Savings Income Directive

The European Council has approved an amendment to the Savings Taxation Directive. EU-member states are obliged to incorporate the new rules into their national legislation by 1 January 2016 and the rules will become effective on 1 January 2017.

The amendment to the Directive extends the scope of income that will be covered. Income from certain life insurance products and other income from investment funds will newly be considered as income from interest payments. Paying agents will be obliged to ascertain whether the entity receiving the income from interest payments is the actual beneficial owner of the relevant income or an intermediate structure.