International Tax Agreements Act 1953
(Repealed by No 45 of 2011)
Sch 10 repealed by No 45 of 2011, s 3 and Sch 1 item 67, to remove the text of the Netherlands Agreement from this Act, effective 27 June 2011. For transitional provisions see note under s 3(1) . Sch 10 formerly read:
SCHEDULE 10 - Netherlands Agreement
Section 3
AGREEMENT BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOMEas amended by Sch 10A - the second Netherlands protocol
CHAPTER I SCOPE OF THE AGREEMENT
ARTICLE 1 Personal Scope
This Agreement shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the States. ARTICLE 2 Taxes Covered
(1)
The existing taxes to which this Agreement shall apply are -
(a) in Australia:
the Australian income tax, including the additional tax upon the undistributed amount of the distributable income of a private company;
(b) in the Netherlands:
the Inkomstenbelasting (income tax);
the Loonbelasting (wages tax);
the Vennootschapsbelasting (corporation tax);
the Dividendbelasting (dividend tax).
(2)
This Agreement shall also apply to any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed by one of the States after the date of signature of this Agreement in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. At the end of each calendar year, the competent authority of each State shall notify the competent authority of the other State of any substantial changes which have been made in the taxation laws of his State to which this Agreement applies.
CHAPTER II DEFINITIONS
ARTICLE 3 General Definitions
(1)
In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires -
(a) the term " Australia " means the Commonwealth of Australia and, when used in a geographical sense, includes -
(i) the Territory of Norfolk Island;
(ii) the Territory of Christmas Island;
(iii) the Territory or Cocos (Keeling) Islands;
(iv) the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands;
(v) the Coral Sea Islands Territory; and
(vi) any area adjacent to the territorial limits of Australia and the said Territories in respect of which there is for the time being in force, consistently with international law, a law of Australia or of a State or part of Australia or of a Territory aforesaid dealing with the exploitation of any of the natural resources of the sea-bed and sub-soil of the continental shelf;
(b) the term " the Netherlands " means that part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands that is situated in Europe and the part of the seabed and its sub-soil under the North Sea over which the Kingdom of the Netherlands has sovereign rights in accordance with international law;
(c) the terms " State " , " one of the States " and " other State " mean Australia or the Netherlands, as the context requires;
(d) the term " person " means an individual, a company and any other body of persons;
(e) the term " company " means any body corporate or any entity which is assimilated to a body corporate for tax purposes;
(f) the term " tax " means Australian tax or Netherlands tax, as the context requires;
(g) the term " Australian tax " means tax imposed by Australia, being tax to which this Agreement applies by virtue of Article 2 ;
(h) the term " Netherlands tax " means tax imposed by the Netherlands, being tax to which this Agreement applies by virtue of Article 2 ;
(i) the term " competent authority " means, in the case of Australia, the Commissioner of Taxation or his authorised representative, and in the case of the Netherlands, the Minister of Finance or his authorised representative;
(j) the terms " enterprise of one of the States " and " enterprise of the other State " mean an enterprise carried on by a resident of Australia or an enterprise carried on by a resident of the Netherlands, as the context requires;
(k) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular.
(2)
In this Agreement, the terms " Australian tax " and " Netherlands tax " do not include any penalty or interest imposed under the law of either State relating to the taxes to which this Agreement applies by virtue of Article 2 .
(3)
As regards the application of this Agreement by either of the States, any term not otherwise defined shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning which it has under the laws of that State relating to the taxes to which this Agreement applies.
ARTICLE 4 Residence
(1)
For the purposes of this Agreement, a person is a resident of one of the States -
(a) in the case of Australia, subject to paragraph (2), if the person is a resident of Australia for the purposes of Australian tax; and
(b) in the case of the Netherlands, if the person is a resident of the Netherlands for the purposes of Netherlands tax but not if he is liable to tax in the Netherlands in respect only of income from sources therein.
(2)
In relation to income from sources in the Netherlands, a person who is subject to Australian tax on income which is from sources in Australia shall not be treated as a resident of Australia unless the income from sources in the Netherlands is subject to Australian tax or, if that income is exempt from Australian tax, it is so exempt solely because it is subject to Netherlands tax.
(3)
Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph (1) an individual is a resident of both States, then his status shall be determined in accordance with the following rules:
(a) he shall be deemed to be a resident solely of the State in which he has a permanent home available to him;
(b) if he has a permanent home available to him in both States, or if he does not have a permanent home available to him in either of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident solely of the State with which his personal and economic relations are the closer.
(4)
Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph (1) a person other than an individual is a resident of both States, then it shall be deemed to be a resident solely of the State in which its place of effective management is situated.
ARTICLE 5 Permanent Establishment
(1)
For the purposes of this Agreement the term " permanent establishment " means a fixed place of business in which the business of the enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.
(2)
The term " permanent establishment " shall include especially -
(a) a place of management;
(b) a branch;
(c) an office;
(d) a factory;
(e) a workshop;
(f) a mine, quarry or other place of extraction of natural resources;
(g) an agricultural, pastoral or forestry property;
(h) a building site or construction, installation or assembly project which exists for more than twelve months.
(3)
An enterprise shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment merely by reason of -
(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 for collecting information, for the enterprise;
(e) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of activities which have a preparatory or auxiliary character for the enterprise, such as advertising or scientific research.
(4)
An enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in one of the States and to carry on business through that permanent establishment if -
(a) it carries on supervisory activities in that State for more than twelve months in connection with a building site, or a construction, installation or assembly project which is being undertaken in that State; or
(b) substantial equipment is being used in that State for more than twelve months by, for or under contract with the enterprise in exploration for, or the exploitation of, natural resources, or in activities connected with such exploration or exploitation.
(5)
A person acting in one of the States on behalf of an enterprise of the other State - other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph (6) applies - shall be deemed to be a permanent establishment of that enterprise in the first-mentioned State if -
(a) he has, and habitually exercises in that State, an authority to conclude contracts on behalf of the enterprise, unless his activities are limited to the purchase of goods or merchandise for the enterprise; or
(b) in so acting, he manufactures or processes in that State for the enterprise goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise, provided that this provision shall apply only in relation to the goods or merchandise so manufactured or processed.
(6)
An enterprise of one of the States shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other State merely because it carries on business in that other State through a broker, general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status, where that person is acting in the ordinary course of his business as such a broker or agent.
(7)
The fact that a company which is a resident of one of the States controls or is controlled by a company which is a resident of the other 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.
(8)
The principles set forth in paragraphs (1) to (7) inclusive shall be applied in determining for the purposes of this Agreement whether there is a permanent establishment outside both States, and whether an enterprise, not being an enterprise of one of the States, has a permanent establishment in one of the States.
CHAPTER III TAXATION OF INCOME
ARTICLE 6 Income from Real Property
(1)
Income from real property, including royalties and other payments in respect of the operation of mines or quarries or of the exploitation of any natural resource, may be taxed in the State in which the real property, mines, quarries, or natural resources are situated.
(2)
Income from a lease of land and income from any other direct interest in or over land, whether or not improved, shall be regarded as income from real property. However, income from ships, boats or aircraft shall not be regarded as income from real property.
(3)
The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall also apply to the income from real property of an enterprise and to income from real property used for the performance of professional services.HistoryArt 6(2) amended by Sch 10A (the second Netherlands protocol).
ARTICLE 7 Business Profits
(1)
The profits of an enterprise of one of the States shall be taxable only in that State unless the enterprise carries on business in the other 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 that permanent establishment.
(2)
Subject to the provisions of paragraph (3), where an enterprise of one of the States carries on business in the other State through a permanent establishment situated therein, there shall in each State be attributed to that permanent establishment the profits which it might be expected to make if it were a distinct and separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities under the same or similar conditions and dealing wholly independently with the enterprise of which it is a permanent establishment or with other enterprises with which it deals.
(3)
In the determination of the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed as deductions expenses of the enterprise, which are incurred for the purposes of the permanent establishment (including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred) and which would be deductible if the permanent establishment were an independent entity which paid those expenses, whether incurred in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere.
(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 Article, except as provided in the Articles referred to in this paragraph, the profits of an enterprise do not include items of income dealt with in Articles 6 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 16 and 17 .
ARTICLE 8 Shipping and Air Transport
(1)
Profits from the operation of ships or aircraft derived by a resident of one of the States shall be taxable only in that State.
(2)
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), such profits may be taxed in the other State where they are profits from operations of ships or aircraft confined solely to places in that other State.
(3)
The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall apply in relation to the share of the profits from the operation of ships or aircraft derived by a resident of a State through participation in a pool service, in a joint transport operating organisation or in an international operating agency.
(4)
For the purposes of this Article, profits derived from the carriage of passengers, livestock, mail, goods or merchandise shipped in a State for discharge at another place in that State shall be treated as profits from operations of ships or aircraft confined solely to places in that State.
(5)
The amount which shall be charged to tax in one of the States as profits from the operation of ships or aircraft in respect of which a resident of the other State may be taxed in the first-mentioned State under paragraph (2) or (3) shall not exceed 5 per cent of the amount paid or payable (net of rebates) in respect of carriage in such operations.
(6)
Paragraph (5) shall not apply to profits derived from the operation of ships or aircraft by a resident of one of the States whose principal place of business is in the other State, nor shall it apply to profits derived from the operation of ships or aircraft by a resident of a State if those profits are derived otherwise than from the carriage of passengers, livestock, mail, goods or merchandise.
ARTICLE 9 Associated Enterprises
(1)
Where -
(a) an enterprise of one of the States participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of the other State; or
(b) the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of one of the States and an enterprise of the other State,and in either case conditions operate between the two enterprises in their commercial or financial relations which differ from those which might be expected to operate between independent enterprises dealing wholly independently with one another, then any profits which, but for those conditions, might have been expected to accrue 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 profits on which an enterprise of one of the States has been charged to tax in that State are also included, by virtue of paragraph (1), in the profits of an enterprise of the other State and taxed accordingly, and the profits so included are profits which might have been expected to have accrued to the enterprise of the other State if the conditions operative between the enterprises had been those which might have been expected to have operated between independent enterprises dealing wholly independently with one another, then the first-mentioned State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of tax charged on those profits in the first-mentioned State. In determining such an adjustment due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Agreement in relation to the nature of the income, and for this purpose the competent authorities of the States shall if necessary consult each other.
ARTICLE 10 Dividends
(1)
Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of one of the States for the purposes of its tax, being dividends to which a resident of the other State is beneficially entitled, may be taxed in that other State.
(2)
Such dividends may be taxed in the State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident for the purposes of its tax, and according to the law of that State, but the tax so charged shall not exceed 15 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends. The provisions of this paragraph shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid.
(3)
The term " dividends " in this Article means -
(a) in the case of Australia, income from shares and other income assimilated to income from shares by the taxation law of Australia; and
(b) in the case of the Netherlands, income which is subject to dividend tax.
(4)
The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply if the person beneficially entitled to the dividends, being a resident of one of the States, carries on business through a permanent establishment situated in the other State, being the State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident, and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with that permanent establishment. In such a case, the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.
(5)
Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of one of the States, being dividends to which a person who is not a resident of the other State is beneficially entitled, shall be exempt from tax in that other State except insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment situated in that other State. Provided that this paragraph shall not apply in relation to dividends paid by any company which is a resident of Australia for the purposes of Australian tax and which is also a resident of the Netherlands for the purposes of Netherlands tax.
ARTICLE 11 Interest
(1)
Interest arising in one of the States, being interest to which a resident of the other State is beneficially entitled, may be taxed in that other State.
(2)
Such interest may be taxed in the State in which it arises, and according to the law of that State, but the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent of the gross amount of the interest.
(3)
The term " interest " in this Article includes interest from Government securities, or from bonds or debentures, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in profits, and interest from any other form of indebtedness as well as all other income assimilated to interest or to income from money lent by the taxation law of the State in which the income arises. The term does not include income to which Article 10 applies.
(4)
The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply if the person beneficially entitled to the interest, being a resident of one of the States, carries on business through a permanent establishment situated in the other State, being the State in which the interest arises, and the indebtedness giving rise to the interest is effectively connected with that permanent establishment. In such a case, the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.
(5)
Interest shall be deemed to arise in a State when the payer is that State itself or a political sub-division of that State or a local authority of that State or a person who is a resident of that State. Where, however -
(a) the person paying the interest is a resident of one of the States and has in the other State or outside both States a permanent establishment in connection with which the indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, and the interest is borne by the permanent establishment, then the interest shall be deemed to arise where the permanent establishment is situated;
(b) the person paying the interest is not a resident of either of the States but has in one of the States a permanent establishment in connection with which the indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, and the interest is borne by the permanent establishment, then the interest shall be deemed to arise where the permanent establishment is situated.
(6)
Where, owing to a special relationship between the payer and the person beneficially entitled to the interest or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the interest paid, having regard to the indebtedness for which it is paid, 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 Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In that case, the excess part of the amount of the interest paid shall remain taxable according to the law of each of the States, but subject to the other provisions of this Agreement.HistoryArt 11(3) substituted by Sch 10A (the second Netherlands protocol).
ARTICLE 12 Royalties
(1)
Royalties arising in one of the States, being royalties to which a resident of the other State is beneficially entitled, may be taxed in that other State.
(2)
Such royalties may be taxed in the State in which they arise, and according to the law of that State, but the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties.
(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 paid as consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright, patent, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, trade-mark, or other like property or right, or industrial, commercial or scientific equipment, or for the supply of scientific, technical, industrial or commercial knowledge or information, or for the supply of any assistance of an ancillary and subsidiary nature furnished as a means of enabling the application or enjoyment of such knowledge or information or any other property or right to which this Article applies, and includes any payments to the extent to which they are paid as consideration for the use of, or the right to use, motion picture films, films or video tapes for use in connection with television or tapes for use in connection with radio broadcasting.
(4)
The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply if the person beneficially entitled to the royalties, being a resident of one of the States, carries on business through a permanent establishment situated in the other State, being the State in which the royalties arise, and the asset giving rise to the royalties is effectively connected with that permanent establishment. In such a case, the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.
(5)
Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a State when the payer is that State itself or a political sub-division of that State or a local authority of that State or a person who is a resident of that State. Where, however -
(a) the person paying the royalties is a resident of one of the States and has in the other State or outside both States a permanent establishment in connection with which the liability to pay the royalties was incurred, and the royalties are borne by the permanent establishment, then the royalties shall be deemed to arise where the permanent establishment is situated;
(b) the person paying the royalties is not a resident of either of the States but has in one of the States a permanent establishment in connection with which the liability to pay the royalties was incurred, and the royalties are borne by the permanent establishment, then the royalties shall be deemed to arise where the permanent establishment 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 Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In that case, the excess part of the amount of the royalties paid shall remain taxable according to the law of each of the States, but subject to the other provisions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 13 Alienation of Property
(1)
Income from the alienation of real property may be taxed in the State in which that property is situated.
(2)
For the purposes of this Article -
(a) the term " real property " shall include -
(i) a lease of land or any other direct interest in or over land;
(ii) rights to exploit, or to explore for, natural resources; and
(iii) shares or comparable interests in a company, the assets of which consist wholly or principally of direct interests in or over land in one of the States or of rights to exploit, or to explore for, natural resources in one of the States.
(b) real property shall be deemed to be situated -
(i) where it consists of direct interests in or over land - in the State in which the land is situated;
(ii) where it consists of rights to exploit, or to explore for, natural resources - in the State in which the natural resources are situated or the exploration may take place; and
(iii) where it consists of shares or comparable interests in a company, the assets of which consist wholly or principally of direct interests in or over land in one of the States or of rights to exploit, or to explore for, natural resources in one of the States - in the State in which the assets or the principal assets of the company are situated.
(3)
Gains from the alienation of shares or " jouissance " rights in a company the capital of which is wholly or partly divided into shares and which is a resident of the Netherlands for the purposes of Netherlands tax, derived by an individual who is a resident of Australia, may be taxed in the Netherlands.
ARTICLE 14 Independent Personal Services
Income derived by an individual who is a resident of one of the States in respect of professional services or other independent activities of a similar character shall be taxable only in that State unless he has a fixed base regularly available to him in the other State for the purpose of performing his activities. If he has such a fixed base, the income may be taxed in the other State, but only so much of it as is attributable to that fixed base. ARTICLE 15 Dependent Personal Services
(1)
Subject to the provisions of Articles 16 , 18 , 19 and 20 , salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of one of the States in respect of an employment shall be taxable only in that State unless the employment is exercised in the other State. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is derived from that exercise may be taxed in that other State.
(2)
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), remuneration derived by a resident of one of the States in respect of an employment exercised in the other State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if -
(a) the recipient is present in that other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in the year of income or the fiscal year, as the case may be, of that other State; and
(b) the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident of that other State; and
(c) the remuneration is not deductible in determining the taxable profits of a permanent establishment or a fixed base which the employer has in that other State.
(3)
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived by a resident of one of the States in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in that State.
ARTICLE 16 Directors ' Remuneration
(1)
Where a resident of the Netherlands is a " director " of a company, which is a resident of Australia, and derives from that company fees and other remuneration in respect of his services to the company, such fees and other remuneration may be taxed in Australia.
(2)
Where a resident of Australia is a " bestuurder " or a " commissaris " of a company, which is a resident of the Netherlands, and derives from that company fees and other remuneration in respect of his services to the company, such fees and other remuneration may be taxed in the Netherlands.
(3)
Where the remuneration mentioned in paragraph (1) or (2) is derived by a person who exercises activities of a regular and substantial character in a permanent establishment situated in the State other than the State of which the company is a resident and the remuneration is deductible in determining the taxable profits of that permanent establishment then, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) or (2) of this Article, the remuneration, to the extent to which it is so deductible, shall be taxable only in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated.
ARTICLE 17 Entertainers
(1)
Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 14 and 15 , income derived by entertainers (such as theatrical, motion picture, radio or television artistes, and musicians and athletes) from their personal activities as such may be taxed in the State in which these activities are exercised.
(2)
Notwithstanding anything contained in Articles 5 and 7 , where the services of an entertainer mentioned in paragraph (1) are provided in one of the States by an enterprise of the other State, the profits derived by that enterprise from providing those services may be taxed in the first-mentioned State if the entertainer performing the services or a relative of such person, controls, directly or indirectly, that enterprise.
(3)
The term " relative " in this Article means a brother, sister, spouse, ancestor or descendant.
ARTICLE 18 Pensions and Annuities
(1)
Pensions, including pensions provided under the provisions of a public social security system, but not including pensions to which Article 19 applies, paid to a resident of one of the States, and annuities so paid, shall be taxable only in that State.
(2)
The term " annuity " means a stated sum payable periodically at stated times during life or during a specified or ascertainable period of time under an obligation to make the payments in return for adequate and full consideration in money or money ' s worth.
ARTICLE 19 Government Service
(1)
Remuneration (including a pension) paid to any individual in respect of services rendered in the discharge of governmental functions to one of the States or to a political sub-division of one of the States or to a local authority of one of the States may be taxed in that State. However, any such remuneration, not being a pension, shall be taxable only in the other State if the services are rendered in that other State and the recipient is a resident of that other State who -
(a) is a citizen or national of that State; or
(b) did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of performing the services.
(2)
This Article shall not apply to remuneration (including a pension) in respect of services rendered in connection with any trade or business carried on by one of the States or a political sub-division of one of the States or a local authority of one of the States. In such a case, the provisions of Articles 15 , 16 and 18 shall apply.
ARTICLE 20 Professors and Teachers
(1)
Remuneration which a professor or teacher who is a resident of one of the States and who visits the other State for a period not exceeding two years for the purpose of teaching or carrying out advanced study or research at a university, college, school or other educational institution, receives for those activities shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State.
(2)
This Article shall not apply to remuneration which he receives for conducting research if the research is undertaken primarily for the private benefit of a specific person or persons.
ARTICLE 21 Students
Payments which a student who is, or was immediately before visiting one of the States, a resident of the other State and who is temporarily present in the first-mentioned State solely for the purpose of his education receives from sources outside that first-mentioned State for the purpose of his maintenance or education shall be exempt from tax in that first-mentioned State. ARTICLE 22 Income of Dual Resident
Where a person, who by reason of the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 4 is a resident of both States but by reason of the provisions of paragraph (3) or (4) of that Article is deemed for the purposes of this Agreement to be a resident solely of one of the States, derives income from sources in that State or from sources outside both States, that income shall be taxable only in that State.CHAPTER IV METHODS OF ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION
ARTICLE 23
(1)
Subject to the provisions of the law of Australia from time to time in force which relate to the allowance of a credit against Australian tax of tax paid in a country outside Australia (which shall not affect the general principle hereof), Netherlands tax paid, whether directly or by deduction, in respect of income derived by a person who is a resident of Australia from sources in the Netherlands (not including, in the case of a dividend, tax paid in respect of the profits out of which the dividend is paid) shall be allowed as a credit against Australian tax payable in respect of that income.
(2)
The Netherlands, when imposing tax on its residents, may include in the basis upon which such taxes are imposed the items of income which according to the provisions of this Agreement may be taxed in Australia.
(3)
Without prejudice to the application of the provisions concerning the compensation of losses in the unilateral regulations for the avoidance of double taxation the Netherlands shall allow a deduction from the amount of tax computed in conformity with paragraph (2) of this Article equal to such part of that tax which bears the same proportion to the aforesaid tax, as the part of the income which is included in the basis mentioned in paragraph (2) of this Article and may be taxed in Australia according to Articles 6 and 7 , paragraphs (2) and (3) of Article 8 , paragraph (4) of Article 10 , paragraph (4) of Article 11 , paragraph (4) of Article 12 , paragraph (1) of Article 13 , Article 14 , paragraph (1) of Article 15 , paragraph (1) of Article 16 and Article 19 of this Agreement bears to the total income which forms the basis mentioned in paragraph (2) of this Article.Further, the Netherlands shall allow a deduction from the Netherlands tax so computed for such items of income, as may be taxed in Australia according to paragraph (2) of Article 10 , paragraph (2) of Article 11 , paragraph (2) of Article 12 and Article 17 , and are included in the basis mentioned in paragraph (2) of this Article. The amount of this deduction shall be the lesser of the following amounts:
(a) the amount equal to the Australian tax;
(b) the amount of the Netherlands tax which bears the same proportion to the amount of tax computed in conformity with paragraph (2) of this Article, as the amount of the said items of income bears to the amount of income which forms the basis mentioned in paragraph (2) of this Article.
CHAPTER V SPECIAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE 24 Mutual Agreement Procedure
(1)
Where a resident of a State considers that the actions of the competent authority of one or both of the States result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with this Agreement, he may, notwithstanding the remedies provided by the national laws of those States, present his case to the competent authority of the State of which he is a resident. The case must be presented within three years from the first notification of the action.
(2)
The competent authority shall endeavour, if the taxpayer ' s claim appears to it to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at an appropriate solution, to resolve the case with the competent authority of the other State, with a view to the avoidance of taxation not in accordance with this Agreement. The solution so reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the national laws of the States.
(3)
The competent authorities of the States shall jointly endeavour to resolve any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of this Agreement.
(4)
The competent authorities of the States may communicate with each other directly for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 25 Exchange of Information
(1)
The competent authorities of the States shall exchange such information as is necessary for the carrying out of this Agreement or of the domestic laws of the States concerning the taxes to which this Agreement applies insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to this Agreement. The exchange of information is not restricted by Article 1 . Any information received by the competent authority of a State shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic laws of that State and shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) concerned with the assessment or collection of, enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to, the taxes to which this Agreement applies and shall be used only for such purposes.
(2)
In no case shall the provisions of paragraph (1) be construed so as to impose on a State the obligation -
(a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws or the administrative practice of that or of the other State;
(b) to supply particulars which are not obtainable under the laws or in the normal course of the administration of that or of the other State;
(c) to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process, or to supply information the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy.
ARTICLE 26 Diplomatic and Consular Officials
Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the fiscal privileges of diplomatic or consular officials under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements. ARTICLE 27 Regulations
The competent authority of the Netherlands may prescribe regulations necessary to carry out in the Netherlands the provisions of this Agreement. ARTICLE 28 Territorial Extension
(1)
This Agreement may be extended, either in its entirety or with any necessary modifications, to the part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands which is not situated in Europe and which imposes taxes substantially similar in character to those to which this Agreement applies. Any such extension shall take effect from such date and subject to such modifications and conditions, including conditions as to termination, as may be specified and agreed in notes to be exchanged through the diplomatic channel.
(2)
Unless otherwise agreed, the termination of this Agreement shall not also terminate the application of the Agreement to the part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to which it has been extended under this Article.
CHAPTER VI FINAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE 29 Entry into Force
This Agreement shall come into force on the date on which the Government of Australia and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands exchange notes through the diplomatic channel notifying each other that the last of such things has been done as is necessary to give this Agreement the force of law in Australia and in the Netherlands, as the case may be, and thereupon this Agreement shall have effect -
(a) in both States, in respect of withholding tax on dividends and interest, on dividends and interest derived on or after 1 July 1975;
(b) in Australia, in respect of tax on income of any year of income beginning on or after 1 July 1975;
(c) in the Netherlands, in respect of taxes, other than the dividend tax, for taxable years and periods beginning on or after 1 January 1975. ARTICLE 30 Termination
This Agreement shall continue in effect indefinitely, but the Government of Australia or the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands may, on or before 30 June in any calendar year after the year 1979, give to the other Government through the diplomatic channel written notice of termination and, in that event, this Agreement shall cease to be effective -
(a) in both States, in respect of withholding tax on dividends, interest and royalties, on dividends, interest and royalties derived on or after 1 July in the calendar year next following that in which the notice of termination is given;
(b) in Australia, in respect of tax on income of any year of income beginning on or after 1 July in the calendar year next following that in which the notice of termination is given;
(c) in the Netherlands, in respect of taxes, other than withholding taxes referred to in subparagraph (a), for taxable years and periods beginning after the end of the calendar year in which the notice of termination is given.IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, duly authorised thereto, have signed this Agreement.
DONE in duplicate at Canberra this seventeenth day of March, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-six, in the English and Netherlands languages, both texts being equally authentic.
PROTOCOL
PHILLIP LYNCH
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIAR.C. PEKELHARING
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS
(1)
With reference to Articles 6 to 8 and 10 to 17 , income derived by a resident of the Netherlands which under those Articles may be taxed in Australia, shall for the purposes of the income tax law of Australia be deemed to be income from sources in Australia.
(2)
With reference to Articles 7 and 9 , where the information available to the competent authority of a State is inadequate to determine the profits of an enterprise on which tax may be imposed in that State in accordance with Article 7 or Article 9 , nothing in those Articles shall affect the application of any law of that State relating to the determination of the tax liability of a person provided that that law shall be applied, so far as the information available to the competent authority permits, in accordance with the principles of those Articles.
(3)
With reference to Articles 7 and 23 , profits of an enterprise of one of the States from carrying on a business of any form of insurance other than life insurance may be taxed in the other State in accordance with the law of that other State relating specifically to the taxation of any person who carries on such business, and Article 23 shall apply for the elimination of double taxation as if the profits so taxed were attributable to a permanent establishment of the enterprise in the State imposing the tax.
(4)
With reference to Articles 10 , 11 and 12 , applications for the restitution of tax levied by the Netherlands contrary to the provisions of those Articles must be lodged with the competent authority of the Netherlands within a period of three years after the expiration of the calendar year in which the tax has been levied.
(5)
With reference to Article 23 ,
(a) where income derived by a resident of Australia may, under the provisions of Articles 6 to 8 and 10 to 17, be taxed in the Netherlands such income shall, for the purposes of paragraph (1) of Article 23 and of the provisions of the income tax law of Australia dealing with the avoidance of double taxation, be deemed to be income from sources in the Netherlands;
(b) in so far as the Netherlands income tax or company tax is concerned, the basis mentioned in paragraph (2) of Article 23 is the " onzuivere inkomen " or " winst " in terms of the Netherlands income tax law or company tax law, respectively.
(6)
General.
(a) Where one of the States is entitled to tax the profits of an enterprise, that State may treat as profits of the enterprise, profits from the alienation of capital assets of the enterprise, not being profits that consist of income to which paragraph (1) of Article 13 applies.
(b) If, in an Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation that is subsequently made between Australia and a third State being a State that at the date of signature of this Protocol is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Australia shall agree to limit the rate of its taxation -
(i) on dividends paid by a company which is a resident of Australia for the purposes of Australian tax to which a company that is a resident of the third State is entitled, to a rate less than that provided in paragraph (2) of Article 10 ; or
(ii) on interest arising in Australia to which a resident of the third State is entitled, to a rate less than that provided in paragraph (2) of Article 11 ; orthe Government of Australia shall immediately inform the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in writing through the diplomatic channel and shall enter into negotiations with the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to review the provisions specified in subparagraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above in order to provide the same treatment for the Netherlands as that provided for the third State.
(iii) on royalties arising in Australia to which a resident of the third State is entitled, to a rate less than that provided in paragraph (2) of Article 12 ,DONE in duplicate at Canberra this seventeenth day of March, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-six, in the English and Netherlands languages, both texts being equally authentic.
Phillip Lynch
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIAR.C. Pekelharing
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS
Sch 10 inserted by No 52 of 1976.
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