TMI BlogAgreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxesX X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... the said Agreement provides that the provisions of the Agreement shall have effect in India in respect of taxes on income arising in any fiscal year beginning on or after the first day of April next following the calendar year in which the Agreement enters into force; Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 90 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961) , the Central Government hereby notifies that all the provisions of said Agreement, as annexed hereto, shall be given effect to in the Union of India. ANNEXURE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN 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 the Islamic Republic of Iran, Intending to conclude an Agreement for the elimination of double taxation with respect to taxes on income without creating opportunities for non-taxation or reduced taxation through tax evasion or avoidance (including also through treaty-shopping arrangements aimed at o ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ontracting State mean the Islamic Republic of Iran or the Republic of India as the context requires; e) 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; f) 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; g) the term competent authority means: (i) in the case of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance or his authorized representative; (ii) in India: the Finance Minister, Government of India, or his authorized representative; h) the term national , in relation to a Contracting State, means: (i) any individual possessing the nationality of that Contracting State; and (ii) any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in that Contracting State. 2. As regards the application of the Agreement at any time ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... erm 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 exploration, exploitation and/or extraction of natural resources. 3. a) A building site, a construction, assembly or installation project or supervisory activities in connection therewith, constitutes a permanent establishment but only if such site, project or activities last more than 270 days. b) The furnishing of services, including consultancy services, by an enterprise through employees or other personnel engaged by the enterprise for such purpose constitutes a permanent establishment , but only where activities of that nature continue (for the same or connected project) within the coun ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... eding 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 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, he will not be considered an agent of an independent status within the meaning of this paragraph. 8. 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 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... 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 State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere. 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, fees or other similar payments in return for the use of patents, or other rights, or by way of commission for specific services performed or for management, or, except in the case of banking enterprises, by way of interest on moneys lent to the permanent establishment. Likewise, no account shall be taken, in the determination of the profits of a permanent establishment, for amounts charged (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, fees or other similar payments in return for the use of paten ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... 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 so accrued to one of the enterprises, but, by reason of those conditions, have not 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 appropr ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... 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. 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 (ten) per cent of the gross amount of the interest. 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, interest arising in a Contracting State shall be exempt from tax in that State if it is paid to and beneficially owned by the Government of the other Contracting State or its political subdivision or a local authority thereof, by the Central Bank of the other Contracting State, or by an institution wholly owned and controlled by the Government of the other Contracting State. 4. The term interest ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... , 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 (ten) per cent of the gross amount of the royalties. 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 or films or tapes used for radio or television broadcasting, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for the use of, or the right to use, industrial, commercial or scientific equipment, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience. 4. The provisions of paragraphs 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 that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated th ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... yments of any kind, other than those mentioned in Articles 12, 15 and 16 of this Agreement, as consideration for managerial or technical or consultancy services, including the provision of services of technical or other personnel. 4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the fees for technical services, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the fees for technical services arise, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other Contracting State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the fees for technical services 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. a) Fees for technical services shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the fees for technical services, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent est ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ectly principally of immovable property situated in a Contracting State may be taxed in that State. 5. Gains from the alienation of shares other than those mentioned in paragraph 4 in a company which is a resident of a Contracting State may be taxed in that State. 6. Gains from the alienation of any property other than that referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident. Article 15 INDEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES 1. 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: a) 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 State; or b) 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 co ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... 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 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, 15 and 16, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsperson are exercised. 3. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to the income derived from activities performed in a Contracting State by entertainers or sportspersons if the visit to that state is wholly or mainly supported by public funds of the other State or political subdivisions or local authorities thereof. In such a case, the income is taxable only in the Contracting State of which the entertainers or sportspersons are resident. Article 19 PENSIONS Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 20, pensions and other similar remuneration paid to a resident of a Contracting State in consideration of past employment shall be taxable only in that State. Article 20 Government Service ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ans and scholarships be exempt from tax in that other State on: a) payments made to him by persons residing outside that other State for the purpose of his maintenance, education or training; and b) remuneration which he derives from an employment which he exercises in the other Contracting State if the employment is directly related to his studies. 2. The benefits of this Article shall extend only for such period of time as may be reasonable or customarily required to complete the education or training undertaken, but in no event shall any individual have the benefits of this Article, for more than seven consecutive years from the date of his first arrival for the purpose of his education or training in that other State. Article 23 OTHER INCOME 1. 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. 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 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... the remaining income of such resident, take into account the exempted income. 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 Contracting State has in the other Contracting State, shall not be less favorably 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. Ent ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... r 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 paragraphs. The competent authorities, through consultations, shall develop appropriate procedures, conditions, methods and techniques for the implementation of the mutual agreement procedure provided for in this Article. Article 27 EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION 1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information including documents, or certified copies of documents as is foreseeably relevant for carrying out the provisions of this Agreement 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 or local authorities, insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Agreement. The exchange of information is not restricted by Articles 1 and 2. 2. Any information received under paragraph 1 of this Article by a Contracting State shall be treated as sec ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... hip interests in a person. Article 28 ENTITLEMENT TO BENEFITS Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, a benefit under this Agreement shall not be granted in respect of an item of income if it is reasonable to conclude, having regard to all relevant facts and circumstances, that obtaining that benefit was one of the principal purposes of any arrangement or transaction that resulted directly or indirectly in that benefit, unless it is established that granting that benefit in these circumstances would be in accordance with the object and purpose of the relevant provisions of this Agreement. Article 29 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 30 ENTRY INTO FORCE 1. The Contracting States shall notify each other in writing, through diplomatic channels, of the completion of the procedures required by the respective laws for the entry into force of this Agreement. 2. This Agreement shall enter into force on ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... PROTOCOL At the moment of signing of the Agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of India for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, the undersigned have agreed upon the following provisions which shall form an integral part of the Agreement: 2. It is understood that for the purposes of this Agreement: a) the term fiscal year means: (i) in the case of India: the financial year beginning on the first day of April; (ii) in the case of Islamic Republic of Iran: the tax year/fiscal year as defined under the Direct Taxes Act of the Islamic Republic of Iran. b) the term tax means Indian or Iranian tax, as the context requires, but shall not include any amount which is payable in respect of any 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. Further, the amounts payable for the aforementioned default, omission, penalty or fine shall not be taken into account for giving tax credit. 2. For the purpose of computing the time limit in paragraph 3 (a) of Article 5, ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... uesting Contracting State has pursued all means available in its own territory to obtain the information, except those that would give rise to disproportionate difficulties. b) The requesting State shall provide the following information to the requested State when making a request for information under Article 27: (i) the identity, including the name of the person under examination or investigation; as well as any other particulars facilitating that person s identification, such as address, TIN and National ID No., if available; (ii) the period of time for which the information is requested; (iii) a statement of the information sought including its nature and the form, if any, in which the requesting State wishes to receive the information from the requested State; (iv) the tax purpose for which the information is sought; (v) to the extent known, the name, address and other particulars mentioned in clause (i) of this subparagraph, of any person believed to be in possession of the requested information. c) The reference to foreseeable relevance is intended to provide for exchange of information in tax matters to the widest possible extent and, at the same tim ..... 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