On 11 December, Luxembourg parliament approved a comprehensive package of tax measures designed to further enhance the country’s global competitiveness, drive economic growth, and solidify its position as a leading international financial centre. These reforms are expected to attract new top-tier talent and increase Luxembourg’s appeal to international investors and financial firms. They will take effect as of 1 January 2025. Luxembourg for Finance has provided a comprehensive summary of the key points.

1. Reduction of Corporate Income Tax

Luxembourg continues to create an international business-friendly environment. As of 1 January 2025, the corporate income tax (CIT) will drop by one percentage point, ensuring Luxembourg remains competitive on the global stage. This reduction also applies to small businesses that already benefit from a lower tax rate. For companies earning over €200,000 in taxable income, the rate will decrease from 17% to 16%, bringing the overall taxation rate to 23.87% in 2025, down from 24.94% in 2024. Small business are also set to benefit, with the CIT rate dropping from 15% to 14%, reducing their overall taxation rate to 21.73% as of 2025, down from22.80% in 2024. These reductions are part of a strategy to align with the OECD average.

2. A Streamlined and Simplified Expat Regime

To continue attracting world-class talent, Luxembourg is stepping up with a new game-changing expat tax regime. While the country already boasts a significant cross-border workforce, there is a growing need to bring in highly qualified experts –  particularly in the financial sector. Luxembourg’s financial centre has seen significant growth, both quantitatively and qualitatively, over the past decade. Today, Luxembourg accounts for around 60% of Europe’s alternative investment funds, up from just 15% ten years ago. This reflects Luxembourg‘s strategic climb up the value chain and its development of new expertise. To support firms in their efforts to recruit and bring staff to Luxembourg, the government has introduced simplified and highly attractive expat regime. As of 1 January, expats will enjoy a 50% tax exemption on the first €400,000 EUR of their gross annual compensation for a period of 8 years.

3. A More Attractive Profit-Sharing Bonus

Talent retention is just as critical as talent attraction. To help companies retain their top performers and strengthen employee loyalty, Luxembourg has enhanced its profit-sharing scheme, making it even more attractive. From 2025, the maximum bonus increases from 25% to 30% of the employee’s annual gross salary, and companies can now distribute up to 7.5% of the previous year’s profit, instead of the current 5%. Importantly, employees benefit from a 50% tax exemption on their bonus, creating an excellent incentive for companies to reward hard work and foster employee loyalty.

4. A Bonus for Young Employees

Luxembourg is committed to nurturing the next generation of financial talent. Building on the partially tax-exempt bonus for housing costs introduced in the summer of 2024, a new scheme will be added to further support young professionals at the start of their careers. Beginning 1 January 2025, employees under 30 who sign their first permanent employment contract in Luxembourg can receive an employer-granted bonus ranging from €2,500 and €5,000, depending on the salary. This bonus benefits from a 75% tax exemption, ensuring young professionals take home more while launching their careers. The qualifying bonus decreases based on the salary and is no longer granted for an annual gross compensation exceeding €100,000.

5. Abolition of Subscription Tax for Active ETFs

As Europe’s premier hub for global fund distribution, Luxembourg is once again leading the way in innovation. To capitalize on the rising demand for actively-managed ETFs and strengthen its fund industry, Luxembourg is abolishing the subscription tax on active ETFs starting 1 January 2025. This move ensures that all ETFs in Luxembourg – both active and passive – will now benefit from full subscription tax exemption. With all major global asset managers already operating in Luxembourg, this reform, alongside the existing expertise, positions the country to capture significant market share in this fast-growing sector.

Collectively, these measures will increase Luxembourg’s overall attractiveness and help cement Luxembourg’s role as stable AAA-rated base of operations in the EU for global firms and a centre of excellence for the world’s leading financial institutions.

(Source: Luxembourg for Finance)

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