AFGHANISTAN

Agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Afghanistan on reciprocal exemption ofthe airlines of India and Afghanistan from payment of income-tax

Notification No. 1108 [F. No. 145/2/71-ITD], dated 30 September, 1975

G.S.R. 514(E).--Whereas the Government of India and the Government of Afghanistan have concluded an Agreement through exchange of letters as set out in the Annexure hereto, for the avoidance of double taxation of income of enterprises operating aircraft;

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 90 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961) and section 24A of the Companies (Profits) Surtax Act, 1964 (7 of 1964), the Central Government hereby directs that all the provisions of the said Agreement shall be given effect to in the Union of India.

ANNEXURE

Ambassador of India

Kabul

September 14, 1975.

Excellency,

I have the honour to refer to the Agreement dated the 26th January, 1952 between the Government of India and the Government of Afghanistan relating to air services and to the discussions between the representatives of our two Governments on the reciprocal exemption of the airlines of India and Afghanistan from payment of income-tax and to confirm on behalf of the Government of India the following understandings reached between our two Governments :

(1) Income derived from the operation of aircraft by the airlines of India shall be exempt from the Afghanistan tax.

(2) Income derived from the operation of aircraft by the airlines of Afghanistan shall be exempt from the Indian tax.

(3) The exemption provided for in paragraphs (1) and (2) above shall also apply in respect of participation in pools of any kind regarding air transport by the airlines of India or Afghanistan; the exemption shall not, however, apply to income from operation of aircraft in internal traffic in India or Afghanistan.

(4) The exemption provided for in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) above shall have effect in relation to the income derived from the operation of aircraft on or after the 26th day of January, 1952, on which date the Agreement relating to air services was signed between India and Afghanistan.

In case any tax on income relatable to the aforesaid period has been recovered by either Government as of the date of this Agreement, the same shall be refunded by that Government on an application to be made in this behalf within twelve months of the said date by the airlines of India or the airlines of Afghanistan as the case may be.

(5) It is understood that :

(a) The term "Indian tax" means the income-tax and surtax imposed under the tax laws of India.

(b) The term "Afghanistan tax" means the income-tax and the business transactions tax imposed by the Income-tax Law of Afghanistan.

(c) The terms "Indian tax" and "Afghanistan tax" shall also include any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed hereafter by India or Afghanistan respectively in addition to or in place of the existing taxes.

(d) The term "Airlines of India" or "Airlines of Afghanistan" means--

(i) airlines designated by the Government of India or the Government of Afghanistan, as the case may be, in pursuance of the Agreement dated 26th January, 1952 (as amended or revised from time to time) between the two Governments relating to air services; or

(ii) airlines which are authorised by the Government of India or the Government of Afghanistan, as the case may be, by a general or special arrangement between the two Governments to operate chartered flights between or beyond their territories.

(e) The term "internal traffic" shall mean traffic which originates and terminates within India or within Afghanistan, as the case may be.

(f) The term "operation of aircraft" means a business of transportation by air of persons, livestock, goods or mail carried on by the owners or lessors or charterers of aircraft, including the sale of tickets for such transportation on behalf of other enterprises and any other activity directly connected with such transportation.

I have the honour also to propose that this letter and Your Excellency's letter of reply confirming the foregoing understandings shall be regarded as constituting an agreement between the two Governments for the avoidance of double taxation of income of enterprises operating aircraft which shall enter into force on the date of Your Excellency's reply and shall remain in force indefinitely, unless either of the Governments gives notice to the other Government of its intention to terminate this Agreement on or before the thirtieth day of June in any calendar year after the year 1980. In the event of such a notice, this Agreement shall cease to be effective:

(a) in India, in respect of income assessable for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April in the second calendar year following the calendar year in which the notice is given and the subsequent assessment years; and

(b) in Afghanistan, in respect of income assessable for the taxable year commencing on the 1st day of Hamal corresponding to the 21st day of March, in the second calendar year following the calendar year in which the notice is given and the subsequent taxable years.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration.

(Sd.)

K. R. P. Singh,

Ambassador of India in Afghanistan,

Kabul--Afghanistan

H.E. Mr. Sultan Mahmood Ghazi,

President,

Civil Aviation and Tourism Authority.

Kabul--Afghanistan.

September 14, 1975.

President

Civil Aviation and Tourism Authority

Excellency,

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's letter of today's date which reads as follows :

"I have the honour to refer to the Agreement dated the 26th January, 1952 between the Government of India and the Government of Afghanistan relating to air services and to the discussions between the representatives of our two Governments on the reciprocal exemption of the airlines of India and Afghanistan from payment of income-tax and to confirm on behalf of the Government of India the following understandings reached between our two Governments.

(1) Income derived from the operation of aircraft by the airlines of India shall be exempt from the Afghanistan tax.

(2) Income derived from the operation of aircraft by the airlines of Afghanistan shall be exempt from the Indian tax.

(5) It is understood that :

(a) The term "Indian tax" means the income-tax and surtax imposed under the tax laws of India.

(b) The term "Afghanistan tax" means the income-tax and the business transactions tax imposed by the Income-tax Law of Afghanistan.

(c) The term "Indian tax" and "Afghanistan tax" shall also include any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed hereafter by India or Afghanistan respectively in addition to or in place of the existing taxes.

(d) The term "Airlines of India" or "Airlines of Afghanistan" means--

(i) airlines designated by the Government of India or the Government of Afghanistan, as the case may be, in pursuance of the Agreement, dated 26th January, 1952 (as amended or revised from time to time) between the two Governments relating to air services; or

(e) The term "internal traffic" shall mean traffic which originates and terminates within India or within Afghanistan, as the case may be.

"I have the honour also to propose that this letter and Your Excellency's letter of reply confirming the foregoing understandings shall be regarded as constituting an agreement between the two Governments for the avoidance of double taxation of income of enterprises operating aircraft which shall enter into force on the date of Your Excellency's reply and shall remain in force indefinitely, unless either of the Governments gives notice to the other Government of its intention to terminate this Agreement on or before the thirtieth day of June in any calendar year after the year 1980. In the event of such a notice, this agreement shall cease to be effective :

I have further the honour to confirm the foregoing understandings on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan and to agree that Your Excellency's letter and my reply thereto shall constitute an agreement between the two Governments as stated in Your Excellency's above-mentioned letter.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration.

(Sd.)

Sultan Mahmood Ghazi,

President, Civil Aviation and Tourism Authority,

Kabul--Afghanistan

H.E. Mr. K. R. P. Singh,

Ambassador of India in Afghanistan,

Kabul--Afghanistan.

AUSTRALIA

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Australia for theavoidance of double taxation of income derived from international air transport

Notification [F. No. 501/1/79-FTD], dated 19 November, 1983

G.S.R. 850(E).--Whereas the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Australia have concluded an Agreement, as set out in the Annexure hereto, for the avoidance of double taxation of income derived from international air transport;

And whereas all the requirements have been completed in India and Australia as are necessary to give the said Agreement the force of law in India and Australia respectively, as required by paragraph 1 of Article 4 of the said Agreement;

ANNEXURE

The Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Australia,

Desiring to conclude an Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation of income derived from international air transport,

Have agreed as follows :

ARTICLE 1: 1. The existing taxes to which this Agreement shall apply are--

(a) in the case of Australia :

the Australian income-tax, including the additional tax upon the undistributed amount of the distributable income of a private company, (hereinafter referred to as "Australian tax");

(b) In the case of India :

(i) the income-tax including any surcharge thereon imposed under the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961);

(ii) the surtax imposed under the Companies (Profits) Surtax Act, 1964 (7 of 1964), (hereinafter referred to as Indian tax).

2. This Agreement shall also apply to any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed after the date of signature of this Agreement in addition to, or in place of the taxes referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

ARTICLE 2: 1. For the purposes of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires :--

(a) the term "Australia" means the Commonwealth of Australia and, when used in a geographical sense, includes all territories of Australia;

(b) the term "India" means the territory of India as defined in the Constitution and the laws of India;

(c) the terms "Contracting State" and "other Contracting State" mean Australia or India, as the context requires;

(d) the term "tax" means "Australian tax" or, "Indian tax", as the context requires;

(e) the term "enterprise of a Contracting State" means an Australian enterprise or an Indian enterprise, as the context requires;

(f) the term "Australian enterprise" means an enterprise that has its place of effective management in Australia;

(g) the term "Indian enterprise" means an enterprise that has its place of effective management in India; and

(h) the term "operation of aircraft in international traffic" means the operation of aircraft in the carriage of persons, livestock, goods or mail between--

(i) Australia and India;

(ii) Australia and any other country;

(iii) India and any other country;

(iv) Countries other than Australia or India;

(v) Places within a country other than Australia or India;

and in relation to an enterprise engaged in the operation of aircraft for such carriage, includes the sale of tickets for and the provision of services connected with such carriage, either for the enterprise itself or for any other enterprise engaged in the operation of aircraft for such carriage.

2. In the application of the provisions of this Agreement by a Contracting State, any term used but not defined herein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning which it has under the laws in force in that State relating to the taxes to which this Agreement applies.

ARTICLE 3: 1. Profits derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the operation of aircraft in international traffic or arising from the carriage by air of persons, livestock, goods or mail between places in that State, shall be exempt from tax in the other Contracting State.

2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall also apply to the share of profits from the operation of aircraft in international traffic derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State through participation in a pooled service, in a joint air transport operation or in an international operating agency.

3. For the purpose of paragraph 1, interest on funds connected with the operation of aircraft in international traffic derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State engaged in such operation shall be regarded as income from the operation of aircraft in international traffic.

ARTICLE 4: 1. This Agreement shall come into operation on the thirteenth day after the date on which the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of India exchange notes through the diplomatic channel notifying each other that the last of such things has been done as is necessary to give this Agreement the force of law in Australia and India respectively.The exchange of notes shall take place at New Delhi.

2. The provisions of this Agreement shall have effect in respect of income derived on or after 1 April, 1975.

ARTICLE 5: This Agreement shall continue in effect indefinitely but either Contracting State may, on or before 30 June in any calendar year after the year 1986, give written notice of termination to the other Contracting State through the diplomatic channel and in such event this Agreement shall cease to be effective in respect of income derived on or after 1 April, in the calendar year next following the year in which the notice of termination is given.

In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorised thereto by their respective governments, have signed this Agreement.

Done at Canberra on this 31st day of May one thousand nine hundred and eighty three in two originals each in the Hindi and English languages, both the texts being equally authentic in case of doubt, the English text shall be the operative one.

Sd/-- Sd/--

(D. S. Kamtekar) (J. S. Dawkins)

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA

FOR REPUBLIC OF THE

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

AUSTRALIA

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Australia for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income

Notification No. GSR 60(E), dated 22 January, 1992.

Whereas the annexed agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Australia for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income has entered into force on the 30th day of December, 1991, on the exchange of notes notifying each other that the last of such things has been done as is necessary to give the said agreement the force of law in India and in Australia, in accordance with Paragraph (1) of Article 28 of the said Agreement.

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 90 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), and section 24A of the Companies (Profits) Surtax Act, 1964 (7 of 1964), the Central Government hereby directs that all the provisions of the said Agreement shall given effect to in the Union of India.

ANNEXURE

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OFAUSTRALIA FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASIONWITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME

The Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Australia,

Desiring to conclude an Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income,

Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1: Personal scope.--This Agreement shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.

ARTICLE 2: Taxes covered.--(1) The existing taxes to which this Agreement shall apply are:

(a) in Australia:

the income-tax, and the resource rent tax in respect of off shore projects relating to exploration for or exploitation of petroleum resources, imposed under the federal law of the Commonwealth of Australia;

(b) in India:

(i) the income-tax including any surcharge thereon; and

(ii) the surtax imposed on chargeable profits of companies.

(2) This Agreement shall also apply to any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed under the federal law of the commonwealth of Australia or the law of the Republic of India after the date of signature of this Agreement in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of any substantial changes which have been made in the laws of their respective States relating to the taxes to which this Agreement applies.

ARTICLE 3: General definitions.--(1) For the purposes of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) the term "Australia", when used in a geographical sense, excludes all external territories other than:

(i) the Territory of Norfolk Island;

(ii) the Territory of Christmas Island;

(iii) the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Island;

(iv) the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands;

(v) the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands; and

(vi) the Coral Sea Island Territory,

and includes any area adjacent to the territorial limits of Australia [including the Territories specified in sub-paragraphs (i) to (vi) inclusive] in respect of which there is for the time being in force, consistently with international law, a law of Australia dealing with the exploitation of any of the natural resources of the sea-bed and sub-soil of the continental shelf;

(b) the term "India" means the territory of India and includes the territorial sea and the air space above it, as well as any other maritime zone in which India has sovereign rights, other rights and jurisdictions, according to the Indian law and in accordance with international law;

(c) the terms "Contracting State", "one of the Contracting States" and "other Contracting State" mean, as the context requires, Australia or India, the Governments of which have concluded this Agreement;

(d) the term "person" includes an individual, a company, any other body of persons and any other entity which is treated as a taxable unit for tax purposes;

(e) the term "company" means any body corporate or any entity which is treated as a company or body corporate for tax purposes;

(f) the terms "enterprise of one of the Contracting States" and "enterprise of the other Contracting State" mean an enterprise carried on by a resident of Australia or an enterprise carried on by a resident of India, as the context requires;

(g) the term "tax" means Australian tax or Indian tax, as the context requires;

(h) the term:

(i) "Australian tax" means tax imposed by Australia; and

(ii) "Indian tax" means tax imposed by India,

being tax to which this Agreement applies by virtue of Article 2, but neither term includes any amount which represents a penalty or fine or interest imposed under the law of either Contracting State relating to its tax;

(i) the term "competent authority" means, in the case of Australia, the Commissioner or Taxation or an authorised representative of the Commissioner and, in the case of India, the Central Government in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) or their authorised representative; and

(j) the term "year of income", in relation to Indian tax, means "previous year" as defined in the Income-tax Act, 1961.

(2) In the application of this Agreement by a Contracting State, any term not defined in this Agreement shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning which it has under the laws of that State from time to time in force relating to the taxes to which this Agreement applies.

ARTICLE 4: Residence.—

(1) For the purposes of this Agreement, a person is a resident of one of the Contracting States if the person is a resident of that Contracting State for the purposes of its tax. However, a person is not a resident of a Contracting State for the purposes of this Agreement if the person 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 the status of that person shall be determined in accordance with the following rules:

(a) the person shall be deemed to be a resident solely of the Contracting State in which a permanent home is available to the person;

(b) if a permanent home is available to the person in both Contracting States, or in neither of them, the person shall be deemed to be a resident solely of the Contracting State with which the person's personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests).

For the purposes of this paragraph, an individual's citizenship of a Contracting State as well as that person's habitual abode shall be factors in determining the degree of the person's personal and economic relations with that Contracting State.

(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 solely of the Contracting State in which its place of effective management is situated.

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" shall include especially:

(a) a place of management;

(b) a branch;

(c) an office;

(d) a factory;

(e) a workshop;

(f) a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction of natural resources;

(g) a warehouse in relation to a person providing storage facilities for others;

(h) a farm, plantation or other place where agricultural, pastoral, forestry or plantation activities are carried on;

(i) premises used as a sales outlet or for receiving or soliciting orders;

(j) an installation or structure, or plant or equipment, used for the exploration for or exploitation of natural resources;

(k) a building site or construction, installation or assembly project, or supervisory activities in connection with such a site or project, where that site or project exists or those activities are carried on (whether separately or together with other sites, projects or activities) for more than six months.

(3) An enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in one of the Contracting States and to carry on business through that permanent establishment if:

(a) Substantial equipment is being used in that State by, for or under a contract with the enterprise;

(b) it carries on activities in that State in connection with the exploration for or exploitation of natural resources in that State; or

(c) it furnishes services, including managerial services and those mentioned in sub-paragraphs (3)(h) to (k) of Article 12 but not those services in respect of which payments or credits that are royalties as defined in Article 12 are made, within one of the Contracting States through employees or other personnel, but only if those services are furnished within that State:

(i) for a period or periods aggregating to more than 90 days within any 12-month period; or

(ii) for another enterprise, if both enterprises are within either of the relationships described in sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) of Article 9.

(4) An enterprise shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment merely by reason of:

(a) the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage or display 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 or display;

(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; or

(e) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of advertising, for the supply of information, for scientific research, or for similar activities which have a preparatory or auxiliary character, for the enterprise.

However, the preceding provisions of this paragraph shall not apply where an enterprise of one of the Contracting States maintains in the other Contracting State a fixed place of business for any purpose other than those specified in this paragraph.

(5) A person acting in one of the Contracting States on behalf of an enterprise of the other Contracting State--other than an agent of an independent status to whom Paragraph (6) applies -- shall be deemed to be a permanent establishment of that enterprise in the first-mentioned State if:

(a) the person has, and habitually exercises in that State, an authority to conclude contracts on behalf of the enterprise, unless the person's activities are limited to the purchase of goods or merchandise for the enterprise;

(b) the person has no such authority , but habitually maintains in that State a stock of goods or merchandise from which the person regularly delivers goods or merchandise on behalf of the enterprise:

(c) the person habitually secures orders in that State, wholly or principally for the enterprise itself or for the enterprise and other enterprises controlling, or controlled by or subject to the same common control as, that enterprise; or

(d) in so acting, the person manufactures or processes in that State for the enterprise goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise.

(6) An enterprise of one of the Contracting States 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, where that person is acting in the ordinary course of the person's business as such a broker or agent. However, when the activities of such a broker or agent are carried on wholly or principally on behalf of that enterprise itself or on behalf of that enterprise and other enterprises controlling, or controlled by or subject to the same common control as, that enterprise, the person will not be considered a broker or agent of an independent status within the meaning of this paragraph.

(7) The fact that a company which is a resident of one of the Contracting States 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 make either company a permanent establishment of the other.

(8) The principles set forth in the preceding paragraphs of these Articles shall be applied in determining for the purposes of Paragraph (5) of Article 11 and Paragraph (5) of Article 12 of this Agreement whether there is a permanent establishment outside both Contracting States, and whether an enterprise, not being an enterprise of one of the Contracting States, has a permanent establishment in one of the Contracting States.

ARTICLE 6: Income from real property (Immovable property).—

(1) Income from real property may be taxed in the Contracting State in which that property is situated.

(2) For the purposes of this Article, the term "real property":

(a) in the case of Australia, has the meaning which it has under the laws of Australia and shall include:

(i) a lease of land and any other interest in or over land, whether improved or not; and

(ii) a right to receive variable or fixed payments either as consideration for the working of or the right to work or explore for, or in respect of the exploitation of, mineral or other deposits, oil or gas wells, quarries or other places of extraction or exploitation of natural resources; and

(b) in the case of India, means such property which, according to the laws of India, is immovable property and shall include:

(i) property accessory to immovable property;

(ii) rights to which the provisions of the general law respecting landed property apply; and

(iii) usufruct of immovable property and rights to receive variable or fixed payments either as consideration for the working of or the right to work or explore for, or in respect of exploitation of, mineral or other deposits, oil or gas wells, quarries or other places of extraction or exploitation of natural resources.

(3) A lease of land, any other interest in or over land and any rights or property referred to in any of the sub-paragraphs of Paragraph (2) shall be regarded as situated where the land, mineral or other deposits, oil or gas wells, quarries, natural resources or property, as the case may be, are situated or where the exploration may take place.

(4) The provisions of Paragraph (1) shall apply to income derived from the direct use, letting or use in any other form of real property.

(5) The provisions of Paragraphs (1), (3) and (4) shall also apply to the income from real property of an

enterprise and to income from real property used for the performance of independent personal services.

ARTICLE 7: Business Profits.--(1) The profits of an enterprise of one of the Contracting States 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:

(a) that permanent establishment; or

(b) sales within that other Contracting State of goods or merchandise of the same or a similar kind as those sold, or other business activities of the same or a similar kind as those carried on, through that permanent establishment.

(2) Subject to the provisions of Paragraph (3), where an enterprise of one of the Contracting States 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 expecpted 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 or with other enterprises with which it deals.

(3) In the determination of the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed as deductions, in accordance with and subject to the limitations of the law relating to tax in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated, expenses of the enterprise, being expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the business of the permanent establishment (including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred), whether incurred in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere.

(4) 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.

(5) Where the correct amount of profits attributable to a permanent establishment is incapable of determination by the taxation authority of one of the Contracting States or the ascertaining thereof by that authority presents exceptional difficulties, nothing in this Article shall affect the application of any law of that State relating to the determination of the tax liability of a person, provided that the law shall be applied, so far as the information available to that authority permits, in accordance with the principles of this Article.

(6) For the purposes of the preceding paragraphs of this Article, 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 which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Agreement, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article.

(8) Nothing in this Article shall effect the operation of any law of a Contracting State relating to tax imposed on profits from insurance with non-residents provided that if the relevant law in force in either Contracting State at the date of signature of this Agreement is varied (otherwise than in minor respects so as not to affect its general character) the Contracting States shall consult with each other with a view to agreeing to any amendment of this paragraph that may be appropriate.

(9) Where:

(a) a resident of one of the Contracting States is beneficially entitled, whether directly or through one or more interposed trust estates, to a share of the business profits of an enterprise carried on in the other Contracting State by the trustee of a trust estate other than a trust estate which is treated in that other State as a company for tax purposes; and

(b) in relation to that enterprise, that trustee would, in a accordance with the principles of Article 5, have a permanent establishment in that other Contracting State,

the enterprise carried on by the trustee shall be deemed to be a business carried on in that other Contracting State by that resident through a permanent establishment situated therein and that share of business profits shall be attributed to that permanent establishment.

ARTICLE 8: Ships and aircraft.—

(1) Profits from the operation of ships or aircraft, including interest on funds connected with that operation, derived by a resident of one of the Contracting States shall be taxable only in that State.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1), such profits may be taxed in the other Contracting State where they are profits from the operations of ships or aircraft confined solely to places in that other State.

(3) The provisions of Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall apply in relation to the share of the profits from the operation of ships or aircraft derived by a resident of one of the Contracting States through participation in a pool service, in a joint transport operating organisation or in an international operating agency.

(4) For the purposes of this Article, profits derived from the carriage by ships or aircraft of passengers, livestock, mail, goods or merchandise shipped in a Contracting State for discharge at another place in that State shall be treated as profits from operations of ships or aircraft confined solely to places in that State.

ARTICLE 9: Associated enterprises.—

(1) Where:

(a) an enterprise of one of the Contracting States 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 one of the Contracting States and an enterprise of the other contracting State,

and in either case conditions operate between the two enterprises in their commercial or financial relations which differ from those which might be expected to operate between independent enterprises dealing wholly independently with one another, then any profits which, but for those conditions, might have been expected to accrue 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) Nothing in this Article shall affect the application of any law of a Contracting State relating to the determination of the tax liability of a person, including determinations in cases where the information available to the taxation authority of that State is inadequate to determine the income to be attributed to an enterprise, provided that that law shall be applied, so far as it is practicable to do so, consistently with the principles of this Article.

(3) Where profits on which an enterprise of one of the contracting States has been charged to tax in that State are also included, by virtue of Paragraph (1) or (2), in the profits of an enterprise of the other Contracting State and charged to tax in that other State, and the profits so included are profits which might have been expected to have accrued to that enterprise of the other State if the conditions operative between the enterprises had been those which might have been expected to have operated between independent enterprises dealing wholly independently with one another, then the first-mentioned State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of tax charged on those profits in the first-mentioned State. In determining such an adjustment, due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Agreement and for this purpose the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall if necessary consult each other.

ARTICLE 10: Dividends.—

(1) Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of one of the Contracting States for the purposes of its tax, being dividends to which a resident of the other Contracting State is beneficially entitled, may be taxed in that other State.

(2) Such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident for the purposes of its tax, and according to the law of that State, but the tax so charged shall not exceed 15 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends.

(3) The term "dividends" in this Article means income from shares and other income 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 for the purposes of its tax.

(4) The provisions of Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply if the person beneficially entitled to the dividends, being a resident of one of the Contracting States, 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 any such case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

(5) Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of one of the Contracting States, being dividends to which a person who is not a resident of the other Contracting State is beneficially entitled, shall be exempt from tax in that other State except insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment or fixed base situated in that other State: Provided that this paragraph shall not apply in relation to dividends paid by any company which is a resident of Australia for the purposes of Australian tax and which is also a resident of India for the purposes of Indian tax.

ARTICLE 11: Interest.—

(1) Interest arising in one of the Contracting States, being interest to which a resident of the other Contracting State is beneficially entitled, may be taxed in that other State.

(2) Such interest may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which it arises, and according to the law of that State, but the tax so charged shall not exceed 15 per cent or the gross amount of the interest.

(3) The term "interest" in this Article includes interest from Government securities or from bonds or debentures, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in profits, and interest from any other form of indebtedness as well as all other income assimilated to income from money lent by the law, relating to tax, of the Contracting State in which the income arises, but does not include interest referred to in Paragraph (1) of Article 8.

(4) The provisions of Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply if the person beneficially entitled to the interest, being a resident of one of the Contracting States, 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, or and the indebtedness in respect of which the the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such a case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

(5) Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself or a political sub-division or local authority of that State or a person who is a resident of that State for the purposes of its tax. Where, however, the person paying the interest, whether the person is a resident of one of the Contracting States or not, has in one of the Contracting States or outside both Contracting States a permanent establishment or fixed base in connection with which the indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, and such interest is borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such interest shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment of fixed base is situated.

(6) Where, owing to a special relationship between the payer and the person beneficially entitled to the interest, or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the interest paid, having regard to the indebtedness for which it is paid, exceeds the amount which might have been expected to have been agreed upon by the payer and the person so entitled in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last mentioned amount. In that case, the excess part of the amount of the interest paid shall remain taxable according to the law, relating to tax, of each Contracting State, but subject to the other provisions of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 12: Royalties.—

(1) Royalties arising in one of the Contracting States, being royalties to which a resident of the other Contracting State is beneficially entitled, may be taxed in that other State.

(2) Such royalties may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise, and according to the law of that State, but the tax so charged shall not exceed:

(a) in the case of:

(i) royalties referred to in sub-paragraph (3)(b);

(ii) payments or credits for services referred to in sub-paragraph (3)(d), subject to sub-paragraphs (3)(h) to (l), that are ancillary and subsidiary to the application or enjoyment of equipment for which payments or credits are made under sub-paragraph (3)(b); or

(iii) royalties referred to in sub-paragraph (3)(f) that relate to equipment mentioned in sub-paragraph (3)(b);

10 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties; and

(b) in the case of other royalties:

(i) during the first five years of income for which this Agreement has effect:

(A) Where the payer is the Government of a political sub-division of that State or a public sector company: 15 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties; and

(B) in all other cases: 20 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties; and

(ii) during all subsequent years of income: 15 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties.

(3) The term "royalties" in this article means payments or credits, whether periodical or not, and, however described or computed, to the extent to which they are made as consideration for:

(a) the use of, or the right to use, any copyright, patent, design or model, plan secret formula or process, trade mark, or other like property or right;

(b) the use of, or the right to use, any industrial, commercial or scientific equipment;

(c) the supply of scientific, technical, industrial or commercial knowledge or information;

(d) the rendering of any technical or consultancy services (including those of technical or other personnel) which are ancillary and subsidiary to the application or enjoyment of any such property or right as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (a), any such equipment as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) or any such knowledge or information as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (c);

(e) the use of, or the right to use:

(i) motion picture films:

(ii) films or video tapes for use in connection with television; or

(iii) tapes for use in connection with radio broadcasting;

(f) total or partial forbearance in respect of the use or supply of any property or right referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e); or

(g) the rendering of any services (including those of technical or other personnel) which make available technical knowledge, experience, skill, know-how or processes or consist of the development and transfer of a technical plan or design;

but that term does not include payments or credits relating to services mentioned in sub-paragraphs (d) and (g) that are made;

(h) for services that are ancillary and subsidiary, and inextricably and essentially linked, to a sale of property;

(i) for services that are ancillary and subsidiary to the rental of ships, aircraft, containers or other equipment used in connection with the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic;

(j) for teaching in or by an educational institution;

(k) for services for the personal use of the individual or individuals making the payments or credits; or

(l) to an employee of the person making the payments or credits or to any individual or firm of individuals (other than a company) for professional services as defined in Article 14.

(4) The provisions of Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply if the person beneficially entitled to the royalties, being a resident of one of the Contracting States, 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 therein, and the property, right or services in respect of which the royalties are paid or credited are effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such a case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

(5) Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself or a political sub-division or local authority of that State or a person who is a resident of that State for the purposes of its tax. Where, however, the person paying the royalties, whether the person is a resident of one of the Contracting States or not, has in one of the Contracting States or outside both Contracting States a permanent establishment or fixed base in connection with which the liability to pay the royalties was incurred, and the royalties are borne by the permanent establishment or fixed base, then the royalties shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.

(6) Where, owing to a special relationship between the payer and the person beneficially entitled to the royalties, or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties paid or credited, having regard to what they are paid or credited for, exceeds the amount which might have been expected to have been agreed upon by the payer and the person so entitled in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this article shall apply only to the last mentioned amount. In that case, the excess part of the amount of the royalties paid or credited shall remain taxable according to law, relating to tax, of each Contracting State, but subject to the other provisions of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 13: Alienation of property.—

(1) Income or gains derived by a resident of one of the Contracting States from the alienation of real property referred to in Article 6 and, as provided in that Article, situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

(2) Income or gain derived from the alienation of property, other than real property referred to in Article 6, that forms part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of one of the Contracting States has in the other Contracting State or pertains to a fixed base available to a resident of the first-mentioned State in that other State for the purpose of performing independent personal services, including income or gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise) or of such a fixed base, may be taxed in that other State.

(3) Income or gains derived from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in international traffic, or of property other than real property referred to in Article 6 pertaining to the operation of those ships or aircraft, shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the enterprise which operated those ships or aircraft is a resident.

(4) Income or gains derived from the alienation of shares or comparable interest in a company, the assets of which consist wholly or principally of real property referred to in Article 6 and, as provided in that Article, situated in one of the Contracting States, may be taxed in that State.

(5) Income or gains derived from the alienation of shares or comparable interests in a company, other than those referred to in paragraph (4), may be taxed in the Contractng State of which the company is a resident.

(6) Nothing in this Agreement affects the application of a law of a Contracting State relating to the taxation of gains of a capital nature derived from the alienation of property other than that to which any of the Paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) apply.

ARTICLE 14: Independent personal services.—

(1) Income derived by an individual or a firm of individuals (other than a company) who is a resident of one of the Contracting States in respect of professional services or other independent activities of a similar character shall be taxable only in that State unless:

(a) the individual or firm has a fixed base regularly available to the individual or firm in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing the individual's or the firm's activities, in which case the income may be taxed in that other State but only so much of it as is attributable to activities exercised from that fixed base; or

(b) the stay by the individual or, in the case of a firm, by one or more members or the firm (alone or together) in the other Contracting State is for a period of periods amounting to or exceeding 183 days in a year of income, in which case only so much of the income as is derived from the activities of the individual, that member or those members, as the case may be, in that other State may be taxed in that other State.

(2) The term "professional services" includes services performed in the exercise of independent scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teaching activities as well as in the exercise of the independent activities of physicians, surgeons, lawyers, engineers, architects, dentists and accountants.

ARTICLE 15: Dependent personal services.—

(1) Subject to the provisions of Articles 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by an individual who is a resident or one of the Contracting States 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 from that exercise may be taxed in that other State.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1), remuneration derived by an individual who is a resident of one of the Contracting States 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 that other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in a year of income of that other State;

(b) the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident of that other State; and

(c) the remuneration is not deductible in determining taxable profits of a permanent establishment or a fixed base which the employer has in that other State.

(3) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic by a resident of one of the Contracting States may be taxed in that State.

ARTICLE 16: Director's fees.--Director's fees and similar payments derived by a resident of one of the Contracting States 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 17: Entertainers.—

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 14 and 15, income derived by residents of one of the Contracting States as entertainers, such as theatre, motion picture, radio or television artists, musicians and athletes, from their personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.

(2) Where income in respect of the personal activities of an entertainer as such accrues not to that entertainer but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7, 14 and 15 be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of entertainer are exercised.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1), income derived by an entertainer who is a resident of one of the Contracting States, from the entertainer's personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned Contracting State if the activities in the other Contracting State are supported wholly or substantially from the public funds of the first-mentioned Contracting State, including any of its political sub-divisions or local authorities.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions or Paragraph (2) and Articles 7, 14 and 15, where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer in the entertainer's capacity as such in one of the Contracting States accrues not to the entertainer but to another person, that income shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if that other person is supported wholly or substantially from the public funds of that other State, including any of its political sub-divisions or local authorities.

ARTICLE 18: Pensions and annuities:--

(1) Pensions (not including pensions referred to in Article 19) and annuities paid to a resident of one of the Contracting States 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 19: Government Service.—

(1) Remuneration, other than a pension or annuity paid by one of the Contracting States or a political sub-division or local authority of that State to any individual in respect of services rendered in the discharge of Governmental functions, shall be taxable only in that State. However, such remuneration shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the services are rendered in that other State and the recipient is a resident of that other State who:

(a) is a citizen of that State; or

(b) did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of performing the services.

(2) Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, one of the Contracting States or a political sub-division or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or sub-division or authority shall be taxable only in the State. However, such pension shall be taxable only in other Contracting State if the recipient is a resident and a citizen of that other State.

(3) The provisions of Articles 15, 16 and 18 shall apply, as appropriate in the circumstances, to remuneration and pensions in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by one of the Contracting States or a political sub-division or local authority thereof.

ARTICLE 20: Professors and teachers.—

(1) Where a professor or a teacher who is a resident of one of the Contracting States visits the other Contracting State for a period not exceeding two years for the purpose of teaching or carrying out advanced study or research at a university, college, school or other educational institution, any remuneration that person receives for such teaching, advanced study or research shall be exempt from tax in that other State to the extent to which such remuneration is, or upon the application of this Article will be, subject to tax in the first-mentioned State.

(2) This Article shall not apply to remuneration which a professor or teacher receives for conducting research if the research is undertaken primarily for the private benefit of a specific person or persons.

ARTICLE 21: Students and trainees.--Where a student or trainee, who is a resident of one of the Contracting States or who was a resident of that State immediately before visiting the other Contracting State and who is temporarily present in that other State solely for the purpose of the student's or trainee's education or training, receives payments from sources outside that other State for the purpose of the student's or trainee's maintenance, education or training, those payments shall be exempt from tax in that other State.

ARTICLE 22: Income not expressly mentioned.—

(1) Items of income of a resident of one of the Contracting States which are not expressly mentioned in the foregoing articles or this Agreement shall be taxable only in that State.

(2) However, any such income derived by a resident of one of the Contracting States from sources in the other Contracting State may also be taxed in that other State.

(3) The provisions of Paragraph (1) shall not apply to income derived by a resident of one of the Contracting States where that income is effectively connected with a permanent establishment or fixed base situated in the other Contracting State. In such a case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

ARTICLE 23: Source of income.—

(1) Income, profits or gains derived by a resident of one of the Contracting States which, under any one or more of Articles 6 to 8, Articles 10 to 20 and Article 22 may be taxed in the other Contracting State, shall for the purposes of the law of the other State relating to its tax be deemed to be income from source in that other State.

(2) Income, profits or gains derived by a resident of one of the Contracting States which, under any one or more of Articles 6 to 8, Articles 10 to 20 and Article 22 may be taxed in the other Contracting State, shall for the purposes of Article 24 and of the law of the first-mentioned State relating to its tax be deemed to be income from sources in that other State.

ARTICLE 24: Methods of elimination of double taxation.—

(1)(a) Subject to the provisions of the law of Australia from time to time in force which relate to the allowance of a credit against Australian tax of tax paid in a country outside Australia (which shall not affect the general principle hereof), Indian tax paid under the law of India and in accordance with this Agreement, whether directly or by deduction, in respect of income derived by a person who is a resident of Australia from sources in India shall be allowed as a credit against Australian tax payable in respect of that income.

(b) Where a company which is a resident of India and is not a resident of Australia for the purposes of Australian tax pays a dividend to a company which is a resident of Australia and which controls directly or indirectly not less than 10 per cent of the voting power of the first-mentioned company, the credit referred to in sub-paragraph (a) shall include the Indian tax paid by that first-mentioned company in respect of that portion of its profits out of which the dividend is paid.

(2) In Paragraph

(1), Indian tax paid shall include:

(a) Subject to sub-paragraph (b), an amount equivalent to the amount of any Indian tax foregone which, under the law of India relating to Indian tax and in accordance with this Agreement, would have been payable as Indian tax on income but for an exemption from, or reduction of, Indian tax on that income in accordance with:

(i) Section 10(4), 10(15)(iv), 10A, 10B, 80HHC, 80HHD, or 80-I of the Income-tax Act, 1961, insofar as those provisions were in force on, and have not been modified since, the date of signature of this Agreement, or have been modified only in minor respects so as not to affect their general character; or

(ii) Any other provision which may subsequently be made granting an exemption from or reduction of Indian tax which the Treasurer of Australia and the Ministry of Finance of India agree from time to time in letters exchanged for this purpose to be of a substantially similar character, if that provision has not been modified thereafter or has been modified only in minor respects so as not to affect its general character; and

(b) In the case of interest derived by a resident of Australia which is exempted from Indian tax under the provisions referred to in sub-paragraph (a), the amount which would have been payable as Indian tax if the interest had not been so exempt and if the tax referred to in Paragraph (2) of Article 11 did not exceed 10 per cent of the gross amount of the interest.

(3) Paragraph (2) shall apply only in relation to income derived in any of the first ten years of income in relation to which this Agreement has effect under sub-paragraph (1)(a)(ii) of Article 28 or in any later year of income that may be agreed by the Contracting States in letters exchanged for this purpose.

(4) In the case of India, double taxation shall be avoided as follows:

(a) the amount of Australian tax paid under the laws of Australia and in accordance with the provision of this Agreement, whether directly or by deduction, by a resident of India in respect of income from sources within Australia which has been subjected to tax both in India and Australia shall be allowed as a credit against the Indian tax payable in respect of such income but in an amount not exceeding that proportion of Indian tax which such income bears to the entire income chargeable to Indian tax; and

(b) for the purposes of the credit referred to in sub-paragraph (a) above, where the resident of India is a company by which surtax is payable, the credit to be allowed against Indian tax shall be allowed in the first instance against the income-tax payable by the company in India and, as to the balance, if any, against the surtax payable by it in India.

(5) Where a resident of one of the Contracting States derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, shall be taxable only in the other Contracting States, the first-mentioned State may take that income into account in calculating the amount of its tax payable on the remaining income of that resident.

ARTICLE 25: Mutual agreement procedure.—

(1) Where a person who is a resident of one or both of the Contracting States considers that the actions of the taxation authority of one or both of the Contracting States result or will result for the person in taxation not in accordance with this Agreement, the person may, notwithstanding the remedies provided by the national laws of those States, present a case to the competent authority of the Contracting State of which the person is a resident. The case must be presented within three years from the first notification of the action giving rise to taxation not in accordance with this Agreement.

(2) The competent authority shall endeavour, if the claim appears to it to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at an appropriate solution, to resolve the case with the competent authority of the other Contracting State, with a view to the avoidance of taxation not in accordance with this Agreement. The solution so reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the national laws of the Contracting States.

(3) The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall jointly endeavour to resolve any difficulties or doubts arising as to the application of this Agreement.

(4) The competent authorities of the Contracting States may communicate with each other directly for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 26: Exchange of information.—

(1) The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is necessary for the carrying out of this Agreement or of the domestic laws of the Contracting States concerning the taxes to which this Agreement applies insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to this Agreement, or for the prevention of evasion or avoidance of, or fraud in relation to, such taxes. The exchange of information is not restricted by Article 1. Any information received by the competent authority of 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, enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to, the taxes to which this Agreement applies and shall be used only for such purposes. They may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions.

(2) The competent authorities may, through consultation, develop appropriate conditions, methods and techniques concerning the matters in respect of which such exchange of information shall be made. The exchange of information shall be either on a routine basis or on request with reference to particular cases, or both. The competent authorities of the Contracting States may agree from time to time on the list of the information which shall be furnished on a routine bases.

(3) In no case shall the provisions of Paragraph (1) be construed so as to impose on the competent authority of a Contracting State the obligation:

(a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws or the 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 to supply information, the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy.

ARTICLE 27: Diplomatic and consular officials.--Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the fiscal privileges of diplomatic or consular officials under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special international Agreements.

ARTICLE 28: Entry into force.—

(1) This Agreement shall enter into force on the date on which the Contracting States exchange notes through the diplomatic channel notifying each other that the last of such things has been done as is necessary to give this agreement the force of law in Australia and in India, as the case may be, and thereupon this Agreement shall have effect:

(a) in Australia:

(i) in respect of withholding tax on income that is derived by a non-resident, in relation to income derived on or after 1st July in the calendar year next following that in which the Agreement enters into force; and

(ii) in respect of other Australian tax, in relation to income, profits or gains of any year of income beginning on or after 1st July, in the calendar year next following that in which the Agreement enters into force;

(b) in India, in respect of income, profits or gains arising in any year of income beginning on or after 1st April, in the calendar year next following that in which the Agreement enters into force.

(2) The Agreement made between the government of Australia and the government of the Republic of India for the avoidance of double taxation of income derived from international air transport signed at Canberra on 31st May, 1983 (in this Article called "1983 Agreement") shall cease to have effect with respect to taxes to which this Agreement applies when the provisions of this Agreement become effective in accordance with Paragraph (1).

(3) The 1983 Agreement shall terminate on the expiration of the last date on which it has effect in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Article.

ARTICLE 29: Termination.--This Agreement shall continue in effect indefinitely, but either of the Contracting States may, on or before 30th June, in any calendar year beginning after the expiration of five years from the date of its entry into force, give to the other Contracting State through the diplomatic channel written notice of termination and, in that event, this Agreement shall cease to be effective:

(a) in Australia:

(i) in respect of withholding tax on income that is derived by a non-resident, in relation to income derived on or after 1st July, in the calendar year next following that in which the notice of termination is given; and

(b) in India, in respect of income, profits or gains arising in any year of income beginning on or after 1st April, in the calendar year next following that in which the notice of termination is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, duly authorised thereto, have signed this Agreement.

DONE in duplicate at Canberra this 25th day of July, 1991, in the Hindi and English languages, both texts being equally authentic, the English text to be the operative one in any case of doubt.

For the Government of the Republic of India For the Government of Australia

AUSTRIA

Convention between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Austria forthe avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income

Notification No. 271/2001 [F. No. 505/1/82-FTD], dated 20-9-2001

Whereas the annexed Convention between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Austria for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income shall enter into force, on the 5th September, 2001, thirty days after the exchange of Instruments of Ratification as required by paragraph 2 of Article 28 of the said Convention;

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 90 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), the Central Government hereby directs that all the provisions of the said Convention shall be given effect to in the Union of India.

The Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Austria, desiring to conclude a Convention for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income,

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 imposed on behalf of a Contracting State or of its political sub-divisions 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, taxes on the total amounts of wages or salaries paid by enterprises, as well as taxes on capital appreciation.

(3) The existing taxes to which the Convention shall apply are in particular:--

(a) in Austria:--

(i) the income-tax (die Einkommensteuer);

(ii) the corporation tax (die Korperschaftsteuer);

(hereinafter referred to as "Austrian tax";)

(b) in India:--

the income-tax including any surcharge thereon imposed under the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961);

(hereinafter referred to as "Indian tax".)

(4) The Convention shall also apply to any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed after the date of signature of the Convention in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of any substantial changes which 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 "Austria" means the Republic of Austria;

(b) the term "India" means the territory of India and includes the territorial sea and airspace above it, as well as any other maritime zone in which India has sovereign rights, other rights and jurisdiction, according to the Indian law and in accordance with international law including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea;

(c) the term "a Contracting State" and "the other Contracting State" mean Austria or India as the context requires;

(d) the term "fiscal year" means:--

(i) in relation to Austrian tax the calendar year;

(ii) in relation to Indian tax the financial year beginning on the first day of April;

(e) the term "tax" means Austrian tax or Indian 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 Convention applies or which represents a penalty imposed relating to those taxes;

(f) the term "person" includes an individual, a company and any other entity which is treated as a taxable unit under the taxation laws in force in the respective Contracting States;

(g) the term "company" means any body corporate or any entity which is treated as a company or body corporate under the taxation laws in force in the respective Contracting States;

(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 "competent authority" means,--

(i) in Austria: the Federal Minister of Finance or his authorised representative;

(ii) in India: the Central Government in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) or their authorised representatives;

(j) the term "national" means:--

(i) any individual possessing the nationality of a Contracting State;

(ii) any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in a Contracting State;

(k) 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.

(2) As regards the application of the Convention by a Contracting State, any term, not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning which it has under the law of that State concerning the taxes to which the Convention applies.

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 his domicile, residence, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature and also includes that States and any political sub-division 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 or capital situated therein.

(2) Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then his status shall be determined as follows:--

(a) he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has a permanent home available to him, if he has a permanent home available to him in both States, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests);

(b) if the State in which he has his centre of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he has not a permanent home available to him in either State, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has an habitual abode;

(c) if he has an habitual abode in both States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State of which he is a national;

(d) if he is a national of both States or of neither of them, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to 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. If the State in which its place of effective management is situated cannot be determined, then the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement.

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;

(f) a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction of natural resources;

(g) a sales outlet;

(h) a warehouse in relation to a person providing storage facilities for others;

(i) a building site or construction, installation or assembly project or supervisory activities in connection therewith, where such site, project or activities (for the same or connected project, site or activities) continue for a period of more than six months.

(3) An enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in a Contracting State and to carry on business through that permanent establishment if it provides services or facilities in connection with, or supplies plant and machinery on hire used for or to be used in the prospecting for, or extraction or exploitation of mineral oils in that State.

(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;

(f) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of activities mentioned in sub-paragraphs (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 in a Contracting State on behalf of an enterprise of the other Contracting State, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the first-mentioned State, if such a person:--

(a) has, and habitually exercises, in that State an authority to conclude contracts in the name of 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; or

(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 or for the enterprise and other enterprises controlling, controlled by, or subject to the same control, as that enterprise.

(6) An enterprise shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in a Contracting State merely because it carries on business in that State through a broker, general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status, provided that such persons are acting in the ordinary course of their business. However, when the activities of such an agent are devoted wholly or almost wholly on behalf of that enterprise itself or on behalf of that enterprise and other enterprises controlling, controlled by, or subject to the same common control, as that enterprise, he will not be considered an agent of an independent status within the meaning of this paragraph.

(7) 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 6 applies.

(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 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 and aircraft 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 and to income from immovable property used for the performance of independent personal services.

Article 7

Business profits

(1) The profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable joinly 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 permanent establishment, including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred, whether in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere, and according to the domestic law of the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated. 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, know-how or other rights, or by way of commission or other charges, for specific services performed or for management, or, except in the case of a banking enterprise, 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 patents, know-how or other rights, or by way of commission or other charges, for specific services performed or for management, or, except in the case of a banking enterprise, by way of interest on moneys lent to the head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices.

(4) 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.

(5) 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.

(6) Where profits includes items of income 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

Shipping and Air Transport

(1) Profits derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in that State.

(2) Profits derived by an enterprise referred to in paragraph 1 which is a resident of a Contracting State from the use, maintenance, or rental of containers (including trailers and other equipment for the transport of containers) used for the transport of goods or merchandise in international traffic shall be taxable only in that Contracting State unless, the containers are used solely within the other Contracting State.

(3) For the purposes of this Article, interest on funds 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, and the provisions of Article 11 shall not apply in relation to such interest.

(4) 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.

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 10 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends.

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 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 14, 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 State, that other State may not impose any tax on the dividends paid by the company, except insofar as such dividends are paid to a resident of that other State or insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base situated in that other State, nor subject the company's undistributed profits to a tax on the company's undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in such other State.

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.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2,--

(a) interest arising in a Contracting State shall be exempt from tax in that State provided it is derived and beneficially owned by:--

(i) the State, a political sub-division or a local authority of the other Contracting State; or

(ii) the Central Bank of the other Contracting State; or

(iii) in the case of India also the Export-Import Bank of India; or

(iv) in the case of Austria also the Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG;

(b) interest arising in a Contracting State shall be exempt from tax in that Contracting State to the extent approved by the State if it is derived and beneficially owned by any person (other than a person referred to in sub-paragraph (a) who is a resident of the other Contracting State provided that the transaction giving rise to the debt-claim has been approved in this regard by the first-mentioned Contracting State.

(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, 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 14, 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, 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 indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, and such interest is borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such interest shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base 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 and fees for technical services

(1) Royalties and fees for technical services 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 and fees for technical services 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 and fees for technical services 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 and fees for technical services.

(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 term "fees for technical services" as used this Article means payments of any amount to any person other than payments to an employee of a person making payments, in consideration for the services of a managerial, technical or consultancy nature; including the provision of services of technical or other personnel.

(5) The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties or fees for technical services, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the royalties or fees for technical services arise, 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 royalties or 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 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

(6) Royalties or 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 royalties or fees for technical services, 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 liability to pay the royalties or fees for technical services was incurred, and such royalties or fees for technical services are borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such royalties or fees for technical services shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base 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 persons, the amount of the royalties or fees for technical services 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 immovable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State or of movable property pertaining to a fixed base available to a resident of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing independent personal services including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise) or of such fixed base, may be taxed in that other State.

(3) Gains from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in international traffic or movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircraft, shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident.

(4) Gains from the alienation of shares of the capital stock of a company the property of which consists directly or indirectly 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 14

Independent Personal Services

(1) Income derived by an individual who is a resident of a Contracting State from the performance of professional services or other independent activities of a similar 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 period of twelve months; in that case, only so much of the income as is derived from his activities performed in that other State may be taxed in that other State.

(2) The term "professional services" includes independent scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teaching activities as well as the independent activities of physicians, surgeons, lawyers, engineers, architects, dentists and accountants.

Article 15

Dependent Personal Services

(1) Subject to the provisions of Articles 16, 18, 19, 20 and 21, 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 period of twelve months, 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 international traffic, by an enterprise of a Contracting State may be taxed in that State.

Article 16

Directors' Fees

Directors' fees and other similar payments derived by a resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as a member of the board of directors of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

Article 17

Entertainers and Sportspersons

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7, 14 and 15, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer, such as a theatre, motion picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as a sportsperson, from 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 this capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or sportsperson but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7, 14 and 15, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsperson are exercised.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, income derived by an entertainer or a sportsperson who is a resident of a Contracting State from personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned Contracting State, if the activities in the other Contracting State are supported wholly or substantially from the public funds of the first-mentioned Contracting State, including any of its political sub-divisions or local authorities.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2 and Articles 7, 14 and 15, where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsperson in this capacity as such in a Contracting State accrues not to the entertainer or sportsperson but to another person, that income shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State, if that other person is supported wholly or substantially from the public funds of that other State, including any of its political sub-divisions or local authorities.

Article 18

Pensions and Annuities

(1) Any pension, other than a pension referred to in Article 19, or any annuity derived by a resident of a Contracting State from sources within the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned Contracting State.

(2) The term "pension" means a periodic payment made in consideration of past services or by way of compensation for injuries received in the course of performance of services.

(3) 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 19

Government Service

(1) (a) Remuneration, other than a pension, paid by a Contracting State or a political sub-division or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or sub-division or authority shall be taxable only in that State.

(b) However, such 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) The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall also apply to remuneration derived by members of permanent delegations of foreign commerce of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State.

(3) (a) Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a political sub-division or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or sub-division or authority 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.

(4) The provisions of Articles 15, 16, 17 and 18 shall apply to remuneration and pensions, in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or a political sub-division or a local authority thereof.

Article 20

Students

(1) A student or business apprentice who is or was a resident of one of the Contracting States immediately before visiting the other Contracting State and who is present in that other State solely for the purpose of his education or training, shall be exempt from tax in that other State on:--

(a) payments made to him by persons residing outside that other State for the purposes of his maintenance, education or training; and

(b) remuneration which he derives from an employment which he exercises in the other Contracting State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any period of twelve month if the employment is directly related to his studies or apprenticeship.

(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 five consecutive years from the date of his first arrival in that other State.

Article 21

Professors, Teachers and Research Scholars

(1) A professor or a teacher who is or was a resident of one of the Contracting States immediately before visiting the other Contracting State for the purpose of teaching or engaging in research, or both, at a university, college, school or other approved institution in that other Contracting State shall be exempt from tax in that other State on any remuneration for such teaching or research for a period not exceeding two years from the date of his arrival in that other State.

(2) This Article shall not apply to income from research if such research is undertaken primarily for the private benefit of a specific person or persons.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph 1, "approved institution" means an institution which has been approved in this regard by the competent authority of the concerned Contracting State.

Article 22

Other Income

(1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2, items of income of a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, which are not expressly dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Convention, shall be taxable only in that Contracting 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, 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 14, 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 Convention, and arising in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

Article 23

Elimination of Double Taxation

(1) The laws in force in either of the Contracting States shall continue to govern the taxation of income in the respective Contracting State except where express provision to the contrary is made in this Convention.

(2) In the case of Austria double taxation shall be eliminated as follows:--

(a) Where a resident of Austria derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, may be taxed in India, Austria shall, subject to the provisions of sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) exempt such income from tax.

(b) Where a resident of Austria derives items of income which, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 of Articles 10, 11, 12, paragraphs 4 and 5 of Article 13 and paragraph 3 of Article 22 may be taxed in India, Austria shall allow as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident an amount equal to the tax paid in India. Such deduction shall not, however, exceed that part of the tax, as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable to such items of income derived from India.

(c) Where in accordance with any provision of the Convention income derived by a resident of Austria is exempt from tax in Austria, Austria may nevertheless, in calculating the amount of tax on the remaining income of such resident, take into account the exempted income.

(3) In the case of India double taxation shall be eliminated as follows:--

(a) Where a resident of India derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, may be taxed in Austria, India shall allow as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident an amount equal to the income-tax paid in Austria whether directly or by deduction at source. Such amount shall not, however, exceed that part of the income-tax, as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable to the income which may be taxed in Austria.

(b) Where, in accordance with any provision of this Convention, income derived by a resident of India is exempt from tax in India, India may nevertheless, in calculating the amount of tax on the remaining income of such resident, take into account the exempted income.

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 him in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, he may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the domestic law of those States, present his case to the competent authority of the Contracting State of which he is a resident or, if his case comes under paragraph 1 of Article 24, 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 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 the 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 the Convention. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in the Convention.

(4) The competent authorities of the Contracting States may communicate with each other directly, including through a joint commission consisting of themselves or their representatives, 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 necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Convention. Any information received 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, or the determination of appeals in relation to, the taxes covered by the Convention. 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.

(2) In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 1 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 (ordre public).

Article 27

Members of Diplomatic Missions and Consular Activities

Nothing in this Convention shall affect the fiscal privileges of diplomatic or consular officials under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements.

Article 28

Entry into Force

(1) This Convention shall be ratified and the instruments of ratification shall be exchanged at New Delhi as soon as possible.

(2) The Convention shall enter into force thirty days after the exchange of instruments of ratification and its provisions shall have effect:--

(a) in Austria, in respect of the taxes levied for any fiscal year following the calendar year in which the exchange of instruments of ratification takes place.

(b) in India, in respect of income arising in any fiscal year beginning on or after the first day of April next following the calendar year in which the exchange of instruments of ratification takes place.

(3) The Convention between the Republic of Austria and the Republic of India for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income, signed at New Delhi on 24th September, 1963, shall cease to have effect when the provisions of this Convention become effective in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2.

Article 29

Termination

This Convention shall remain in force indefinitely but either of the Contracting States may on or before the thirtieth day of June in any calendar year beginning after the expiration of a period of five years form the date of its entry into force, give the other Contracting State through diplomatic channels, written notice of termination and, in such event, this Convention shall cease to have effect:--

(a) in Austria, in respect of the taxes levied for any fiscal year following the calendar year in which the notice of termination is given;

(b) in India; in respect of income arising in any fiscal year beginning on or after the first day of April next following the calendar year in which the notice of termination is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Plenipotentiaries of the two Contracting States, duly authorised thereto, have signed this Convention.

DONE in duplicate in Vienna on the 8th day of November, 1999 in the German, Hindi and English languages, each text being equally authentic. In the case of a divergence among the texts, the English text shall be the operative one.

Protocol

At the moment of signing the Convention between the Government of the Republic of Austria and the Government of 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 that the following provisions shall form an integral part of the Convention:

Ad Articles 6 and 13:

With reference to paragraph 1 of Article 6 and Article 13 it is understood that in the case of India income from immovable property and capital gains on alienation of immovable property respectively may be taxed in both Contracting States subject to the provisions of Article 23, paragraph 3.

Ad Article 7:

(a) It is understood that the deductions in respect of the head office expenses as referred to in paragraph 3 of Article 7 shall in no case be less than those allowable under the Indian Income-tax Act as on the date of entry into force of this Convention.

(b) In the case of Austria the term "profits" as used in this Article includes the profits derived by any partner from his participation in a partnership and in any other body of persons which is treated in the same way for tax purposes and from a participation in a sleeping partnership (Stille Gesellschaft) created under Austrian law.

Ad Article 24

It is understood that the provisions of Article 24, paragraph 2 shall not be construed as preventing a Contracting State from charging the profits of a permanent establishment which a company of the other Contracting State has in the first-mentioned State at a rate of tax which is higher than that imposed on the profits of a similar company of the first-mentioned Contracting State, nor being in conflict with the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 7. However the difference in tax rate shall not exceed 15 percentage points.

Ad Article 26

It is understood that in the case of disclosure of information referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 26 the confidentiality of person related data may be waived only insofar as this is necessary to safeguard predominant and legitimate interests of another person or predominant public interests.

It is understood that the provisions of Article 26, paragraph 2, sub-paragraph (c) include the basic rights granted by a State, in particular in the area of data protection.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Plenipotentiaries of the two Contracting States, duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.