The Peripatetic Nature of EU Corporate Tax Law

This article examines some aspects of the European Union’s corporate tax set-up which correspond to aspects of a country’s corporate tax regime. The overarching question is whether there is such a thing as EU corporate tax law. This article seeks to address this in the context of the following issues: the existence of a uniform tax base and tax rates; the existence of anti-abuse rules and a transfer pricing regime; and, finally, the existence of a common tax administration and its powers. The article questions whether the peripatetic development of EU corporate tax law is suitable for the EU or whether it undermines its long-term objectives. The potential impact of Brexit in the development of EU corporate tax law is also addressed.