Overview
- The European Commission presented the package on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, proposing a harmonized tax rule that would let companies deduct up to 100% of spending on tangible assets used for R&D either immediately or over four years.
- Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said loans taken to buy equipment, hire staff, or fund innovation would qualify for full interest deductibility under the proposal.
- The plan also raises reporting thresholds for online sales platforms so they only report individual item sales above €3,000, reducing paperwork for small and second‑hand sellers.
- Brussels estimates the R&D deduction would lift EU GDP by about 0.2% and save companies roughly €265 million a year, with the wider simplification package potentially cutting business costs by up to €8 billion annually.
- Adoption is uncertain because the measures require unanimous consent and changes to national laws, and the proposal includes safeguards such as a three‑year minimum use rule for equipment and exclusions for land and residential property.