ANNEXURE
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA
AND
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND FOR THE
PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME
The
Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of
Croatia,
Desiring
to conclude an Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the
prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and with a view to
promoting economic cooperation between the two countries,
Have
agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1
PERSONAL SCOPE
This
Agreement shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the
Contracting States.
ARTICLE 2
TAXES COVERED
1.
This Agreement shall apply to taxes on income imposed on behalf of a
Contracting State or of its political subdivisions or local authorities,
irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.
2.
There shall be regarded as taxes on income all taxes imposed on total income,
or on elements of income, including taxes on gains from the alienation of
movable or immovable property, as well as taxes on the total amounts of wages
or salaries paid by enterprises.
3.
The existing taxes to which the Agreement shall apply are in particular:
(a)
In India: the
income tax, including any surcharge thereon;
(hereinafter referred to as "Indian
tax").
(b)
In Croatia:
(i) the profit tax; and
(ii) the income-tax,
(hereinafter referred to as the
"Croatian tax");
4.
The Agreement shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes
which are imposed after the date of signature of the Agreement in addition to,
or in place of, the existing taxes referred to in paragraph 3. The competent
authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of significant
changes which have been made in their respective taxation laws.
ARTICLE 3
GENERAL DEFINITIONS
1.
For the purposes of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) the term "Republic of Croatia" means the territory of the Republic of
Croatia as well as those maritime areas adjacent to the outer limit of
territorial sea, including seabed and sub-soil thereof, over which the Republic
of Croatia in accordance with international law (and the laws of the Republic
of Croatia) exercises its sovereign rights and jurisdiction;
(b)
the term "India" means the territory of India and includes the
territorial sea and airspace above it, as well as any other maritime zone in
which India has sovereign rights, other rights and jurisdiction, according to
the Indian law and in accordance with international law, including the U.N.
Convention on the Law of the Sea;
(c)
the term "person" includes an individual, a company, a body of
persons and any other entity which is treated as a taxable unit under the
taxation laws in force in the respective Contracting States;
(d)
the term "company" means any body corporate or any entity which is
treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;
(e)
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;
(f)
the term "international traffic" means any transport by a ship or
aircraft operated by an enterprise which is a resident of a Contracting State,
except when the ship or aircraft is operated solely between places in the other
Contracting State;
(g)
the term "competent authority" means:
(i) in the case of Croatia, the Minister
of Finance or his authorized representative;
(ii)
in the case of India, the Central Government in the Ministry of Finance
(Department of Revenue) or its authorized representative;
(h)
the term "national" means:
(i) any individual possessing the
nationality of a Contracting State;
(ii)
any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from
the laws in force in a Contracting State;
(i)
the term "fiscal year" means:
(i) in the case of Croatia, the calendar
year;
(ii) in the case of India, the financial
year beginning on the 1st day of April;
(j)
the term "tax" means Croatian 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 Agreement applies or
which represents a penalty or fine imposed relating to those taxes;
(k)
the terms "a Contracting State" and "the other Contracting
State" mean the Republic of Croatia or the Republic of India as the
context requires.
2.
As regards the application of the Agreement by a Contracting State any term not
defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning
which it has under the law of that State concerning the taxes to which the
Agreement applies.
ARTICLE 4
RESIDENT
1.
For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "resident of a Contracting
State" means any person who, under the laws of that State, is liable to
tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management or any
other criterion of a similar nature. This term does not include any person who
is liable to tax in that State in respect only of income from sources in that
State.
2.
Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 an individual is a resident of
both Contracting States, then his status shall be determined as follows:
(a)
he shall be deemed to be a resident of the State in which he has a permanent
home available to him; if he has a permanent home available to him in both
States, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the State with which his
personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests);
(b)
if the 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 State,
he shall be deemed to be a resident of the State in which he has an habitual
abode;
(c)
if he has an habitual abode in both States or in neither of them, he shall be
deemed to be a resident of the State of which he is a national;
(d)
if he is a national of both 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 a person other than an
individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then it shall be deemed to
be a resident of the State in which its place of effective management is
situated. If the State in which its place of effective management is situated
cannot be determined, then the competent authorities of the Contracting States
shall settle the question by mutual agreement.
ARTICLE 5
PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT
1.
For the purposes of this Agreement, 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" includes especially:
(a)
a place of management;
(b)
a branch;
(c)
an office;
(d)
a factory;
(e)
a workshop;
(f)
a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction of
natural resources;
(g)
a sales outlet;
(h)
a warehouse in relation to a person providing storage facilities for others;
and
(i)
a farm, plantation or other place where agricultural, forestry, plantation or
related activities are carried on.
3.
A building site or construction or assembly project or supervisory activities
in connection therewith constitute a permanent establishment only if such site,
project or activity last more than 12 months.
4.
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 for or to be used in the prospecting for, or extraction
or exploitation of mineral oils in that State.
5.
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, the term
"permanent establishment" shall be deemed not to include:
(a)
the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery 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, display or delivery;
(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 of collecting information, for the
enterprise;
(e)
the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of carrying
on, for the enterprise, any other activity of a preparatory or auxiliary
character;
(f)
the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of
activities mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e), provided that the overall
activity of the fixed place of business resulting from this combination is of a
preparatory or auxiliary character.
6.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, where a person - other
than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 8 applies - is acting
in a Contracting State on behalf of an enterprise of the other Contracting
State, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the
first-mentioned Contracting State in respect of any activities which that
person undertakes for the enterprise, if such a person:
(a)
has and habitually exercises in that State an authority to conclude contracts
in the name of the enterprise, unless the activities of such person are limited
to those mentioned in paragraph 4 which, if exercised through a fixed place of
business, would not make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment
under the provisions of that paragraph; or
(b)
has no such authority, but habitually maintains in the first-mentioned State a
stock of goods or merchandise from which he regularly delivers goods or
merchandise on behalf of the enterprise; or
(c)
habitually secures orders in the first-mentioned State, wholly or almost wholly
for the enterprise itself or for the enterprise and other enterprises
controlling, controlled by, or subject to the same control, as that enterprise.
7.
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, an insurance
enterprise of a Contracting State shall, except in regard to re-insurance, be
deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State if it
collects premiums in the territory of that other State or insures risks
situated therein through a person other than an agent of an independent status
to whom paragraph 8 applies.
8.
An enterprise shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in a
Contracting State merely because it carries on business in that State through a
broker, general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status,
provided that such persons are acting in the ordinary course of their business.
However, when the activities of such an agent are devoted wholly or almost wholly
on behalf of that enterprise, he will not be considered an agent of an
independent status within the meaning of this paragraph.
9.
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.
ARTICLE 6
INCOME FROM IMMOVABLE
PROPERTY
1.
Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from immovable property
(including income from agriculture or forestry) situated in the other
Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
2.
The term "immovable property" shall have the meaning which it has
under the law of the Contracting State in which the property in question is
situated. The term shall in any case include property accessory to 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 payments as consideration
for the working of, or the right to work, mineral deposits, sources and other
natural resources; ships, boats, aircraft and motor cars shall not be regarded
as immovable property.
3.
The provisions of paragraph 1 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 shall also apply to the income from
immovable property of an 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 enterprise may also be
taxed in the other State but only so much of them as is attributable to that
permanent establishment.
2.
Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3, where an enterprise of a Contracting
State carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent
establishment situated therein, there shall in each Contracting State be
attributed to that permanent establishment the profits which it 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.
3.
In determining the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed
as deductions expenses which are incurred for the purposes 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, in accordance with the provisions of and subject to the
limitations of the tax laws of that State.
4.
No profits shall be attributed to a permanent establishment by reason of the
mere purchase by that permanent establishment of goods or merchandise for the
enterprise.
5.
For the purposes of the preceding paragraphs, the profits to be attributed to
the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year
unless there is good and sufficient reason to the contrary.
6.
Where profits include items of income which are dealt with separately in other
Articles of this Agreement, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be
affected by the provisions of this Article.
ARTICLE 8
INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC
1.
Income derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the operation of
ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in that
Contracting State.
2.
Income derived by a transportation enterprise which is a resident of a
Contracting State from the use, maintenance, or rental of containers (including
trailers and other equipment for the transport of containers) used for
transport of goods or merchandise in international traffic shall be taxable
only in that Contracting State unless the containers are used solely within the
other Contracting State.
3.
If the place of effective management of a shipping enterprise is aboard a ship,
then it shall be deemed to be situated in the Contracting State in which the
home harbour of the ship is situated or if there is no such home harbour, in
the Contracting State of which the operator of the ship is a resident.
4.
For the purposes of this Article interest on funds connected with the operation
of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be regarded as income
derived from the operation of such ships or aircraft and the provisions of
Article 11 shall not apply in relation to such interest.
5.
The provisions of paragraph 1 shall also apply to profits from the
participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operation agency.
ARTICLE 9
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
differ 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 Agreement and the competent authorities of the
Contracting States shall, if necessary consult each other.
ARTICLE 10
DIVIDENDS
1.
Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a Contracting State to a
resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
2.
However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting State of which the
company paying the dividends is a resident and according to the laws of that
State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the dividends the tax so
charged shall not exceed:
(a)
5 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends if the beneficial owner is a
company (other than a partnership) which holds directly at least 10 per cent of
the capital of the company paying the dividends;
(b)
15 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends in all other cases. The
competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement
settle the mode of application of these limitations. This paragraph shall not
affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the
dividends are paid.
3.
The term "dividends" as used in this Article means income from shares
or other rights, not being debt-claims, participating in profits, as well as
income from other corporate rights which is subjected to the same taxation
treatment as income from shares by the laws of the State of which the company
making the distribution is a resident.
4.
The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of
the dividends, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in
the other Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a
resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in
that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated
therein, and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is
effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such
case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.
5.
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 consist wholly
or partly of profits or income arising in such other State.
ARTICLE 11
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 according to the laws of that State, but if the recipient is the
beneficial owner of the interest the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per
cent of the gross amount of the interest. The competent authorities of the
Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of
this limitation.
3.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2 interest arising in a Contracting
State shall be exempt from tax in that State provided it is derived and
beneficially owned by:
(i)
the Government, a political subdivision or a local authority of the other
Contracting State; or
(ii)
the Central Bank of the other Contracting State or any other bank or
governmental financial institutions/agencies that may be mutually agreed upon
between the two Contracting States.
4.
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. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest
for the purpose of this Article.
5.
The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 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
or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.
6.
Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that
State itself, a political subdivision, 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 such
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.
7.
Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial
owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the
interest, having regard to the debt-claim for which it is paid, exceeds the
amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner
in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply
only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the
payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State,
due regard being had to the other provisions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 12
ROYALTIES AND FEES FOR
TECHNICAL SERVICES
1.
Royalties or 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 or fees for technical services may also be taxed in the
Contracting State in which they arise, and according to the laws of that State,
but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the royalties or fees for
technical services, the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent of the
gross amount of the royalties or fees for technical services.
3.
(a) The term "royalties" as used in this Article means payments of
any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any
copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work including cinematograph
films, films or tapes or other means of "reproduction for radio or
television broadcasting, satellite or cable transmission for broadcasting to
the general public through any form of electronic media, any patent, trade
mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or any industrial,
commercial or scientific equipment, or for information concerning industrial,
commercial or scientific experience (know-how).
(b)
The term "fees for technical services" means payment of any kind in
consideration for the rendering of any managerial, technical or consultancy
services including the provision of services by technical or other personnel
but does not include payments for services mentioned in Articles 14 and 15 of
this Agreement.
4.
The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 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 or property
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 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall
apply.
5.
Royalties or fees for technical services shall be deemed to arise in a
Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, a political subdivision,
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 liability to pay the
royalties or fees for technical services was incurred, and such royalties or
fees for technical services are borne by such permanent establishment or fixed
base, then such royalties or fees for technical services shall be deemed to
arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is
situated.
6.
Where, by-reason of 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, having regard to the use, right or
information for which they are paid, exceeds the amount which would have been
agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship,
the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount.
In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to
the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other
provisions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 13
CAPITAL GAINS
1.
Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of
immovable property referred to in Article 6 and situated in the other
Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
2.
Gains from the alienation of movable property forming part of the business
property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting
State has in the other Contracting State or of movable property pertaining to a
fixed base available to a resident of a Contracting State in the other
Contracting State for the purpose of performing independent personal services,
including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment
(alone or with the whole enterprise) or of such fixed base, may also be taxed
in that other State.
3.
Gains derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the alienation of
ships or aircraft operated in international traffic or movable property
pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircraft shall be taxable only in
that State.
4.
Gains from the alienation of shares of the capital stock of a company the
property of which consists directly or indirectly principally of immovable
property situated in a Contracting State may be taxed in that State.
5.
Gains from the alienation of shares, other than those mentioned in paragraph 4,
in a company which is a resident of a Contracting State may be taxed in that
Contracting State.
6.
Gains from the alienation of any property other than that referred to in
paragraphs 1 to 5, shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the
alienator is a resident.
ARTICLE 14
INDEPENDENT PERSONAL
SERVICES
1.
Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of professional
services or other activities of an independent character shall be taxable only
in that State except in the following circumstances, when such income may also
be taxed in the other Contracting State:
(a)
if he has a fixed base regularly available to him in the other Contracting
State for the purpose of performing his activities; in that case, only so much
of the income as is attributable to that fixed base may be taxed in that other
State; or
(b)
if his stay in the other State is for a period or periods aggregating 183 days
or more in any 12-month period commencing or ending in the fiscal year
concerned; in that case, only so much of the income as is derived from his
activities performed in that other State may be taxed in that other State.
2.
The term "professional services" includes especially independent
scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teaching activities as well as
the independent activities of physicians, lawyers, engineers, architects,
surgeons, dentists and accountants.
ARTICLE 15
DEPENDENT PERSONAL
SERVICES
1.
Subject to the provisions of Articles 16, 18 and 19, 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 therefrom may be taxed in that other State.
2.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, remuneration derived by a
resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised in the
other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if:
(a)
the recipient is present in the other State for a period or periods not
exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any 12-month period commencing or ending
in the fiscal year concerned, and
(b)
the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident
of the other State, and
(c)
the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment or a fixed base
which the employer has in the other State.
3.
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived
in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in
international traffic, by an enterprise of a Contracting State may be taxed in
that State.
ARTICLE 16
DIRECTORS' FEES
Directors'
fees and other 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 also be taxed in that other State.
ARTICLE 17
ARTISTES AND
SPORTSPERSONS
1.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 14 and 15, income derived by a
resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer, such as a theatre, motion
picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as a sportsperson, from
his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may
be taxed in that other State.
2.
Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a
sportsperson in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or
sportsperson himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding
the provisions of Articles 7, 14 and 15, be taxed in the Contracting State in
which the activities of the entertainer or sportsperson are exercised.
3.
The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, shall not apply to income from activities
performed in a Contracting State by entertainers or sportspersons if the visit
to that State is substantially supported by public funds of one or both of the
Contracting States or of political subdivisions or local authorities thereof.
In such a case, the income is taxable only in the Contracting State of which
the entertainer or sportsperson is a resident.
ARTICLE 18
PENSIONS
Subject
to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 19, pensions and other similar
remuneration paid to a resident of a Contracting State in consideration of past
employment shall be taxable only in that State.
ARTICLE 19
GOVERNMENT SERVICE
1.
(a) Remuneration, other than a pension, paid by a Contracting State or a
political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect
of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable
only in that State.
(b)
However, such remuneration shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State
if the services are rendered in that State and the individual is a resident of
that State who:
(i)
is a national of that State; or
(ii)
did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the
services.
2.
(a) Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a
political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect
of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable
only in that State.
(b)
However, such pension shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if
the individual is a resident of, and a national of, that State.
3.
The provisions of Articles 15, 16 and 18 shall apply to remuneration and
pensions in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried
on by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority
thereof.
ARTICLE 20
STUDENTS AND
APPRENTICES
1.
A student or business apprentice who is or was a resident of a Contracting
State immediately before visiting the other Contracting State and who is
present in that other Contracting State solely for the purpose of his education
or training shall be exempt from tax in that other State on:
(a)
payments made to him by persons residing outside that other State for the
purposes of his maintenance, education or training; and
(b)
remuneration from employment in that other State, in an amount not exceeding
US$ 1000 or its equivalent amount during any fiscal year, as the case may be,
provided that such employment is directly related to his studies or is
undertaken for the purpose of his maintenance.
2.
The benefit of this Article shall extend only for such period of time as may be
reasonable or customarily required to complete the education or training
undertaken, but in no event shall any individual have the benefits of this
Article for more than five consecutive years from the date of his first arrival
in that other Contracting State.
ARTICLE 21
PROFESSORS, TEACHERS
AND RESEARCH SCHOLARS
1.
A professor or teacher who is or was a resident of the Contracting State
immediately before visiting the other Contracting State for the purpose of
teaching or engaging in research, or both, at a university, college, school or
other approved institution in that other Contracting State shall be exempt from
tax in that other State on any remuneration for such teaching or research for a
period not exceeding two years from the date of his arrival in that other
State.
2.
This Article shall not apply to income from research, if such research is
undertaken primarily for the private benefit of a specific person or persons.
3.
For the purposes of this Article and Article 20, an individual shall be deemed
to be a resident of a Contracting State if he is resident in that State in the
fiscal year in which he visits the other Contracting State or in the
immediately preceding fiscal year.
4.
For the purposes of paragraph 1 "approved institution" means an
institution which has been approved in this regard by the competent authority
of the concerned State.
ARTICLE 22
OTHER INCOME
1.
Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, not
dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Agreement 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 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 14, as the case may be,
shall apply.
3.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, if a resident of a Contracting
State derives income from sources within the other Contracting State in the
form of lotteries, crossword puzzles, races including horse races, card games
and other games of any sort or gambling or betting of any form or nature
whatsoever, such income may be taxed in the other Contracting State.
ARTICLE 23
ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE
TAXATION
1.
The laws in force in either of the Contracting State will continue to govern
the taxation of income in the respective Contracting States except where
provisions to the contrary are made in this Agreement.
2.
In the case of Croatia double taxation shall be eliminated as follows:
Where
a resident of Republic of Croatia derives income which, in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement, may be taxed in India, Republic of Croatia shall
allow as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident an amount
equal to the income tax paid in India. Such deduction shall not, however,
exceed that part of the income tax as computed before the deduction is given,
which is attributable to the income which may be taxed in India.
3.
In the case of India double taxation shall be eliminated as follows:
Where
a resident of India derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of
this Agreement, may be taxed in the Republic of Croatia, India shall allow as a
deduction from the tax on the income of that resident an amount equal to the
income tax paid in Croatia whether directly or by deduction at source. Such
amount shall not however exceed that part of the income tax, as computed before
the deduction is given, which is attributable to the income which may be taxed
in Croatia.
4.
Income which in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, 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.
ARTICLE 24
NON-DISCRIMINATION
1.
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 and connected requirements to
which nationals of that other State in the same circumstances, in particular
with respect to residence, are or may be subjected. This provision shall,
notwithstanding the provisions of Article 1, also apply to persons who are not
residents of one or both of the Contracting States.
2.
The taxation on a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting
State has in the other Contracting State shall not be less favourably levied in
that other State than the taxation levied on enterprises of that other State
carrying on the same activities. This provision shall not be construed as
preventing a Contracting State from charging the profits of a permanent
establishment which a company 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 company of the first-mentioned Contracting State, nor as
being in conflict with the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 7 of this
Agreement.
This
provision shall not be construed as obliging a Contracting State to grant to
residents of the other Contracting State any personal allowances, reliefs and
reductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family
responsibilities which it grants to its own residents.
3.
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 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 the first-mentioned State are or may be subjected.
4.
Except where the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 9, paragraph 7 of Article
11, or paragraph 6 of Article 12, apply, interest, royalties and other
disbursement paid by an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the
other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable
profits of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they
had been paid to a resident of the first-mentioned State.
5.
The provisions of this Article shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article
2, apply to taxes of every kind and description.
ARTICLE 25
MUTUAL AGREEMENT
PROCEDURE
1.
Where a person considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting
States result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement, he may, irrespective of the remedies provided by
the domestic law of those States, present his case to the competent authority
of the Contracting State of which he is a resident or, if his case comes under
paragraph 1 of Article 24, to that of the Contracting State of which he is a
national. The case must be presented within three years from the first
notification of the action resulting in taxation not in accordance with the
provisions of the Agreement.
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 a satisfactory 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 which is not in
accordance with the Agreement. Any agreement reached shall be implemented
notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting States.
3.
The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to resolve
by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation
or application of the Agreement. They may also consult together for the
elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in the Agreement.
4.
The competent authorities of the Contracting States may communicate with each
other directly for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the
preceding paragraphs. When it seems advisable in order to reach agreement to
have an oral exchange of opinions, such exchange may take place through a
Commission consisting of representatives of the competent authorities of the
Contracting States.
ARTICLE 26
EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION
1.The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such
information (including documents), as is necessary for carrying out the
provisions of this Agreement or of the domestic laws of the Contracting States
concerning taxes covered by the Agreement insofar as the taxation thereunder is
not contrary to the Agreement in particular for the prevention of fraud or
evasion of such taxes. The exchange of information is not restricted by Article
1. 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 and 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 covered by the Agreement. Such persons or authorities
shall use the information only for such purposes. They may disclose the
information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, information received by a Contracting State may
be used for other purposes when such information may be used for such other
purposes under the laws of both Contracting States and the competent authority
of the supplying State authorises such use.
2.
In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 1 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 or documents 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.
3.
If information is requested by a Contracting State in accordance with this
Article, the other Contracting State shall use its information gathering
measures to obtain the requested information, even though that other State may
not need such information for its own tax purposes. The obligation contained in
the preceding sentence is subject to the limitations of paragraph 2 but in no case
shall such limitations be construed to permit a Contracting State to decline to
supply information solely because it has no domestic interest in such
information.
4.
In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 2 be construed to permit a
Contracting State to decline to supply information solely because the
information is held by a bank, other financial institution, nominee or person
acting in an agency or a fiduciary capacity or because it relates to ownership
interests in a person.
ARTICLE 27
ASSISTANCE IN THE
COLLECTION OF TAXES
1.
The Contracting States shall lend assistance to each other in the collection of
revenue claims. This assistance is not restricted by Articles 1 and 2. The
competent authorities of the Contracting States may by mutual agreement settle
the mode of application of this Article.
2.
The term "revenue claim" as used in this Article means an amount owed
in respect of taxes of every kind and description imposed on behalf of the
Contracting States, or of their political subdivisions or local authorities,
insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to this Agreement or any
other instrument to which the Contracting States are parties, as well as
interest, administrative penalties and costs of collection or conservancy related
to such amount.
3.
When a revenue claim of a Contracting State is enforceable under the laws of
that State and is owed by a person who, at that time, cannot, under the laws of
that State, prevent its collection, that revenue claim shall, at the request of
the competent authority of that State, be accepted for purposes of collection
by the competent authority of the other Contracting State. That revenue claim
shall be collected by that other State in accordance with the provisions of its
laws applicable to the enforcement and collection of its own taxes as if the
revenue claim were a revenue claim of that other State.
4.
When a revenue claim of a Contracting State is a claim in respect of which that
State may, under its law, take measures of conservancy with a view to ensure
its collection, that revenue claim shall, at the request of the competent
authority of that State, be accepted for purposes of taking measures of
conservancy by the competent authority of the other Contracting State. That
other State shall take measures of conservancy in respect of that revenue claim
in accordance with the provisions of its laws as if the revenue claim were a
revenue claim of that other State even if, at the time when such measures are
applied, the revenue claim is not enforceable in the first-mentioned State or
is owed by a person who has a right to prevent its collection.
5.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 3 and 4, a revenue claim accepted
by a Contracting State for purposes of paragraphs 3 or 4 shall not, in that
State, be subject to the time limits or accorded any priority applicable to a
revenue claim under the laws of that State by reason of its nature as such. In
addition, a revenue claim accepted by a Contracting State for the purposes of
paragraphs 3 or 4 shall not, in that State, have any priority applicable to
that revenue claim under the laws of the other Contracting State.
6.
Proceedings with respect to the existence, validity or the amount of a revenue
claim of a Contracting State shall only be brought before the courts or
administrative bodies of that State. Nothing in this Article shall be construed
as creating or providing any right to such proceedings before any court or
administrative body of the other Contracting State.
7.
Where, at any time after a request has been made by a Contracting State under
paragraphs 3 or 4 and before the other Contracting State has collected and
remitted the relevant revenue claim to the first-mentioned State, the relevant
revenue claim ceases to be:
(a)
in the case of a request under paragraph 3, a revenue claim of the
first-mentioned State that is enforceable under the laws of that State and is
owed by a person who, at that time, cannot, under the laws of that State,
prevent its collection, or
(b)
in the case of a request under paragraph 4, a revenue claim of the
first-mentioned State in respect of which that State may, under its laws, take
measures of conservancy with a view to ensure its collection. The competent
authority of the first-mentioned State shall promptly notify the competent
authority of the other State of that fact and, at the option of the other
State, the first-mentioned State shall either suspend or withdraw its request.
8.
In no case shall the provisions 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 carry out measures which would be contrary to public policy (ordre public);
(c)
to provide assistance if the other Contracting State has not pursued all
reasonable measures of collection or conservancy, as the case may be, available
under its laws or administrative practice;
(d)
to provide assistance in those cases where the administrative burden for that
State is clearly disproportionate to the benefit to be derived by the other
Contracting State.
ARTICLE 28
MEMBERS OF DIPLOMATIC
MISSIONS AND CONSULAR POSTS
Nothing
in this Agreement shall affect the fiscal privileges of members of diplomatic
missions or consular posts under the general rules of international law or
under the provisions of special agreements.
ARTICLE 29
ENTRY INTO FORCE
1.
The Contracting States shall notify each other in writing, through diplomatic
channels, of the completion of the procedure required by the respective laws
for the entry into force of this Agreement.
2.
This Agreement shall enter into force thirty days after the date of receipt of
the later of the notifications referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.
3.
The provisions of this Agreement shall have effect:
(a)
in Croatia: in respect of income or profits arising in any fiscal year
beginning on or after the first day of January next following the calendar year
in which the Agreement enters into force; and
(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 Agreement
enters into force.
ARTICLE 30
TERMINATION
This
Agreement shall remain in force indefinitely until terminated by a Contracting
State. Either Contracting State may terminate the Agreement, through diplomatic
channels, by giving notice of termination in writing at least six months before
the end of any calendar year beginning after the expiration of five years from
the date of entry into force of the Agreement. In such event, the Agreement
shall cease to have effect:
(a)
in Croatia: in respect of income or profits arising in any fiscal year beginning
on or after the first day of January next following the calendar year in which
the notice of termination is given;
(b)
in India: in respect of income arising in any previous year beginning on or
after the 1st April next following the calendar year in which the notice of
termination is given.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed
this Agreement.
DONE
in two originals at Zagreb this 12th day of February, 2014 in the Hindi,
English and Croatian languages, all three texts being equally authentic. In
case of divergence between the texts the English text shall prevail. FOR THE
GOVERNMENT OF FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA THE REPUBLIC OF
CROATIA
PROTOCOL
At
the signing of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Croatia
and the Government of the Republic of India for the avoidance of double
taxation and for the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on
income, the undersigned have agreed that the following shall form an integral
part of the Agreement.
Ad
Articles 10,11, 12 and 13
(a)
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, a company resident in a
Contracting State in which persons who are not residents of that State hold,
directly or indirectly, a participation of more than 50 per cent of the share
capital, shall not be entitled to the relieves provided for by the Agreement in
respect of dividends, interest, royalties and capital gains arising in the
other Contracting State. This provision shall not apply where the said Company
is engaged in substantive business operations, other than the mere holding of
shares or property, in the Contracting State of which it is a resident.
(b)
A company which under the preceding subparagraph would not be entitled to the
benefits of the Agreement in respect of the aforementioned items of income,
could still be granted such benefits if the competent authorities of the
Contracting States agree under Article 25 of the Agreement that the
establishment of the company and the conduct of its operations are founded on
sound business reasons and thus do not have as its primary purpose the
obtaining of such benefits.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed
this Protocol.
DONE
in two originals at Zagreb this 12th day of February 2014 in the Croatian,
Hindi and English languages, all three texts being equally authentic, the case
of divergence between the texts the English text shall prevail.
Updates
SECTION
90 OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961 - DOUBLE TAXATION AGREEMENT - AGREEMENT FOR
AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH FOREIGN
COUNTRIES - CROATIA
NOTIFICATION
NO.24/2015 [F.NO.501/09/1995-FTD-I], DATED 17-3-2015
Whereas,
an Agreement and Protocol (hereinafter referred to as the said Agreement and
the Protocol) as set out in the Annexure to this notification, was entered into
between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the
Republic of Croatia for the avoidance of double taxation and for the prevention
of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income that was signed on the 12th
February, 2014;
2.
And whereas, the date of entry into force of the said Agreement and Protocol is
the 6th February, 2015, being the date thirty days after the date of the latter
of the notifications of completion of the procedures as required by the
respective laws for entry into force of the said Agreement and Protocol, in
accordance with paragraph 1 of article 29 of the said Agreement;
3.
And whereas, clause (b) of paragraph 3 of article 29 of the said Agreement
provides that the provisions of the said Agreement shall have effect 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 Agreement enters
into force.
4. 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 Agreement and Protocol between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Croatia for the avoidance of double taxation and for the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, as set out in the Annexure hereto, shall be given effect to in the Union of India with effect from the first day of April, 2016, being the first day of the fiscal year next following the calendar year in which the said Agreement entered into force.
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