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Amendments to the upstream petroleum taxation provide for improved liquidity

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The Government’s controversial proposal of temporary amendments to the upstream petroleum taxation triggered a long and intense debate, both in the Parliament and in the media. On 8 June 2020, a settlement was reached, securing a Parliament majority for concessions in the upstream petroleum taxation. On 12 June 2020, the Parliament voted to implement the settlement into statute, and the rules were sanctioned on 19 June 2020. The rules include significant improvements to the Government’s original proposal, and provide a basis for optimism with regard to continued high investment activity on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

Companies carrying out exploration, production and pipeline transportation of petroleum on the Norwegian Continental Shelf are subject to Special Tax under the Petroleum Tax Act, which entails the levying of Special Tax at a rate of 56% in addition to the ordinary corporate tax rate of 22%. Such companies are thus taxed at an aggregate rate of 78%.

On 12 May 2020, as part of the financial measures for Norwegian businesses in relation to the COVID-19 situation, the Government suggested temporary amendments to the upstream petroleum tax regime.

After a lengthy debate in the Parliament, a settlement was reached on 8 June 2020. The settlement secured a majority vote for the temporary amendments, with some important adjustments to the Government's original suggestion. The Parliament passed the settlement on 12 June 2020. The amendments were sanctioned on 19 June 2020.

Depreciations and uplift

Under the Petroleum Tax Act, investments on the Norwegian Continental Shelf can be depreciated on a linear basis over six years against 78% tax. Additionally, a special deduction - uplift - is granted in the Special Tax (i.e., against 56% tax), constituting 5.2% per year over four years, totalling 20.8%. A Year 1 investment of 100 is thus subject to the following depreciation and uplift profile:

Picture 1-1
Now, the depreciation and uplift rules will be amended. With effect for the Special Tax, the companies can deduct the investment in full in Year 1. Additionally, the companies can claim uplift at a rate of 24%. The uplift can be deducted in full in the year of investment.

The six-year linear depreciations are unchanged as far as the ordinary corporate tax at 22% is concerned. An investment in Year 1 of 100 will thus be subject to the following depreciation and uplift profile:
Picture 2-1
The amendments will be applicable to investment costs incurred in 2020 and 2021.

The amended rules will also apply to investment costs incurred in subsequent years to the extent such costs are part of a Plan for Development and Operation (PDO), or a Plan for Installation and Operation (PIO) (or application for exemption from such Plan) submitted by year-end 2022 and approved by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy by year-end 2023. The amendments will apply only for costs incurred until start of production.

Effect for deductible interest costs in the Special Tax base

For companies subject to Special Tax, tax deductions for interest costs are allocated between 78% tax and 22% tax according to a statutory formula. Tax deductions against 78% tax correspond to 50% of the ratio between depreciated tax value of assets in the offshore district and average interest-bearing debt during the year. The amendments entail that a taxpayer will have different depreciated values in the 22% tax base and the 56% tax base, respectively. Effective from 2020, depreciated values in the Special Tax base must be applied in the formula.

Refund of tax value of losses and unused uplift 

The Petroleum Tax Act provides the right to claim a refund of the tax value of the year’s loss generated by costs of petroleum exploration on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (exploration loss refund). The refund is paid as part of the tax statement, i.e., in the year after the relevant fiscal year.

A company ceasing its activities subject to Special Tax may claim a refund of the tax value of unused losses and incurred unused uplift at the time of cessation.

These rules will now beexpanded. The companies will now be allowed to claim a refund of the tax value of both losses (not limited to exploration loss) and unused uplift incurred in 2020 and 2021, even if the taxpayer continues its business subject to Special Tax.

This is supplemented by a system of negative tax instalment payments. This will imply that the companies will receive refunds of the tax value of expected losses through the fiscal year, which is highly important for the liquidity for companies that are not in tax position.

Related amendments and actions

The 8 June 2020 settlement also includes some additional amendments and actions related to the upstream petroleum industry in Norway:

  • A committee for green investments will be appointed to consider the overall framework conditions for the promotion of climate-friendly investments in Norway
  • In cooperation with the industry, the Government will develop a plan for the 50% reduction of emissions from the Norwegian Continental Shelf by 2030
  • Proposals for new zero- and low-emission solutions for offshore petroleum production vehicles will be introduced
  • Plugging of wells will be given additional priority when the OG21 strategy is updated
  • The general grants to the Labour Inspection Authority and the Petroleum Surveillance Agency will be increased by NOK 20 million

                                                                               ***
This blog post is written by Per Christian Ask and Øystein Andal. 

Øystein Andal

Øystein Andal

Jeg heter Øystein Andal og er advokat i Advokatfirmaet PwC. Med bakgrunn fra bl.a. Oljeskattekontoret og Advokatfirmaet Harboe & Co AS, har jeg mange års erfaring innen nasjonal og internasjonal bedriftsbeskatning.

Mine spesialområder er internprising og petroleumsskatt, og jeg bistår både store og små bedrifter i problemstillinger innenfor norsk og internasjonal skatterett.

Ta gjerne kontakt om du har spørsmål, kommentarer eller innspill.

My name is Øystein Andal, and I am an attorney with PwC. With a background from the Oil Taxation Office and the Law Firm Harboe & Co AS, I have several years of experience in national and international corporate taxation.

My specialties include Transfer Pricing and Petroleum Taxation, and I support both small and large businesses on issues related to national and international tax law.

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