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DOUBLE TAXATION AGREEMENT
8 July 1986
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 the case of Australia the income tax imposed
under the federal law of the Commonwealth of Australia, including the additional
tax upon the undistributed amount of the distributable income of a private
company and the tax known as the resource rent tax;
b) in the case of Austria: (i) the income tax; (ii) the
corporation tax; (iii) the tax on interest yields; (iv) the directors tax;
and (v) the tax on commercial and industrial enterprises, including the
tax levied on the sum of wages;
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 Austria after the date of signature
of this Agreement in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. As
soon as possible after the end of each calendar year, the competent authority
of each Contracting State shall notify the competent authority of the other
Contracting State of any substantial changes which have been made in the
laws of his State relating to the taxes to which this Agreement applies.
Article 3
GENERAL DEFINITIONS
1) In 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) Islands; (iv) the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands;
(v) the Territory of Heard and McDonald Islands; and (vi) the Coral Sea
Islands 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 subsoil
of the continental shelf;
b) the term "Austria" means the Republic of Austria;
c) the terms "Contracting State", "one of the Contracting
States" and "other Contracting State" mean Australia or Austria, as the
context requires;
d) the term "person" includes an individual, a company
and any other body of persons;
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 Austria, as the context requires;
g) the term "tax" means Australian tax or Austrian tax,
as the context requires;
h) the term "Australian tax" means tax imposed by Australia,
being tax to which this Agreement applies by virtue of Article 2;
i) the term "Austrian tax" means tax imposed by Austria,
being tax to which this Agreement applies by virtue of Article 2;
j) the term "competent authority" means, in the case
of Australia, the Commissioner of Taxation or his authorized representative
and, in the case of Austria, the Federal Minister of Finance.
2) In this Agreement, the terms "Australian tax" and "Austrian
tax" do not include any penalty or interest imposed under the law of either
Contracting State relating to the taxes to which this Agreement applies
by virtue of Article 2.
3) 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:
a) in the case of Australia, if the person is
a resident of Australia for the purposes of Australian tax; and
b) in the case of Austria, if the person is subject to
unlimited tax liability under Austrian law.
2) A person is not a resident of a Contracting State for
the purposes of this Agreement if he is liable to tax in that State in
respect only of income from sources in that State.
3) Where by reason of the preceding provisions of this
Article an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then his
status shall be determined in accordance with the following rules:
a) he shall be deemed to be a resident solely
of the Contracting State in which he has a permanent home available to
him;
b) if he has a permanent home available to him in both
Contracting States, or if he does not have a permanent home available to
him in either of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident solely of the
Contracting State with which his personal and economic relations are the
closer.
4) 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 ESTABLISHMEN
1) For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "permanent
establishment", in relation to an enterprise, means a fixed place of business
through which the business of the 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) an agricultural, pastoral or forestry property;
h) 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,
for more than twelve months.
3) 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, 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 for collecting information,
for the enterprise;
e) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely
for the purpose of activities which have a preparatory or auxiliary character
for the enterprise, such as advertising or scientific research.
4) 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 (5) applies shall be deemed to
be a permanent establishment of that enterprise in the first-mentioned
State if:
a) he has, and habitually exercises in that State,
an authority to conclude contracts on behalf of the enterprise, unless
his activities are limited to the purchase of goods or merchandise for
the enterprise; or
b) in so acting, he manufactures or substantially processes
in that State for the enterprise goods or merchandise belonging to the
enterprise, provided that the provisions of this sub-paragraph shall apply
only in relation to the goods or merchandise so manufactured or processed.
5) 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 his business as such a
broker or agent.
6) 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.
7) The principles set forth in the preceding paragraphs
of this Article shall be applied in determining for the purposes 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
IINCOME FROM REAL PROPERTY
1) Income from real property, including royalties and
other payments in respect of the operation of mines or quarries or of the
exploitation of any natural resource, may be taxed in the Contracting State
in which the real property, mines, quarries or natural resources are situated.
2) Income from a lease of land and income from any other
direct interest in or over land, whether or not improved, shall be regarded
as income from real property situated where the land to which the lease
or other direct interest relates is situated.
3) The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall also
apply to the income from real property of an enterprise and to income from
real property used for the performance of professional 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 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 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 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 expenses of the enterprise,
being expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the permanent establishment
(including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred) and
which would be deductible if the permanent establishment were an independent
entity which paid those expenses, 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) 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 in cases where the information available to the
competent authority of that State is inadequate to determine the profits
to be attributed to a permanent establishment, provided that that law shall
be applied, so far as the information available to the competent authority
permits, consistently with the principles of this Article.
6) 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.
7) Nothing in this Article shall affect 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.
8) The provisions of this Article shall also apply to
income derived by a sleeping partner from participation in a sleeping partnership
created under Austrian law.
9) Where
a) a resident of Austria 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 Australia
by the trustee of a trust estate other than a corporate unit trust; and
b) in relation to that enterprise, that trustee would,
in accordance with the principles of Article 5, have a permanent establishment
in Australia, the enterprise carried on by the trustee shall be deemed
to be a business carried on in Australia 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 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 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 organization
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 one of the Contracting States 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.
5) Income derived by an enterprise of one of the Contracting
States from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in international
traffic while owned by that enterprise or of personal property pertaining
to the corporation of those ships or aircraft shall be taxable only 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 competent 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 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 assimilated to income from shares by the law, relating
to tax, of the Contracting State of which the company making the distribution
is a resident for the purposes of its tax.
4) The provisions of paragraph (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 Austria for the purposes of Austrian
tax.
6) Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as preventing
Australia from imposing, under a federal law, tax on the income of a company
that is a resident of Austria in addition to the taxes referred to in Article
2 in relation to Australia which are payable by a company which is a resident
of Australia, provided that any such additional tax shall not exceed 15
per cent of the amount by which the taxable income of the first-mentioned
company of a year of income exceeds the tax payable on that taxable income
to Australia. Any tax payable to Australia on the undistributed profits
of a company which is a resident of Austria shall be calculated as if that
company were not liable to the additional tax referred to in this paragraph
and had paid dividends of such amount that tax equal to the amount of that
additional tax would have been payable on the dividends in accordance with
paragraph (2) of this Article.
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 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 10 per cent of 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.
4) The provisions of paragraph (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, and the indebtedness in respect
of which 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 subdivision 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 he 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 or 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 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 10 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, trademark, 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 supply of any assistance that is ancillary and
subsidiary to, and is furnished as a means of enabling 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; or
f) total or partial forbearance in respect of the use
or supply of any property or right referred to in this paragraph.
4) The provisions of paragraph (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 or right
in respect of which the royalties are paid or credited 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) Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting
State when the payer is that State itself or a political subdivision 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 he 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 the law, relating to tax, of each Contracting
State, but subject to the other provisions of this Agreement.
Article 13
ALIENATION OF PROPERTY
1) Income from the alienation of real property may be
taxed in the Contracting State in which that property is situated.
2) For the purposes of this Article:
a) the term "real property" shall include: (i)
a lease of land or any other direct interest in or over land; (ii) rights
to exploit, or to explore for, natural resources; and (iii) shares or comparable
interests in a company, the assets of which consists wholly or principally
of direct interests in or over land in one of the Contracting States or
of rights to exploit, or to explore for, natural resources in one of the
Contracting States;
b) real property shall be deemed to be situated: (i)
where it consists of direct interests in or over land in the Contracting
State in which the land is situated; (ii) where it consists of rights to
exploit, or to explore for, natural resources in the Contracting State
in which the natural resources are situated or the exploration may take
place; and (iii) where it consists of shares or comparable interests in
a company, the assets of which consist wholly or principally of direct
interests in or over land in one the Contracting States or of rights to
exploit, or to explore for, natural resources in one of the Contracting
States in the Contracting State in which the assets or the principal assets
of the company are situated.
Article 14
INDEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES
1) Income derived by an individual 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 he has a fixed base regularly available to him in the
other Contracting State for the purpose of performing his activities. If
he has such a fixed base, the income may be taxed in the other State but
only so much of it as is attributable to activities exercised from that
fixed base.
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, lawyers, engineers, architects, dentists and
accountants.
Article 15
DEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES
1) Subject to the provisions of Articles 16, 18, and 19,
salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by an individual
who is a resident of 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 the
year of income or the taxable year, as the case may be, 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;
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; and
d) the remuneration is, or upon the application of this
Article will be, subject to tax in the first-mentioned 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
DIRECTORS' FEES
Directors’ fees and similar payments derived by a resident
of one of the Contracting States 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
1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 14 and 15,
income derived by entertainers (such as theatrical, motion picture, radio
or television artistes and musicians and athletes) from their personal
activities as such may be taxed in the Contracting State in which these
activities are exercised.
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 the
entertainer are exercised.
Article 18
PENSIONS AND ANNUITIES
1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article
19, pensions 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.
3) Any alimony or other maintenance payment arising in
one of the Contracting States and paid to a resident of the other Contracting
State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State.
Article 19
GOVERNMENT SERVICE
1) Remuneration, other than a pension or annuity, paid
by one of the Contracting States or a political subdivision 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 or national of that State; or
b) did not become a resident of that State solely for
the purpose of performing the services.
2)
a) Subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (b), a
pension paid by, or out of funds created by, one of the Contracting States
or a political subdivision or a local authority of that State to an individual
in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority
shall be taxable only in that State.
b) A pension referred to in sub-paragraph (a) shall be
taxable only in the other Contracting State if the individual is a resident
of, and a citizen or national of, that State.
3) The provisions of paragraph (1) shall also apply to
remuneration paid out of public funds provided by Austria to any individual
in respect of services rendered as a member of the Austrian permanent delegation
of foreign commerce in Australia.
4) The provisions of paragraph (1) shall not apply to
remuneration in respect of services rendered in connection with any trade
or business carried on by one of the Contracting States or a political
subdivision or local authority of that State. In such a case, the provisions
of Article 15 or Article 16, as the case may be, shall apply.
Article 20
STUDENTS
Where a student, 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 his education, receives payments from sources
outside that other State for the purpose of his maintenance or education,
those payments shall be exempt from tax in that other State.
Article 21
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 of 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 22
SOURCE OF INCOME
1) Income derived by a resident of Austria which, under
any one or more of Articles 6 to 8, Articles 10 to 19 and Article 21, may
be taxed in Australia shall for the purposes of the law of Australia relating
to Australian tax be deemed to be income from sources in Australia.
2) Income derived by a resident of Australia which, under
any one or more of Articles 6 to 8, Articles 10 to 19 and Article 21, may
be taxed in Austria shall for the purposes of paragraph (1) of Article
23 and of the law of Australia relating to Australian tax be deemed to
be income from sources in Austria.
Article 23
1) 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), Austrian tax paid under the law
of Austria 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 Austria (not including, in the case of a dividend,
tax paid in respect of the profits out of which the dividend is paid) shall
be allowed as a credit against Australian tax payable in respect of that
income.
2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the term "Austrian
tax" shall include the tax on commercial and industrial enterprises, referred
to in sub-paragraph (b)(v) of paragraph (1) of Article 2, only where it
is levied on a basis other than capital or the sum of wages.
3) In the case of a resident of Austria double taxation
shall be avoided as follows:
a) where a resident of Austria derives income
which in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement may be taxed
in Australia, 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 Article 10,
11 or 12, paragraph (1) of Article 13 (in regard only to income from the
alienation of real property as defined in sub-paragraph (2)(a)(iii) of
that Article) or paragraph (2) of Article 21, may be taxed in Australia,
Austria shall allow as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident
an amount equal to the tax paid in Australia. 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 in Australia;
and
c) where in accordance with any provision of this Agreement
income derived by a resident of Austria, is exempt from tax in Austria,
may nevertheless, in calculating the amount of tax on the remaining income
of that resident, take into account the exempted income.
4) If, in an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation
that is made, after the date of signature of this Agreement, between Australia
and a third State, being a State that is a member of the Organization for
Economic Co-operation and Development, Australia agrees to limit the rate
of tax:
a) on dividends paid by a company which is a
resident of Australia for the purposes of Australian tax to which a company
that is a resident of the third State is entitled, to a rate less than
that provided in paragraph (2) of Article 10;
b) on interest arising in Australia to which a resident
of the third State is entitled, to a rate less that that provided in paragraph
(2) of Article 11; or
c) on royalties arising in Australia to which a resident
of the third State is entitled, to a rate less that that provided in paragraph
(2) of Article 12, the Government of Australia shall immediately inform
the Government of Austria in writing through the diplomatic channel and
shall enter into negotiations with the Government of Austria to review
the relevant provision or provisions in order to provide the same treatment
for Austria as that provided for the third State.
Article 24
MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROCEDURE
1) Where a resident of one of the Contracting States considers
that the actions of the competent authority of one or both of the Contracting
States result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with
this Agreement he may, notwithstanding the remedies provided by the national
laws of those States, present his case to the competent authority of the
Contracting State of which he 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 25
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. 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.
2) 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 particulars which are not obtainable under
the laws or in the normal course of the administration of that or of the
other Contracting State; or
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 26
DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR OFFICIALS
Nothing in this Agreement shall affect diplomatic or consular
privileges under the general rules of international law or under the provisions
of special international agreements.
Article 27
ENTRY INTO FORCE
This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day
of the third month next following that in which the Contracting States
exchange notes through the diplomatic channel notifying each other that
the last of such constitutional processes has been completed as are necessary
to give this Agreement the force of law in Australia and in Austria, 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 1 January 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 of any year of income beginning on
or after 1 July in the calendar year next following that in which the Agreement
enters into force;
b) in Austria: in respect of tax withheld at the source
on amounts paid on or after 1 January in the calendar year next following
that in which the Agreement enters into force; and in respect of other
Austrian tax for taxable years beginning on or after 1 January in the calendar
year next following that in which the Agreement enters into force.
Article 28
TERMINATION
This Agreement shall continue in effect indefinitely,
but either of the Contracting States may, on or before 30 June in any calendar
year beginning after the expiration of 5 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 1 January in the calendar year next following that
in which the notice of termination is given; (ii) in respect of other Australian
tax, in relation to income of any year of income beginning on or after
1 July in the calendar year next following that in which the notice of
termination is given;
b) in Austria: (i) In respect of tax withheld at the
source on amounts paid on or after 1 January in the calendar year next
following that in which the notice of termination is given; and (ii) in
respect of other Austrian tax for taxable years beginning on or after 1
January in the calendar year next following that in which the notice of
termination is given.
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