Taxation Administration Amendment Regulations 2003 (No. 1) (74 of 2003)

Schedule 1   Amendments

[1]   Regulations 39 and 40

substitute

39 Definitions

In this Division:

dividend includes part of a dividend.

double tax agreement means an agreement within the meaning of theInternational Tax Agreements Act 1953.

double tax country has the meaning given by regulation 39A.

interest means any amount that is, or is taken to consist of, interest for Division 11A of Part III of theIncome Tax Assessment Act 1936.

international tax sharing treaty has the same meaning as in subsection 136AA (1) of theIncome Tax Assessment Act 1936.

other party , to a double tax agreement or international tax sharing treaty, means:

(a) if the agreement or treaty was made between Australia and another country - the other country; and

(b) if the agreement or treaty was made between the government of Australia and the government of another country - the other country.

tax sharing country has the meaning given by regulation 39B.

39A Meaning of double tax country

(1) If a double tax agreement includes provisions that have the force of law because of the International Tax Agreements Act 1953, and relate to a withholding payment:

(a) on income derived by a non-resident on or after a particular day; or

(b) in respect of dividends derived on or after a particular day;

the other party to the agreement is a double tax country for this Division on and after that day.

(2) If a double tax agreement, not being an agreement to which subregulation (1) applies, includes a provision that has the force of law because of the International Tax Agreements Act 1953, and limits the amount of Australian tax payable in respect of a dividend, the other party to the agreement is a double tax country for this Division.

(3) The Netherlands, as defined in Article 3 of the Netherlands agreement referred to in the International Tax Agreements Act 1953, is a double tax country for this Division.

39B Meaning of tax sharing country

(1) If an international tax sharing treaty includes provisions that have the force of law because of an Act, and relate to a withholding payment:

(a) on income derived by a non-resident on or after a particular day; or

(b) in respect of dividends derived on or after a particular day;

the other party to the treaty is a tax sharing country for this Division on and after that day.

(2) If an international tax sharing treaty, not being a treaty to which subregulation (1) applies, includes a provision that has the force of law because of an Act, and limits the amount of Australian tax payable in respect of a dividend, the other party to the treaty is a tax sharing country for this Division.

40 Dividend payments

(1) The amount to be withheld from a dividend to which section 12-210 of Schedule 1 to the Act applies is:

(a) if an address mentioned in paragraph 12-210 (a), or a place mentioned paragraph 12-210 (b), of Schedule 1 to the Act is in a tax sharing country and the relevant international tax sharing treaty applies to the dividend - an amount calculated at the rate provided for in the treaty; and

(b) if paragraph (a) does not apply, but that address or place is in a double tax country - an amount calculated at the rate provided for in the relevant double tax agreement; and

(c) if paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply - an amount equal to 30% of the amount of the dividend.

(2) The amount to be withheld from a dividend to which section 12-215 of Schedule 1 to the Act applies is:

(a) if a foreign resident mentioned in paragraph 12-215 (1) (b) of Schedule 1 to the Act is a resident of a tax sharing country and the relevant international tax sharing treaty applies to the dividend - an amount calculated at the rate provided for in the treaty; and

(b) if paragraph (a) does not apply, but that foreign resident is a resident of a double tax country - an amount calculated at the rate provided for in the relevant double tax agreement; and

(c) if paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply - an amount equal to 30% of the amount of the dividend.

(3) However, paragraphs (1) (b) and (2) (b) do not apply in relation to a dividend that is:

(a) paid to a resident of the United States of America; and

(b) included in a class of dividends that is exempt from tax under the law of that country.