Commentary on Judgment No. 8714 of 2024: Cession Pro Soluto and Deductibility of Bad Debt Losses

The recent judgment No. 8714 of April 3, 2024, issued by the Court of Cassation, provides an important reflection on the cession pro soluto of receivables deemed uncollectible and their deductibility from business income. In a continuously evolving economic context, understanding these dynamics is fundamental for companies and professionals in the legal and tax sectors.

The Regulatory Context

The ruling falls within the scope of Italian legislation, particularly Article 101, paragraph 5, of the Consolidated Income Tax Act (TUIR), in effect before the amendments introduced by Law Decree No. 83 of 2012. This provision establishes that the cession pro soluto of a receivable deemed uncollectible can generate a deductible loss only if the taxpayer provides certain and documented evidence regarding the circumstances that led to such operation.

The Ruling's Summary

Business income - "Pro soluto" cession of a receivable deemed uncollectible - Nature - Bad debt loss - Deductibility - Conditions - Certainty and precision - Burden of proof - Relevant unjustified differential between the cession's consideration and the nominal value of the ceded receivable - Consequences. In terms of determining business income, pursuant to Article 101, paragraph 5, TUIR (in the formulation prior to the amendments introduced by Law Decree No. 83 of 2012, applicable ratione temporis), the cession pro soluto of a receivable deemed uncollectible produces a deductible loss from taxable income only if the taxpayer alleges and documents certain and precise elements that do not merely consist of an agreement on a consideration lower than the nominal value of the ceded receivable and the loss arising from the cession itself, but also include the elements that led to the operation and the consequent partial recovery of the nominal value of the receivable; it follows that a relevant unjustified differential between the consideration of the cession and the nominal value of the ceded receivable, which denotes the blatant uneconomic nature of the operation, may constitute an indicator of the granting rather than productive nature of the same and therefore of the non-pertinence of the negative component.

Practical Implications

This ruling emphasizes several crucial aspects:

  • The necessity for detailed documentation justifying the cession of the receivable and the associated loss.
  • The risk of considering the cession as not pertinent to business activity in the case of an unjustified differential between the consideration and the nominal value of the ceded receivable.
  • The role of the burden of proof, which falls on the taxpayer, in demonstrating the validity of the deduction of losses.

In summary, judgment No. 8714 of 2024 reminds us of the importance of proper management of receivables and business losses, emphasizing that economic choices must be supported by concrete evidence to ensure their tax deductibility.

Conclusions

In light of the ruling under examination, it is essential for companies to carefully evaluate receivable cession operations and ensure they have proper documentation to support their choices. Only in this way can they avoid issues related to the deductibility of losses and ensure efficient tax management.

Bianucci Law Firm