DTAA BETWEEN INDIA & UK
Agreement For Avoidance Of Double Taxation And Prevention Of Fiscal Evasion With United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Whereas the annexed Convention between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital gains has entered into force on 26th October, 1993 on the notification by both the Contracting States to each other of the completion of the procedures required by their respective laws, as required by Article 30 of the said Convention;
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 90 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), the Central Government hereby directs that all the provisions of the said Convention shall be given effect to in the Union of India.
Notification : No. GSR 91(E), dated 11-2-1994.
ANNEXURE
CONVENTION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME AND CAPITAL GAINS
The Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Desiring to conclude a new Convention for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital gains;
Have agreed as follows :
ARTICLE 1 - Scope of the Convention - 1. This Convention shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.
2. This Convention extends to the territory of each Contracting State, including its territorial sea, and to those areas of the exclusive economic zone or the continental shelf adjacent to the outer limit of the territorial sea of each State over which it has, in accordance with international law, sovereign rights for the purpose of exploration and exploitation of the natural resources of such areas, and references in this Convention to the Contracting State or to either of them shall be construed accordingly.
ARTICLE 2 - Taxes covered - 1. The taxes which are the subject of this Convention are :
(a) in the United Kingdom :
(i) the income-tax;
(ii) the corporation tax;
(iii) the capital gains tax; and
(iv) the petroleum revenue tax; (hereinafter referred to as “United Kingdom tax”);
(b) in India; the income-tax including any surcharge thereon; (hereinafter referred to as “Indian tax”).
2. This Convention shall also apply to any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed by either Contracting State after the date of signature of this Convention in addition to, or in place of, the taxes of that Contracting State referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of any substantial changes which are made in their respective taxation laws.
ARTICLE 3 - General definitions - 1. In this Convention, unless the context otherwise requires :
(a) the term “United Kingdom” means Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
(b) the term “India” means the Republic of India;
(c) the term “tax” means United Kingdom tax or Indian tax, as the context requires but shall not include any amount which is payable in respect of any default or omission in relation to the taxes to which this Convention applies or which represents a penalty imposed relating to those taxes;
(d) the term “fiscal year” in relation to Indian tax means “previous year” as defined in the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961) and in relation to United Kingdom tax means a year beginning with 6th April in one year and ending with 5th April in the following year;
(e) the terms “a Contracting State” and “the other Contracting State” mean India or the United Kingdom, as the context requires;
(f) the term “person” includes an individual, a company and any other entity which is treated as a taxable unit under the taxation laws in force in the respective Contracting States, but, subject to paragraph 2 of this Article, does not include a partnership;
(g) the term “company” means any body corporate or any entity which is treated as a company or body corporate for tax purposes;
(h) the terms “enterprise of a Contracting State” and “enterprise of the other Contracting State” mean respectively an enterprise carried on by a resident of a Contracting State and an enterprise carried on by a resident of the other Contracting State;
(i) the term “competent authority” means, in the case of the United Kingdom, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue or their authorised representative, and in the case of India, the Central Government in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) or their authorised representative;
(j) the term “international traffic” means any transport by a ship or aircraft operated by an enterprise of a Contracting State except when the ship or aircraft is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State;
(k) the term “Government” means the Government of a Contracting State or a political sub-division or local authority thereof. In relation to the United Kingdom, the term “political sub-division” shall include Northern Ireland.
2. A partnership which is treated as a taxable unit under the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961) of India shall be treated as a person for the purposes of this Convention.
3. As regards the application of this Convention by a Contracting State any term not otherwise defined shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning which it has under the laws of that Contracting State relating to the taxes which are the subject of this Convention.
ARTICLE 4 - Fiscal domicile - 1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term “resident of a Contracting State” means any person who, under the law of that State, is liable to taxation therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature.
2. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then his status shall be determined in accordance with the following rules :
(a) he shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State in which he has a permanent home available to him. If he has a permanent home available to him in both Contracting States, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests) ;
(b) if the Contracting State in which he has his centre of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he has not a permanent home available to him in either Contracting State, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State in which he has an habitual abode;
(c) if he has an habitual abode in both Contracting States or in either of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State of which he is a national;
(d) if he is a national of both Contracting States or of neither of them, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement.
3. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article a person other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then it shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State in which its place of effective management is situated.
ARTICLE 5 - Permanent establishment - 1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term “permanent establishment” means a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.
2. The term “permanent establishment” shall include especially :
(a) a place of management;
(b) a branch;
(c) an office;
(d) a factory;
(e) a workshop;
(f) premises used as a sales outlet or for receiving or soliciting orders;
(g) a warehouse in relation to a person providing store facilities for others;
(h) a mine, an oil or gas well, quarry on other place of extraction of natural resources;
(i) an installation or structure used for the exploration or exploitation of natural resources;
(j) a building site or construction, installation or assembly project or supervisory activities in connection therewith, where such site, project or supervisory activity continues for a period of more than six months, or where such project or supervisory activity, being incidental to the sale or machinery or equipment, continues for a period not exceeding six months and the charges payable for the project or supervisory activity exceed 10 per cent of the sale price of the machinery and equipment;
(k) the furnishing of services including managerial services, other than those taxable under Article 13 (Royalties and fees for technical services), within a Contracting State by an enterprise through employees or other personnel, but only if:
(i) activities of that nature continue within that State for a period or periods aggregating more than 90 days within any twelve-month period; or
(ii) services are performed within that State for an enterprise within the meaning of paragraph 1 of Article 10 (Associated enterprises) and continue for a period or periods aggregating more than 30 days within any twelve-month period:
Provided that for the purposes of this paragraph an enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in a Contracting State and to carry on business through that permanent establishment if it provides services or facilities in connection with, or supplies plant and machinery on hire used or to be used in, the prospecting for, or extraction or production of, mineral oils in that State.
3. The term “permanent establishment” shall not be deemed to include:
(a) the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage or display of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise;
(b) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage or display;
(c) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise;
(d) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise, or for collecting information, for the enterprise;
(e) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of advertising, for the supply of information or for scientific research, being activities solely of a preparatory or auxiliary character in the trade of business of the enterprise. However, this provision shall not be applicable where the enterprise maintains any other fixed place of business in the other Contracting State for any purpose or purposes other than the purposes specified in this paragraph;
(f) the maintenance of a fixed place of businesses solely for any combination of activities mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e) of the paragraph, provided that the overall activity of the fixed place of business resulting from this combination is of a preparatory or auxiliary character.
4. A person acting in a Contracting State for or on behalf of an enterprise of the other contracting State - other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph (5) of this Article applies, shall be deemed to be a permanent establishment of that enterprise in the first mentioned State if:
(a) he has, and habitually exercises in that State, an authority to negotiate and enter into contracts for or on behalf of the enterprise, unless his activities are limited to the purchase of goods or merchandise for the enterprise; or
(b) he habitually maintains in the first-mentioned Contracting State a stock of goods or merchandise from which he regularly delivers goods or merchandise for or on behalf of the enterprise; or
(c) he habitually secures orders in the first-mentioned State, wholly or almost wholly for the enterprise itself or for the enterprise and the enterprises controlling, controlled by, or subject to the same common control, as that enterprise.
5. An enterprise of a Contracting State shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State merely because it carries on business in that other State through a broker, general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status, where such persons are acting in the ordinary course of their business. However, if the activities of such an agent are carried out wholly or almost wholly for the enterprise (or for the enterprise and other enterprises which are controlled by it or have a controlling interest in it or are subject to same common control) he shall not be considered to be an agent of an independent status for the purposes of this paragraph.
6. The fact that a company which is a resident of a Contracting State controls or is controlled by a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State, or which carries on business in that other State (whether through a permanent establishment or otherwise), shall not of itself constitute either company a permanent establishment of the other.
7. For the purposes of this Article the term “control”, in relation to a company, means the ability to exercise control over the company’s affairs by means of the direct or indirect holding of the greater part of the issued share capital or voting power in the company.
ARTICLE 6 - Income from immovable property - 1. Income from immovable property may be taxed in the Contracting State in which such property is situated.
2. (a) The term “immovable property” shall, subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph, be defined in accordance with the law of the Contracting State in which the property in question is situated.
(b) The term “immovable property” shall in any case include property accessory in immovable property, livestock and equipment used in agriculture and forestry, rights, to which the provisions of general law respecting landed property apply, usufruct of immovable property and rights to variable or fixed payment as consideration for the working of, or the right to work, mineral deposits, sources and other natural resources. Ships and aircraft shall not be regarded as immovable property.
3. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall apply to income derived from the direct use, letting, or use in any other form of immovable property.
4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 of this Article shall also apply to the income from immovable property of a enterprise and to income from immovable property used for the performance of independent personal services.
ARTICLE 7 - Business profits - 1. The profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State unless the enterprise carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent, establishment situated therein. If the enterprise carries on business as aforesaid, the profits of the enter price may be taxed in the other State but only so much of them as is directly or indirectly attributable to that permanent establishment.
2. Where an enterprise of a Contracting State carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, the profits which that permanent establishment might be expected to make if it were a distinct and separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities under the same or similar conditions and dealing wholly independently with the enterprise of which it is a permanent establishment shall be treated for the purposes of paragraph 1 of this Article as being the profits directly attributable to that permanent establishment.
3. Where a permanent establishment takes an active part in negotiating, concluding or fulfilling contracts entered into by the enterprise, then, notwithstanding that other parts of the enterprise have also participated in those transactions, that proportion of profits of the enterprise arising out of those contracts which the contribution of the permanent establishment to those transactions bears to that of the enterprise as a whole shall be treated for the purpose of paragraph 1 of this Article as being the profits indirectly attributable to that permanent establishment.
4. Insofar as it has been customary in a Contracting State according to its law to determine the profits to be attributed to a permanent establishment on the basis of an apportionment of the total profits of the enterprise to its various parts, nothing in paragraphs 1and 2 of this Article shall preclude that Contracting State from determining the profits to be taxed by such an apportionment as may be necessary; the method of apportionment adopted shall, however, be such that the result shall be in accordance with the principles laid down in this Article.
5. Subject to paragraphs 6 and 7 of this Article, in the determination of the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed as deduction expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the business of the permanent establishment, including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred, whether in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere, which are allowed under the provisions of and subject to the limitations of the domestic law of the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated.
6. Where the law of the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated imposes a restriction on the amount of the executive and general administrative expenses which may be allowed, and the restriction it relaxed or overridden by any Convention between that Contracting State and a third State which is a member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development or a State in a comparable stage of development, and that Convention enters into force, after the date of entry into force of this Convention, the competent authority of that Contracting State shall notify the competent authority of the other Contracting State of the terms of the relevant paragraph in the Convention with that third state immediately after the entry into force of that Convention and, if the competent authority of the other Contracting State so requests, the provisions of this Convention shall be amended by protocol to reflect such terms.
7. Paragraph 5 of this Article shall not apply to amounts, if any, paid (otherwise than towards reimbursement of actual expenses) by the permanent establishment to the head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices, by way of royalties, fees or other similar payments in return for the use of patents or other rights, to by way of commission, for specific services performed or for management, or, except in the case of a banking enterprise, by way of interest on monies lent to the permanent establishment; nor shall account be taken in the determination of the profits of a permanent establishment of amounts charged (otherwise than towards reimbursement of actual expenses) by the permanent establishment of the head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices, by way of royalties, fees or other similar payments in return for the use of patents or other rights, or any way of commission, for specific services performed or for management, or, except in the case of a banking enterprise, by way of interest on monies lent to be head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices.
8. No profits shall be attributed to permanent establishment by reason of the mere purchase by that permanent establishment of goods or merchandise for the enterprise.
9. Where profits include items of income which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this convention, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article.
ARTICLE 8 - Air transport - 1. Profits derived from the operation of aircraft in international traffic by an enterprise of one of the Contracting States shall not be taxed in the other Contracting State.
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall likewise apply in respect of participation in pools of any kind by enterprises engaged in air transport.
3. For the purposes of this Article the term “operation of aircraft” shall include transportation by air of persons livestock, goods or mail, carried on by the owners or lessees or charterers of aircraft, including the sale of tickets for such transportation on behalf of other enterprises, the incidental lease of aircraft on a character basis and any other activity directly connected with such transportation.
4. Gains derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the alienation of aircraft owned and operated by the enterprise, the income from which is taxable only in that State, shall be taxed only in that State.
ARTICLE 9 - Shipping - 1. Income of an enterprise of a Contracting State from the operation of ships in international traffic shall be taxable only in that State.
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall not apply to income from journeys between places which are situated in a Contracting State.
3. For the purposes of this Article, income from the operation of ships includes income derived from the rental on a bareboat basis of ships if such rental income is incidental to the income described in paragraph 1 of this Article.
4. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7 (business profits) of this Convention, the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall likewise apply to income of an enterprise of a Contracting State from the use, maintenance or rental of containers (including trailers and related equipment for the transport of containers) used for the transport of goods or merchandise.
5. The provisions of this Article shall apply also to income derived from participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating agency.
6. Gains derived by an enterprise of a contracting State from the alienation of ships or containers owned and operated by the enterprise shall be taxed only in that State if either the income from the operation of the alienated ships or containers was taxed only in that State, or the ships or containers are situated outside the other Contracting State at the time of the alienation.
ARTICLE 10 - Associated enterprises - 1. Where (a) an enterprise of a Contracting State participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of the other Contracting State, or
(b) the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of a Contracting State and an enterprise of the other Contracting State,
and in either case conditions are made or imposed between the two enterprises in their commercial or financial relations which differs from those which would be made between independent enterprises, then any profits which would, but for those conditions, have accrued to one of the enterprises, but, by reason of those conditions, have not so accrued, may be included in the profits of that enterprise and taxed accordingly.
2. Where a Contracting State includes in the profits of an enterprise of that State - and taxes accordingly - profits on which an enterprise of the other Contracting State has been charged to tax in that other State and the profits so included are profits which would have accrued to the enterprise of the first-mentioned State if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those which would have been made between independent enterprises, then that other State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein on those profits. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Convention and the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall, if necessary, consult each other.
ARTICLE 11 - Dividends - 1. (a) A dividend paid by a company which is a resident of the United Kingdom to a resident of India may be taxed in India.
(b) Where under paragraph 2 of this Article, a resident of India is entitled to a tax credit in respect of that dividend, tax may also, be charged in the United Kingdom and according to the laws of the Untied Kingdom on the aggregate of the amount or value of the dividend and the amount of the tax credit, at a rate not exceeding 15 per cent.
(c) Except as provided in sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph, a divided derived from a company which is a resident of the United Kingdom by a resident of India, who is the beneficial owner of that dividend, shall be exempt from any tax in the United Kingdom which is chargeable on dividends.
2. An individual who is a resident of India and who receives a dividend from a company which is a resident of the United Kingdom shall, provided he is the beneficial owner of the dividend, be entitled to the tax credit in respect of that dividend which an individual resident in the United Kingdom would have been entitled to had he received that dividend, and to the payment of any excess of that tax credit over his liability to United Kingdom tax.
3. A dividend paid by a company which is a resident of India to a resident of the United Kingdom may be taxed in the Untied Kingdom. The dividend may also be taxed in India but the Indian tax so charged shall not exceed 15 per cent of the gross amount of the dividend.
4. The preceding paragraphs of this Article shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividend is paid.
5. The provision of paragraphs 1 and 2 or, as the case may be, paragraph 3 of the Article shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the dividend, being a resident of a Contracting State, has, in the other Contracting State of which the company paying the dividend is a resident, a permanent establishment or fixed base with which the holding by virtue of which the dividend is paid is effectively connected. In such a case the provisions of Article 7 (Business profits) or Article 15 (Independent personal services) of this Convention, as the case may be, shall apply.
6. Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State derives profits or income from the other Contracting State, that other State may not impose any tax on the dividends paid by the company, except insofar as such dividends are paid to a resident of that other State or insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base situated in that other State, nor subject the company’s undistributed profits to a tax on the company’s undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consists wholly or partly of profits or income arising in that other State.
7. As used in this Article the term “dividend” means income from shares or other rights, not being debit-claims, participating in profits, as well as income from other corporate rights treated in the same manner as income from shares by the taxation law of the State of which the company making the distribution is a resident and any other item treated as a dividend or distribution under that law.
ARTICLE 12 - Interest - 1. Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
2. However, such interest may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which it arises and accordingly to the law of that State, provided that where the resident of the other Contracting State is the beneficial owner of the interest the tax so charged shall not exceed 15 per cent of the gross amount of the interest.
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article:
(a) where the interest is paid to a bank carrying on a bona fide banking business which is a resident of the other Contracting State and is the beneficial owner of the interest, the tax charged in the Contracting State in which the interest arises shall not exceed 10 percent of the gross amount of the interest;
(b) where the interest is paid to the Government of one of the Contracting States or a political sub-division or local authority of that State or the Reserve Bank of India, it shall not be subject to tax by the State in which it arises.
4. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7 of this Convention and of paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article :
(a) interest arising in India which is paid to any beneficially owned by a resident of the United Kingdom shall be exempt from tax in India if it is paid in respect of a loan made, guaranteed or insured, or any other debt-claim or credit guaranteed or insured by the United Kingdom Export Credits Guarantee Department; and
(b) interest arising in the United Kingdom which is paid to and beneficially owned by a resident of India shall be exempt from tax in the United Kingdom if it is paid in respect of a loan made, guaranteed or insured, or any other debt-claim or credit guaranteed or insured by the Export Credits and Guarantee Corporation of India and/or Export-Import Bank of India.
5. The term “interest” as used in this Article means income from debt-claims of every kind, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in the debtor’s profits, and in particular, income from Government securities and income from bonds or debentures, including premiums and prizes attaching to such securities, bonds or debentures but, subject to the provisions of paragraph 9 of this Article, shall not include any item which is treated as a distribution under the provisions of Article 11 (Dividends) of this Convention.
6. The provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3(a) of this Article shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the interest, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the interest arises through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 (Business profits) or Article 15 (Independent personal services) of this Convention, as the case may be shall apply.
7. Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, a political sub-division, a local authority or a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the interest, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, and such interest is borne by that permanent establishment or fixed base, then such interest shall be deemed to arise in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.
8. Where, owing to a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the interest paid exceeds for whatever reason the amount which would have been paid in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In that case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the law of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.
9. Any provision in the laws of either Contracting State relating only to interest paid a non-resident company shall not operate so as to require such interest paid to a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State to be treated as a distribution or dividend by the company paying such interest or to be left out of account as a deduction in computing the taxable profits of the company paying the interest. The preceding sentence shall not apply to interest paid to a company which is a resident of one of the Contracting State in which more than 50 per cent of the voting power is controlled, directly or indirectly, by a person or persons who are residents of the other Contracting State.
10. The relief from tax provided for in paragraph 2 of this Article shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the interest :
(a) is exempt from tax on such income in the Contracting State of which he is a resident ; and
(b) sells or makes a contract to sell the holding from which such interest is derived within three months of the date such beneficial owner acquired such holding.
11. The provisions of this Article shall not apply if it was the main purpose or one of the main purposes of any person concerned with the creation or assignment of the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid to take advantage of this Article by means of that creation or assignment.
ARTICLE 13 -Royalties and fees for technical services - 1. Royalties and fees for technical services arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
2. However, such royalties and fees for technical services may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise and according to the law of that State; but if the beneficial owner of the royalties or fees for technical services is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed :
(a) in the case of royalties within paragraph 3(a) of this Articles, and fees for technical services within paragraphs 4(a) and (c) of this Article,—
(i) during the first five years for which this Convention has effect ;
(aa) 15 per cent of the gross amount of such royalties or fees for technical services when the payer of the royalties or fees for technical services is the Government of the first-mentioned Contracting State or a political sub-division of that State, and
(bb) 20 per cent of the gross amount of such royalties or fees for technical services in all other cases; and
(ii) during subsequent years, 15 per cent of the gross amount of such royalties or fees for technical services; and
(b) in the case of royalties within paragraph 3(b) of this Article and fees for technical services defined in paragraph 4(b) of this Article, 10 per cent of the gross amount of such royalties and fees for technical services.
3. For the purposes of this Article, the term “royalties” means :
(a) payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of a literary, artistic or scientific work, including cinematography films or work on films, tape or other means of reproduction for use in connection with radio or television broadcasting, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience; and
(b) payments of any kind received as consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any industrial, commercial or scientific equipment, other than income derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic.
4. For the purposes of paragraph 2 of this Article, and subject to paragraph 5, of this Article, the term “fees for technical services” means payments of any kind of any person in consideration for the rendering of any technical or consultancy services (including the provision of services of a technical or other personnel) which :
(a) are ancillary and subsidiary to the application or enjoyment of the right, property or information for which a payment described in paragraph 3(a) of this article is received ; or
(b) are ancillary and subsidiary to the enjoyment of the property for which a payment described in paragraph 3(b) of this Article is received ; or
(c) make available technical knowledge, experience, skill know-how or processes, or consist of the development and transfer of a technical plan or technical design.
5. The definition of fees for technical services in paragraph 4 of this Article shall not include amounts paid :
(a) for services that are ancillary and subsidiary, as well as inextricably and essentially linked, to the sale of property, other than property described in paragraph 3(a) of this Article;
(b) for services that are ancillary and subsidiary to the rental of ships, aircraft, containers or other equipment used in connection with the operation of ships, or aircraft in international traffic;
(c) for teaching in or by educational institutions ;
(d) for services for the private use of the individual or individuals making the payment ; or
(e) to an employee of the person making the payments or to any individual or partnership for professional services as defined in Article 15 (Independent personal services) of this Convention.
6. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties or fees for technical services, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the royalties or fees for technical services arise through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right, property or contract in respect of which the royalties or fees for technical services are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 (Business profits) or Article 15 (Independent personal services) of this Convention, as the case may be, shall apply.
7. Royalties and fees for technical services shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State where the payer is that State itself, a political sub-division, a local authority or a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the royalties or fees for technical services, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the obligation to make payments was incurred and the payments are borned by that permanent establishment or fixed base then the royalties or fees for technical services shall be deemed to arise in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.
8. Where, owing to a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties or fees for technical services paid exceeds for whatever reason the amount which would have been paid in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In that case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the law of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.
9. The provisions of this Article shall not apply if it was the main purposes or one of the main purposes of any person concerned with the creation or assignment of the rights in respect of which the royalties or fees for technical services are paid to take advantage of this Article by means of that creation or assignment.
ARTICLE 14 - Capital Gains - 1. Except as provided in Article 8 (Air Transport) and 9 (Shipping) of this Convention, each Contracting State may tax capital gains in accordance with the provisions of its domestic law.
ARTICLE 15 - Independent personal services - 1. Income derived by an individual, whether in his own capacity or as a member of a partnership, who is a resident of a Contracting State in respect of professional services or other independent activities of a similar character may be taxed in that State. Such income may also be taxed in the other Contracting State if such services are performed in that other State and if :
(a) he is present in that other State for a period or periods aggregating to 90 days in the relevant fiscal year ; or
(b) he, or the partnership, has a fixed base regularly available to him, or it, in that other State for the purpose of performing his activities ;
but in each case only so much of the income as is attributable to those services.
2. For the purposes of paragraph 1 of this Article an individual who is a member of a partnership shall be regarded as being present in the other State during days on which, although he is not present, another individual member of the partnership is so present and performs professional services or other independent activities of a similar character in that State.
3. The term “professional services” includes independent, scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teaching activities as well as the independent activities or physicians, surgeons, lawyers, engineers, architects, dentists and accountants.
ARTICLE 16 - Dependent personal services - 1. Subject to the provisions of Article 17 (Directors’ fees), 18 (Artistes and athletes), 19 (Governmental remuneration and pensions), 20 (Pensions and annuities), 21 (Students and trainees) and 22 (Teachers) of this Convention, salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment shall be taxable only in that State unless the employment is exercised in the other Contracting State. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is derived there from may be taxed in that other State.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article, remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised in the other Contracting State shall not be taxed in that other State if :
(a) he is present in the other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days during the relevant fiscal year;
(b) the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not resident of that other State; and
(c) the remuneration is not deductible in computing the profits of an enterprise chargeable to tax in that other State.
3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft in international traffic may be taxed in the Contracting State of which the person deriving the profits from the operation of the ship or aircraft is a resident.
ARTICLE 17 - Directors’ fees - 1. Directors’ fees and similar payments derived by a resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as a member of the board of directors of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
ARTICLE 18 - Artistes and athletes - 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 15 (Independent personal services) and 16 (Dependent personal services) of this Convention, income derived by entertainers (such as stage, motion picture, radio or television artistes and musicians) or athletes, from their personal activities as such may be taxed in the Contracting State in which these activities are exercised.
2. Where income arising from personal activities are such exercised in a Contracting State by an entertainer or athlete accrues not to that entertainer or athlete himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7 (Business profits), 15 (Independent personal services) and 16 (Dependent personal services) of this convention be taxed in that Contracting State.
3. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall not apply if the visit to a Contracting State of the entertainer or the athlete is directly or indirectly supported, wholly or substantially, from the public funds of the other Contracting State, including a political sub-division or local authority of that other State.
ARTICLE 19 - Government remuneration and pensions - 1. Remuneration, other than a pension, paid by the Government of a Contracting State to any individual who is a national of that State in respect of services rendered in the discharge of governmental functions in the other Contracting State shall be exempt from tax in that other Contracting State.
2. Any pension paid by the Government of a Contracting State to any individual in respect of services rendered to that Government shall be taxable only in that Contracting State.
3. The provisions of this Article shall not apply to remuneration or pensions in respect of services rendered in connection with any trade or business.
ARTICLE 20 - Pensions and annuities - 1. Any pension, other than a pension referred to in Article 19(2) of this Convention, or annuity paid to a resident of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State.
2. The term “pension” means a periodic payment made in consideration of past employment or by way of compensation for injuries received in the course of performance of employment or any payments made under the social security legislation of either Contracting State.
3. The term “annuity” means a stated sum payable periodically at stated times during life or during a specified or ascertainable period of time under an obligation to make the payments in return for adequate and full consideration in money or money’s worth.
ARTICLE 21 - Students and trainees - 1. An individual who is a resident of a Contracting State or was a resident of that State immediately before visiting the other Contracting State and who is temporarily present in that other State for the primary purpose of :
(a) studying at a University or other accredited or recognised educational institution in that other Contracting State ; or
(b) securing training required to qualify him to practice a profession or a professional specialty ; or
(c) studying or doing research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary or educational organisation;
shall not be subject to tax by that other Contracting State in respect of :
(i) gifts from abroad for the purposes of his maintenance, education, study, research or training ;
(ii) the grant, allowance or award ; and
(iii) income, from personal services rendered in that other Contracting State (other than any rendered by an articled clerk or other person undergoing professional training to the person or partnership to whom he is articled or who is providing the training) not exceeding the sum of 750 pounds sterling or its equivalent in Indian currency during any fiscal year.
2. The exemptions under paragraph 1 of this Article shall only extend for such period of time as may be reasonably or customarily required for the purpose of the visit, but in no event shall any individual have the benefit of paragraph 1 of this Article for more than 5 years.
3. An individual who is a resident of a Contracting State or was a resident of that State immediately before visiting the other Contracting State and who is temporarily present in that other State for a period not exceeding 12 months as an employee of, or under contract with, a resident of the first-mentioned Contracting State, for the primary purpose of :
(a) acquiring technical, professional or business experience from a person other than that resident of the first-mentioned Contracting State ; or
(b) studying at a University or other accredited or recognised institution in that other Contracting State;
shall not be subject to tax by that other Contracting State on his income from personal services performed in the other Contracting State for that period in an amount not exceeding 1,500 pounds sterling or its equivalent in Indian currency.
4. An individual who is a resident of a Contracting State or was a resident of that State immediately before visiting the other Contracting State and who is temporarily present in that other State for a period not exceeding 12 months as a participant in a programme sponsored by the Government of the other Contracting State, for the primary purpose of training, research or study, shall not be subject to tax by that other Contracting State in respect of payments made by the Government of the first-mentioned Contracting State for the purposes of his maintenance, training, research, or study.
ARTICLE 22 - Teachers - 1. An individual who visits a Contracting State for a period not exceeding two years for the purpose of teaching or engaging in research at a University, college or other recognised educational institution in that State, and who was immediately before that visit a resident of the other Contracting State, shall be exempted from tax by the first-mentioned Contracting State on any remuneration for such teaching or research for a period not exceeding two years from the date he first visits that State for such purpose.
2. This Article shall only apply to income from research if such research is undertaken by the individual in the public interest and not primarily for the benefit of some other private person of persons.
ARTICLE 23 - Other income - 1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article, items of income beneficially owned by a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, other than income paid out of trusts or the estates of deceased persons in the course of administration, which are not dealt with tin the foregoing Articles of this Convention, shall be taxable only in that State.
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income, other than income from immovable property as defined in paragraph 2 of Article 6, if the recipient of such income, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated the therein, and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 15 of this Convention, as the case may be, shall apply.
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, items of income of a resident of a Contracting State not dealt with in the foregoing articles of this Convention, and arising in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
ARTICLE 24 - Elimination of double taxation - 1. Subject to the provisions of the law of the United Kingdom regarding the allowance as a credit against United Kingdom tax of tax payable in a territory outside the United Kingdom (which shall not affect the general principle hereof):
(a) Indian tax payable under the laws of India and in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, whether directly or by deduction, on profits, income or chargeable gains from sources within India (excluding, in the case of a dividend, tax payable in respect of the profits out of which the dividend is paid) shall be allowed as a credit against any United Kingdom tax computed by reference to the same profits, income or chargeable gains by reference to which the Indian tax is computed.
(b) In the case of a dividend paid by a company which is a resident of India to a company which is a resident of the United Kingdom and which controls directly or indirectly at least 10 per cent of the voting power in the company paying the dividend, the credit shall take into account in [addition to any Indian tax for which credit may be allowed under the provisions of sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph] the Indian tax payable by the company in respect of the profits out of which such dividend is paid.
2. Subject to the provisions of the law of India regarding the allowance as a credit against Indian tax of tax paid in a territory outside India (which shall not affect the general principle hereof), the amount of the United Kingdom tax paid, under the laws of the United Kingdom and in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, whether directly or by deduction, by a resident of India, in respect of income from sources within the United Kingdom which has been subjected to tax both in India and the United Kingdom shall be allowed as a credit against the Indian tax payable in respect of such income but in an amount not exceeding that proportion of Indian tax which such income bears to the entire income chargeable to Indian tax.
For the purposes of the credit referred to in this paragraph, where the resident of India is a company, by which surtax is payable, the credit to be allowed against Indian tax shall be allowed in the first instance against the income-tax payable by the company in India and, as to the balance, if any, against the surtax payable by it in India.
3. Subject to paragraph 5 of this Article, for the purposes of paragraph 1 of this Article the term “Indian tax payable” shall be deemed to include :
(a) any amount which would have been payable as Indian tax but for a deduction allowed in computing the taxable income or an exemption or reduction of tax granted for that year in question under the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961) referred to in paragraph 4(a) or (b) of this Article;
(b) that proportion of any amount which would have been payable as Indian tax by a resident of India but for a deduction allowed in computing the taxable income or an exemption or reduction granted for the year in question under the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961) referred to in paragraph 4(c) of this Article which corresponds to the proportion of that resident’s total production in that year which was actually sold in the Indian Domestic Tariff Area under order issued by the Chief Controller of Import and Export being Nos. 21/90-93, 22/90-93, 23/90-23, 25/90-23, 26/90-23, 27/90-93, dated 30-3-1990 and similar Orders from time to time published in the Official Gazette by the Central Government under power conferred on it by section 3 of the Import and Export (Control) Act, 1947 (18 of 1947).
4. The provisions referred to in this paragraph are :
(a) sections 10(4), 10(4B), 10(6)(viia), 10(15)(iv), 33AB, 80HHD, 80-I and 80-IA;
(b) any other provision which may subsequently be enacted granting an exemption or reduction from tax which is agreed by the competent authorities of the Contracting States to be of a substantially similar character to a provision referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, if it has not been modified thereafter or has been modified only in minor respects so as not to affect its general character;
(c) sections 10A and 10B.
5. Relief from United Kingdom tax shall to be given by virtue of this paragraph 3 of this Article in respect of income from any source if the income relates to a period starting more than 10 fiscally years after the deduction in computing taxable income or exemption from, or reduction of, Indian tax is first granted to the resident of the United Kingdom or to the resident of India, as the case may be, in respect of that source.
6. Income which in accordance with provisions of this Convention is not to be subjected to tax in a Contracting State may be taken into account for calculating the rate of tax to be imposed in that Contracting State on other income.
7. For the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article profits, income and chargeable gains, owned by a resident of a Contracting State which may be taxed in the other Contracting State in accordance with the provisions of this Convention shall be deemed to arise from sources in that other Contracting State.
ARTICLE 25 - Partnerships - 1. Where, under any provision of this Convention, a partnership is entitled, as resident of India, to exemption from tax in the United Kingdom on any income or capital gains, that provision shall not be construed as restricting the right of the United Kingdom to tax any member of the partnership who is a resident of the United Kingdom on his share of the income and capital gains of the partnership; but any such income or gains shall be treated for the purposes of Article 24 of this Convention as income or gains from sources in India.
2. Nothing in Article 11 of this Convention shall entitle a partnership which is a resident of India to a tax credit in respect of dividends paid to the partnership by a company which is a resident of the United Kingdom; but any member of the partnership who is a resident of India shall be regarded as entitled to the tax credit to which he would have entitled under that Article, if his share of those dividends has been paid to him by the company which is a resident of the United Kingdom.
ARTICLE 26 - Non-discrimination - 1. The nationals of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in the other Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of that other State in the same circumstances are or may be subjected.
2. The taxation on a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State shall not be less favorably levied in that other State than the taxation levied on enterprises of that other State carrying on the same activities in the same circumstances or under the same conditions. This provisions shall not be construed as preventing a Contracting State from charging the profits of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of the other Contracting State has in the first-mentioned State at a rate of tax which is higher than that imposed on the profits of a similar enterprise of the first-mentioned Contracting State, nor as being in conflict with the provisions of paragraph 4 of Article 7 of this Convention.
3. Nothing contained in this Article shall be construed as obliging a Contracting State to grant to individuals not resident in the State any personal allowances, relief’s and reductions for taxation purposes which are by law available only to individuals who are so resident.
4. Enterprises of a Contracting State, the capital of which is wholly or partly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by one or more residents of the other Contracting State, shall not be subjected in the first-mentioned Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which other similar enterprises of that first-mentioned State are or may be subjected.
5. In this Article, the term “taxation” means taxes which are the subject of this Convention.
ARTICLE 27 - Mutual agreement procedure - 1. Where a resident of a Contracting State considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting State result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with this Convention, he may, notwithstanding the remedies provided by the national laws of those States, present his case to the competent authority of the Contracting States, of which he is a resident.
2. The competent authority shall endeavour, if the objection appears to it to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at an appropriate solution, to resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other Contracting State, with a view to the avoidance of taxation not in accordance with the Convention.
3. The competent authorities of the Contracting State shall endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of the Convention.
4. The competent authorities of the Contracting State may communicate with each other directly for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs.
ARTICLE 28 - Exchange of information - 1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Convention or of the domestic laws of the Contracting States concerning taxes covered by this Convention, insofar as the taxation there under is not contrary to this convention, in particular for the prevention of fraud or evasion of such taxes. The exchange of information is not restricted by Article 1 of this Convention. Any information received by a Contracting State shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic laws of that State. However, if the information is originally regarded as secret in the transmitting State it shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) involved in the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to the taxes which are the subject of this Convention. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes but may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions. The competent authorities shall, through consultation, develop appropriate conditions, methods and techniques concerning the matters in respect of which such exchanges of information shall be made, including, where appropriate, exchanges of information regarding tax avoidance.
2. In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation:
(a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;
(b) to supply information which is not obtainable under the laws or in the normal course of the administration of that or of the other Contracting State;
(c) to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process, or information, the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy.
ARTICLE 29 - Diplomatic and consular officials - 1. Nothing in this convention shall affect the fiscal privileges of diplomatic or consular officials under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of article 4 (Fiscal domicile) of this Convention, an individual who is a member of the diplomatic, consular or permanent mission of a Contracting State which is situated in the other Contracting State and who is subject to tax in that other State only if he derives income from sources therein, shall not be deemed to be a resident of that other State for the purposes of this Convention.
ARTICLE 30 - Entry into force - 1. Each of the Contracting States shall notify to the other the completion of the procedures required by its law for the bringing into force of the Convention. This Convention shall entire into force on the date of the later of these notifications and shall thereupon have effect :
(a) in the United Kingdom :
(i) in respect of income-tax and capital gains tax, for any year of assessment beginning on or after 6th April in the calendar year next following that in which the later of the notifications is given;
(ii) in respect of corporation tax, for any financial year beginning on or after 1 April in the calendar year next following that in which the later of the notifications is given;
(iii) in respect of petroleum revenue tax, for any chargeable period beginning on or after 1st January in the calendar year next following that in which the later of the notifications is given;
(b) in India, in respect of income arising in any fiscal year beginning on or after the first day of April next following the calendar year in which the later of the notifications is given.
2. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3 of this Article, the Convention between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of India for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital Gains signed in New Delhi on 16th April, 1981 (hereinafter referred to as “the 1981 Convention”) shall terminate and cease to be effective from the date upon which this Convention has effect in respect of the taxes to which this Convention applies in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article.
3. Where any provisions of the 1981 Convention would have afforded any greater relief from tax than is due under this Convention, any such provision as aforesaid shall continue to have effect ;
(a) in the United Kingdom, for any year of assessment or financial year; and
(b) in India, for any fiscal year;
beginning, in either case, before the entry into force of this Convention.
ARTICLE 31 - Termination - This Convention shall remain in force until terminated by one of the Contracting State. Either Contracting State may terminate the Convention, through the diplomatic channel, by giving notice of termination at least six months before the end of any calendar year beginning after the expiration of ten years from the date of entry into force of the Convention. In such event, the Convention shall cease to have effect;
(a) in the United Kingdom ;
(i) in respect of income-tax and capital gains tax, for any year of assessment beginning on or after 6th April in the calendar year next following that in which the notice is given;
(ii) in respect of corporation tax, for any financial year beginning on or after 1st April in the calendar year next following that in which the notice is given;
(iii) in respect of petroleum revenue tax, for any chargeable period beginning on or after 1st January in the calendar year next following that in which the notice is given;
(b) in India, in respect of income arising in any fiscal year beginning on or after the first day of April next following the calendar year in which the notice given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention.
Done on this 25th day of January, 1993, in New Delhi on two original copies each in the Hindi and English languages, both text being equally authentic. In case of divergence between the two texts, the English text shall be the operative one.
For the Government of For the Government of the
the Republic of India: United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern
Ireland:
BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 25, 1993
Your Excellency :
I have the honour to refer to the Convention between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of India for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on income and capital gains which has been signed today and to propose on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland :
(a) that, in applying sub-paragraph (j) of paragraph 2 of Article 5, for the purpose of determining whether a building site or construction installation or assembly project or supervisory activity in connection therewith has continued for a period of more than six months, the Contracting States shall :
(i) take no account of time previously spent by employees of the enterprise on other sites or projects which have no connection with the site or project in question ;
(ii) apply for more than six months test separately to each site or project which has no connection with any other site or project and to each group of connected sites or projects; and
(iii) regard a building site as a single site, even if several contracts have been entered into for the work being done, provided that if forms a coherent whole commercially and geographically;
(b) that, in applying paragraph 3 of Article 7, for the purpose of determining whether a permanent establishment has taken an active part in negotiating, concluding or fulfilling contracts entered into by the enterprise, the Contracting States shall take into considerations all relevant circumstances and, in particular, the fact that a contract or order relating to the purchase or provision of goods or services was negotiated or placed with the head office of the enterprise, rather than with the permanent establishment, shall not preclude them from determining that the permanent establishment did take an active part in negotiating, concluding or fulfilling that contract;
(c) that, in applying paragraph 1 of Article 8, for the purpose of determining the profits of an enterprise which are derived from the operation of aircraft in international traffic, the Contracting States shall treat interest from the investment or deposit of receipt arising directly from the operation of aircraft in international traffic as being included in those profits, but shall not treat interest derived from the reinvestment of such interest as being so included.
If the foregoing proposal is acceptable to the Government of the Republic of India I have the honour to suggest that the present Note and Your Excellency’s reply to that effect should be regarded as constituting an agreement between the two Governments in this matter.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration.
His Excellency Mr. S. Ramamurti, (Nicholas
Fenn)
Chairman, High Commissioner
Central Board of Direct Taxes,
Ministry of Finance,
Government of India,
New Delhi
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE)
CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 25, 1993
Your Excellency :
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of Your Excellency’s Note of today which reads as follows :
I have the honour to refer to the Convention between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of India for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on income and capital gains which has been signed today and to propose on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland :
(a) that, in applying sub-paragraph (j) of paragraph 2 of Article 5, for the purpose of determining whether a building site or construction, installation or assembly project or supervisory activity in connection therewith has continued for a period of more than six months, the Contracting States shall :
(i) take no account of time previously spent by employees of the enterprise on other sites or projects which have no connection with the site or project in question;
(ii) apply more than six months test separately to each site or project which has no connection with any other site or project and to each group of connected sites or projects; and
(iii) regard a building site as a single site, even if several contracts have been entered into for the work being done, provided that it forms a coherent whole commercially and geographically;
(b) that, in applying paragraph 3 of Article 7, for the purpose of determining whether a permanent establishment has taken an active part in negotiating, concluding or fulfilling contracts entered into by the enterprise, the Contracting States shall take into consideration all relevant circumstances and, in particular, the fact that a contract or order relating to the purchase or provision of goods or services was negotiated or placed with the head office of the enterprise, rather than with the permanent establishment, shall not preclude them from determining that the permanent establishment did take an active part in negotiating, concluding or fulfilling that contract;
(c) that, in applying paragraph 1 of Article 8, for the purpose of determining the profits of an enterprise which are derived from the operation of aircraft in international traffic, the Contracting States shall treat interest derived from the investment or deposit of receipts arising directly from the operation of aircraft in international traffic as being included in those profits, but shall not treat interest derived from the reinvestment of such interest as being so included.
If the foregoing proposal is acceptable to the Government of the Republic of India have the honour to suggest that the present Note and Your Excellency’s reply to that effect should be regarded as constituting an agreement between the two Government in this matter.”
In reply, I have the honour to state that the Government of the Republic of India accepts the proposal made therein and agrees that Your Excellency’s Note and the present reply shall constitute an agreement between the Government of Republic of India and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in this matter.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration.
(S. Ramamurti)
Chairman
Central Board of Direct Taxes
India.
His Excellency
Sir Nicholas Fenn, KCMG
British High Commission
in India,
New Delhi
JUDICIAL ANALYSIS
In accordance with article 9(1) of the Agreement for Avoidance of Double Taxation between India and U.K., entire shipping income of U.K. company which is resident of U.K. is exempt from tax in India with effect from 1-4-1992—Arabian Express Line Ltd. of United Kingdom v. Union of India [1994] 120 CTR (Guj.) 377.
In order that a payment may be treated as royalty for the purposes of article XIII of the Agreement for Avoidance of Double Taxation between India and the U.K. the person who is the owner of such patents, designs or models, plans, secret formula or process, etc., retains the property in them and permits the use or allows the right to use such patents, designs or models, plans, secret formula, etc.—CIT v. Davy Ashore India Ltd. [1991] 190 ITR 626 (Cal.).
Renewal of deposit with HDFC after date of coming into force of the Convention, amounted to fresh deposits and rate of tax at 15 per cent would be applicable—CIT v. Borhat Tea Co. Ltd. [1993] 203 ITR 987 (Cal.).
Permanent establishment denotes some place of fixed nature with permanency, and it does not include in its ambit a moving vessel which operates near a fixed place and which does not belong to the assessee—Dy. CIT v. Subsea Offshore Ltd. [1998] 66 ITD 298 (Mum.-Trib.).
Where Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between Government of India and Government of U.K. came into force with effect from 23-11-1981 and assessee not resident who had made deposits in India prior to that date, renewed certain deposits after 23-11-1981, deposit so renewed were to be interpreted as loans first created within meaning of aforesaid agreement and interest on such deposits could be charged at rate of 15 per cent only—Borhat Tea Co. Ltd. v.ITO [1990] 33 ITD 9 (Cal.) (SMC).
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UPDATES
Indian HNWI's Subject to UK ’s
Inheritance Tax
"From April 2017, any
holding structure will effectively be treated as a look-through and all UK
residential property will be subject to UK
inheritance tax. Thus, heirs of Indian-resident property owners will be
required to pay inheritance tax regardless of any tax planning undertaken. The
new rule is designed to counter offshore tax structuring which enabled
avoidance of inheritance tax on UK
residential property," explains Kannan Raman, Tax Director, EY UK .
"The shares held in the offshore company, were a non-UK sited asset for
inheritance tax purposes. Thus the value of the property, fell outside the UK
estate inherited by the heirs and IHT was not trigged," explains Raman. A
dual structure, where an offshore trust held shares in an offshore company,
which in turn owned UK property was also used, if there was a possibility of
the Indian resident investor becoming a UK tax resident in the future. In this
case, the trustees were appointed in favourable low tax countries (like Jersey ,
British Virgin Islands , Cayman ,
Mauritius UK
property.
Currently, the value of UK
estate, above the nil-rate (exempt) band of Great British Pounds (GBP) 325,000
or Rs 3.25 crore Is subject to IHT at 40%. Wetherell, a Mayfair
real estate agent has highlighted that Indian buyers typically spend anything
from £1million to £20 million (Rs. 10 crore to Rs. 200 crore) on purchasing a
home in Mayfair , with 70% buying an apartment or
penthouse and the balance acquiring a mansion. This means that in the coming
years, heirs will have to cough up substantial IHT.
Jeremy McGivern, founder of
Mercury Home search, London 's
property search agents says: "This budget proposal is unlikely to have a
major effect on the core London
market. London will continue to be
attractive for international and Indian property investors."
"However, it is likely that
some owners of London property will
decide to sell, now that they cannot avoid IHT by using an offshore vehicle,"
he adds.
Further, assuming the heir is a
tax resident of India ,
there will be no tax credit available in India
for the UK
inheritance tax borne by the heir. "Tax credit under the India-UK tax
treaty is available when the income is doubly taxed. Under the India
Income-tax law, any property received under a will or by way of inheritance is
not taxable in India .
Thus, there is no question of double taxation and tax credit. Further, the
taxes under the India-UK tax treaty does not cover inheritance taxes.
Accordingly, the heir will not be able to enjoy any tax credit under the
India-UK DTAA.
The new income-tax returns also
call for extensive details on overseas assets and income. Thus, on inheriting
the UK
properties, details will have to be furnished by their heirs in their tax
returns.
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Foreign Salary Credited To Indian Account Is Taxable
July 23 2014, The taxability in India UK India India India UK India India UK India India UK
Further, if you pay any tax in the UK UK India India India UK India India UK UK
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India, UK To Amend Double Tax Avoidance Treaty
Nov 02 2012, India and the UK have agreed to amend an existing treaty on double tax avoidance to provide tax stability to the residents of both the countries and to facilitate mutual economic cooperation.
Amendments to the existing convention on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect of Taxes on Income and Capital Gains (DTAC) will also stimulate the flow of investment, technology and services between the countries, the ministry stated. The original convention was signed in 1993. The protocol to amend the convention streamlines the provisions related to partnership and taxation of dividends in both the countries. Now, benefits of the convention would also be available to partners of the UK partnerships to the extent income of UK partnership are taxed in their hands. Withholding taxes on the dividends would be 10% or 15% and would be equally applicable in UK and in India, the ministry stated.
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HOW WILL THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN UK
DOMICILE RULES AFFECT EXPATRIATES?
In this year’s Summer Budget, UK
Chancellor George Osborne announced a number of dramatic reforms to the
taxation of foreign domiciled persons (“non-doms”). These changes were detailed
in two separate notes published on 8 July; a more detailed consultation will be
published later on this year. Most of the changes will affect non-doms who have
been living in the UK
– but UK
expatriates will also be affected and some urgent planning may be necessary.
One of the main changes that will
benefit many expatriates is the increase in Inheritance Tax (IHT) relief for
their main UK
home. Such houses already benefit from Principle Private Residence (PPR)
relief, which allows a UK main residence to be sold free of capital gains tax
(CGT). Expatriates qualify for this relief provided they spend at least 90 days
per annum living in that residence.
Following the Budget, the same
home will also now benefit from an additional £175,000 of IHT relief on top of
the existing zero rate band of £325,000 per person. A couple will receive
double this total, so the first £1 million of value on the family home will in
effect be exempt from IHT. The full relief will not be introduced until April
2020 and estates worth more than £2,350,000 are specifically excluded.
Mitigating IHT for residential
investment properties, however, becomes more difficult. Previously it was
sufficient to purchase investment property through an overseas company. The
investment was therefore held in the form of the shares of the company rather
than as the property itself. Those shares were not subject to UK IHT for
non-doms.
The Chancellor has now signalled
his intention to introduce new “look-through” provisions, which mean that any
change of ownership of such shares through the death of the owner will become subject
to IHT. This will affect any expatriates who have secured non-dom status and
who hold UK
property through a simple corporate structure.
Previous changes had potentially
made such properties subject to the Annual Enveloped Tax on Dwellings (AETD) and
CGT on resale (CGT would not normally apply to sales of UK
property by non-residents) but some exemptions applied and corporate ownership
ensured that IHT was inapplicable.
Not anymore. Property that is
owned by a trust should still mitigate the IHT charge so anybody holding
residential property in a corporate structure should restructure immediately.
The new “look-through” rule also extends to residential property that is held
by a company and let out to a third party.
Many UK
expatriates that have lived abroad for a long time and established such close
connections with their new country will have created a new domicile of choice
abroad. This removes their liability to IHT on their worldwide estates leaving
only liability to their UK
estates – apart from the exception on property noted above.
Having achieving a new domicile
abroad, the standard planning was to transfer as much of the estate as possible
into trust so that it remained outside the scope of UK IHT forever –
irrespective of future changes in domicile and a possible revival of the UK
domicile of origin should an expatriate decide to move from their new place of
domicile to a third country or even return to the UK.
Additionally, such expatriates
who returned to the UK
for a period of time would normally have been taxed in the UK
like any other non-dom. In other words they would be subject to UK
tax only on income arising in the UK
or foreign income that was remitted to the UK .
However, from April 2017, any expatriate who had a UK
domicile of origin will be taxed as though they were UK
domiciled from the moment they return to the UK .
This is a very significant change
that will affect quite a large number of non-domiciled UK expatriates who may
have returned to the UK while, for example, their children are at school or
university in the UK, to look after elderly parents (or, in the case of Stuart
Gulliver, to become the chief executive of a huge international bank
headquartered in London).
Such expatriates will now
immediately face full UK
tax on their worldwide income and capital gains. Moreover trusts will no longer
afford them protection while they are here because trusts will be “looked
through” for taxation purposes. The only good news is that, after leaving the UK
and returning to their new country of domicile, they will again be treated as
non-domiciled. This means that full exposure to UK IHT will not follow them.
All these changes are due to
become law in April 2016 and effective as of April 2017, so there is time to
plan. It does appear that those affected may be able to make effective use of
life insurance wrappers (often known as “offshore bonds”) and Qualifying Non-UK
Pension Schemes (QNUPS). Both these structures could be extremely effective in
reducing exposure to tax.
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