This is a new Safe Harbour included in the January 2026 OECD Side-by-Side Tax Package (see: Tax Challenges Arising from the Digitalisation of the Economy – Global Anti-Base Erosion Model Rules (Pillar Two), Side-by-Side Package) that deems the top-up tax for a jurisdiction to be zero insofar as it relates to ‘Qualified Tax Incentives’ (QTIs).
The Top-up Tax that relates to QTIs is the difference between:
(i) the Top-up Tax for the jurisdiction calculated with the amount of QTIs used in the year being added to covered taxes (subject to a cap), and
(ii) the Top-up Tax if the SBTI Safe Harbour election hadn’t been made.
A QTI is defined as a generally available tax incentive calculated based on expenditure incurred, or on the amount of tangible property produced in the jurisdiction.
The SBTI Safe Harbour is to apply from fiscal years beginning from January 1, 2026.
Aside from the main election for the SBTI Safe Harbour to apply, the detailed rules for this contain two additional elections.
Tax Credits Election (Art 4)
An MNE group can make an annual election to treat a Qualified Refundable Tax Credit or a Marketable Transferable Tax Credit as a QTI.
Substance Cap Election (Art 4)
The substance cap referred to above for determining the amount added to covered taxes is generally 5.5% of the higher of (1) Eligible Payroll Costs in the jurisdiction or (2) the depreciation and depletion recorded in FANIL for Eligible Tangible Assets located in the jurisdiction.
However, an MNE group can make a 5 year election for the jurisdiction for the substance cap to be 1% of the carrying value of Eligible Tangible Assets located in the jurisdiction (excluding land and other non-depreciable assets) for that Fiscal Year
On January 5, 2026, the OECD Released Guidance on amendments to the Pillar 2 rules for the Side-by-Side Tax Package. This includes a new Substance-based Tax Incentive Safe Harbour. This online tool shows how the new safe harbour operates.
On January 5, 2026, the OECD Released Guidance on amendments to the Pillar 2 rules for the Side-by-Side Tax Package. This article looks at a number of the new elections that arise from this.
On January 5, 2026, the OECD Released Guidance on amendments to the Pillar 2 rules for the Side-by-Side Tax Package.
On December 23, 2025, Germany enacted a law to amend the Minimum Tax Act. This follows the two previous discussion drafts and now includes the January 2025 OECD Administrative Guidance and DAC9 amendments.
On December 23, 2025, Austria published the Tax Amendment Act 2025 in its Official Gazette. This includes amendments to aspects of the December 2023, June 2024 and January 2025 OECD Administrative Guidance, as well as DAC 9 implementation.
Part III of the Dutch Year-End Decree 2025 (published in the Official Gazette on December 23, 2025) amends the Minimum Tax Executive Decree 2024 for aspects of the December 2023, June 2024, and January 2025 OECD Administrative Guidance.
On December 30, 2025, IRAS issued further details on the Pillar 2 registration process. The registration portal is to be open from May 2026, however, a draft registration form and explanatory notes have been issued.
On December 26, 2025, Turkey published the Communique on the Minimum Tax Law. Whilst Turkey has enacted its Minimum Tax Law, a lot of the detailed application of the GloBE rules was left to a further Regulation. This Communique therefore provides for the detailed rules for the implementation of the GloBE rules in Turkey.
On December 19, 2025, the Danish Official Gazette published an Executive Order providing for GIR information reporting requirements and on December 17, 2025, the Danish Official Gazette published Law No. 1643 to amend the Minimum Tax Act.
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