TMI BlogAgreement between the Government of the Republic of India and Government of Republic of India and the Government of United States of America for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxesX X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e given effect to in the Union of India. Further in exercise of the powers conferred by section 44A(b) of the Wealth-tax Act, 1957 (27 of 1957) and section 44(b) of the Gift-tax Act, 1958 (18 of 1958), the Central Government also directs that the provisions of Article 28 of the said Convention shall be given effect to in the Union of India. Notification : No. GSR 992(E), dated 20-12-1990 *. ANNEXURE 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 The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of India, desiring to conclude a Convention for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, have agreed as follows: * For earlier Limited Agreement see GSR 626(E), dated 15-6-1989. See also Instruction No. 2/2003, dated 28-4-2003 and No. 10/2007, dated 23-10-2007. ARTICLE 1 GENERAL SCOPE 1. This Convention shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States, except as otherwise provided in the Convention. 2 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... -tax Act; and (ii) the surtax (hereinafter referred to as Indian tax ). Taxes referred to in (a) and (b) above shall not include any amount payable in respect of any default or omission in relation to the above taxes or which represent a penalty imposed relating to those taxes. 2. The Convention shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed after the date of signature of the Convention in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of any significant changes which have been made in their respective taxation laws and of any official published material concerning the application of the Convention. ARTICLE 3 GENERAL DEFINITIONS 1. In this Convention, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) the term India means the territory of India and includes the territorial sea and air space above it, as well as any other maritime zone in which India has sovereign rights, other rights and jurisdictions, according to the Indian law and in accordance with inter-national law; (b) the term United States , when used in a geographical sense means all the territory of the United States ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ent, place of incorporation, or any other criterion of a similar nature, provided, however, that (a) 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; and (b) in the case of income derived or paid by a partnership, estate, or trust, this term applies only to the extent that the income derived by such partnership, estate, or trust is subject to tax in that State as the income of a resident, either in its hands or in the hands of its partners or beneficiaries. (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 does not have a permanent home available to him in either State, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... an enterprise through employees or other personnel, but only if: (i) activities of that nature continue within that State for a period or periods aggregating more than 90 days within any twelve-month period; or (ii) the services are performed within that State for a related enterprise [within the meaning of paragraph 1 of Article 9 (Associated Enterprises)]. 3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, the term permanent establishment shall be deemed not to include any one or more of the following: (a) the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display, or occasional 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 occasional 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 advert ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... t of a Contracting State from immovable property (real 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. 3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall also 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 be taxed in the other State but only so much of them as is attributable to (a) that permanent establishment; (b) sales in the other State of goods or merchandise of the same or ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e case of a banking enterprises, by way of interest on moneys lent to the permanent establishment. Likewise, no account shall be taken, in the determination of the profits of a permanent establishment, for amounts charged (otherwise than toward reimbursement of actual expenses), by the permanent establishment to the head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices, by way of royalties, fees or other similar payments in return for the use of patents, know-how or other rights, or by way of commission or other charges for specific services performed or for management, or, except in the case of a banking enterprise, by way of interest on moneys lent to the head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices. 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 this Convention, the profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment as provided in paragraph 1(a) of this Article shall include only the profits derived from the assets and activities of the permanent establishment and shall be determined by the same method year by yea ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... he alienation of ships, aircraft or containers owned and operated by the enterprise, the income from which is taxable only in that State, shall be taxed only in that State. ARTICLE 9 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, but for those conditions would 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 Sta ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ions 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 dividends are attributable to such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 (Business Profits) or Article 15 (Independent Personal Services), 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 undistri ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purposes of the Convention. However, the term interest does not include income dealt with in Article 10 (Dividends). 5. The provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3 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 interest is attributable to such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 (Business Profits) or Article 15 (Independent Personal Services), 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 or a political sub-division, local authority, or 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, and such interest is borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such interest shall ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e means: (a) payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of a literary, artistic, or scientific work, including cinematograph films or work on film, tape or other means of reproduction for use in connection with radio or television broadcasting, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience, including gains derived from the alienation of any such right or property which are contingent on the productivity, use, or disposition thereof; and (b) payments of any kind received as consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any industrial, commercial, or scientific equipment, other than payments derived by an enterprise described in paragraph 1 of Article 8 (Shipping and Air Transport) from activities described in paragraph 2(c) or 3 of Article 8. 4. For purposes of this Article, fees for included 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 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ermanent establishment or fixed base, then such royalties or fees for included services shall be deemed to arise in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated. (b) Where under sub-paragraph (a) royalties or fees for included services do not arise in one of the Contracting States, and the royalties relate to the use of, or the right to use, the right or property, or the fees for included services relate to services performed, in one of the Contracting States, the royalties or fees for included services shall be deemed to arise in that Contracting State. 8. 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 included services paid exceeds the amount which would have been paid in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In 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 the Convention. ARTICLE 13 GAINS Except as provided in Article 8 (Shipping ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... subject in India to a tax in addition to the tax imposable under the other provisions of this Convention at a rate which shall not exceed the rate specified in paragraph 2(a) of Article 11 (Interest). ARTICLE 15 INDEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES 1. Income derived by a person who is an individual or firm of individuals (other than a company) who is a resident of a Contracting State from the performance in the other Contracting State of professional services or other independent activities of a similar character shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State except in the following circumstances when such income may also be taxed in the other Contracting State: (a) if such person 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 the person's stay in the other Contracting State is for a period or periods amounting to or exceeding in the aggregate 90 days in the relevant taxable year. 2. The term professional services includes independent scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teach ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State, except where the amount of the net income derived by such entertainer or athlete from such activities (after deduction of all expenses incurred by him in connection with his visit and performance) does not exceed one thousand five hundred United States dollars ($ 1,500) or its equivalent in Indian rupees for the taxable year concerned. 2. Where income in respect of activities exercised by an entertainer or an athlete in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or athlete but to another person, that income of that other person may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7 (Business Profits), 15 (Independent Personal Services) and 16 (Dependent Personal Services), be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or athlete are exercised unless the entertainer, athlete, or other person establishes that neither the entertainer or athlete nor persons related thereto participate directly or indirectly in the profits of that other person in any manner, including the receipt of deferred remuneration, bonuses, fees, dividends, partnership distributions, or other distributio ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... axed only in the first-mentioned Contracting State. 2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, and subject to the provisions of Article 19 (Remuneration and Pensions in Respect of Government Service), social security benefits and other public pensions paid by a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State or a citizen of the United States shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State. 3. The term pension means a periodic payment made in consideration of past services or by way of compensation for injuries received in the course of performance of services. 4. The term annuity means stated sums payable periodically at stated times during life or during a specified or ascertainable number of years, under an obligation to make the payments in return for adequate and full consideration in money or money's worth (but not for services rendered). 5. Alimony paid to a resident of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State. The term alimony as used in this paragraph means periodic payments made pursuant to a written separation agreement or a decree of divorce, separate maintenance, or compulsory support, which payments are taxable to the recipient under the laws ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... HER INCOME 1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2, items of income of a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, which are not expressly dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Convention shall be taxable only in that Contracting 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 [Income from Immovable Property (Real Property)], if the beneficial owner of the 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 income is attributable to such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 (Business Profits) or Article 15 (Independent Personal Services), as the case may be, shall apply. 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, items of income of a resident of a Contracting State not dealt with in the foregoing articles of this Convention and arising in the other Contracting State may also be taxed in that other State. A ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... o the benefits of this Convention pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraphs of this Article may, nevertheless, be granted the benefits of the Convention if the competent authority of the State in which the income in question arises so determines. ARTICLE 25 RELIEF FROM DOUBLE TAXATION 1. In accordance with the provisions and subject to the limitations of the law of the United States (as it may be amended from time to time without changing the general principle hereof), the United States shall allow to a resident or citizen of the United States as a credit against the United States tax on income (a) the income-tax paid to India by or on behalf of such citizen or resident; and (b) in the case of a United States company owning at least 10 per cent of the voting stock of a company which is a resident of India and from which the United States company receives dividends, the income-tax paid to India by or on behalf of the distributing company with respect to the profits out of which the dividends are paid. For the purposes of this paragraph, the taxes referred to in paragraphs 1(b) and 2 of Article 2 (Taxes Covered) shall be considered as income taxes. 2. (a) Where a residen ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... one or both of the Contracting States. 2. Except where the provisions of paragraph 3 of article 7 (Business Profits) apply, 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 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. Except where the provisions of paragraph 1 of article 9 (Associated Enterprises), paragraph 7 of article 11 (Interest), or paragraph 8 of article 12 (Royalties and Fees for Included Services) apply, interest, royalties, and other disbursements paid by a resident of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purposes of determining the taxable profits of the first-mentioned resident, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been paid to a resident of the first-men ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... chniques for the implementation of the mutual agreement procedure provided for in this Article. In addition, a competent authority may devise appropriate unilateral procedures, conditions, methods and techniques to facilitate the above-mentioned bilateral actions and the implementation of the mutual agreement procedure. ARTICLE 28 EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE 1. The competent authorities of the Contracting State shall exchange such information (including documents) as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Convention or of the domestic laws of the Contracting States concerning taxes covered by the Convention insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Convention, in particular, for the prevention of fraud or evasion, of such taxes. The exchange of information is not restricted by Article 1 (General Scope). Any information received by a Contracting State shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic laws of that State. However, if the information is originally regarded as secret in the transmitting State, it shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including Courts and administr ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... er State with respect to its own taxes. 5. For the purposes of this Article, the Convention shall apply, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 2 (Taxes Covered): (a) in the United States, to all taxes imposed under Title 26 of the United States Code; and (b) in India, to the income-tax, the wealth-tax and the gift-tax. ARTICLE 29 DIPLOMATIC AGENTS AND CONSULAR OFFICERS Nothing in this Convention shall affect the fiscal privileges of diplomatic agents or consular offices under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements. ARTICLE 30 ENTRY INTO FORCE 1. Each Contracting State shall notify the other Contracting State in writing, through diplomatic channels, upon the completion of their respective legal procedures to bring this Convention into force. 2. The Convention shall enter into force on the date of the letter of such notifications and its provisions shall have effect: (a) in the United States (i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, for amounts paid or credited on or after the first day of January next following the date on which the Convention enters into force; (ii) in respect of other taxes, for taxable periods beginning on or af ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... 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 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... xts equally authentic. In case of divergence between the two texts, the English text shall be the operative one. 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 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... 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 Excellency's Note, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of India. Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. 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 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... lish 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 Excellency's Note, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of India. Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. 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 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... 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 arm's 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 pa ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... r 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 latter's 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 t ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ess 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 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... 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 agree ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ary 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 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... es for implementation of MAP provided for in the article. Accordingly, with a view to avoid the unintended hardship to the taxpayers, as well as for the efficient management of collection of revenue, the Competent Authorities of India and USA had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding suspension of collection during the pendency of MAP. 2. This MoU was brought to the notice of field formation vide Instruction No. 2/2003, dated 28-4-2003 (F. No. 500/56/99-FTD) wherein it was stated that the collection of outstanding taxes in the case of a taxpayer, who is a resident of USA and whose request under MAP is under consideration of the Competent Authorities, shall be kept in abeyance subject to furnishing of a bank guarantee of an amount equal to the amount of tax under dispute and interest accruing thereon as per the provisions of the Income-tax Act. 3. Now references have been received for extending the applicability of MoU to Indian resident entities in cases where Mutual Agreement Procedure has been invoked by the US resident. In order to avoid hardship to Indian resident taxpayers especially in cases involving transfer pricing, where the Indian resident entity is ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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