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Social Enterprises and Tax: Living Apart Together?

Hemels, Sigrid LU orcid (2023) p.77-100
Abstract
This chapter examines the complex relationship between social enterprises and taxation. The focus is not on a specific country, although various examples are mentioned. As specific tax measures for social enterprises are a form of tax incentives, the chapter discusses this public finance concept. In addition, an important legal constraint on introducing such incentives for social enterprises in the European Union (EU) is discussed: the prohibition of state aid. From an analysis of the taxation of profits of social enterprises, it turns out that only a few countries have implemented tax incentives to further social enterprise models. Some social enterprises may meet the charity definition and thus benefit from tax incentives for charities.... (More)
This chapter examines the complex relationship between social enterprises and taxation. The focus is not on a specific country, although various examples are mentioned. As specific tax measures for social enterprises are a form of tax incentives, the chapter discusses this public finance concept. In addition, an important legal constraint on introducing such incentives for social enterprises in the European Union (EU) is discussed: the prohibition of state aid. From an analysis of the taxation of profits of social enterprises, it turns out that only a few countries have implemented tax incentives to further social enterprise models. Some social enterprises may meet the charity definition and thus benefit from tax incentives for charities. The drawback might be that it may require social enterprises to use next best legal forms. The chapter also discusses the relevant tax aspects for funders of social enterprises. Tax rules can especially be detrimental to the funding of high-risk social enterprises. Social enterprises also encounter value-added tax (VAT) issues. The VAT that applies in the EU has been copied (with variations) by many non-EU Member States. For that reason, this chapter focusses on the EU VAT legislation as included in the VAT. Problems emerging from the impossibility to deduct input VAT can best be solved outside the VAT framework. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Tax Law, Social enterprises
host publication
The International Handbook of Social Enterprise Law : Benefit Corporations and Other Purpose-Driven Companies - Benefit Corporations and Other Purpose-Driven Companies
editor
Peter, Henry ; Vargas Vasserot, Carlos and Alcalde Silva, Jaime
pages
77 - 100
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85160487027
ISBN
978-3-031-14215-4
978-3-031-14216-1
DOI
10.1007/978-3-031-14216-1_5
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9519a607-b455-4a68-883b-b7bc3f766951
date added to LUP
2022-12-30 16:25:14
date last changed
2024-04-19 20:04:25
@inbook{9519a607-b455-4a68-883b-b7bc3f766951,
  abstract     = {{This chapter examines the complex relationship between social enterprises and taxation. The focus is not on a specific country, although various examples are mentioned. As specific tax measures for social enterprises are a form of tax incentives, the chapter discusses this public finance concept. In addition, an important legal constraint on introducing such incentives for social enterprises in the European Union (EU) is discussed: the prohibition of state aid. From an analysis of the taxation of profits of social enterprises, it turns out that only a few countries have implemented tax incentives to further social enterprise models. Some social enterprises may meet the charity definition and thus benefit from tax incentives for charities. The drawback might be that it may require social enterprises to use next best legal forms. The chapter also discusses the relevant tax aspects for funders of social enterprises. Tax rules can especially be detrimental to the funding of high-risk social enterprises. Social enterprises also encounter value-added tax (VAT) issues. The VAT that applies in the EU has been copied (with variations) by many non-EU Member States. For that reason, this chapter focusses on the EU VAT legislation as included in the VAT. Problems emerging from the impossibility to deduct input VAT can best be solved outside the VAT framework.}},
  author       = {{Hemels, Sigrid}},
  booktitle    = {{The International Handbook of Social Enterprise Law : Benefit Corporations and Other Purpose-Driven Companies}},
  editor       = {{Peter, Henry and Vargas Vasserot, Carlos and Alcalde Silva, Jaime}},
  isbn         = {{978-3-031-14215-4}},
  keywords     = {{Tax Law; Social enterprises}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  pages        = {{77--100}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  title        = {{Social Enterprises and Tax: Living Apart Together?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14216-1_5}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/978-3-031-14216-1_5}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}