Agreement between the Government of the State of QATAR and the Government of the Kingdom of the NETHERLANDS for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income
Agreement between the Government of the State of QATAR and the Government of the Kingdom of the NETHERLANDS for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income
The Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, desiring that an Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income be concluded by both States, have agreed as follows:
Contents
Article 3 - General Definitions
Article 5 - Permanent Establishment
Article 6 - Income from Immovable Property
Article 8 - Shipping and Air Transport
Article 9 - Associated Enterprises
Article 14 - Independent Personal Services
Article 15 - Dependent Personal Services
Article 17 - Artists and Sportspersons
Article 18 - Pensions and Annuities
Article 19 - Government Service
Article 20 - Teachers and Researchers
Article 21 - Students and Trainees
Article 23 - Offshore Activities
Article 24 - Elimination of Double Taxation
Article 25 - Non-Discrimination
Article 26 - Mutual Agreement Procedure
Article 27 - Exchange of Information
Article 28 - Members of Diplomatic Missions and Consular Posts
Article 1
Persons Covered
This Agreement shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.
Article 2
Taxes Covered
This Agreement shall apply to taxes on income imposed on behalf of a Contracting State or of its political subdivisions or local authorities, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.
There shall be regarded as taxes on income all taxes imposed on total income, or on elements of income, including taxes on gains from the alienation of movable or immovable property, taxes on the total amounts of wages or salaries paid by enterprises.
The existing taxes to which the Agreement shall apply are in particular:
in the case of Qatar:
Taxes on income;
(hereinafter referred to as "Qatari tax".)
in the Netherlands:
de inkomstenbelasting (income tax);
de loonbelasting (wages tax);
de vennootschapsbelasting (company tax) including the Government share in the net profits of the exploitation of natural resources levied pursuant to the Mijnbouwwet (the Mining Act);
de dividendbelasting (dividend tax);
(hereinafter referred to as "Netherlands tax");
The Agreement shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes that are imposed after the date of signature of this Agreement 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 that have been made in their taxation laws.
Article 3
General Definitions
For the purposes of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
the terms "a Contracting State" and "the other Contracting State" mean the State of Qatar or the Kingdom of the Netherlands (the Netherlands) ; as the context requires;
the term "Qatar" means the State of Qatar's lands, internal waters, territorial sea including its bed and sub-soil, the air space over them, the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf, over which the State of Qatar exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with the provisions of international law and Qatar's national laws and regulations;
the term "the Netherlands" means the part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands that is situated in Europe, including its territorial sea, and any area beyond the territorial sea within which the Netherlands, in accordance with international law, exercises jurisdiction or sovereign rights;
the term "person" includes an individual, a company and any other body of persons;
the term "company" means any body corporate or any entity that is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;
the terms "enterprise of a Contracting State" and "enterprise of the other Contracting State" mean respectively an enterprise carried on by a resident of a Contracting State and an enterprise carried on by a resident of the other Contracting State;
the term "international traffic" means any transport by a ship or aircraft operated by an enterprise that has its place of effective management in a Contracting State, except when the ship or aircraft is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State;
the term "competent authority" means:
in the case of Netherlands the Minister of Finance or his authorised representative; and
in the case of Qatar, the Minister of Finance, or his authorised representative,
the term "national" in relation to a Contracting State means:
any individual possessing the nationality of that Contracting State;
any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in that Contracting State;
As regards the application of the Agreement at any time by a Contracting State, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning which it has under the law of that State concerning the taxes to which the Agreement applies.
Article 4
Resident
For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "resident of a Contracting State" means:
in the case of the Netherlands any person who, under the laws of the Netherlands, is liable to tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature. This term, however, does not include any person who is liable to tax in the Netherlands in respect only of income from sources in the Netherlands;
in the case of Qatar, any individual who has a permanent home, his centre of vital interest, or habitual abode in Qatar, and a company having its place of effective management in Qatar.
The term "resident of a Contracting State" also includes that State, any political subdivision, local authority or statutory body thereof and a pension fund or a collective investment vehicle that is recognised and controlled according to the statutory provisions of a Contracting State and the income of which is generally exempt from tax in that State.
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:
he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Contracting State in which he has a permanent home available to him; if he has a permanent home available to him in both Contracting States, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Contracting State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests);
if the State in which he has his centre of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he has not a permanent home available to him in either Contracting State, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Contracting State in which he has an habitual abode;
if he has an habitual abode in both Contracting States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Contracting State of which he is a national;
if the residence status of an individual cannot be determined in accordance with the provisions of subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) above, then, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement.
Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 a person other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then it shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which its place of effective management is situated.
Article 5
Permanent Establishment
For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "permanent establishment" means a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.
The term "permanent establishment" includes especially:
a place of management;
a branch;
an office;
a factory;
a workshop;
a premises used as sales outlet;
a farm or plantation;
a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of exploration, extraction or exploitation of natural resources.
The term "permanent establishment" also encompasses a building site, a construction, assembly or installation project or any supervisory activity in connection with such site or project, but only where
such site, project or activity continues for period or periods aggregating more than six months within any twelve month period.
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, the term "permanent establishment" shall be deemed not to include:
the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise;
the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery;
the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise;
the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise or of collecting information, for the enterprise;
the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of carrying on, for the enterprise, any other activity of a preparatory or auxiliary character;
the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of activities mentioned in subparagraphs a) to e), provided that the overall activity of the fixed place of business resulting from this combination is of a preparatory or auxiliary character.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, where a person - other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 7 applies - is acting on behalf of an enterprise and has, and habitually exercises, in a Contracting State an authority to conclude contracts in the name of 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 4 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.
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, an insurance enterprise of a Contracting State shall except in regard to reinsurance, be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State if it collects premiums on the territory of that other Contracting State or insures risks situated therein through a person, other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 7 applies.
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 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. However, when the activities of such an agent are devoted wholly or almost wholly on behalf of that enterprise, and conditions are made or imposed between that enterprise and the agent in their commercial and financial relations which differ from those which would have been made between independent enterprises, he will not be considered an agent of an independent status within the meaning of this paragraph.
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 constitute either company a permanent establishment of the other.
Article 6
Income from Immovable Property
Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from immovable property (including income from agriculture or forestry) situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
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. The term shall in any case include property accessory to immovable property, livestock and equipment used in agriculture and forestry, rights to which the provisions of general law respecting landed property apply, usufructs of immovable property and rights to variable or fixed payments as consideration for the working of, or the right to work, mineral deposits, sources and other natural resources; ships and aircraft shall not be regarded as immovable property.
The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply to income derived from the direct use, letting, or use in any other form of immovable property.
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
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 that permanent establishment.
Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3, where an enterprise of a Contracting State carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, there shall in each Contracting 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.
In determining the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed as deductions expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the permanent establishment, including executive and general administrative expenses, that are allowed under the provisions of the domestic law of the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated, whether incurred in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere.
Insofar as it has been customary in a Contracting State to determine the profits to be attributed to a permanent establishment on the basis of an apportionment of the total profits of the enterprise to its various parts, nothing in paragraph 2 shall preclude that Contracting State from determining the profits to be taxed by such an apportionment as may be customary; the method of apportionment adopted shall, however, be such that the result shall be in accordance with the principles contained in this Article.
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.
For the purposes of the preceding paragraphs, the profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year unless there is good and sufficient reason to the contrary.
Where profits include items of income which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Agreement, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article.
Article 8
Shipping and Air Transport
Profits from the operation of ships in international traffic shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.
If the place of effective management is aboard a ship, then it shall be deemed to be situated in the Contracting State in which the home harbour of the ship is situated, or, if there is no such home harbour, in the Contracting State of which the operator of the ship is a resident.
The provisions of paragraph 1 shall also apply to profits from the participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating agency, but only so much of the profits so derived as is attributable to the participant in proportion to its share in the joint operation.
The provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the application of the Convention between the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Government of the State of Qatar for the Avoidance of Double Taxation on Income and Profits derived from International Air Transport, signed at Doha on the 6th of January 2008.
Article 9
Associated Enterprises
Where
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
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 would, but for those conditions, 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.
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 State and the profits so included are profits which would have accrued to the enterprise of the first mentioned State if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those which would have been made between independent enterprises, then that other State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein on those profits. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Agreement and the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall if necessary consult each other.
Article 10
Dividends
Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident and according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the dividends is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed:
0% (zero per cent) of the gross amount of the dividends if the beneficial owner is a company the capital of which is wholly or partly divided into shares and which holds directly at least 7.5% (seven and a half per cent) of the capital of the company paying the dividends;
10% (ten per cent) of the gross amount of the dividends in all other cases.
The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this paragraph.
The provisions of paragraph 2 shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid.
The term "dividends" as used in this Article means income from shares or other rights, not being debt-claims, participating in profits, as well as income from other corporate rights which is subjected to the same taxation treatment as income from shares by the laws of the State of which the company making the distribution is a resident.
The provisions 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 herein, and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14 shall apply.
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 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 undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in such other State.
With respect to dividends as meant in subparagraph (a) of paragraph 2 the 0% (zero per cent) rate shall not apply if the main reason or one of the main reasons for establishing or maintaining the company in a Contracting State is to ensure the benefits of subparagraph (a) of paragraph 2 of this Article. The competent authorities shall consult each other before denying the application of the 0% (zero per cent) rate.
Article 11
Interest
Interest arising in a Contracting State and beneficially owned by a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in that other State.
The term "interest" as used in this Article means income from debt-claims of every kind, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in the debtor's profits, and in particular, income from government securities and income from bonds or debentures, including premiums and prizes attaching to such securities, bonds or debentures. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purpose of this Article.
The provisions of paragraph 1 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 the other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.
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 interest, having regard to the debt-claim for which it is paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner 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 this Agreement.
Article 12
Royalties
Royalties arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
However, such royalties may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise and according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the royalties is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed 5% (five per cent) of the gross amount of the royalties.
The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this paragraph.
The term "royalties" as used in this Article means payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work (including cinematograph films and films, tapes or discs for 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.
The provisions of paragraph 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the royalties arise, through a permanent establishment situated therein or performs in the other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.
Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the royalties, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or fixed base with which the right, property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected, and such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.
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, having regard to the use, right or information for which they are paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner 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 this Agreement.
Article 13
Capital Gains
Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of immovable property referred to in Article 6 and situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
Gains from the alienation of movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State or of
movable property pertaining to a fixed base available to a resident of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing independent personal services, including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise) or of such a fixed base may be taxed in that other State.
Gains from the alienation of ships or aircrafts operated in international traffic or movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircraft, shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management is situated.
Gains from the alienation of any property other than that referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident.
Article 14
Independent Personal Services
Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of professional services or other activities of an independent character shall be taxable only in that State except in the following circumstances, when such income may also be taxed in the other Contracting State:
if he 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 Contracting State; or
if his stay in the other Contracting State is for a period or periods amounting to or exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve-month period commencing or ending in the taxable year concerned;
in that case, only so much of the income as is derived from his activities performed in that other State may be taxed in that other State.
The term "professional services" includes especially independent scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teaching activities as well as the independent activities of physicians, lawyers, engineers, architects, dentists and accountants.
Article 15
Dependent Personal Services
Subject to the provisions of Articles 16,18, 19 and 20 salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment shall be taxable only in that State unless the employment is exercised in the other Contracting State. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is derived therefrom may be taxed in that other State.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised in the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if:
the recipient is present in the other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 (one hundred eighty three) days in any twelve month period commencing or ending in the taxable year concerned, and
the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident of the other State, and
the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment or a fixed base which the employer has in the other State.
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic may be taxed in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.
Article 16
Directors' Fees
Directors' fees and similar payments derived by a resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as a member of the board of directors of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
Where a company is a resident of one of the Contracting States, the term "member of the board of directors" includes both managing directors (charged with management functions of the company) and supervisory directors (charged with supervisory functions of the company).
Article 17
Artists and Sportspersons
Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 14 and 15, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer, such as a theatre, motion picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as a sportsperson, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.
Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsperson in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or sportsperson himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7, 14 and 15 be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsperson are exercised.
Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from activities exercised in the other Contracting State as envisaged in paragraph 1 and 2 of this Article, shall be exempted from tax in that other State, if the visit to that other State is supported wholly or mainly supported by funds of either Contracting States, or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof, or takes place under a cultural agreement or arrangement between the Governments of the Contracting States.
Article 18
Pensions and Annuities
Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 19, pensions, annuities and other similar remuneration, arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State, may be taxed in the first-mentioned State. The preceding sentence shall also apply to pensions paid and other payments made under the provisions of the social security legislation of a Contracting State.
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 payments in return for adequate and full consideration in money or money's worth.
The provisions of this Article shall also apply in case a lump sum payment is made in lieu of a pension, an annuity or other similar remuneration before the date on which the pension, the annuity or other similar remuneration commences.
Article 19
Government Service
Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration paid by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State.
However, such salaries, wages and other similar remuneration shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the services are rendered in that other State and the individual is a resident of that other State who:
is a national of that other State; or
did not become a resident of that other State solely for the purpose of rendering the services.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, pensions and other similar remuneration paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State.
However, such pensions and other similar remuneration shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the individual is a resident of, and a national of, that State.
The provisions of Articles 15, 16, 17 and 18 shall apply to salaries, wages, pensions, and other similar remuneration in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or a political subdivision, a local authority or a statutory body thereof.
Article 20
Teachers and Researchers
Payments which a teacher or researcher who is a resident of a Contracting State and who is present in the other Contracting State at the invitation of the Government of that other Contracting State or of a university, college, school, museum or other cultural institution in that other Contracting State or under an official program of cultural exchange, is present in that other Contracting State for a period not exceeding three consecutive years solely for the purpose of teaching, giving lectures or carrying out research at such institution receives, shall be exempted from tax in that other Contracting State on his remuneration for such activity.
The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall not apply to income from research if such research is undertaken not in the public interest but primarily for the private benefit of a specific person or persons.
Article 21
Students and Trainees
Payments which a student or business apprentice or trainee who is or was immediately before visiting a Contracting State a resident of the other Contracting State and who is present in the first- mentioned Contracting State solely for the purpose of his education or training receives for the purpose of his maintenance, education or training shall not be taxed in that Contracting State, provided that such payments arise from sources outside that Contracting State.
In respect of grants, scholarships and remuneration from employment not covered by paragraph 1, a student, business apprentice or trainee described in paragraph 1 shall, in addition, be entitled during such education or training to the same exemptions, relief or reductions in respect of taxes available to residents of the State which he is visiting.
Article 22
Other Income
Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Agreement shall be taxable only in that State.
The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income, other than income from immovable property as defined in paragraph 2 of Article 6, if the recipient of such 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 the other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.
Article 23
Offshore Activities
The provisions of this Article shall apply notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement. However, this Article shall not apply where offshore activities of a person constitute for that person a permanent establishment under the provisions of Article 5 or a fixed base under the provisions of Article 14.
In this Article the term "offshore activities" means activities which are carried on offshore in connection with the exploration, extraction or exploitation of the seabed and its subsoil and their natural resources, situated in a Contracting State.
An enterprise of a Contracting State which carries on offshore activities in the other Contracting State shall, subject to paragraph 4 of this Article, be deemed to carry on, in respect of those activities,
business in that other State through a permanent establishment situated therein, unless the offshore activities in question are carried on in the other State for a period or periods of less than in the aggregate 30 days in any twelve month period.
For the purposes of this paragraph:
where an enterprise carrying on offshore activities in the other Contracting State is associated with another enterprise and that other enterprise continues, as part of the same project, the same offshore activities that are or were being carried on by the first-mentioned enterprise, and the aforementioned activities carried on by both enterprises - when added together - constitute a period of at least 30 days, then each enterprise shall be deemed to carry on its activities for a period of at least 30 days in any twelve month period;
an enterprise shall be regarded as associated with another enterprise if one enterprise holds directly or indirectly at least one third of the capital of the other enterprise or if a person holds directly or indirectly at least one third of the capital of both enterprises.
However, for the purposes of paragraph 3 of this Article the term "offshore activities" shall be deemed not to include:
one or any combination of the activities mentioned in paragraph 4 of Article 5 ;
towing or anchor handling by ships primarily designed for that purpose and any other activities performed by such ships;
the transport of supplies or personnel by ships or aircraft in international traffic.
A resident of a Contracting State who carries on offshore activities in the other Contracting State which consist of professional services or other activities of an independent character, shall be deemed to perform those activities from a fixed base in the other State, if the offshore activities in question last for a continuous period of 30 days or more.
Notwithstanding the second sentence of paragraph 1 of this Article, salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment connected with offshore activities carried on through a permanent establishment or a fixed base in the other Contracting State may, to the extent that the employment is exercised offshore in that other State, be taxed in that other State.
Where documentary evidence is produced that tax has been paid in, or an exemption has been granted by, Qatar in respect of the items of income which may be taxed in Qatar according to Article 7 in connection with paragraph 3 of this Article, according to Article 14 in connection with paragraph 5 of this Article, according to Article 15 in connection with paragraph 3 or paragraph 5 of this Article or according to paragraph 6 of this Article, the Netherlands shall allow a reduction of its tax, which shall be computed in conformity with the rules laid down in paragraph 2 of Article 24.
Article 24
Elimination of Double Taxation
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 or shall be taxable only in Qatar.
However, where a resident of the Netherlands derives items of income which according to paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 of Article 6, paragraph 1 of Article 7, paragraph 5 of Article 10, paragraph 3 of
Article 11, paragraph 4 of Article 12, paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 13, paragraph 1 of Article 14, paragraph 1 of Article 15, paragraphs 1 (subparagraph a) and 2 (subparagraph a) of Article 19 and paragraph 2 of Article 22 of this Agreement may be taxed in Qatar and are included in the basis referred to in paragraph 1, the Netherlands shall exempt such items of income of its tax. This relief shall be computed in conformity with the provisions of the Netherlands law for the avoidance of double taxation. For that purpose the said items of income shall be deemed to be included in the amount of the items of income which are exempt from Netherlands tax under those provisions.
Further, the Netherlands shall allow a reduction from the Netherlands tax so computed for the items of income which according to paragraph 2 of Article 10, paragraph 2 of Article 12, paragraph 1 of Article 16, paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 17 and paragraph 1 of Article 18 of this Agreement may be taxed in Qatar to the extent that these items are included in the basis referred to in paragraph 1. The amount of this reduction shall be equal to the tax paid in Qatar on these items of income, but shall, in case the provisions of the Netherlands law for the avoidance of double taxation provide so, not exceed the amount of the reduction which would be allowed if the items of income so included were the sole items of income which are exempt from Netherlands tax under the provisions of the Netherlands law for the avoidance of double taxation.
This paragraph shall not restrict allowance now or hereafter accorded by the provisions of the Netherlands law for the avoidance of double taxation, but only as far as the calculation of the amount of the reduction of Netherlands tax is concerned with respect to the aggregate of income from more than one country and the carry forward of the tax paid in Qatar on the said items of income to subsequent years.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, the Netherlands shall allow a reduction from the Netherlands tax for the tax paid in Qatar on items of income which according to paragraph 1 of Article 7, paragraph 5 of Article 10, paragraph 3 of Article 11, paragraph 4 of Article 12, paragraph 1 of Article 14 and paragraph 2 of Article 22 of this Agreement may be taxed in Qatar to the extent that these items are included in the basis referred to in paragraph 1, insofar as the Netherlands under the provisions of the Netherlands law for the avoidance of double taxation allows a reduction from the Netherlands tax of the tax levied in another country on such items of income. For the computation of this reduction the provisions of paragraph 3 of this Article shall apply accordingly.
In the case of Qatar, double taxation shall be eliminated as follows: Where a resident of Qatar derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, is taxable in the Netherlands, then Qatar shall allow as a deduction from the tax on income of that resident an amount equal to the tax paid in the Netherlands provided that such deduction shall not exceed that part of the tax, as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable to the income derived from the Netherlands.
Article 10 and Article 13 shall not prevent the Netherlands from imposing and collecting in accordance with its domestic law tax on an individual a so-called "preserving tax assessment" ("conserverende aanslag") with respect to a substantial interest in a company, which is issued to that individual in regard of that person ceasing to be a resident of the Netherlands. The preceding sentence shall only apply insofar the assessment or a part thereof is still outstanding and paragraph 5 will apply accordingly.
Article 25
Non-Discrimination
Nationals of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in the other Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith, which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of that other State in the same circumstances, in particular with respect to residence, are or may be subjected. This provision shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 1 , also apply to persons who are not residents of one or both of the Contracting States.
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, relief and reductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family responsibilities which it grants to its own residents.
Except where the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 9, paragraph 4 of Article 11, or paragraph 6 of Article 12, apply, interest, royalties and other disbursements paid by an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable profits of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been paid to a resident of the first-mentioned State.
Enterprises of a Contracting State, the capital of which is wholly or partly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by one or more residents of the other Contracting State, shall not be subjected in the first-mentioned State to any taxation or any requirements connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which other similar enterprises of the first-mentioned State are or may be subjected.
The non taxation of Qatari and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nationals under Qatari tax law shall not be regarded as a discrimination under the provision of this Article.
Contributions made by or on behalf of an individual who renders services in a Contracting State to a pension scheme recognised for tax purposes in the other Contracting State,
in which the individual participated immediately before beginning to provide services in the first- mentioned State,
in which the individual participated at a time when that individual was providing services in, or was a resident of, the other State, and
that is accepted by the competent authority of the first-mentioned State as generally corresponding to a pension scheme recognised as such for tax purposes by that State, shall, for the purposes of determining the individual's tax payable in the first-mentioned State and the profits of an enterprise which may be taxed in the first-mentioned State, be treated in that State in the same way and subject to the same conditions and limitations as contributions made to a pension scheme that is recognised for tax purposes in that State.
For the purposes of this paragraph:
the term "a pension scheme" means an arrangement in which the individual participates in order to secure retirement benefits payable in respect of the services referred to in this paragraph; and
a pension scheme is recognised for tax purposes in a State if the contributions to the scheme would qualify for tax relief in that State.
The provisions of this Article shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 2, apply to taxes of every kind and description.
Article 26
Mutual Agreement Procedure
Where a person considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, he may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the domestic law of those States, present his case to the competent authority of the Contracting State of which he is a resident or, if his case comes under paragraph 1 of Article 25, to that of the Contracting State of which he is a national. The case must be presented within two years from the first notification of the action resulting in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement.
The competent authority shall endeavour, if the objection appears to it to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at a satisfactory solution, to resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other Contracting State, with a view to the avoidance of taxation which is not in accordance with the Agreement. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting States.
The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of the Agreement. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in the Agreement.
The competent authorities of the Contracting States may communicate with each other directly for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs. The competent authorities, through consultations, shall develop appropriate bilateral procedures, conditions, methods, and techniques for the implementation of the mutual agreement procedure provided for in this Article.
Where,
under paragraph 1, a person has presented a case to the competent authority of a Contracting State on the basis that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States have resulted for that person in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, and
the competent authorities are unable to reach an agreement to resolve that case pursuant to paragraph 2 within two years from the presentation of the case to the competent authority of the other Contracting State, any unresolved issues arising from the case shall be submitted to arbitration if the person so requests. These unresolved issues shall not, however, be submitted to arbitration if a decision on these issues has already been rendered by a court or administrative tribunal of either State. Unless the person concerned by the case does not accept the mutual agreement that implements the arbitration decision, that decision shall be binding on both Contracting States and shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic laws of these States. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this paragraph.
In case the application of paragraph 2 of Article 3 regarding the interpretation of a term not defined in the Agreement or differences in characterisation for an element of income or of a person would result in double taxation or double exemption, the competent authorities shall reach a solution to avoid the double taxation or double exemption.
Article 27
Exchange of Information
The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Agreement or the administration or enforcement of the domestic laws of the Contracting States concerning taxes covered by the Agreement insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to this Agreement.
Any information received under paragraph 1 by a Contracting State shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic law of that State and shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts, administrative bodies and the arbitration board, established under the provisions of paragraph 5 of Article 26 ), concerned with the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to, the taxes referred to in paragraph 1. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes. They may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions.
In no case shall the provisions of the previous paragraphs be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation:
to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;
to supply information which is not obtainable under the laws or in the normal course of the administration of that or of the other Contracting State;
to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process, or information the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy (ordre public).
If information is requested by a Contracting State in accordance with this Article, the other Contracting State shall use its information gathering measures to obtain the requested information, even though that other State may not need such information for its own tax purposes. The obligation contained in the preceding sentence is subject to the limitations of paragraph 3 but in no case shall such limitations be construed to permit a Contracting State to decline to supply information solely because it has no domestic interest in such information.
In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 3 be construed to permit a Contracting State to decline to supply information solely because the information is held by a bank, other financial institution, nominee or person acting in an agency or a fiduciary capacity or because it relates to ownership interests in a person.
Article 28
Members of Diplomatic Missions and Consular Posts
Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the fiscal privileges of members of diplomatic missions or consular posts under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements.
Article 29
Territorial Extension
This Agreement may be extended, either in its entirety or with any necessary modifications, to countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands which are not situated in Europe, if the country concerned has a tax system comparable to that of the part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands situated in Europe. 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 between the Contracting States in notes to be exchanged through diplomatic channels.
Unless otherwise agreed the termination of the Agreement shall also terminate any extension of the Agreement to any country to which it has been extended under this Article.
Article 30
Entry Into Force
The Contracting States shall notify each other in writing, through diplomatic channels, of the completion of the procedures required by their laws for the bringing into force of this Agreement. The Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth day from the date of the later of these notifications.
The provisions of this Agreement shall have effect:
with regard to taxes withheld at source, in respect of amounts paid or credited on or after the first day of January of the calendar year immediately following the year in which the Agreement enters into force; and
with regard to other taxes, in respect of taxable years or taxable periods beginning on or after the first day of January of the calendar year immediately following the year in which the Agreement enters into force.
Article 31
Termination
This Agreement shall remain in force until terminated by a Contracting State. Either Contracting State may terminate the Agreement, through diplomatic channels, by giving written notice of
termination at least six months before the end of any calendar year immediately following the expiration of a period of five years from the date of its entry into force.
This Agreement shall cease to have effect:
with regard to taxes withheld at source, in respect of amounts paid or credited on or after the first day of January of the calendar year immediately following the year in which the notice is given; and
with regard to other taxes, in respect of taxable years or taxable periods beginning on or after 1 January of the calendar year immediately following the year in which the notice is given.
In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Agreement.
Done at The Hague this 24th day of April 2008, in duplicate in the Dutch, Arabic, and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of any divergence the English text shall prevail.
Protocol
At the moment of signing the Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, this day concluded between the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Government of the State of Qatar, the undersigned have agreed that the following provisions shall form an integral part of the Agreement.
Ad Articles 8 and 13
For the purposes of Articles 8 and 13 the place of effective management of the existing Koninklijke Luchtvaartmaatschappij N.V. (KLM N.V.) shall be deemed to be situated in the Netherlands, as long as the Netherlands has an exclusive taxing right with respect to KLM N.V. under the Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Government of the French Republic for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital (with Protocol); Paris, 16 March 1973, as amended by the Protocol of the 7th of April 2004.
The provision of paragraph 1 shall also apply in any situation where the air transport activities of the existing KLM N.V. would be continued fully or substantially by another person that is considered to be a resident of the Netherlands.
Ad Article 4
An individual living aboard a ship without any real domicile in either of the Contracting States shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State in which the ship has its home harbour provided that the individual is liable to tax in that Contracting State.
Ad Article 4 paragraph 4
Where:
the place of effective management of a person is situated in a Contracting State, and has been situated in the other State at any time in the preceding 3 years; and
at any time during a period of 12 months prior to situation of place of effective management in the first-mentioned State, the assets of such person consisted principally of liquid assets,
paragraph 4 shall not apply, unless it is determined by mutual agreement between the competent authorities of the Contracting States that the main purpose or one of the main purposes of the transfer of the place of effective management was for bona fide commercial reasons.
Ad Articles 5, 6, 7, 13 and 23
It is understood that rights to the exploration and exploitation of natural resources shall be regarded as fixed assets located in the Contracting State to whose seabed - and subsoil thereof - these rights apply, and that these rights are regarded as assets of a permanent establishment in that State. Furthermore, it is understood that the aforementioned rights include rights to interests in, or benefits from assets that arise from, that exploration or exploitation.
Ad Articles 7, 14 and 23
Payments received as a consideration for technical services, including studies or surveys of a scientific, geological or technical nature, or for consultancy or supervisory services shall be deemed to be payments to which the provisions of Article 7, Article 14 or Article 23 apply.
Ad Article 10
Notwithstanding paragraph 2 of Article 10, the Contracting State of which the company is a resident shall not levy a tax on dividends paid by that company, if the beneficial owner of the dividends is a pension fund or a collective investment vehicle referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 4.
If after the date of signature of this Agreement in any Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation concluded by the Netherlands with a third State, the Netherlands would agree to a lower rate for dividends as provided in paragraph 2, subparagraph (b) of article 10, then the lower rate shall automatically apply to residents of Qatar from the moment the lower rate is effective for residents of that third State.
Ad Articles 10 and 13
It is understood that income from shares received in connection with the (partial) liquidation of a company or a purchase of own shares by a company is treated as income from shares and not as capital gains. The preceding sentence shall not apply to the (partial) alienation or termination of a permanent establishment or fixed base in the other Contracting State.
In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
Done at The Hague this 24th day of April 2008, in duplicate in the Arabic, Dutch and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of any divergence the English text shall prevail.
About This Tax Treaty
This Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between UAE and Netherlands provides:
- Elimination of double taxation on income and capital
- Prevention of tax evasion and avoidance
- Clear residence rules for tax purposes
- Reduced withholding taxes on cross-border payments