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.
For the purposes of this Convention, 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 relating to the exploration for or the exploitation of natural resources; and
g) an agricultural, pastoral or forestry property.
3.
A building site or construction or installation project constitutes a permanent establishment only if it lasts more than six months.
4.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, where an enterprise of a Contracting State:
a) performs services (other than activities to which subparagraphs b) or c) apply) in the other Contracting State, for a period or periods exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve month period, and these services are performed through one or more individuals who are present and performing such services in that other State;
b) carries on activities (including the operation of substantial equipment) in the other State in the exploration for or exploitation of natural resources situated in that other State for a period or periods exceeding in the aggregate 90 days in any twelve month period; or
c) operates substantial equipment in the other State (including as provided in subparagraph b)) for a period or periods exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve month period,
such activities shall be deemed to be performed through a permanent establishment that the enterprise has in that other State, unless the activities are limited to those mentioned in paragraph 6 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.
5.
a) The duration of activities under paragraphs 3 and 4 will be determined by aggregating the periods during which activities are carried on in a Contracting State by associated enterprises provided that the activities of the enterprise in that State are substantially the same as the activities carried on in that State by its associate.
b) The period during which two or more associated enterprises are carrying on concurrent activities will be counted only once for the purpose of determining the duration of activities.
c) Under this Article, an enterprise shall be deemed to be associated with another enterprise if:
(i) one is controlled directly or indirectly by the other; or
(ii) both are controlled directly or indirectly by the same person or persons.
6.
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 advertising, supplying information or carrying out scientific research for the enterprise, or any other similar activity, if such activity is of a preparatory or auxiliary character.
7.
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 on behalf of an enterprise and has and habitually exercises in a Contracting State an authority to conclude contracts on behalf of the enterprise or manufactures or processes in a Contracting State for the enterprise goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in that State in respect of any activities which that person undertakes for the enterprise, unless the activities of such person are limited to those mentioned in paragraph 6 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.
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 person who is 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.
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 make either company a permanent establishment of the other.
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