Convention between the Republic of India and the Kingdom of the Netherlands u/s 90 - S. O. 693(E) - Income Tax

Convention between the Republic of India and the Kingdom of the Netherlands u/s 90 NOTIFICATION NO. S. O. 693 ( E ) DATED 30-8-1999 Whereas the Convention between the Republic of India and the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital came into force on January 21, 1989, after the notification by both the Contracting State to each other of the completion of the procedures required under their laws for bringing into force the said Convention; And whereas the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 90 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), section 24A of the Companies (Profits) Surtax Act, 1964 (7 of 1964) and section 44A of the Wealth-tax Act, 1957 (27 of 1957), had directed that all the provisions of the said Convention annexed to the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) (Foreign Tax Division) Number G. S. R. 382(E), dated March 27, 1989, shall be given effect to in the Union of India ; And whereas article IV of the protocol dated July 30, 1988, to the aforesaid Convention provides that if after the signature of the aforesaid Convention under any Convention or Agreement between India and a third State which is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, India, should limit its taxation at source on dividends, interest, royalties, fees for technical services or payments for the use of equipment to a rate lower or a scope more restricted than the rate or scope provided for in this Convention on the said items of income, then, as from the date on which the relevant Indian Convention or Agreement enters into force the same rate or scope as provided for in that Convention or Agreement on the said items of income shall also. apply under this Convention; And whereas in the Convention between India and Germany which entered into force on October 26, 1996, the Convention between India and Sweden which entered into force on December 25, 1997, the Convention between India and the Swiss Confederation which entered into force on October 19, 1994, and the Convention between India and the United States of America which entered into force on December 18, 1990, which states are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Government of India, has limited the taxation at source on dividends, interest, royalties, fees for technical services and payments for the use of equipment to a rate lower or a scope more restricted than that provided in the Convention between India and the Netherlands on the said items of income; 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 the following modifications shall be made in the Convention notified by the said notification which are necessary for implementing the aforesaid Convention between India and the Netherlands, namely: I. With effect from April 1, 1997, for the existing paragraph 2 of article 10 relating to dividends the following paragraph shall be read : "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 10 per cent. of the gross amount of the dividends." II. With effect from April 1, 1997, for the existing paragraph 2 of article 11 relating to interest the following paragraph shall be read : "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." III. With effect from the April 1, 1997, for the existing article 12 relating to royalty, fees for technical services and payments for the use of equipment the following article shall be read : "Article 12 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 laws 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 referred to in sub-paragraph ( a ) of paragraph 4 and fees for technical services as defined in this article (other than services described in sub-paragraph ( b ) of this paragraph): ( i ) during the first five taxable years for which this Convention has effect,-- (A) 15 per cent. of the gross amount of the royalties or fees for technical services as defined in this article, where the payer of the royalties or fees is the Government of that Contracting State, a political sub-division or a public sector company ; and (B) 20 per cent, of the gross amount of the royalties or fees for technical services in all other cases ; and ( ii ) during the subsequent years, 15 per cent. of the gross amount of royalties or fees for technical services ; and ( b ) in the case of royalties referred to in sub-paragraph ( b ) of paragraph 4 and fees for technical services as defined in this article that are ancillary and subsidiary to the enjoyment of the property for which payment is received under paragraph 4( b ) of this article, 10 per cent. of the gross amount of the royalties or fees for technical services. 3. The competent authorities of the States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of paragraph 2. 4. The term "royalties" as used in this article means: ( a ) 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 motion picture films and works on film or video-tape for use in connection with television, 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 industrial, commercial or scientific equipment, other than payments derived by an enterprise described in paragraph 1 of articles 8 and 8A (shipping and air transport) from activities described in paragraph 2( a ) of article 8 or paragraph 4( b ) of article 8A. 5. For purposes of this article, "fees for technical services" means payments of any kind to any person in consideration for the rendering of any technical or consultancy services (including through the provision of services of technical or other personnel) if such services : ( a ) are ancillary and subsidiary to the application or enjoyment of the right, property or information for which a payment described in paragraph 4 of this article is received ; or ( b ) make available technical knowledge, experience, skill, know-how or processes or consist of the development and transfer of a technical plan or technical design. 6. Notwithstanding paragraph 5, "fees for technical services" does 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 a sale described in paragraph 4( a ) ; ( 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 personal 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 14 (independent personal services) of this Convention. 7. 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 one of the States, carries on business in the other 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 royalties or fees for technical services are 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. 8. Royalties or fees for technical services shall be deemed to arise in one of the States 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 royalties or fees for technical services, whether he is a resident of one of the States or not, has in one of the States a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the contract under which the royalties or fees for technical services are paid was concluded, 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. 9. 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 royalties or fees for technical services, having regard to the royalties or fees for technical services 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 payment shall remain taxable according to the laws of each State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention." IV. With effect from April 1, 1995, for paragraph 6 of article 12 relating to royalties and fees for technical services referred to in paragraph III above the following paragraph shall be read: "6. Notwithstanding paragraph 5, 'fees for technical services' does not include amounts paid : ( a ) for services that are ancillary and subsidiary, as well as inextricably and essentially linked, to the sale of property ; ( 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 personal 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 14 (independent personal services) of this Convention." V. With effect from April 1, 1997, for paragraph 2 of article 12, relating to royalties and fees for technical services referred to in paragraph III above the following paragraph shall be read : "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 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 the fees for technical services." VI. With effect from April 1, 1998, for paragraph 4 of article 12 relating to royalties and fees for technical services referred to in paragraph III above the following paragraph shall be read : "4. 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, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience." VII. The memorandum of understanding and the confirmation of understanding, dated September 12, 1989, with reference to paragraph 4 of article 12 of the Indo-USA Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC), will apply mutatis mutandis for the purpose of paragraphs III, IV, V and VI above. [Notification No. 11050/F. No. 501/2/83-FTD]