TMI BlogDTAA - Agreement for Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Foreign Countries - MalaysiaX X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ion of India in accordance with Article 30 of the said DTAA with effect from the 1st day of April, 2013. AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF MALAYSIA FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME The Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Malaysia, desiring to conclude an Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and with a view to promoting economic cooperation between the two countries, have agreed as follows: ARTICLE 1 PERSONS COVERED 1. This Agreement shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States. ARTICLE 2 TAXES COVERED 1. 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. 2. 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 and taxes on the ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... erprise carried on by a resident of a Contracting State and an enterprise carried on by a resident of the other Contracting State; (g) the term international traffic means any transport by a ship or aircraft operated by an enterprise of a Contracting State, except when the ship or aircraft is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State; (h) the term competent authority means: (i) in the case of India: the Finance Minister, Government of India, or his authorized representative; (ii) in the case of Malaysia, the Minister of Finance or his authorized representative; (i) the term national means: (i) any individual possessing the nationality or citizenship of a Contracting State; and (ii) any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in a Contracting State; (j) the term tax means Malaysian tax or Indian tax, as the context requires, but shall not include any amount which is payable in respect of a default or omission in relation to the taxes to which this Agreement applies or which represents a penalty or fine imposed relating to those taxes; (k) for the purposes of the Agree ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... 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. If the State in which its place of effective management is situated cannot be determined, then the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to settle the question by mutual agreement. ARTICLE 5 PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT 1. 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. 2. The term permanent establishment includes especially: (a) a place of management; (b) a branch; (c) an office; (d) a factory; (e) a workshop; (f) a sales outlet; (g) a warehouse in relation to a person providing storage facilities for others; (h) a farm, plantation or other place where agricultural, forestry, plantation or related activities are carried on; and (i) a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction of natural resources. 3. (a) A building site or construction, installation or assembly project or super ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... t make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment under the provisions of that paragraph; (b) has no such authority, but habitually maintains in the first-mentioned State a stock of goods or merchandise from which he regularly delivers goods or merchandise on behalf of the enterprise; or (c) habitually secures orders in the first-mentioned State, wholly or almost wholly for the enterprise itself. 6. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, an insurance enterprise of a Contracting State shall, except in regard to re-insurance, be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State if it collects premiums in the territory of that other State or insures risks situated therein through a person other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 7 applies. 7. 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 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ent. 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 permanent establishment, including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred, whether in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere, in accordance with the provisions of the tax laws of that State. However, no such deduction shall be allowed in respect of amounts, if any, paid (otherwise than towards reimbursement of actual expenses) by the permanent establishment to the head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices, by way of royalties, ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ved by an enterprise described in paragraph 1 from the transportation by sea or air respectively of passengers, mail, livestock or goods carried on by the owners or lessees or charterers of ships or aircraft including: (a) the sale of tickets for such transportation on behalf of other enterprises; and (b) the rental of ships or aircraft incidental to any activity directly connected with such transportation. 3. Profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State described in paragraph 1 from the use, maintenance, or rental of containers (including trailers, barges and related equipment for the transport of containers) used in connection with the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic which is supplementary or incidental to its international operation of ships or aircrafts shall be taxable only in that Contracting State unless the containers are used solely within the other Contracting State. 4. For the purposes of this Article, interest on investments directly connected with the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be regarded as profits derived from the operation of such ships or aircraft if they are integral to the carrying on of ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... aph 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 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, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, 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 15, as the case may be, shall apply, 5. Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State derives profits or income from the other Contracting Sta ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ed 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, or performs in that 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 15, as the case may be, 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, ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ty 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 15, as the case may be, shall apply. 5. Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying such royalties, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the obligation to pay the royalties was incurred, 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. 6. 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-mentio ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ecial relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the fees for technical services paid exceeds, for whatever reason, 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 only apply to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the law of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Agreement. ARTICLE 14 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 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 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... les 17, 19, 20, 21 and 22, 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 months 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 or a fixed base 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 intern ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... tical subdivision or local authority or statutory body thereof 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) Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority or a statutory body thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or political subdivision or local authority or statutory body shall be taxable only in that State. (b) However, such pension 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 16, 17, 18 and 19 shall apply to salaries, wages and other similar remuneration and to pensions in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority or a ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... aph 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 that 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 15, as the case may be, shall apply. 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, items of income of a resident of a Contracting State not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Agreement and arising in the other Contracting State may also be taxed in that other State. ARTICLE 24 METHODS FOR ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION 1. The laws in force in either of the Contracting States will continue to govern the taxation of income in the respective Contracting States except where provisions to the contrary are made in this Agreement. 2. In the case of India, double taxation shall be eliminated as follows: Where a resident of India derives income which, in accordance with ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... income derived from sources in India had the income not been taxed at a reduced rate or exempted from Indian tax in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the special incentives under the Indian laws for the promotion of economic development of India which were in force at the date of signature of this Agreement or any other provisions which may subsequently be introduced in India in modification of, or in addition to, those laws so far as they are agreed by the competent authorities of the Contracting States to be of a substantially similar character, ARTICLE 25 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 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... 1 of Article 25, to that of the Contracting State of which he 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 the Agreement. 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 the Agreement. 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 the Agreement. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in the Agreement. 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 pa ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... 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 28 LIMITATION OF BENEFITS 1. The provisions of this Agreement shall in no case prevent a Contracting State from the application of the provisions of its domestic law and measures concerning tax avoidance or evasion, whether or not described as such. 2. A resident of a Contracting State shall not be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement if ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ysia, in respect of Malaysian tax, to tax chargeable for any year of assessment beginning on or after the first day of January in the calendar year following the year in which the notice is given. IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, duly authorized thereto, have signed this Agreement. DONE in duplicate at Putrajaya this 9th day of May 2012, each in the Hindi, Malay and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail. PROTOCOL At the time of signing the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Malaysia for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, the undersigned have agreed that the following provisions shall form an integral part of the Agreement: 1. With reference to paragraph 1 of Article 4, it is understood that the second sentence of this paragraph is not to exclude residents of countries adopting a territorial principle in their taxation law. 2. It is understood that the persons who are entitled to tax benefits according to the Labuan Business Activity Tax Act, 1990 are ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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