Back to index
V2020-25 29 October 2025 · SG de Impuestos sobre las Personas Jurídicas Criterion in force
IS · fusión por absorción

The existence of negative tax bases does not invalidate the application of the tax neutrality regime in a merger

A consulting company suggests absorbing its only subsidiary to simplify its structure and reduce costs. The DGT states that the operation may qualify for fiscal neutrality if it meets legal requirements and does not aim primarily at fraud.

The question raised

Whether the merger operation described is subject to the special tax neutrality regime established in Chapter VII of Title VII, regulated in Articles 76 et seq. of Law 27/2014, of November 27, on Corporate Income Tax, given that the objective is the improvement of administrative and management processes, as well as the reduction of financial costs. Considering that the merger operation meets the requirements for the application of the special tax neutrality regime, could the existence of significant accumulated negative tax bases from previous financial years in both companies (merger and merged) cause a limitation on their offset or, conversely, does the existence of negative tax bases not invalidate the application of the special regime if the motive is economically valid, as is the case here based on all the aforementioned?

The DGT's ruling

Si la fusión por absorción cumple los requisitos del Capítulo VII del Título VII de la LIS, no se integrarán plusvalías en la base imponible. La entidad absorbente se subroga en el derecho a compensar las bases imponibles negativas de la absorbida, con los límites de los artículos 84.2 y la DT 16ª de la LIS. El régimen no se aplicará si el objetivo principal es el fraude o la evasión fiscal, pero la existencia de bases imponibles negativas no invalida por sí misma la neutralidad si la operación busca mejorar la situación financiera de las actividades.

Email
Contact