In the Marks & Spencer case (C-446/03) the ECJ held that if an EU member state allows a parent company to deduct losses of domestic subsidiaries then a rule which generally prevents the deduction of losses incurred by a foreign (non-resident) subsidiary is a restriction of the freedom of establishment and an infringement on articles 43 and 48 of the EC Treaty. Such restriction might be justified if the non-resident subsidiary (or a third party) has the possibility to claim relief with regard to the losses in the other country. They can do this, for example, by applying the loss against profits of prior periods by way of a loss carry-back, by carrying the loss forward to offset against future income or by transferring the loss to a third party.
March 31 2006