to tax planning

No change

There is no increased scrutiny for our business

Ensuring there is buy-in to formal group tax strategy

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

27. Has your tax strategy been signed off by the Board?

Only 54% of the Portuguese respondents have a sign-off by their Board of their tax strategy, which is

slightly lower than in EMEA (58%).

34%

54%

42%

58%

No

Yes

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

28. How often do you personally appear before the Board to

discuss tax strategy?

Discussions with the Board occur in Portugal essentially ad hoc or as requested (38%). However,

Portuguese respondents tend to appear more often before the Board than EMEA respondents (16% of

Portuguese respondents said they never went to the Board to discuss/share tax strategy, while this

happens in 28% of the cases for EMEA).

6%

9%

6%

13%

16%

38%

7%

4%

6%

14%

28%

41%

Quarterly

More frequently than quarterly

Twice a year

Once a year

Never

Ad hoc or as requested

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

29. How often is tax discussed at the Board?

Generally, tax discussions at Board level occur ad hoc or as requested (34% in Portugal and 40% in

EMEA), while 13% of the Portuguese respondents said that these discussions are frequent (13% against

only 6% in EMEA).

13%

12%

5%

12%

1%

12%

34%

6%

13%

8%

17%

4%

12%

40%

More frequently than quarterly

Quarterly

Twice a year

I don't know

Never

Once a year

Ad hoc or as requested

EMEA

Portugal


Key

takeaway

30. What are the main activities that occupy your time?

Portuguese respondents are especially focused on general management of the department and

interaction with other parts of the business (71% and 59%, respectively), as well as interacting with the

Board (46%). EMEA respondents, while interacting more significantly with the business (60%) do not

focus that much in managing the department (56%), but direct their attention also towards more specific

matters (tax authorities relationships, technical tax work or transfer pricing).

2%

11%

14%

9%

4%

36%

46%

33%

23%

30%

37%

71%

14%

38%

59%

7%

13%

12%

16%

5%

37%

28%

27%

39%

39%

40%

56%

26%

27%

60%

Public relations

Lobbying/representation on technical matters

Dealing with suppliers

Overseas tax audits


Provision of management information

Interaction with the board

HR/People management

Transfer pricing

Technical tax work

Tax authority relationships

General management of department

M&A and transactions

Managing projects outside of tax

Interaction with other parts of the business

EMEA

Portugal

Sobre o estudo


Sobre o estudo

O European Tax Survey versa sobre as relações das empresas com as autoridades fiscais, com

base num questionário elaborado pela organização global da Deloitte, o qual foi respondido por

940 empresas da zona da Europa, Médio Oriente e África (doravante designada como “EMEA”).

Do grupo de empresas mencionado, 94 eram empresas portuguesas, das 1.000 maiores a operar

em Portugal.

Os respondentes fizeram-no, não a título pessoal, mas em nome das empresas que representam,

nas quais são responsáveis pela gestão das matérias fiscais ao mais alto nível. A maioria dos

inquiridos assume também responsabilidades internacionais no seu grupo económico.

O estudo procurou analisar as principais dificuldades enfrentadas pelos responsáveis pela área de

fiscalidade das sociedades inquiridas nas jurisdições onde operam.

Especificamente, pretendeu-se observar quais são as principais dificuldades com que os Heads of

Tax se deparam, quais as áreas com maior potencial de melhoria do respectivo sistema fiscal, bem

como quais são as jurisdições mais abertas ao negócio na óptica do sistema fiscal.

Os questionários foram enviados durante os meses de Junho e Julho de 2013 e continham um

total de 26 perguntas, cujas principais conclusões relativamente a Portugal apresentamos de

seguida.

© 2014 Deloitte & Associados, SROC S.A.

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Análise de Portugal em detalhe 38

Documents

European Tax Survey Análise de Portugal em detalhe · 2020. 9. 8. · each item Low, Medium or High, where High is critical to success and Low is not a key measure in your organisation