S.I. No. 437/2015 - Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income and Capital Gains) (Republic of Zambia) Order 2015.
Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in | ||
“Iris Oifigiúil” of 16th October, 2015. | ||
WHEREAS it is enacted by section 826(1) (as amended by section 157 of the Finance Act 2010 (No. 5 of 2010)) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (No. 39 of 1997) that where the Government by order declare that arrangements specified in the order have been made with the government of any territory outside the State in relation to affording relief from double taxation in respect of income tax, corporation tax in respect of income and chargeable gains, capital gains tax or any taxes of a similar character imposed by the laws of the State or by the laws of that territory and, in the case of taxes of any kind or description imposed by the laws of the State or the laws of that territory, in relation to exchanging information for the purposes of the prevention and detection of tax evasion, granting relief from taxation under the laws of that territory to persons who are resident in the State for the purposes of tax or collecting and recovering tax (including interest, penalties and costs in connection with such tax) for the purpose of the prevention of tax evasion, and that it is expedient that those arrangements should have the force of law, and that the order so made is referred to in Part 1 of Schedule 24A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 , then, subject to section 826 of that Act, the arrangements shall, notwithstanding any enactment, have the force of law as if such order were an Act of the Oireachtas on and from the date of the insertion of a reference to the order into Part 1 of Schedule 24A; | ||
AND WHEREAS it is further enacted by section 826 (6) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 that where such an order is proposed to be made, a draft of the order shall be laid before Dáil Éireann and the order shall not be made until a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by Dáil Éireann; | ||
AND WHEREAS a draft of the following Order has been laid before Dáil Éireann and a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by Dáil Éireann; | ||
NOW, the Government, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by section 826(1) (as amended by section 157 of the Finance Act 2010 (No. 5 of 2010)) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 , hereby order as follows: | ||
1. This Order may be cited as the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income and Capital Gains) (Republic of Zambia) Order 2015. | ||
2. It is declared that— | ||
(a) the arrangements specified in the Convention, the text of which is set out in the Schedule, have been made with the Government of the Republic of Zambia in relation to— | ||
(i) affording relief from double taxation and the prevention from fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, corporation tax in respect of income and chargeable gains, capital gains tax and any taxes of a similar character imposed by the laws of the State or by the laws of the Republic of Zambia, and | ||
(ii) in the case of taxes of any kind or description imposed by the laws of the State or the laws of the Republic of Zambia, exchanging information for the purposes of the prevention and detection of tax evasion and granting relief from taxation under the laws of the Republic of Zambia to persons who are resident in the State for the purposes of tax, | ||
and | ||
(b) it is expedient that those arrangements should have the force of law. | ||
SCHEDULE | ||
CONVENTION | ||
BETWEEN | ||
IRELAND | ||
AND | ||
THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA | ||
FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE | ||
PREVENTION OF FISCAL | ||
EVASION | ||
WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME AND CAPITAL GAINS | ||
PREAMBLE | ||
The Government of Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Zambia, desiring to conclude a Convention for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital gains, have agreed as follows: | ||
ARTICLE 1 | ||
PERSONS COVERED | ||
This Convention shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States. | ||
ARTICLE 2 | ||
TAXES COVERED | ||
1. This Convention shall apply to taxes on income and capital gains imposed by each Contracting State, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied. | ||
2. There shall be regarded as taxes on income and capital gains all taxes imposed on total income, or on elements of income, including taxes on gains from the alienation of movable or immovable property as well as taxes on capital appreciation. | ||
3. The existing taxes to which this Convention shall apply are: | ||
(a) in the Republic of Zambia: | ||
the income tax. | ||
(hereinafter referred to as “Zambian tax”); and | ||
(b) in Ireland: | ||
(i) the income tax; | ||
(ii) the universal social charge; | ||
(iii) the corporation tax; and | ||
(iv) the capital gains tax. | ||
(hereinafter referred to as “Irish tax”) | ||
4. This Convention shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes that are imposed after the date of signature of this Convention 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 respective taxation laws. | ||
ARTICLE 3 | ||
GENERAL DEFINITIONS | ||
1. For the purposes of this Convention, unless the context otherwise requires: | ||
(a) the term “Zambia” means the Republic of Zambia; or any area within which Zambia, in accordance with international law, may exercise sovereign rights or jurisdiction; | ||
(b) the term “Ireland” includes any area outside the territorial waters of Ireland which has been or may hereafter be designated, under the laws of Ireland concerning the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf, as an area within which Ireland may exercise such sovereign rights and jurisdiction as are in conformity with international law; | ||
(c) the terms “a Contracting State” and “the other Contracting State” mean Zambia or Ireland as the context requires and the term “Contracting States” means Zambia and Ireland; | ||
(d) the term “business” includes the performance of professional services and of other activities of an independent character; | ||
(e) the term “company” means any body corporate or any entity that is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes; | ||
(f) the term “competent authority” means: | ||
(i) in Zambia, the Commissioner-General of the Zambia Revenue Authority or his authorised representative; and | ||
(ii) in Ireland, the Revenue Commissioners or their authorised representative; | ||
(g) the term “enterprise” applies to the carrying on of any business; | ||
(h) 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; | ||
(i) the term “international traffic” means any transport by a ship, aircraft or rail or road transport vehicle operated by an enterprise of a Contracting State, except when the ship, aircraft, rail or road transport vehicle is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State; | ||
(j) the term “national”, in relation to a Contracting State, means: | ||
(i) any individual possessing the nationality or citizenship of that Contracting State; and | ||
(ii) any legal person or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in that Contracting State; | ||
(k) the term “person” includes an individual, a company and any other body of persons. | ||
2. As regards the application of this Convention at any time by a Contracting State, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning that it has at that time under the law of that State for the purposes of the taxes to which this Convention applies, any meaning under the applicable tax laws of that State prevailing over a meaning given to the term under other laws of that State. | ||
ARTICLE 4 | ||
RESIDENT | ||
1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term “resident of a Contracting State” means any person who, under the laws of that State, is liable to tax therein by reason of that person’s domicile, residence, place of incorporation, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature, and also includes that State and any political subdivision or local authority thereof. This term, however, does not include any person who is liable to tax in that State in respect only of income from sources in that State. | ||
2. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then that individual’s status shall be determined as follows: | ||
(a) the individual shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which a permanent home is available to the individual; if a permanent home is available to the individual in both States, the individual shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State with which the individual’s personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests); | ||
(b) if sole residence cannot be determined under the provisions of subparagraph (a), the individual shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which the individual has an habitual abode; | ||
(c) if the individual has an habitual abode in both States or in neither of them, the individual shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State of which the individual is a national; | ||
(d) if the individual is a national of both States or of neither of them, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement. | ||
3. 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 | ||
1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term “permanent establishment” means a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on. | ||
2. The term “permanent establishment” includes especially: | ||
(a) a place of management; | ||
(b) a branch; | ||
(c) an office; | ||
(d) a factory; | ||
(e) a workshop; and | ||
(f) a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction or exploitation of natural resources. | ||
3. The term “permanent establishment” shall be deemed to include: | ||
(a) a building site, a construction, assembly or installation project or any supervisory activity in connection with such site, project or activity, but only where such site, project or activity continues for a period of more than 183 days; | ||
(b) the furnishing of services, including consultancy services, by an enterprise through employees or other personnel engaged by an enterprise for such purpose, but only where activities of that nature continue (for the same or a connected project) within the Contracting State for a period or periods exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve-month period commencing or ending in the fiscal year concerned; | ||
(c) for an individual, the performing of services in a Contracting State by that individual, but only if the individual’s stay in that State, for the purpose of performing those services, is for a period or periods aggregating more than 183 days within any twelve-month period commencing or ending in the fiscal year concerned; | ||
(d) an installation or structure used for the exploration for natural resources provided that the installation or structure continues for a period of not less than 183 days. | ||
4. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, the term “permanent establishment” shall be deemed not to include: | ||
(a) the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise; | ||
(b) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery; | ||
(c) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise; | ||
(d) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise, or of collecting information, for the enterprise; | ||
(e) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of carrying on, for the enterprise, any other activity of a preparatory or auxiliary character; and | ||
(f) 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. | ||
5. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, where a person — other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 6 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. | ||
6. An enterprise of a Contracting State shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting 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, 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, the agent will not be considered an agent of an independent status within the meaning of this paragraph. | ||
7. 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 | ||
1. 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. | ||
2. 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, usufruct 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, boats, aircraft and rail or road transport vehicles shall not be regarded as immovable property. | ||
3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply to income derived from the direct use, letting or use in any other form of immovable property. | ||
4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 shall also apply to the income from immovable property of an enterprise. | ||
ARTICLE 7 | ||
BUSINESS PROFITS | ||
1. 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. | ||
2. 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. | ||
3. In determining the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed as deductions expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the business of the permanent establishment, including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred, whether in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere. | ||
4. In so far 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. | ||
5. 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. | ||
6. 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. | ||
7. Where profits include items of income or gains which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Convention, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article. | ||
ARTICLE 8 | ||
INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT | ||
1. Profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State from the operation of ships, aircraft or rail or road transport vehicles in international traffic shall be taxable only in that State. | ||
2. For the purposes of this Article, profits from the operation of ships, aircraft or rail or road transport vehicles in international traffic shall include: | ||
(a) profits derived from the rental on a bare boat basis of ships or aircraft used in international traffic; | ||
(b) profits derived from the rental or lease of rail or road transport vehicles; | ||
(c) profits derived from the use, rental or lease of containers, if such profits are incidental to the profits to which the provisions of paragraph 1 apply. | ||
3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall also apply to profits from the participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating agency. | ||
ARTICLE 9 | ||
ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES | ||
1. Where: | ||
(a) 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 | ||
(b) 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. | ||
2. 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 Convention and the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall if necessary consult each other. | ||
3. The provisions of paragraph 2 shall not apply where judicial, administrative or other legal proceedings have resulted in a final ruling that by actions giving rise to an adjustment of profits under paragraph 1, one of the enterprises concerned is liable to penalty with respect to fraud, gross negligence or wilful default. | ||
ARTICLE 10 | ||
DIVIDENDS | ||
1. 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. | ||
2. 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 7.5 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends. | ||
The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this limitation. | ||
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” 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 Contracting State of which the company making the distribution is a resident. | ||
4. 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 and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 shall apply. | ||
5. 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 in so far as such dividends are paid to a resident of that other State or in so far as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment situated in that other State, nor subject the company’s undistributed profits to a tax on undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in such other State. | ||
ARTICLE 11 | ||
INTEREST | ||
1. Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State. | ||
2. However, such interest may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which it arises, and according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the interest is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent of the gross amount of the interest. | ||
The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this limitation. | ||
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, interest referred to paragraph 1 shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the recipient is a resident if the beneficial owner of the interest is a resident of that State and: | ||
(a) in the case of Zambia is: | ||
(i) the Government of Zambia; | ||
(ii) the Bank of Zambia; | ||
(iii) the National Pension Scheme Authority as long as its capital is wholly owned by the Government of Zambia; | ||
(iv) any financial institution wholly owned by the Government of Zambia as may be agreed from time to time between the competent authorities of the Contracting States; or | ||
(v) any agency wholly owned by Government, political sub-division, or local authority of Zambia. | ||
(b) in the case of Ireland is: | ||
(i) the Government of Ireland; | ||
(ii) the Central Bank of Ireland; | ||
(iii) the National Pension Reserve Fund as long as its capital is wholly owned by the Government of Ireland; | ||
(iv) any financial institution wholly owned by the Government of Ireland as may be agreed from time to time between the competent authorities of the Contracting States; or | ||
(v) any agency wholly owned by Government, political sub-division, or local authority of Ireland. | ||
The competent authorities of the Contracting States may determine by mutual agreement any other government institution to which this paragraph shall apply. | ||
4. 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. | ||
5. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 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 and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 shall apply. | ||
6. Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the interest, whether that person is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment in connection with which the indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, and such interest is borne by such permanent establishment, then such interest shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated. | ||
7. 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 Convention. | ||
ARTICLE 12 | ||
ROYALTIES | ||
1. Royalties arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State. | ||
2. 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 10 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 limitation. | ||
3. 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 recordings on tape or other media used for radio or television broadcasting or other means of reproduction or transmission), any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience. | ||
4. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, in the case of payment of royalties in respect of any copyright of scientific work, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process or information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience, the tax charged shall not exceed 8 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 limitation. | ||
5. The provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 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 and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 shall apply. | ||
6. 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 that person is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment with which the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected, and such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment, then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated. | ||
7. 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 Convention. | ||
ARTICLE 13 | ||
CAPITAL GAINS | ||
1. 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. | ||
2. 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, including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise), may be taxed in that other State. | ||
3. Gains derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the alienation of ships, aircraft or rail or road transport vehicles operated in international traffic or movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships, aircraft or rail or road transport vehicles, shall be taxable only in that State. | ||
4. Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of: | ||
(a) shares, other than shares quoted on a recognised stock exchange, deriving more than 50 per cent of their value directly or indirectly from immovable property situated in the other Contracting State; or | ||
(b) an interest in a partnership or trust deriving more than 50 per cent of its value directly or indirectly from immovable property situated in the other Contracting State, | ||
may be taxed in that other State. | ||
5. Gains from the alienation of any property other than that referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident. | ||
6. The provisions of paragraph 5 shall not affect the right of a Contracting State to levy, according to its law, a tax on gains from the alienation of any property derived by an individual who is a resident of the other Contracting State and has been a resident of the first-mentioned State at any time during the five years immediately preceding the alienation of the property. | ||
ARTICLE 14 | ||
INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT | ||
1. Subject to the provisions of Articles 15, 17 and 18, 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. | ||
2. 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: | ||
(a) the recipient is present in the other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve-month period commencing or ending in the fiscal year concerned, and | ||
(b) the remuneration is paid by or on behalf of an employer who is not a resident of the other State, and | ||
(c) the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment which the employer has in the other State. | ||
3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic by an enterprise of a Contracting State may be taxed in that Contracting State. | ||
ARTICLE 15 | ||
DIRECTORS’ FEES | ||
Directors’ fees and other similar payments derived by a resident of a Contracting State in that person’s 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. | ||
ARTICLE 16 | ||
ENTERTAINERS AND SPORTSPERSONS | ||
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7 and 14, 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 that person’s personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State. | ||
2. Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsperson in that person’s capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or sportsperson but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7 and 14, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsperson are exercised. | ||
3. Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from activities exercised in the other Contracting State as envisaged in paragraphs 1 and 2, shall be exempt from tax in that other State if the visit to that other State is supported wholly or mainly by public funds of the first-mentioned Contracting State, 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 17 | ||
PENSIONS AND ANNUITIES | ||
1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 18, pensions and other similar remuneration paid to a resident of a Contracting State in consideration of past employment and any annuity paid to such a resident 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 18 | ||
GOVERNMENT SERVICE | ||
1. (a) 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 in the discharge of functions of a governmental nature shall be taxable only in that State. | ||
(b) However, such salaries, wages and other similar remuneration shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the services are rendered in that State and the individual is a resident of that State who: | ||
(i) is a national of that State; or | ||
(ii) did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the services. | ||
2. (a) 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 in the discharge of functions of a governmental nature shall be taxable only in that State. | ||
(b) 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. | ||
3. The provisions of Articles 14, 15, 16 and 17 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 or a local authority thereof. | ||
ARTICLE 19 | ||
STUDENTS AND BUSINESS APPRENTICES | ||
A student or business apprentice who is present in a Contracting State solely for the purpose of the student or business apprentice’s education or training and who is, or immediately before being so present was, a resident of the other Contracting State, shall be exempt from tax in the first-mentioned State on payments received from outside that first-mentioned State for the purposes of the student or business apprentice’s maintenance, education or training. | ||
ARTICLE 20 | ||
PROFESSORS AND TEACHERS | ||
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 14, a professor or teacher who makes a temporary visit to one of the Contracting States for a period not exceeding two years from the date of first arrival in that State, solely for the purpose of teaching or carrying out research at a university, college, school or other educational institution in that State and who is, or immediately before such visit was, a resident of the other Contracting State shall, in respect of remuneration for such teaching or research, be exempt from tax in the first-mentioned State, provided that such remuneration is derived by the professor or teacher from outside that State. An individual shall be entitled to the benefits of this Article only once. | ||
2. The provisions of this Article shall not apply to income from research if such research is undertaken not in the public interest but wholly or mainly for the private benefit of a specific person or persons. | ||
ARTICLE 21 | ||
MISCELLANEOUS RULES APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN OFFSHORE ACTIVITIES | ||
1. The provisions of this Article shall apply notwithstanding any other provision of this Convention where activities (in this Article called "relevant activities") are carried on offshore in connection with the exploration or exploitation of the sea bed and subsoil and their natural resources situated in a Contracting State. | ||
2. An enterprise of a Contracting State which carries on relevant activities in the other Contracting State shall, subject to paragraph 3 of this Article, be deemed to be carrying on business in that other State through a permanent establishment situated therein. | ||
3. Relevant activities which are carried on by an enterprise of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 30 days within any period of twelve months shall not constitute the carrying on of business through a permanent establishment situated therein. For the purposes of this paragraph: | ||
(a) where an enterprise of a Contracting State carrying on relevant activities in the other Contracting State is associated with another enterprise carrying on substantially similar relevant activities there, the former enterprise shall be deemed to be carrying on all such activities of the latter enterprise, except to the extent that those activities are carried on at the same time as its own activities; | ||
(b) an enterprise shall be regarded as associated with another enterprise if one participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of the other or if the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of both enterprises. | ||
4. Salaries, wages and similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment connected with relevant activities in the other Contracting State may, to the extent that the duties are performed offshore in that other State, be taxed in that other State. | ||
5. Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of: | ||
(a) exploration or exploitation rights; or | ||
(b) shares (or comparable instruments) deriving their value or the greater part of their value directly or indirectly from such rights, | ||
may be taxed in that other State. | ||
In this paragraph "exploration or exploitation rights" mean rights to assets to be produced by the exploration or exploitation of the seabed or subsoil or their natural resources in the other Contracting State, including rights to interests in or to the benefit of such assets. | ||
ARTICLE 22 | ||
OTHER INCOME | ||
1. Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Convention shall be taxable only in that State. | ||
2. 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 and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply. | ||
ARTICLE 23 | ||
ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION | ||
1. Double taxation shall be eliminated as follows: | ||
(a) in Zambia, where a resident of Zambia derives income from Ireland which may be taxed in Ireland in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, the amount of the Irish tax payable in respect of that income shall be allowed as a credit against Zambian tax imposed on that resident. The amount of credit, however, shall not exceed that part of Zambian tax which is appropriate to that income. | ||
(b) in Ireland, subject to the provisions of the laws of Ireland regarding the allowance as a credit against Irish tax of tax payable in a territory outside Ireland (which shall not affect the general principle hereof)- | ||
(i) Zambian tax payable under the laws of Zambia and in accordance with this Convention, whether directly or by deduction, on profits, income or gains from sources within Zambia (excluding in the case of a dividend tax payable in respect of the profits out of which the dividend is paid) shall be allowed as a credit against any Irish tax computed by reference to the same profits, income or gains by reference to which Zambian tax is computed; | ||
(ii) in the case of a dividend paid by a company which is a resident of Zambia to a company which is a resident of Ireland and which controls directly or indirectly 5 per cent or more of the voting power in the company paying the dividend, the credit shall take into account (in addition to any Zambian tax creditable under the provisions of subparagraph (b)(i)) Zambian tax payable by the company in respect of the profits out of which such dividend is paid. | ||
2. For the purposes of paragraph 1, profits, income and capital gains owned by a resident of a Contracting State which may be taxed in the other Contracting State in accordance with this Convention, shall be deemed to be derived from sources in that other Contracting State. | ||
3. Income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention is not subject to tax in a Contracting State, may be taken into account in determining the rate of tax to be imposed in that Contracting State. | ||
ARTICLE 24 | ||
NON-DISCRIMINATION | ||
1. 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. | ||
2. 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, reliefs and reductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family responsibilities which it grants to its own residents. | ||
3. Except where the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 9, paragraph 7 of Article 11, or paragraph 7 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. | ||
4. 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 requirement 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. | ||
5. The provisions of this Article shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 2, apply to taxes of every kind and description. | ||
ARTICLE 25 | ||
MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROCEDURE | ||
1. Where a person considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States result or will result for that person in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, that person may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the domestic law of those States, present a case to the competent authority of the Contracting State of which the person is a resident or, if the case comes under paragraph 1 of Article 24, to that of the Contracting State of which the person is a national. The case must be presented within three years from the first notification of the action resulting in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Convention. | ||
2. 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 this Convention. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting States. | ||
3. 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 this Convention. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in this Convention. | ||
4. 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. | ||
ARTICLE 26 | ||
EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION | ||
1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is foreseeably relevant for carrying out the provisions of this Convention or to the administration or enforcement of the domestic laws concerning taxes of every kind and description imposed on behalf of the Contracting States, or of their political subdivisions in so far as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to this Convention. The exchange of information is not restricted by Articles 1 and 2. | ||
2. 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 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, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, the determination of appeals in relation to the taxes referred to in paragraph 1, or the oversight of the above. 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. | ||
3. In no case shall the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation: | ||
(a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State; | ||
(b) 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; | ||
(c) 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. | ||
4. 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. | ||
5. 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 27 | ||
ASSISTANCE IN RECOVERY | ||
1. The Contracting States shall lend assistance to each other in the collection of revenue claims. This assistance is not restricted by Articles 1 and 2. The competent authorities of the Contracting States may by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this Article. | ||
2. The term "revenue claim" as used in this Article means an amount owed in respect of taxes of every kind and description imposed on behalf of the Contracting States, or of their political subdivisions or local authorities, insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to this Convention or any other instrument to which the Contracting States are parties, as well as interest, administrative penalties and costs of collection or conservancy related to such amount. | ||
3. When a revenue claim of a Contracting State is enforceable under the laws of that State and is owed by a person who, at that time, cannot, under the laws of that State, prevent its collection, that revenue claim shall, at the request of the competent authority of that State, be accepted for purposes of collection by the competent authority of the other Contracting State. That revenue claim shall be collected by that other State in accordance with the provisions of its laws applicable to the enforcement and collection of its own taxes as if the revenue claim were a revenue claim of that other State. | ||
4. When a revenue claim of a Contracting State is a claim in respect of which that State may, under its law, take measures of conservancy with a view to ensure its collection, that revenue claim shall, at the request of the competent authority of that State, be accepted for purposes of taking measures of conservancy by the competent authority of the other Contracting State. That other State shall take measures of conservancy in respect of that revenue claim in accordance with the provisions of its laws as if the revenue claim were a revenue claim of that other State even if, at the time when such measures are applied, the revenue claim is not enforceable in the first-mentioned State or is owed by a person who has a right to prevent its collection. | ||
5. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 3 and 4, a revenue claim accepted by a Contracting State for purposes of paragraph 3 or 4 shall not, in that State, be subject to the time limits or accorded any priority applicable to a revenue claim under the laws of that State by reason of its nature as such. In addition, a revenue claim accepted by a Contracting State for the purposes of paragraph 3 or 4 shall not, in that State, have any priority applicable to that revenue claim under the laws of the other Contracting State. | ||
6. Proceedings with respect to the existence, validity or the amount of a revenue claim of a Contracting State shall not be brought before the courts or administrative bodies of the other Contracting State. | ||
7. Where, at any time after a request has been made by a Contracting State under paragraph 3 or 4 and before the other Contracting State has collected and remitted the relevant revenue claim to the first-mentioned State, the relevant revenue claim ceases to be | ||
(a) in the case of a request under paragraph 3, a revenue claim of the first-mentioned State that is enforceable under the laws of that State and is owed by a person who, at that time, cannot, under the laws of that State, prevent its collection, or | ||
(b) in the case of a request under paragraph 4, a revenue claim of the first-mentioned State in respect of which that State may, under its laws, take measures of conservancy with a view to ensure its collection | ||
the competent authority of the first-mentioned State shall promptly notify the competent authority of the other State of that fact and, at the option of the other State, the first-mentioned State shall either suspend or withdraw its request. | ||
8. In no case shall the provisions of this Article be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation: | ||
(a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State; | ||
(b) to carry out measures which would be contrary to public policy; | ||
(c) to provide assistance if the other Contracting State has not pursued all reasonable measures of collection or conservancy, as the case may be, available under its laws or administrative practice; | ||
(d) to provide assistance in those cases where the administrative burden for that State is clearly disproportionate to the benefit to be derived by the other Contracting State. | ||
ARTICLE 28 | ||
MEMBERS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS AND CONSULAR POSTS | ||
Nothing in this Convention 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 | ||
ENTRY INTO FORCE | ||
1. Each of the Contracting States shall notify the other in writing through diplomatic channels of the completion of the procedures required by its law for the entry into force of this Convention. This Convention shall enter into force on the date of the later of these notifications and its provisions shall thereupon have effect: | ||
(a) in Zambia: | ||
(i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, for amounts paid or credited on or after the first day of January next following the calendar year in which this Convention enters into force; | ||
(ii) in respect of other taxes, for taxable periods beginning on or after the first day of January next following the calendar year in which this Convention enters into force. | ||
(b) in Ireland: | ||
(i) in respect of income tax, the universal social charge and capital gains tax, for any year of assessment beginning on or after the first day of January next following the calendar year in which this Convention enters into force; | ||
(ii) in respect of corporation tax, for any financial year beginning on or after the first day of January next following the calendar year in which this Convention enters into force. | ||
2. The Convention between the Government of the Republic of Zambia and Ireland for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income signed at London on 29 March 1971 shall cease to have effect from the dates on which this Convention becomes effective in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article. | ||
ARTICLE 30 | ||
DURATION AND TERMINATION | ||
This Convention shall remain in force until terminated by a Contracting State. Either Contracting State may terminate the Convention at any time after five years from the date on which the Convention enters into force provided that at least six months prior written notice of termination has been given through diplomatic channels. | ||
In such event, the Convention shall cease to have effect: | ||
(a) in Zambia: | ||
(i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, for amounts paid or credited on or after the first day of January of the year next following that in which the notice of termination is given; | ||
(ii) in respect of other taxes, for taxable periods beginning on or after the first day of January of the year next following that in which the notice of termination is given. | ||
(b) in Ireland: | ||
(i) in respect of income tax, the universal social charge and capital gains tax, for any year of assessment beginning on or after the first day of January of the year next following that in which the notice of termination is given; | ||
(ii) in respect of corporation tax, for any financial year beginning on or after the first day of January of the year next following that in which the notice of termination is given. | ||
In WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Convention. | ||
Done at Lusaka, this 31st day of March 2015 in two originals, both copies being equally authentic. | ||
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PROTOCOL | ||
At the signing of this Convention between Ireland and the Republic of Zambia for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and Capital Gains, both sides have agreed upon the following provisions which shall form an integral part of the Convention: | ||
1. With reference to Article 4 (Resident) | ||
It is understood that a Common Contractual Fund (CCF) established in Ireland shall not be regarded as a resident of Ireland and shall be treated as fiscally transparent for the purposes of granting tax treaty benefits. | ||
2. With reference to Article 5 (Permanent Establishment) | ||
It is understood that for the purposes of determining the 183-day time limit in paragraph 3(d) of Article 5: | ||
(a) where an enterprise of a Contracting State carrying on activities in the other Contracting State is associated with another enterprise carrying on substantially similar activities there, the former enterprise shall be deemed to be carrying on all such activities of the latter enterprise, except to the extent that those activities are carried on at the same time as its own activities; | ||
(b) an enterprise shall be regarded as associated with another enterprise if one participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of the other or if the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of both enterprises. | ||
3. With reference to Article 11 (Interest) | ||
It is understood that in the case of Ireland, paragraph 3(b) (v) shall include the National Treasury Management Agency and any body under its management. | ||
In WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Convention. | ||
Done at Lusaka, this 31st day of March 2015 in two originals, both copies being equally authentic. | ||
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GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Government, | ||
13 October 2015. | ||
ENDA KENNY, | ||
Taoiseach. |