Substance-Based Income Exclusion (SBIE)Substance-Based Income Exclusion (SBIE)
Quick Definition
Substance-Based Income Exclusion (SBIE) — The Substance Based Income Exclusion (SBIE) is part of the OECD/G20 Global Anti Base Erosion (GloBE) Model Rules.
The Substance-Based Income Exclusion (SBIE) is part of the OECD/G20 Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) Model Rules. It reduces a jurisdiction's Net GloBE Income by an amount calculated from eligible payroll costs and eligible tangible assets when determining Excess Profit for the top-up tax calculation.
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SBIE = Payroll carve-out + Tangible asset carve-out
Excess Profit = max(0, Net GloBE Income − SBIE)
The exclusion applies by default under the Model Rules. The Filing Constituent Entity may make an annual, jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction election not to apply it.
Applicable rate × eligible payroll costs of eligible employees performing activities in the jurisdiction
Costs capitalised into the carrying value of eligible tangible assets are excluded from payroll costs to prevent double counting
Tangible asset carve-out
Applicable rate × carrying value of eligible tangible assets located in the jurisdiction
Cash, financial assets, intangible assets, and assets held for sale, lease, or investment are not eligible tangible assets
Eligible employees can include employees and independent contractors who participate in the MNE Group's ordinary operating activities under its direction and control. Eligible payroll costs include specified forms of employee compensation and related benefits, as defined in Article 10.1 and applied in the payroll carve-out under Article 5.3.3.
Eligible tangible assets can include property, plant and equipment, natural resources, a lessee's right-of-use asset, and specified government licences or similar arrangements associated with the use of immovable property or exploitation of natural resources. Article 5.3.4 generally uses the average of the opening and closing carrying values for the fiscal year.
The detailed location, attribution, and valuation rules matter. The labels in financial statements alone do not determine eligibility.
Transitional rates
Article 9.2 replaces the permanent 5% rates during the transition. For a fiscal year beginning in 2026, the payroll rate is 9.4% and the tangible asset rate is 7.4%.
Fiscal year beginning
Payroll rate
Tangible asset rate
2023
10.0%
8.0%
2024
9.8%
7.8%
2025
9.6%
7.6%
2026
9.4%
7.4%
2027
9.2%
7.2%
2028
9.0%
7.0%
2029
8.2%
6.6%
2030
7.4%
6.2%
2031
6.6%
5.8%
2032
5.8%
5.4%
2033 and later
5.0%
5.0%
Select the row by the date on which the fiscal year begins, not by the filing date.
Illustrative 2026 calculation
Assume the following simplified amounts for Jurisdiction M for a fiscal year beginning in 2026:
Net GloBE Income: €80.0 million
Adjusted Covered Taxes: €6.0 million
Eligible payroll costs: €50.0 million
Average carrying value of eligible tangible assets: €100.0 million
Illustration only: The €5.0925 million figure is not a complete liability calculation. It omits, among other items, adjustments to GloBE Income and Covered Taxes, Additional Current Top-up Tax, any Qualified Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax, allocation among Constituent Entities, safe harbours, elections, and domestic filing rules.
Domestic-law check
The OECD Model Rules are a legislative template under a common approach. Actual liabilities, elections, definitions, effective dates, and filing procedures depend on the legislation and guidance enacted in each relevant jurisdiction.
For a live calculation:
identify every implementing jurisdiction involved;
confirm which domestic rule applies for the fiscal year;
reconcile domestic definitions and elections to the current OECD source set;
check the OECD central record and relevant domestic guidance where qualified-rule status affects the analysis; and
obtain jurisdiction-specific tax advice before relying on the result.
Frequently asked questions
What are the SBIE rates for a fiscal year beginning in 2026?
The transitional payroll rate is 9.4% and the transitional tangible asset rate is 7.4% under Article 9.2 of the Model Rules.
Is SBIE calculated per entity?
The exclusion is calculated on a jurisdictional basis using eligible payroll costs and eligible tangible assets attributable to Constituent Entities in that jurisdiction, subject to the detailed rules for particular entities and assets.
Is applying SBIE optional?
SBIE applies by default under the Model Rules, but the Filing Constituent Entity can elect annually not to apply it for a jurisdiction. The election should be checked against the applicable domestic implementation and filing process.
Can SBIE reduce Excess Profit to zero?
Yes. If SBIE equals or exceeds Net GloBE Income, Excess Profit is zero for that fiscal year. The 2026 Commentary notes that this does not rule out Additional Current Top-up Tax, and unused SBIE is not carried forward or backward.
Why are payroll and tangible assets used?
The 2026 Consolidated Commentary describes them as indicators of substantive activities that are generally less mobile and less likely to create tax-induced distortions. The calculation remains formula-based; it is not a separate factual finding that income has economic substance.