DOUBLE TAXATION
AGREEMENT
14 December 1982
Scope
of the Convention
Article
1
PERSONAL
SCOPE
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 only to taxes on income imposed on behalf of each
Contracting State irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.
2) The
existing taxes to which this Convention 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;
b) in
the case of Italy: (i) the individual income tax (l'imposta sul reddito
delle persone fisiche); (ii) the corporate income tax (l'imposta sul reddito
delle persone giuridiche); even if they are collected by withholding taxes
at the source.
3) The Convention
shall apply to any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed
after the date of signature of this Convention in addition to, or in place
of, the existing taxes. The competent authorities of the Contracting States
shall notify to each other any significant changes which have been made
in their laws relating to the taxes to which this Convention applies.
Definitions
Article
3
GENERAL
DEFINITIONS
1) In
this Convention, unless the context otherwise requires:
a)
the term "Australia" means the Commonwealth of Australia and, when used
in a geographical sense, includes - (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 Coral
Sea Islands Territory; and (vi) any area adjacent to the territorial limits
of Australia or of the said Territories in respect of which there is for
the time being in force a law of Australia or of a State or part of Australia
or of a Territory aforesaid dealing with the exploitation of any of the
natural resources of the sea-bed and subsoil of the continental shelf;
b) the
term "Italy" means the Republic of Italy and includes any area beyond the
territorial waters of Italy which, in accordance with the laws of Italy
concerning the exploration for and exploitation of natural resources, may
be designated as an area within which the rights of Italy with respect
to the sea-bed and subsoil and natural resources may be exercised;
c) the
terms "Contracting State", "one of the Contracting States" and "the other
Contracting State" mean Australia or Italy, as the context requires;
d) the
term "person" comprises 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 Italy, as the
context requires;
g) the
term "tax" means Australian tax or Italian tax, as the context requires;
h) the
term "Australian tax" means tax imposed by Australia, being tax to which
this Convention applies by virtue of Article 2;
i) the
term "Italian tax" means tax imposed by Italy, being tax to which this
Convention 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 Italy,
the Ministry of Finance.
2) In this
Convention, the terms "Australian tax" and "Italian tax" do not include
any penalty or interest imposed under the law of either Contracting State
relating to the taxes to which this Convention applies by virtue of Article
2.
3) In
the application of this Convention by a Contracting State, any term not
otherwise defined shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the
meaning which it has under the laws of that Contracting State relating
to the taxes to which this Convention applies.
Article
4
RESIDENCE
1) For
the purposes of this Convention, a person is a resident of one of the Contracting
States:
a)
in the case of Australia, subject to paragraph (2), if the person is a
resident of Australia for the purposes of Australian tax; and
b) in
the case of Italy, if the person is a resident of Italy for the purposes
of Italian tax.
2) In relation
to income from sources in Italy, a person who is subject to Australian
tax on income which is from sources in Australia shall not be treated as
a resident of Australia unless the income from sources in Italy is subject
to Australian tax or, if that income is exempt from Australian tax, it
is so exempt solely because it is subject to Italian tax.
3) Where
by reason of the provisions of paragraph (1) 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 in
which he has an habitual abode;
c) if
he has an habitual abode in both Contracting States, or if he does not
have an habitual abode 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
ESTABLISHMENT
1) For
the purposes of this Convention, the term "permanent establishment" means
a fixed place of business in 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, quarry or other place of extraction of natural resources;
g) an
agricultural, pastoral or forestry property;
h) a
building site or construction, installation or assembly project which exists
for more than twelve months.
3) The term
"permanent establishment" shall not be deemed 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 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) 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)
it carries on supervisory activities in that State for more than twelve
months in connection with a building site, or a construction, installation
or assembly project which is being undertaken in that State; or
b) substantial
equipment is being used in that State for more than twelve months by, for
or under contract with the enterprise in exploration for, or the exploitation
of, natural resources, or in activities connected with such exploration
or exploitation.
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 who to paragraph (6) 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, as 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 processes in that State for the enterprise
goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise provided that this provision
shall apply only in relation to the goods or merchandise so manufactured
or processed.
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 his business as such a broker or agent.
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 constitute
either company a permanent establishment of the other.
8) The
principles set forth in paragraphs (1) to (7) inclusive shall be applied
in determining for the purposes of this Convention 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.
Taxation
of Income
Article
6
INCOME
FROM REAL PROPERTY
1) Income
from real property may be taxed in the Contracting State in which such
property is situated.
2) The
term "real property" (beni immobili) shall have the meaning which it has
under the laws in force in the Contracting State in which the property
in question is situated. The term shall in any case include rights to royalties
and other payments in respect of the operation of mines or quarries or
of the exploitation of any natural resource and those rights shall be regarded
as situated where the land is situated. Ships, boats or aircraft shall
not be regarded as real property.
3) The
provisions of paragraph (1) shall apply to income derived from the direct
use, letting, or use in any other form of real property.
4) 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 is situated.
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 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 operation of any law of a Contracting
State relating to taxation of profits from insurance with non-residents
provided that if the relevant law in force in either State at the date
of signature of this Convention 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.
6) For
the purposes of this Article, the profits of an enterprise do not include
items of income which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this
Convention and the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by
the provisions of this Article.
Article
8
SHIPPING
AND AIRCRAFT
1) Where
profits are derived by a resident of one of the Contracting States from
the operation of ships and the place of the effective management of the
shipping enterprise is situated n that State, those profits 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 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 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 purpose of this Article, profits derived from the carriage by ships
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 confined solely to places
in that State.
5) If
the place of effective management of a shipping enterprise is aboard a
ship, then it shall be deemed to be situated in the Contracting State in
which the home harbour of the ship is situated, or, if there is no such
home harbour, in the Contracting State of which the operator of the ship
is a resident.
6) Nothing
in this Convention shall affect the operation of the Agreement between
the Governments of the Contracting States for the avoidance of double taxation
of income derived from international air transport signed at Canberra on
13 April 1972.
Article
9
ASSOCIATED
ENTERPRISES
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.
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 taxation law of the Contracting
State of which the company making the distribution is a resident.
4) The
provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply if the 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 such a case the dividends are taxable in that other Contracting
State according to its own law.
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 Italy
for the purposes of Italian 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 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) Notwithstanding
the provisions of paragraph (2), Interest derived by the Government of
one of the Contracting States or by a political or administrative sub-division
or a local authority thereof or by any other body exercising public functions
in, or in apart of. a Contracting State, or by a bank performing central
banking functions in a Contracting State, shall be exempt from tax in the
other Contracting State.
4) 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 taxation law of the Contracting State in which the
income arises.
5) 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, 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 interest is taxable in that other Contracting State
according to its own law.
6) Interest
shall be deemed to arise in one of the Contracting States when the payer
is that State itself or a political or administrative sub-division of that
State or a 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
it 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,
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 of each
Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this
Convention.
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 percent of the gross amount of the royalties.
3) The
term "royalties" in this Article means payments, whether periodical or
not, and however described or computed, to the extent to which they are
paid as consideration for 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, or industrial, commercial or scientific equipment,
or for the supply of scientific, technical, industrial or commercial knowledge
or information, or for the supply of any assistance of an ancillary and
subsidiary nature furnished as a means of enabling the application or enjoyment
of such knowledge or information or any other property or right to which
this Article applies, and includes any payments to the extent to which
they are paid as consideration for the use of, or the right to use, motion
picture films or video tapes for use in connection with television or tapes
for use in connection with radio broadcasting.
4) The
provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply if the person beneficially
entitled so 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 right or property in respect of which the royalties are
paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed
base. In such a case, the royalties are taxable in that other Contracting
State according to its own law.
5) Royalties
shall be deemed to arise in one of the Contracting States when the payer
is that Contracting State itself or a political or administrative sub-division
of that State or a local authority of that State or a person who is a resident
of that State for 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, having regard to what they are paid 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 shall
remain taxable according to the law of each Contracting State, due regard
being had to the other provisions of this Convention.
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 interest in a company,
the assets of which consist 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 (ii) 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 of 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.
3) Gains
from the alienation of shares or corporate rights in a company which is
a resident of Italy for the purposes of Italian tax, derived by an individual
who is a resident of Australia, may be taxed in Italy.
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 especially 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, 19 and 20 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 maybe 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 fiscal
year as the case may be, of that other State; and
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 derived by a resident
of one of the Contracting States in respect of an employment exercised
aboard a ship or aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only
in that Contracting State.
Article
16
DIRECTOR'S
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) Pensions
(including government 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 a Contracting State 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 by a political or administrative subdivision of that State or by a local
authority of that State to any individual in respect of services rendered
to that State or subdivision or authority 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 State and the recipient is a
resident of that State who:
a)
is a citizen or national of that State, or
b) did
not becomes resident of that State solely for the purpose of performing
the services.
2) 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 by a political or administrative subdivision
of one of the States or by a local authority of one of the States. In such
a case the provisions of Articles 15 and 16 shall apply.
Article
20
PROFESSORS
AND TEACHERS
A professor
or teacher who visits one of the Contracting States 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
in that State and who immediately before that visit was a resident of the
other Contracting State shall be exempt from tax in the first-mentioned
State on any remuneration for such teaching, advanced study or research
in respect of which he is, or of this Article will be, subject to tax in
the other State.
Article
21
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 the other State solely for the
purpose of his education, receives payments from sources outside the other
State for the purpose of his maintenance or education, those payments shall
be exempt from tax in the other State.
Article
22
INCOME
OF DUAL RESIDENT
Where
a person, who by reason of the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 4
is a resident of both Contracting States by reason of the provisions of
paragraph (3) or (4) of that Article is deemed for the purposes of this
Convention to be a resident solely of one of the Contracting States, derives
income from sources in that Contracting State or from sources outside both
Contracting States, that income shall be taxable only in that Contracting
State.
Article
23
SOURCE
OF INCOME
Income
derived by a resident of one of the Contracting States which, under any
one or more of Articles 6 to 8 and 10 to 17 may be taxed in the other Contracting
State, shall for the purposes of Article 24, and of the income tax law
of that other State, be deemed to be income from sources in that other
State.
Methods
of elimination of double taxation
Article
24
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), Italian tax paid, whether directly or by deduction, in respect
of income derived by a person who is a resident of Australia from sources
in Italy shall be allowed as a credit against Australian tax payable in
respect of that income.
2) If
a resident of Italy owns items of income which are taxable in Australia,
Italy in determining its income taxes specified in Article 2 of this Convention,
may include in the basis upon which such taxes are imposed the said items
of income, unless specific provisions of this Convention otherwise provide.
In such a case, Italy shall deduct from the taxes so calculated the Australian
tax on income, but in an amount not exceeding that proportion of the aforesaid
Italian tax which such items of income bear to the entire income. On the
contrary no deduction will be granted if the item of income is subjected
in Italy to a final withholding tax by request of the recipient of the
said income in accordance with the Italian law.
Special
provisions
Article
25
MUTUAL
AGREEMENT PROCEDURE
1) Where
a resident of on of the Contracting States considers that the actions of
one or both of the Contracting States result or will result for him in
taxation not in accordance with this Convention, 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. This case must he presented within two years from the first
notification of the action.
2) The
competent authority shall endeavour, if the taxpayer's 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 Convention.
3) The
competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to resolve
any difficulties or doubts arising as to the application of this Convention.
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
Convention.
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 Convention or of the domestic
laws of the Contracting States concerning taxes to which this Convention
applies insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to this Convention,
or for the prevention of fiscal evasion in relation to such taxes. The
exchange of information is not restricted by Article 1. 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) involved in the assessment or collection of, the
enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals
in relation to, the taxes to which this Convention applies. Such persons
or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes.
2) In
no case shall the provisions of paragraph (1) be construed so as to impose
on one of the Contracting States 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 particulars which are 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 (ordre public).
Article
27
DIPLOMATIC
AND CONSULAR OFFICIALS
Nothing
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
REFUNDS
1) Taxes
withheld at the source in one of the Contracting States will be refunded
by request of the taxpayer or of the State of which he is a resident if
the right to collect the said taxes is affected by the provisions of this
Convention.
2) Claims
for refund, that shall be produced within the time limit fixed by the law
of the Contracting State which is obliged to carry out the refund, shall
be accompanied by an official certificate of the Contracting State of which
the taxpayer is a resident certifying the existence of the conditions required
for being entitled to the application of the allowances provided for by
this Convention.
3) The
competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the mode of
application of this Article, in accordance with the provisions of Article
25 of this Convention.
Final
provisions
Article
29
ENTRY
INTO FORCE
1) This
Convention shall be ratified and the instruments of ratification shall
he exchanged at Rome as soon as possible.
2) The
Convention shall enter into force on the date of the exchange of instruments
of ratification and its provisions shall have effect:
a)
in Australia - (i) in respect of withholding tax on income that is derived
by a non-resident, in respect of income derived on or after 1 July 1976;
(ii) in respect of other Australian tax, for any year of income beginning
on or after 1 July 1976;
b) In
Italy - in respect of income assessable for taxable periods beginning on
or after 1 January 1976.
3) Claims
for refund or credits arising in accordance with this Convention in respect
of any tax payable by residents of either of the Contracting States in
respect of income which is subject to tax and to which this Convention
applies in accordance with paragraph (2) of this Article and which was
derived before the entry into force of this Convention, shall be lodged
within three years from the date of entry into force of this Convention
or from the date the tax was charged. whichever is later.
Article
30
TERMINATION
This Convention
shall remain in force until terminated by one of the Contracting States.
Either Contracting State may terminate the Convention through the diplomatic
channel, not earlier than five years after its entry into force by giving
notice of termination at least six months before the end of the calendar
year. In such event, the Convention shall cease to be effective:
a)
in Australia - (i) in respect of withholding tax on income that is derived
by a non-resident, in respect of income derived on or after 1 July in the
calendar year next following that in which the notice of termination is
given; (ii) in respect of other Australian tax, for 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
Italy - in respect of income assessable for taxable periods beginning on
or after 1 July in the calendar year next following that in which the notice
of termination is given.
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