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Positive Adjustment: DGT doctrinal evolution

How the DGT's position on this topic has evolved, and the rulings it rests on.

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How the DGT's position has evolved

Settled doctrine High confidence 9 rulings · 2014–2024

Current position

Personnel expenses for payments based on equity instruments are deductible only when the effective delivery of the instruments to employees occurs. In fiscal years where the expense is recognized accounting-wise but the delivery is not made, a positive adjustment must be applied. On the other hand, income from debt cancellation is integrated via positive adjustment in the fiscal year of the judicial approval of the agreement, and subsequently allocated according to the resulting financial expenses.

The DGT's position remains constant in applying positive adjustments to defer the deductibility of expenses for equity instruments until their effective delivery. No doctrinal changes have been observed in this scenario since 2016. The most recent rulings maintain the requirement for a positive adjustment to align accounting accrual with tax deductibility.

Analysis based on 8 of 9 rulings with a stated position. Updated 30 September 2026.

Rulings on this topic

9
V2351-24 14 Nov 2024

Income from debt write-offs in insolvency agreements is taxed via a positive adjustment and subsequent integration based on financial expense records

SG de Impuestos sobre las Personas Jurídicas
quitas y esperasconvenio de acreedoresgastos financierosprincipio de empresa en funcionamientomodificación sustancial LIS — Ley 27/2014 del Impuesto sobre Sociedades art. 10.3LIS — Ley 27/2014 del Impuesto sobre Sociedades art. 11.13
Affects CompanyExpat · Non-residentIndividual
V1807-22 29 Jul 2022

Staff costs for equity-settled transactions are only deductible upon delivery

SG de Impuestos sobre las Personas Jurídicas
pagos basados en instrumentos de patrimoniogastos de personaldeducibilidadentrega de instrumentosvalor razonable LIS — Ley 27/2014 del Impuesto sobre Sociedades art. 10.3LIS — Ley 27/2014 del Impuesto sobre Sociedades art. 11.1
Affects CompanyExpat · Non-residentIndividual
V2197-18 24 Jul 2018

Staff costs for equity-settled payments are only deductible upon delivery

SG de Impuestos sobre las Personas Jurídicas
gastos de personalinstrumentos de patrimoniobase imponibledevengoajuste positivo LIS — Ley 27/2014 del Impuesto sobre Sociedades art. 10.3LIS — Ley 27/2014 del Impuesto sobre Sociedades art. 11.1
Affects CompanyExpat · Non-residentIndividual
V2884-15 6 Oct 2015

Reversal of a non-tax-deductible impairment should not be included in the tax base

SG de Impuestos sobre las Personas Jurídicas
deterioro de inmovilizadoajuste positivoreversión de pérdidasbase imponiblevaloración contable LIS — Ley 27/2014 del Impuesto sobre Sociedades art. 10.3LIS — Ley 27/2014 del Impuesto sobre Sociedades art. 13.2
Affects CompanyExpat · Non-residentIndividual
V1129-14 22 Apr 2014

Ghost gains do not prevent loss allowance on group shareholdings

SG de Impuestos sobre las Personas Jurídicas
plusvalía tácitapérdidas por deteriorofondos propiosajuste positivoentidades del grupo TRLIS — RDLeg 4/2004 (derogado por la Ley 27/2014) art. 12.3TRLIS — RDLeg 4/2004 (derogado por la Ley 27/2014) art. 14.1.j
Affects CompanyExpat · Non-residentIndividual

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