Australian Tax Treaties
The Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (the MLI) has modified the application of this tax treaty. A synthesised text of the MLI and this tax treaty is available to facilitate the understanding of how the MLI modifies this tax treaty.
Royalties arising in one of the Contracting States, being royalties to which a resident of the other Contracting State is beneficially entitled, may be taxed in that other State.
(2)
Those royalties may be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise, and according to the law of that State, but the tax so charged shall not exceed:
(a) in the case of royalties described in subparagraphs 3(b) and (c) and, to the extent to which they relate to those royalties, in subparagraphs 3(d) and (f) - 10 per cent; and
(b) in all other cases - 15 per cent.
The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of these limitations.
(3)
The term " royalties " in this Article means payments, whether periodical or not, and however described or computed, to the extent to which they are made as consideration for:
(a) the use of, or the right to use, any copyright, patent, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, trademark or other like property or right; or
(b) the use of, or the right to use, any industrial, commercial or scientific equipment; or
(c) the supply of scientific, technical, industrial or commercial knowledge or information; or
(d) the supply of any assistance that is ancillary and subsidiary to, and is furnished as a means of enabling the initial application of, any such property or right as is mentioned in subparagraph (a), any such equipment as is mentioned in subparagraph (b) or any such knowledge or information as is mentioned in subparagraph (c); or
(e) the use of, or the right to use:
(i) motion picture films; or
(ii) films or video tapes for use in connection with television; or
(iii) tapes for use in connection with radio broadcasting; or
(f) total or partial forbearance in respect of the use or supply of any property or right referred to in this paragraph.
(4)
The provisions of paragraph 2 shall not apply if the person beneficially entitled to the royalties, being a resident of one of the Contracting States, carries on business in the other Contracting State, in which the royalties arise, through a permanent establishment situated in that other State, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated in that other State, and the property or right in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with that permanent establishment or fixed base. In that case, the provisions of Article 7 or 14, as the case may be, shall apply.
(5)
Royalties shall be deemed to arise in one of the Contracting States when the payer is that State itself or a political subdivision or local authority of that State or a person who is a resident of that State under the law of that State relating to its tax. Where, however, the person paying the royalties, whether the person is a resident of one of the Contracting States or not, has in one of the Contracting States or outside both Contracting States a permanent establishment or fixed base in connection with which the liability to pay the royalties was incurred, and the royalties are borne by the permanent establishment or fixed base, then the royalties shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.
(6)
Where, owing to a special relationship between the payer and the person beneficially entitled to the royalties, or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties paid, having regard to what they are paid for, exceeds the amount which might have been expected to have been agreed upon by the payer and the person so entitled in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Agreement shall apply only to the lastmentioned amount. In that case, the excess part of the amount of the royalties paid shall remain taxable according to the law, relating to tax, of each Contracting State, but subject to the other provisions of this Agreement.
(7)
In this Article, the term " payments " includes credits and the terms " paid " , " payer " and " person paying " have the corresponding meanings.
This information is provided by CCH Australia Limited Link opens in new window. View the disclaimer and notice of copyright.