Protocol - Protocol - USA

PROTOCOL At the signing today of the Convention between the United States of America and the Republic of India for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, the undersigned have agreed upon the following provisions, which shall form an integral part of the Convention : I. AD ARTICLE 5 - It is understood that where an enterprise of a Contracting State has a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2(j), 2(k) or 2(l) of Article 5 (Permanent Establishment), and the time period referred to in that paragraph extends over two taxable years, a permanent establishment shall not be deemed to exist in a year, if any, in which the use, site, project or activity, as the case may be, continues for a period or periods aggregating less than 30 days in that taxable year. A permanent establishment will exist in the other taxable year, and the enterprise will be subject to tax in that other Contracting State in accordance with the provisions of Article 7 (Business Profits), but only on income arising during that other taxable year. II. AD ARTICLE 7 - Where the law of the Contracting State in which a permanent establishment is situated imposes, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 7 (Business Profits), a restriction on the amount of executive and general administrative expenses which may be allowed as a deduction in determining the profits of such permanent establishment, it is understood that in making such a determination of profits the deduction in respect of such executive and general administrative expenses in no case shall be less than that allowable under the Indian Income-tax Act as on the date of signature of this Convention. III. AD ARTICLES, 7, 10, 11, 12, 15 and 23 - It is understood that for the implementation of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 7 (Business Profits), paragraph 4 of Article 10 (Dividends), paragraph 5 of Article 11 (Interest), paragraph 6 of Article 12 (Royalties and Fees for Included Services), paragraph 1 of Article 15 (Independent Personal Services), and paragraph 2 of Article 23 (Other Income), any income attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base during its existence is taxable in the Contracting State in which such permanent establishment or fixed base is situated even if the payments are deferred until such permanent establishment or fixed base has ceased to exist. IV. AD ARTICLE 12 - It is understood that fees for included services, as defined in paragraph 4 of Article 12 (Royalties and Fees for Included Services) will, in accordance with United States law, be subject to income-tax in the United States based on net income and, when earned by a company, will also be subject to the taxes described in paragraph 1 of Article 14 (Permanent Establishment Tax). The total of these taxes which may be imposed on such fees, however, may not exceed the amount computed by multiplying the gross fee by the appropriate tax rate specified in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) whichever is applicable or paragraph 2 of Article 12. V. AD ARTICLE 14 - It is understood that references in paragraph 1 of Article 14 (Permanent Establishment tax) to profits that are subject to tax in the United States under Article 6 [Income from Immovable Property (Real Property)], under Article 12 (Royalties and Fees for Included Services), as fees for included services as defined in that Article, or under Article 13 (Gains) of this Convention, are intended to refer only to cases in which the profits in question are subject to United States tax based on net income (i.e., by virtue of being effectively connected, or being treated as effectively connected, with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States). Any income which is subject to tax under those Articles based on gross income is not subject to tax under Article 14. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorised by their respective Governments, have signed this Protocol. DONE at New Delhi in duplicate, this 12th day of September, 1989, in the English and Hindi languages, both texts 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 States of America : Sd/- Sd/- N.K. Sengupta John R. Hubbard Secretary to the Ambassador Government of India Embassy of United States of America New Delhi, September 12, 1989. Excellency : I have the honour to refer to the Convention between the Government of the United States of America 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 which was signed today (hereinafter referred to as the Convention) and to confirm, on behalf of the Government of the United States of America, the following understandings reached between the two Governments : Both sides agree that a tax sparing credit shall not be provided in Article 25 (Relief from Double Taxation) of the convention at this time. However, the Convention shall be promptly amended to incorporate a tax sparing credit provision if the United States hereafter amends its laws concerning the provision of tax sparing credits, or the United States reaches agreement on the provision of a tax sparing credit with any other country. Both sides also agree that, for purposes of paragraph 4(c) of Article 5 (Permanent Establishment) of the Convention, a person shall be considered to habitually secure orders in a Contracting State, wholly or almost for an enterprise, only if : 1. such person frequently accepts orders for goods or merchandise on behalf of the enterprise; 2. substantially all of such persons sales related activities in the Contracting State consist of activities for the enterprise; 3. such person habitually represents to persons offering to buy goods or merchandise that acceptance of an order by such person constitutes the agreement of the enterprise to supply goods or merchandise under the terms and conditions specified in the order; and 4. The enterprise takes actions that give purchasers the basis for a reasonable belief that such person has authority to bind the enterprise. I have the honour to request Your Excellency to confirm the foregoing understandings of Yours Excellency's Government. Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. His Excellency Sd/- Dr. N.K. Sengupta, John R. Hubbard Secretary (Revenue), Ambassador Ministry of Finance, New Delhi. Secretary, Government of India Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) New Delhi, September 12, 1989. Excellency : I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of Your Excellencys Note of todays date, which reads as follows : I have the honour to refer to the Convention between the Government of the United States of America 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 which was signed today (hereinafter referred to as the Convention) and to confirm, on behalf of the Government of the United States of America, the following understandings reached between the two Governments : Both sides agree that a tax sparing credit shall not be provided in Article 25 (Relief from Double Taxation) of the Convention at his time. However, the Convention shall be promptly amended to incorporate a tax sparing credit provision if the United States hereafter amends its laws concerning the provision of tax sparing credits, or the United States reaches agreement on the provision of a tax sparing credit with any other country. Both sides also agree that, for purposes of paragraph 4(c) of Article 5 (Permanent Establishment) of the convention, a person shall be considered to habitually secure orders in a Contracting State, wholly or almost wholly for an enterprise, only if : 1. such person frequently accepts orders for goods or merchandise on behalf of the enterprise ; 2. substantially all of such persons sales related activities in the ContractingState consist of activities for the enterprise ; 3. such person habitually represents to persons offering to buy goods or merchandise that acceptance of an order by such person constitutes the agreement of the enterprise to supply goods or merchandise under the terms and conditions specified in the order; and 4. the enterprise takes actions that give purchasers the basis for a reasonable belief that such person has authority to bind the enterprise. I have the honour to confirm the understandings contained in Your Excellencys Note, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of India. Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. His Excellency Sd/- Dr. John R. Hubbard N.K. Sengupta Ambassador of the United States of America New Delhi. Embassy of the United States of America New Delhi, September 12, 1989. Excellency : I have the honour to refer to the Convention signed today between the United States of America and the Republic of India for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on Income and to inform you on behalf of the United States of America of the following : During the course of the negotiations leading to conclusion of the Convention signed today, the negotiators developed and agreed upon a memorandum of understanding intended to give guidance both to the taxpayers and the tax authorities of our two countries in interpreting aspects of Article 12 (Royalties and Fees for Included Services) relating to the scope of included services. This memorandum of understanding represents the current views of the United States Government with respect to these aspects of Article 12, and it is my Governments understanding that it also represents the current views of the Indian Government. It is also my Governments view that as our Government gain experience in administering the Convention, and particularly Article 12, the competent authorities may develop and publish amendments to the memorandum of understanding and further understandings and interpretations of the Convention. If this position meets with the approval of the Government of the Republic of India, this letter and your reply thereto will indicate that our Governments share a common view of the purpose of the memorandum of understanding relating to Article 12 of the Convention. Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. His Excellency Sd/- Dr. N.K. Sengupta, John R. Hubbard Secretary (Revenue), Ambassador Ministry of Finance, New Delhi. Government of India, Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) New Delhi, September 12, 1989. Excellency : I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of Your Excellencys Note of todays date, which reads as follows : I have the honour to refer to the Convention signed today between the United States of America and the Republic of India for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and to inform on behalf of the United States of America of the following : During the course of the negotiations leading to conclusion of the Convention signed today, the negotiators developed and agreed upon a memorandum of understanding intended to give guidance both to the taxpayers and the tax authorities of our two countries in interpreting aspects of Article 12 (Royalties and Fees for Included Services) relating to the scope of included services. The memorandum of understanding represents the current views of the United States Government with respect to these aspects of Article 12, and it is my Governments understanding that it also represents the current views of the Indian Government. It is also my Governments view that as our Governments gain experience in administering the Convention, and particularly Article 12, the competent authorities may develop and publish amendments to the memorandum of understanding and further understandings and interpretations of the Convention. If this position meets with the approval of the Government of the Republic of India, this letter and your reply thereto will indicate that our Governments share a common view of the purpose of the memorandum of understanding relating to Article 12 of the Convention. I have the honour to confirm the understanding contained in Your Excellencys Note, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of India. Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. His Excellency Sd/- Dr. John R. Hubbard Dr. N.K. Sengupta, Ambassador of the United States of America New Delhi. May 15, 1989 U.S. - India Tax Treaty Memorandum of understanding concerning fees for included services in Article 12 Paragraph 4 (in general) This memorandum describes in some detail the category of services defined in paragraph 4 of Article 12 (Royalties and Fees for Included Services). It also provides examples of services intended to be covered within the definition of included services and those intended to be excluded, either because they do not satisfy the tests of paragraph 4, or because, notwithstanding the fact that they meet the tests of paragraph 4, they are dealt with under paragraph 5. The examples in either case are not intended as an exhaustive list but rather as illustrating a few typical cases. For case of understanding, the example in this memorandum described U.S. persons providing services to Indian persons, but the rules of Article 12 are reciprocal in application. Article 12 includes only certain technical and consultancy services. But technical services, we mean in this context services requiring expertise in a technology. By consultancy services, we mean in this context advisory services. The categories of technical and consultancy services are to some extent overlapping because a consultancy service could also be a technical service. However, the category of consultancy services also includes an advisory service, whether or not expertise in a technology is required to perform it. Under paragraph 4, technical and consultancy services are considered included services only to the following extent: (1) as described in paragraph 4(a), if they are ancillary and subsidiary to the application or enjoyment of a right, property or information for which are royalty payment is made; or (2) as described in paragraph 4(b), if they make available technical knowledge, experience, skill, know-how, or processes, or consist of the development and transfer of a technical plan or technical design. Thus, under paragraph 4(b), consultancy services which are not of a technical nature cannot be included services. Paragraph 4(a) Paragraph 4(a) of Article 12 refers to technical or consultancy services that are ancillary and subsidiary to the application or enjoyment of any right, property, or information for which a payment described in paragraph 3(a) or (b) is received. Thus, paragraph 4(a) includes a technical and consultancy services that are ancillary and subsidiary to the application or enjoyment of an intangible for which a royalty is received under a licence or sale as described in paragraph 3(a), as well as those ancillary and subsidiary to the application or enjoyment of industrial, commercial, or scientific equipment for which a royalty is received under a lease as described in paragraph 3(b). It is understood that, in order for a service fee to be considered ancillary and subsidiary to the application or enjoyment of some right, property, or information for which a payment described in paragraph 3(a) or (b) is received, the service must be related to the application or enjoyment of the right, property, or information. In addition, the clearly predominant purpose of the arrangement under which the payment of the service fee and such other payments are made must be the application or enjoyment of the right, property, or information described in paragraph 3. The question of whether the service is related to the application or enjoyment of right, property, or information described in paragraph 3 and whether the clearly predominant purpose of the arrangement is such application or enjoyment must be determined by reference to the facts and circumstances of each case. Factors which may be relevant to such determination (although not necessarily controlling) include : 1. The extent to which the services in question facilitate the effective application or enjoyment of the right, property, or information described in paragraph 3 ; 2. The extent to which such services are customarily provided in the ordinary course of business arrangements involving royalties described in paragraph 3 ; 3. Whether the amount paid for the services (or which would be paid by parties operating at arms length) is an insubstantial portion of the combined payments for the services and the right, property, or information described in paragraph 3 ; 4. Whether the payment made for the services and the royalty described in paragraph 3 are made under a single contract (or a set of related contracts) ; and 5. Whether the person performing the services is the same person as, or a related person to, the person receiving the royalties described in paragraph 3 [for this purpose, persons are considered related if their relationship is described in Article 9 (Associated Enterprises) or if the person providing the service is doing so in connection with an overall arrangement which includes the payer and recipient of the royalties]. To the extent that services are not considered ancillary and subsidiary to the application or enjoyment of some right, property, or information for which a royalty payment under paragraph 3 is made, such services shall be considered included services only to the extent that they are described in paragraph 4(b). Example 1 Facts : A U.S. manufacturer grants rights to an Indian company to use manufacturing processes in which the transferor has exclusive rights by virtue of process, patents or the protection otherwise extended by law to the owner of a process. As part of the contractual arrangement, the U.S. manufacturer agrees to provide certain consultancy services to the Indian company in order to improve the effectiveness of the latters use of the processes. Such services include, for example, the provision of information and advice on sources of supply for materials needed in the manufacturing process, and on the development of sales and service literature for the manufactured product. The payment allocable to such services do not form a substantial part of the total consideration payable under the contractual arrangement. Are the payments for these services fees for included services ? Analysis : The payments are fees for included services. The services described in this example are ancillary and subsidiary to the use of manufacturing process protected by law as described in paragraph 3(a) of Article 12 because the services are related to the application or enjoyment of the intangible and the granting of the right to use the intangible as the clearly predominant purpose of the arrangement. Because the services are ancillary and subsidiary to the use of the manufacturing process, the fees for these services are considered for included services under paragraph 4(a) of Article 12, regardless of whether the services are described in paragraph 4(b). Example 2 Facts : An Indian manufacturing company produces a product that must be manufactured under sterile conditions using machinery that must be kept completely free of bacterial or other harmful deposits. A U.S. company has developed a special cleaning process for removing such deposits from that type of machinery. The U.S. company enters in to a contract with the Indian company under which the former will clean the latters machinery on a regular basis. As part of the arrangement, the U.S. company leases to the Indian company a piece of equipment which allows the Indian company to measure the level of bacterial deposits on its machinery in order for it to known when cleaning is required. Are the payments for the services fees for included services ? Analysis : In this example, the provision of cleaning services by the U.S. company and the rental of the monitoring equipment are related to each other. However, the clearly predominant purpose of the arrangement is the provision of cleaning services. Thus, although the cleaning services might be considered technical services, they are not ancillary and subsidiary to the rental of the monitoring equipment. Accordingly, the cleaning services are not included services within the meaning of paragraph 4(a). Paragraph 4(b) Paragraph 4(b) of Article 12 refers to technical or consultancy services that make available to the person acquiring the services, technical knowledge, experience, skill, know-how, or processes, or consist of the development and transfer of a technical plant or technical design to such person. (For this purpose, the person acquiring the service shall be deemed to include an agent, nominee, or transferee of such person). This category is narrower than the category described in paragraph 4(a) because it excludes any service that does not make technology available to the person acquiring the service. Generally speaking, technology will be considered made available when the person acquiring the service is enabled to apply the technology. The fact that the provision of the service may require technical input by the person providing the service does not per se mean that technical knowledge, skills, etc., are made available to the person purchasing the service, within the meaning of paragraph 4(b). Similarly, the use of a product which embodies technology shall not per se be considered to make the technology available. Typical categories of services that generally involve either the development and transfer of technical plants or technical designs, or making technology available as described in paragraph 4(b), include : 1. Engineering services (including the sub-categories of bio-engineering and aeronautical, agricultural, ceramics, chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, metallurgical, and industrial engineering) ; 2. Architectural services ; and 3. Computer software development. Under paragraph 4(b), technical and consultancy services could make technology available in a variety of settings, activities and industries. Such services may, for examples, relate to any of the following areas : 1. Bio-technical services ; 2. Food processing ; 3. Environmental and ecological services ; 4. Communication through satellite or otherwise ; 5. Energy conservation ; 6. Exploration or exploitation of mineral oil or natural gas ; 7. Geological surveys ; 8. Scientific services ; and 9. Technical training. The following examples indicate the scope of the conditions in paragraph 4(b) : Example 3 Facts : A U.S. manufacturer has experience in the use of a process for manufacturing wallboard for interior walls of houses which is more durable than the standard products of its type. An Indian builder wishes to produce this product for its own use. It rents a plant and contracts with the U.S. company to send experts to India to show engineers in the Indian company how to produce the extra-strong wallboard. The U.S. contractors work with the technicians in the Indian firm for a few months. Are the payments to the U.S. firm considered to be payments for included services ? Analysis : The payments would be fees for included services. The services are of a technical or consultancy nature; in the example, they have elements of both types of services. The services make available to the Indian company technical knowledge, skill and processes. Example 4 Facts : A U.S. manufacturer operates a wallboard fabrication plant outside India. An Indian builder hires the U.S. company to produce wallboard at that plant for a fee. The Indian company provides the raw materials, and the U.S. manufacturer fabricates the wallboard in its plant, using advanced technology. Are the fees in this example payments for included services ? Analysis : The fees would not be for included services. Although the U.S. company is clearly performing a technical service, no technical knowledge, skill, etc., are made available to the Indian company, nor is there any development and transfer of a technical plant or design. The U.S. company is merely performing a contract manufacturing service. Example 5 Facts : An Indian firm owns inventory control software for use in its chain of retail outlets throughout India. It expands its sales operation by employing a team of travelling salesmen to travel around the countryside selling the company's wares. The company wants to modify its software to permit the salesmen to assess the company's central computers for information on what products are available in inventory and when they can be delivered. The Indian firm hires a U.S. computer programming firm to modify its software for this purpose. Are the fees which the Indian firm pays treated as fees for included services ? Analysis : The fees are for included services. The U.S. company clearly performs a technical service for the Indian company, and it transfers to the Indian company the technical plan (i.e., the computer programme) which it has developed. Example 6 Facts : An Indian vegetable oil manufacturing company wants to produce a cholesterol-free oil from a plant which produces oil normally containing cholesterol. An American company has developed a process for refining the cholesterol out of the oil. The Indian company contracts with the U.S. company to modify the formulas which it uses so as to eliminate the cholesterol, and to train the employees of the Indian company in applying the new formulas. Are the fees paid by the Indian company for included services ? Analysis : The fees are for included services. The services are technical, and the technical knowledge is made available to the Indian company. Example 7 Facts : The Indian vegetable oil manufacturing firm has mastered the science of producing cholesterol-free oil and wishes to market the product world-wide. It hires an American marketing consulting firm to do a computer simulation of the world market for such oil and to adverse it on marketing strategies. Are the fees paid to the U.S. company for included services ? Analysis : The fees would not be for included services. The American company is providing a consultancy service which involves the use of substantial technical skill and expertise. It is not, however, making available to the Indian company any technical experience, knowledge or skill, etc., nor is it transferring a technical plan or design. What is transferred to the Indian company through the service contract is commercial information. The fact that technical skills were required by the performer of the service in order to perform the commercial information service does not make the service a technical service within the meaning of paragraph 4(b). Paragraph 5 Paragraph 5 of Article 12 describes several categories of services which are not intended to be treated as included services even if they satisfy the tests of paragraph 4. Set forth below are examples of cases where fees would be included under paragraph 4, but are excluded because of the conditions of paragraph 5. Example 8 Facts : An Indian company purchases a computer from a U.S. computer manufacturer. As part of the purchase agreement, the manufacturer agrees to assist the Indian company in setting up the computer and installing the operating system, and to ensure that the staff of the Indian company is able to operate the computer. Also, as part of the purchase agreement, the seller agrees to provide, for a period of ten years, any updates to the operating system and any training necessary to apply the update. Both of these service elements to the contract would qualify under paragraph 4(b) as an included service. Would either or both be excluded from the category of included services, under paragraph 5(a), because they are ancillary and subsidiary, as well as inextricably and essentially linked, to the sale of the computer ? Analysis : The installation assistance and initial training are ancillary and subsidiary to the sale of the computer, and they are also inextricably and essentially linked to the sale. The computer would be of little value to the Indian purchaser without these services, which are most readily and usefully provided by the seller. The fees for installation assistance and initial training, therefore/are not fees for included services, since these services are not the predominant purpose of the arrangement. The services of updating the operating system and providing associated necessary training may well be ancillary and subsidiary to the sale of the computer, but they are not inextricably and essentially linked to the sale. Without the upgrades, the computer will continue to operate as it did when purchased, and will continue to accomplish the same functions. Acquiring the updates cannot, therefore, be said to be inextricably and essentially linked to the sale of the computer. Example 9 Facts : An Indian hospital purchases an X-ray machine from a U.S. manufacturer. As part of the purchase agreement, the manufacturer agrees to instal the machine, to perform an initial inspection of the machine in India, to train hospital staff in the use of the machine, and to service the machine periodically during the usual warranty period (2 years). Under an optional service contract purchased by the hospital, the manufacturer also agrees to perform certain other services throughout the life of the machine, including periodic inspections and repair services, advising the hospital about developments in X-ray film or techniques which could improve the effectiveness of the machine, and training hospital staff in the application of those new developments. The cost of the initial installation, inspection, training and warranty service is relatively minor as compared with the cost of the X-ray machine. Is any of the services described here ancillary and subsidiary, as well as inextricably and essentially linked, to the sale of the X-ray machine ? Analysis : The initial installation, inspection, and training services in India and the periodic service during the warranty period are ancillary and subsidiary, as well as inextricably and essentially linked, to the sale of the X-ray machine because the usefulness of the machine to the hospital depends on the service, the manufacturer has full responsibility during this period and this cost of the services is a relatively minor component of the contract. Therefore, under paragraph 5(a) these fees are not fees for included services, regardless of whether they otherwise would fall within paragraph 4(b). Neither the post-warranty period inspection and repair services, nor the advisory and training services relating to new developments are inextricably and essentially linked to the initial purchase of the X-ray machine. Accordingly, fees for these services may be treated as fees for included services if they meet the tests of paragraph 4(b). Example 10 Facts : An Indian automobile manufacturer decides to expand into the manufacturer of helicopters. It sends a group of engineers from its design staff to a course of study conducted by the Massachusetts Institutes of Technology (MIT) for two years to study aeronautical engineering. The Indian firms pays tuition fees to MIT on behalf of the firms employees. Is the tuition fee a fee for an included service within the meaning of Article 12 ? Analysis : The tuition fee is clearly intended to acquire a technical service for the firm. However, the fee paid is for teaching by an educational institution, and is, therefore, under paragraph 5(c), not an included service. It is irrelevant for this purpose whether MIT conducts the course on its campus or at some other location. Example 11 Facts : As in Example 10, the automobile manufacturer wishes to expand into the manufacturer of helicopters. It approaches an Indian university about establishing a course of study in aeronautical engineering. The university contracts with a U.S. helicopter manufacturer to send an engineer to be a visiting professor of aeronautical engineering on its faculty for a year. Are the amounts paid by the university for these teaching services fees for included services ? Analysis : The fees are for teaching in an educational institution. As such, pursuant to paragraph 5(c), they are not fees for included services. Example 12 Facts : An Indian wishes to instal a computerized system in his home to control lighting, heating and air-conditioning, a stereo sound system and a burglar and firm alarm system. He hires an American electrical engineering firm to design the necessary wiring system, adapt standard software, and provide instructions for installations. Are the fees paid to the American firm by the Indian individual fees for included services ? Analysis : The services in respect of which the fees are paid are of the type which would generally be treated as fees for included services under paragraph 4(b). However, because the services are for the personal use of the individual making the payment, under paragraph 5(d) the payments would not be fees for included services. Judicial Analysis See ITO v. Pan American World Airways [1990] 35 ITD 206 (Delhi-Trib.)