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DOUBLE TAXATION AGREEMENT
27 March 1976
and Protocol of 27 March 1986
Scope of the Agreement
Article 1
PERSONAL SCOPE
The Agreement shall apply to persons who are residents
of one or both of the States.
Article 2
TAXES COVERED
1. This Agreement shall apply to taxes on income imposed
on behalf of one of the States or of its political subdivisions or local
authorities, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.
2. There shall be regarded as taxes on income all taxes
imposed on total income, or on elements of income, including taxes on gains
from the alienation of movable or immovable property, 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 Agreement shall apply
are, in particular:
a) in the case of Turkey: - income tax (gelir
vergisi); - corporation tax (kurumlar vergisi); - levy on behalf
of the fund for the support of the defense industry (savunma sanayii
destekleme fonu); (hereinafter referred to as "Turkish tax");
b) in the case of the Netherlands: - income tax (de
inkomstenbelasting); - wages tax (de loonbelasting); - company
tax (de vennootschapsbelasting); including the Government share
in the net profits of the exploitation of natural resources levied pursuant
to the Mining Act of 1810 (Mijnwet 1810) with respect to concessions issued
from 1967, or pursuant to the Netherlands Continental Shelf Mining Act
of 1965 (Mijnwet Continentaal Plat 1965), - dividend tax (de dividendbelasting);
(hereinafter referred to as "Netherlands tax").
4. The Agreement shall apply also to any identical or substantially
similar taxes which are imposed after the date of signature of the Agreement
in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. The competent authorities
of the States shall notify to each other any substantial changes which
have been made in their respective taxation laws.
Definitions
Article 3
GENERAL DEFINITIONS
1. For the purposes of this Agreement, unless the context
otherwise requires:
a) the term "State" means Turkey or the Netherlands,
as the context requires; the term "States" means Turkey and the Netherlands;
b) (i) the term "Turkey" means the territory of the Republic
of Turkey, including any area in which the laws of Turkey are in force,
as well as the part of the sea bed and its sub-soil under the Black Sea,
the Aegean Sea, and the Mediterranean to the extent that that area in accordance
with international law has been or may hereafter be designated under Turkish
laws as an area within which Turkey exercises sovereign rights with respect
to the exploration and exploitation of the natural resources of the sea
bed and its sub-soil; (ii) the term "the Netherlands" means the part of
the Kingdom of the Netherlands that is situated in Europe, including the
part of the sea bed and its sub-soil under the North Sea, to the extent
that that area in accordance with international law has been or may hereafter
he designated under Netherlands laws as an area within which the Netherlands
may exercise certain rights with respect to the exploration and exploitation
of the natural resources of the sea bed or its sub-soil;
c) the term "tax" means any tax covered by Article 2
of this Agreement;
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 body corporate for tax purposes;
f) the term "legal head office" means in the case of
Turkey the Registered Office under the Turkish Code of Commerce and in
the case of the Netherlands the place of incorporation under Netherlands
law;
g) the terms "enterprise of one of the States" and "enterprise
of the other State" mean respectively an enterprise carried on by a resident
of one of the States and an enterprise carried on by a resident of the
other State;
h) the term "international traffic" means any transport
by a ship, an aircraft or a road vehicle operated by an enterprise of one
of the States, except when the ship, aircraft or road vehicle is operated
solely between places in the other State;
i) the term "nationals" means: (i) in relation to Turkey,
any individual possessing Turkish nationality in accordance with the Turkish
Nationality Code and any legal person, partnership or association deriving
its status as such from the law in force in Turkey; (ii) in relation to
the Netherlands, any individual possessing the nationality of the Netherlands
and any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as
such from the law in force in the Netherlands;
j) the term "competent authority" means: (i) in Turkey,
the Minister of Finance and Customs or his duly authorized representative;
(ii) in the Netherlands, the Minister of Finance or his duly authorized
representative.
2. As regards the application of this Agreement by one of
the States, 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 Agreement applies.
Article 4
RESIDENT
1. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "resident
of one of the States" means any person who, under the laws of that State,
is liable to tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, legal head
office, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature.
2. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 an
individual is a resident of both States, then his status shall be determined
as follows:
a) he shall be deemed to be a resident 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
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 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 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 States shall 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 States, then it shall be
deemed to be a resident of the State in which its place of effective management
is situated. However, where such person has its place of effective management
in one of the States and its legal head office in the other State, then
the competent authorities of the States shall determine by mutual agreement
the State of which the person shall be deemed to be a resident for the
purposes of this Agreement.
Article 5
PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT
1. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "permanent
establishment" means a fixed place of business through which the business
of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.
2. The term "permanent establishment" includes especially:
a) a place of management;
b) a branch;
c) an office;
a) a factory;
e) a workshop;
f) a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other
place of extraction of natural resources.
3. A building site, a construction, assembly or installation
project constitutes a permanent establishment only if it lasts more than
six months.
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 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 independent status to whom paragraph
6 applies - is acting in one of the States on behalf of an enterprise of
the other State, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment
in the first-mentioned State in respect of any activities which that person
undertakes for the enterprise, 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. The
provisions of the foregoing sentence shall not apply, unless it is proved
that in order to avoid taxation in the first-mentioned State, such person
undertakes not only the regular delivery of the goods or merchandise, but
also undertakes virtually all the activities connected with the sale of
the goods or merchandise except for the actual conclusion of the sales
contract itself.
6. An enterprise of one of the States shall not be deemed
to have a permanent establishment in the other State merely because it
carries on business in that other State through a broker, general commission
agent or any other agent of an independent status, provided that such persons
are acting in the ordinary course of their business.
7. The fact that a company which is a resident of one
of the States controls or is controlled by a company which is a resident
of the other 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.
Taxation of income
Article 6
INCOME FROM IMMOVABLE PROPERTY
1. Income derived by a resident of one of the States from
immovable property (including income from agriculture or forestry) situated
in the other 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 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, fishing
places of every kind, rights to which the previsions 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, aircraft
and road vehicles 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 one of the States shall
be taxable only in that State unless the enterprise carries on business
in the other 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 States carries on business in the other State
through a permanent establishment situated therein, there shall in each
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.
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 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.
Article 8
SHIPPING, AIR AND LAND TRANSPORT
1. Profits of an enterprise of one of the States from
the operation of ships, aircraft or road vehicles in international traffic
shall be taxable only in that State.
2. 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 one of the States participates
directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise
of the other State, or
b) the same persons participate directly or indirectly
in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of one of the States
and an enterprise of the other 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 one of the States includes in the profits of an
enterprise of that State - and taxes accordingly - profits on which an
enterprise of the other 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, where that other
State considers the adjustment justified. In determining such adjustment,
due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Agreement and the
competent authorities of the States shall if necessary consult each other.
Article 10
DIVIDENDS
1. Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of
one of the States to a resident of the other State may be taxed in that
other State.
2. However, such dividends may also be taxed in the State
of which the company paying the dividends is a resident and according to
the laws of that State, but the tax so charged shall not exceed:
a) 15 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends
if the recipient is a company (other than a partnership) which holds directly
at least 25 per cent of the capital of the company paying the dividends;
b) 20 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends in
all other cases.
The provisions of this paragraph shall not affect the taxation
of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are
paid.
3. The competent authorities of the States shall by mutual
agreement settle the mode of application of paragraph 2.
4. The term "dividends" as used in this article means
income from shares, "jouissance" shares or "jouissance" rights, founders'
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.
5. Profits from a company of one of the States carrying
on business in the other State through a permanent establishment situated
therein may, after having been taxed under Article 7, be taxed on the remaining
amount in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated and
the taxes so charged shall not exceed 50 per cent of the percentage provided
for in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 2 of this Article.
6. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply
if the recipient of the dividends, being a resident of one of the States,
carries on business in the other State of which the company paying the
dividends is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein,
or, in the case of a resident of Turkey, performs in the Netherlands independent
personal services from a fixed base situated in the Netherlands, 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.
7. Where a company which is a resident of one of the States
derives profits or income from the other 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 one of the States and paid to a
resident of the other State maybe taxed in that other State.
2. However, such interest may also be taxed in the State
in which it arises and according to the laws of that State, but the tax
so charged shall not exceed:
a) 10 percent of the gross amount of the interest
if it is paid on a loan made for a period of more than two years;
b) 15 per cent of the gross amount of the interest in
all other cases.
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2:
a) the Central Bank of Turkey shall be exempt
from Netherlands tax with respect to interest arising in the Netherlands;
b) the Central Bank of the Netherlands shall be exempt
from Turkish tax with respect to interest arising in Turkey;
c) the Government, the political subdivisions or the
local authorities of one of the States shall be exempt from tax in the
other State with respect to interest arising in that other State.
4. The competent authorities of the States shall by mutual
agreement settle the mode of application of paragraphs 2 and 3.
5. 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 attaching to such securities, bonds or
debentures.
6. The provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall not apply
if the recipient of the interest, being a resident of one of the States,
carries on business in the other State in which the interest arises, through
a permanent establishment situated therein, or, in the case of a resident
of Turkey, performs in the Netherlands independent personal services from
a fixed base situated in the Netherlands, 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.
7. Interest shall be deemed to arise in one of the States
when the payer is that State itself, a political subdivision, a local authority
or a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the interest,
whether he is a resident of one of the States or not, has in one of the
States 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.
8. Where, by reason of a special relationship between
the payer and the recipient 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 recipient 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 State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Agreement.
9. Where a resident of one of the other States sells industrial,
commercial or scientific goods, equipment or merchandise to a resident
of the other State, and the payments for such sales are made in a specified
period after the delivery of such goods, equipment or merchandise, then
not any part of such payments shall be regarded as interest for the purpose
of this Article. In such case, the provisions of Articles 5 and 7 shall
apply.
Article 12
ROYALTIES
1. Royalties arising in one of the States and paid to
a resident of the other State may be taxed in that other State.
2. However, such royalties may also be taxed in the State
in which they arise and according to the laws of that State, but the tax
so charged shall not exceed 10 percent of the gross amount of the royalties.
3. The competent authorities of the States shall by mutual
agreement settle the mode of application of paragraph 2.
4. 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, or the sale of, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific
work including cinematograph films and recordings for radio and television,
any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process,
or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience,
or for the use of, or the right to use, industrial, commercial, or scientific
equipment.
5. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply
if the recipient of the royalties, being a resident of one of the States,
carries on business in the other State in which the royalties arise, through
a permanent establishment situated therein, or, in the case of a resident
of Turkey, performs in the Netherlands independent personal services from
a fixed base situated in the Netherlands, 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 case the provisions of Article
7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.
6. Royalties shall be deemed to arise in one of the States
when the payer is that State itself, a political subdivision, a local authority
or a resident of that State, Where, however, the person paying the royalties,
whether he is a resident of one of the States or not, has in one of the
States a permanent establishment or a fixed base, with which the right
or property giving rise to the royalties is effectively connected, and
such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment or a fixed base,
then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the
permanent establishment or a fixed base is situated.
7. Where, by reason of a special relationship between
the payer and the recipient or between both of them and some other person,
the amount of the royalties paid, having regard to the use, right or information
for which they are paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed
upon by the payer and the recipient 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 State, due regard being had to the other provisions
of this Agreement.
Article 13
CAPITAL GAINS
1. Gains derived by a resident of one of the States from
the alienation of immovable property referred to in Article 6 and situated
in the other State may be taxed in that other State.
2. Gains from the alienation of movable property forming
part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise
of one of the States has in the other State or of movable property pertaining
to a fixed base available to a resident of one of the States in the other
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 derived by an enterprise of one of the States
from the alienation of ships, aircraft or road vehicles operated in international
traffic, or movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships,
aircraft or road vehicles, shall be taxable only that State.
4. Gains from the alienation of any property other than
that referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall be taxable only in the
State of which the alienator is a resident.
5. The provisions of paragraph 4 shall not affect the
right of one of the States to levy according to its own law a tax on gains
derived by a resident of the other State from the alienation of shares
or bonds issued by a company which is a resident of the first-mentioned
State (other than shares and bonds quoted on a stock exchange of that State)
if the alienation takes place to a resident of the first-mentioned State
and if the period between acquisition and alienation does not exceed one
year.
6. The provisions of paragraph 4 shall not affect the
right of each of the States to levy according to its own law a tax on gains
from the alienation of shares or "jouissance" rights in a company, the
capital of which is wholly or partly divided into shares and which under
the laws of that State is a resident of that State, derived by an individual
who is a resident of the other State and has been a resident of the first-mentioned
State in the course of the last five years preceding the alienation of
the shares or "jouissance" rights.
Article 14
INDEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES
1. Income derived by a resident of one of the States in
respect of professional services or other activities of an independent
character shall be taxable only in that State. However, such income may
also be taxed in the other State if such services or activities are performed
in that other State and if:
a) he has a fixed base regularly available to
him in that other State for the purpose of performing those services or
activities; or
b) he is present in that other State for the purpose
of performing those services or activities for a period or periods amounting
in the aggregate to 183 days or more in any continuous period of 12 months.
In such circumstances, only so much of the income as is attributable
to that fixed base or is derived from the services or activities performed
during his presence in that other State, as the case may be, may be taxed
in that other State.
2. Income derived by an enterprise of one of the States
in respect of professional services or other activities of a similar character
shall be taxable only in that State. However, such income may also be taxed
in the other State if such services or activities are performed in that
other State and if:
a) the enterprise has a permanent establishment
in that other State through which the services or activities are performed:
or
b) the period or periods during which the services are
performed exceed in the aggregate 183 days in any continuous period of
12 months.
In such circumstances only so much of the income as is attributable
to that permanent establishment or to the services or activities performed
in that other State, as the case may be, may be taxed in that other State.
In either case the Republic of Turkey may levy a withholding tax on such
income. However, the recipient of such income, having been subjected to
such a tax, may elect to be taxed on a net basis in respect of such income
in accordance with the provisions of Article 7 of this Agreement as if
the income were attributable to a permanent establishment of the enterprise
situated in Turkey.
3. The term "professional services" includes especially
independent scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teaching activities
as well as the independent activities of physicians, lawyers. engineers,
architects, dentists and accountants, and other activities requiring specific
professional skill.
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 a resident
of one of the States in respect of an employment shall be taxable only
in that State unless the employment is exercised in the other 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 one of the States in respect of an employment
exercised in the other 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 the
calendar year concerned, and
b) the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer
who is not a resident of the other State, and
c) the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment
or a fixed base which the employer has in the other State.
3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article,
remuneration derived by a resident of one of the States in respect of an
employment exercised aboard a ship, aircraft or road vehicle operated in
international traffic, by an enterprise of the other State, may be taxed
in that other State.
Article 16
DIRECTORS' FEES
Directors' fees or other remuneration derived by a resident
of one of the States in his capacity as a member of the board of directors,
a "bestuurder" or a "commissaris" of a company which is a
resident of the other State may be taxed in that other State.
Article 17
ARTISTES AND ATHLETES
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 14 and 15,
income derived by a resident of one of the States as an entertainer, such
as a theatre, motion picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician,
or as an athlete, from his personal activities as such exercised in the
other State, may be taxed in that other State.
2. Where income in respect of personal activities exercised
by an entertainer or an athlete in his capacity as such accrues not to
the entertainer or athlete himself but to another person, that income may,
notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7, 14 and 15, be taxed in the
State in which the activities of the entertainer or athlete are exercised.
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and
2, income derived from activities performed in one of the States by entertainers
or athletes when their visit to that State is substantially supported from
the public funds of the other State, including those of any political subdivision,
a local authority or statutory body thereof, and income derived by a non-profit-making
organization in respect of such activities, provided no part of its income
is payable to or is otherwise available for the personal benefit of its
proprietors, members or shareholders, shall not be taxed in the first-mentioned
State.
Article 18
PENSIONS, ANNUITIES AND SOCIAL SECURITY PENSIONS
1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article
19, pensions and other similar remuneration paid in consideration of past
employment and annuities paid to a resident of one of the States shall
be taxable only in that State.
2. However, where such remuneration is not of a periodical
nature and it is paid to a resident of one of the States who is not a national
of that State, in consideration of past employment in the other State,
it may be taxed in that other State.
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, any
pension whether or not paid in consideration of past employment and paid
out under the provisions of a social security system of one of the States
to a resident of the other State may be taxed in the first-mentioned State.
However such pension shall be taxable only in the other State if the pension
is paid to an individual who is a resident of, and a national of that other
State.
4. 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, including pensions, paid by, or out of
funds created by, one of the States or a political subdivision or a local
authority thereof to any individual in respect of services rendered to
that State or subdivision or authority thereof in the discharge of functions
of a governmental nature may be taxed in that State.
2. The provisions of Articles 15, 16 and 18 shall apply
to remuneration and pensions in respect of services rendered in connection
with a business carried on by one of the States or a political subdivision
or a local authority thereof.
Article 20
PROFESSORS AND TEACHERS
1. Payments which a professor or teacher who is a resident
of one of the States and who is present in the other State for the purpose
of teaching or scientific research for a maximum period of two years in
a university, college or other establishment for teaching or scientific
research in that other State, receives for such teaching or research, shall
be taxable in the first-mentioned State, provided that such payments arise
from sources outside that other State.
2. This Article shall not apply to income from research
if such research is undertaken not in the public interest but primarily
for the private benefit of a specific person or persons.
Article 21
STUDENTS
1. Payments which a student or business apprentice who
is or was immediately before visiting one of the States a resident of the
other State and who is present in the first-mentioned State solely for
the purpose of his education or training receives for the purpose of his
maintenance, education or training shall not be taxed in that State, provided
that such payments arise from sources outside that State.
2. Remuneration which a student or business apprentice
who is or was immediately before visiting one of the States a resident
of the other State derives from an employment which he exercises in the
first-mentioned State for a period or periods not exceeding 183 days in
a calendar year, in order to obtain practical experience related to his
education or formation, shall not be taxed in the first-mentioned State.
Article 22
OTHER INCOME
1. Items of income of a resident of one of the States,
wherever arising, not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Agreement
shall be taxable only in that State.
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income,
other than income from immovable property as defined in paragraph 2 of
Article 6, if the recipient of such income, being a resident of one of
the States, carries on business in the other 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.
Elimination of double taxation
Article 23
ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION
1. Double taxation for residents of Turkey shall be eliminated
as follows:
a) Where a resident of Turkey derives items of
income, not being income covered by paragraph (b) hereafter, which, in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, may be taxed in the Netherlands,
Turkey shall exempt such income from tax but may, in calculating tax on
the remaining income of that person, apply the rate of tax which would
have been applicable if the exempted income had not been so exempted. For
dividends the foregoing provision of this sub-paragraph shall apply to
a resident of Turkey which directly holds at least 10 per cent of the capital
of a company which is resident of the Netherlands.
b) The tax paid in the Netherlands according to the provisions
of this Agreement shall be deducted from the tax paid in Turkey for the
taxes imposed on income which is shown below, under the provisions of Turkish
tax laws concerning the deduction of foreign taxes: (i) dividends which
are not covered by sub-paragraph (a); (ii) interest; (iii) royalties; (iv)
gains from the alienation of property mentioned in paragraph 5 of Article
13 which may be taxed in the Netherlands. Such deductions shall not, however,
exceed that part of the income tax computed in Turkey before the deduction
is given, which is appropriate to the income which may be taxed in the
Netherlands.
c) For the purposes of this paragraph in determining
the taxes on income paid to the Netherlands, the investment premiums and
bonuses and disinvestment payments as meant in the Netherlands Investment
Account Law (Wet Investeringsrekening) shall not be taken into account.
For the purposes of this paragraph, the taxes referred to in subparagraph
(b) of paragraph 3 and paragraph 4 of Article 2 shall be considered taxes
on income.
2. Double taxation for residents of the Netherlands shall
be eliminated as follows:
a) The Netherlands, when imposing tax on its
residents, may include in the basis upon which such taxes are imposed the
items of income which according to the previsions of this Agreement may
be taxed in Turkey.
b) However, where a resident of the Netherlands derives
items of income which according to Article 6, Article 7, paragraph 6 of
Article 10, paragraph 6 of Article 11, paragraph 5 of Article 12, paragraphs
1 and 2 of Article 13, Article 14, paragraph 1 of Article 15, Article 16,
paragraph 3 of Article 18, Article 19 and paragraph 2 of Article 22 of
this Agreement may be taxed in Turkey and are included in the basis referred
to in sub-paragraph (a) the Netherlands shall exempt such items of income
by allowing a reduction of its tax. This reduction shall be computed in
conformity with the provisions of Netherlands law for the avoidance of
double taxation. For that purpose the said items of income shall be deemed
to be included in the total amount of the items of income which are exempt
from Netherlands tax under those provisions.
c) Further, the Netherlands shall allow a deduction from
the Netherlands tax so computed for the items of income which according
to paragraph 2 of Article 10, paragraph 2 of Article 11, paragraph 2 of
Article 12, paragraph 5 of Article 13, paragraph 3 of Article 15, Article
17 and paragraph 2 of Article 18 of this Agreement may be taxed in Turkey
to the extent that these items are included in the basis referred to in
sub-paragraph (a). The amount of this deduction shall be equal to the tax
paid in Turkey on these items of income, but shall not exceed the amount
of the reduction which would be allowed if the items of income so included
were the sole items of income which are exempt from Netherlands tax under
the provisions of Netherlands law for the avoidance of double taxation.
d) Where, by reason of the relief given under the provisions
of Turkish laws for the purpose of encouraging investment in Turkey the
Turkish tax actually levied on dividends paid by a company which is a resident
of Turkey, on interest arising in Turkey or on royalties arising in Turkey
is lower than the tax Turkey may levy according to sub-paragraphs (a) and
(b) of paragraph 2 of Article 10, sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph
2 of Article 11 and paragraph 2 of Article 12, respectively, then the amount
of the tax paid in Turkey on such dividends, interest and royalties shall
be deemed to have been paid at the rates of tax mentioned in the said provisions.
However, if the general tax rates under Turkish laws applicable to the
aforementioned dividends, interest and royalties are reduced below those
mentioned in this subparagraph, these lower rates shall apply for the purposes
of this sub-paragraph. The provisions of this sub-paragraph shall only
apply for a period of ten years after the date on which the Agreement became
effective. This period may be extended by mutual agreement between the
competent authorities.
3. Where a resident of one of the States derives gains which
may be taxed in the other State in accordance with paragraph 6 of Article
13, that other State shall allow a deduction from its tax on such gains
to an amount equal to the tax levied in the first-mentioned State on the
said gains.
Special provisions
Article 24
NON DISCRIMINATION
1. Nationals of one of the States shall not be subjected
in the other 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 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 States.
2. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 5 of Article
10, the taxation on a permanent establishment which an enterprise of one
of the States has in the other 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.
3. Except where the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article
9, paragraph 8 of Article 11, or paragraph 7 of Article 12, apply, interest,
royalties and other disbursements paid by an enterprise of one of the States
to a resident of the other 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 one of the States, the capital of which
is wholly or partly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by one
or more residents of the other 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 not be construed
as obliging one of the States to grant to residents of the other 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.
Article 25
MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROCEDURE
1. Where a person of one of the States considers that
the actions of one or both of the States result or will result for him
in taxation not in accordance with this Agreement, he may, irrespective
of the remedies provided by the national law of those States, present his
case to the competent authority of the State of which he is a resident
or, if his case comes under paragraph 1 of Article 24, to that of the State
of which he is a national.
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 State, with a view to the avoidance of
taxation not in accordance with the Agreement. Any agreement reached shall
be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the
States.
3. The competent authorities of the States shall endeavour
to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to
the interpretation or application of the Agreement. They may also consult
together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for
in the Agreement.
4. The competent authorities of the States may communicate
with each other directly 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 States shall exchange
such information as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this
Agreement or of the domestic laws of the States concerning taxes covered
by the Agreement insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to
the Agreement. The exchange of information is not restricted by Article
1. Any information received by one of the States 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 covered by the Agreement. 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 States the obligation:
a) to carry out administrative measures at variance
with the laws and the administrative practice of that or of the other 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 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
DIPLOMATIC AGENTS AND CONSULAR OFFICERS
1. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the fiscal privileges
of diplomatic agents or consular officers under the general rules of international
law or under the provisions of special agreements. However, the Agreement
shall not apply to international organizations, organs and officials thereof
and members of a diplomatic or consular mission of a third State, being
present in one of the States, if they are not subjected therein to the
same obligations in respect of taxes on income as are residents of that
State.
2. For the purposes of the Agreement an individual, who
is a member of a diplomatic or consular mission of one of the States in
the other State or in a third State and who is a national of the sending
State, shall be deemed to be a resident of the sending State if he is subjected
therein to the same obligations in respect of taxes on income as are residents
of that State.
Article 28
TERRITORIAL EXTENSION
1. This Agreement may be extended, either in its entirety
or with any necessary modifications, to the part of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands which is not situated in Europe and which imposes taxes substantially
similar in character to those to which the Agreement applies. Any such
extension shall take effect from such date and subject to such modifications
and conditions, including conditions as to termination, as may be specified
and agreed is noted to be exchanged through diplomatic channels.
2. Unless otherwise agreed the termination of the Agreement
shall also terminate any extension of the Agreement to the part of the
Kingdom of the Netherlands to which it has been extended under this Article.
Final provisions
Article 29
ENTRY INTO FORCE
This Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth
day after the latter of the dates on which the respective Governments have
notified each other in writing that the formalities constitutionally required
in their respective States have been complied with, and its provisions
shall have effect for taxable years and periods beginning on or after the
first day of January in the calendar year following that in which the latter
of the notifications has been received.
Article 30
TERMINATION
This Agreement shall remain in force until terminated
by one of the Contracting Parties. Either Party may terminate the Agreement.
through diplomatic channels, by giving notice of termination at least six
months before the end of any calendar year after the expiration of a period
of five years from the date of its entry into force. In such event the
Agreement shall cease to have effect for taxable years and periods beginning
after the end of the calendar year in which the notice of termination has
been given.
PROTOCOL of 27 March, 1986
I. Ad Articles 3, 4, 5 and 7
The profits of the special joint venture which is deemed
to be a corporate body under the Turkish Corporation Tax Act shall be taxable
only in Turkey. However, if the activities of such a joint venture do not
fulfil the requirements of the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 5,
then for the purposes of this Agreement the corporate body status of that
joint venture shall not be taken into account and the Netherlands enterprise
who is a partner in such a joint venture shall not be taxable in Turkey
for its share in the profits of the joint venture and also for the deemed
dividend paid by such joint venture to the Netherlands enterprise.
II. Ad Article 4
An individual living aboard a ship without any real domicile
in either of the States shall be deemed to be a resident of the State in
which the ship has its home harbour.
III. Ad Article 5
In respect of paragraph 6 of Article 5, it is understood
that an otherwise independent agent does not lose his independent status
by the mere fact that he holds a stock of goods or merchandise from which
he delivers goods or merchandise on behalf of an enterprise under conditions
customary between independent enterprises.
IV. Ad Article 6
1. In respect of paragraph 2 of Article 6, it is understood
that the term "fishing places of every kind" does not include sea fishing
places outside the territorial waters of the States.
2. It is understood that income from immovable property
shall not include the items of income dealt with in Article 12.
V. Ad Article 7
1. In respect of paragraph 1 of Article 7, profits derived
from the sale of goods or merchandise of the same or similar kind as those
sold, or from other business activities of the same or similar kind as
those effected, through a permanent establishment, may be considered attributable
to that permanent establishment if it is proved that this transaction has
been resorted to in order to avoid taxation in the State where the permanent
establishment is situated.
2. In respect of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 7, where
an enterprise of one of the States sells goods or merchandise or carries
on business in the other State through a permanent establishment situated
therein, the profits of that permanent establishment shall not be determined
on the basis of the total amount received by the enterprise, but shall
be determined only on the basis of the remuneration which is attributable
to the actual activity of the permanent establishment for such sales or
business. Especially, in the case of contracts for the survey, supply,
installation or construction of industrial, commercial or scientific equipment
or premises, or of public works, when the enterprise has a permanent establishment,
the profits of such permanent establishment shall not be determined on
the basis of the total amount of the contract, but shall be determined
only on the basis of that part of the contract which is effectively carried
out by the permanent establishment in the State where the permanent establishment
is situated. The profits related to that part of the contract which is
carried out by the head office of the enterprise shall be taxable only
in the State of which the enterprise is a resident.
3. In respect of paragraph 3 of Article 7, in determining
the profits of a permanent establishment there shall not be allowed as
deductions payments for interest, royalties, commissions or other similar
payments made to the head office of the enterprise itself or to other permanent
establishments for sharing all or part of the losses or expenses of the
head office of the enterprise itself or of other permanent establishments
located abroad. However, the permanent establishment may, in accordance
with paragraph 3 of Article 7 of the Agreement, deduct interest, royalties,
commissions or other similar payments (including expenses for research
or development) incurred for the purposes of the permanent establishment.
VI. Ad Article 9
In respect of paragraph 1 of Article 9, it is understood,
however, that the fact that associated enterprises have concluded arrangements,
such as cost-sharing arrangements or general services agreements, for or
based on the allocation of executive, general administrative, technical
and commercial expenses, research and development expenses and other similar
expenses, is not in itself a condition as meant in that paragraph.
VII. Ad Article 10
In respect of paragraph 4 of Article 10, it is understood
that the dividends in the case of Turkey shall also include the income
from investment funds and investment trusts.
VIII. Ad Article 10, 11 and 12
Where tax has been levied at source in excess of the amount
of tax chargeable under the provisions of Articles 10, 11 and 12, applications
for the refund of the excess amount of tax have to be lodged with the competent
authority of the State having levied the tax, within the time limit provided
for in the national legislation of that State.
IX. Ad Articles 10 and 23
Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-paragraph (a) of
paragraph 2 of Article 10, as long as, under the provisions of the Netherlands
Company Tax Act and to the future amendments thereto, a company which is
a resident of the Netherlands is not charged to the Netherlands company
tax with respect to dividends the company receives from a company which
is a resident of Turkey, the percentage provided for in that sub-paragraph
shall be lowered to:
a) 10 per cent with respect to dividends paid
by a company which is a resident of Turkey; and
b) 5 per cent with respect to dividends paid by a company
which is a resident of the Netherlands.
In such case the provisions of sub-paragraph (d) of paragraph
2 of Article 23 shall be applied accordingly.
X. Ad Article12
It is understood that remuneration for the exercise of
independent services (including the furnishing of services) is not a royalty
within the meaning of paragraph 4 of Article 12.
XI. Ad Articles 12 and 13
In respect of Articles 12 and 13 of the Agreement it is
understood that in the case of any payment received as a consideration
for the sale of the property as meant in paragraph 4 of Article 12, the
provisions of Article 12 shall apply, unless it is proved that the payment
in question is a payment for a genuine alienation of the said property.
In such case the provisions of Article 13 shall apply.
XII. Ad Article 14
In respect of sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 2 of Article
14 it is understood that for the application of the time limits provided
for in that sub-paragraph only connected activities shall be taken into
account. However, activities which are in character not related to each
other shall not be considered to be connected activities.
XIII. Ad Article 16
It is understood that "bestuurder" or "commissaris" of
a Netherlands company means persons who are nominated as such by the general
meeting of shareholders or by any other competent body of such company
and are charged with the general management of the company and the supervision
thereof, respectively.
XIV. Ad Article 23
It is understood that the provisions of sub-paragraph
(a) of paragraph 1 of Article 23 shall only apply with respect to dividends
mentioned in that sub-paragraph as long as, under the provisions of the
Netherlands Company Tax Act and to future amendments thereto, a company
which is a resident of the Netherlands is not charged to Netherlands company
tax with respect to dividends the company receives from a company which
is a resident of Turkey.
XV. Ad Article 24
It is understood that the expression "in the same circumstances"
as mentioned in paragraph 1 of Article 24 refers to taxpayers (individuals,
legal persons, partnerships and associations) placed, from the point of
view of the application of the ordinary taxation laws and regulations,
in substantially similar circumstances both in law and in fact.
Amongst other things this means that a national of one
of the States, resident of a third State and doing business in thc other
State will be subjected to the same taxation or requirements connected
therewith in that other State to which a national of that other State,
resident in a third State and doing business in that other State, is or
may be subjected.
XVI. Ad Article 25
It is understood that with respect to paragraph 2 of Article
25 the taxpayer must in the case of Turkey claim the refund resulting from
such mutual agreement within a period of one year after the tax administration
has notified the taxpayer of the result of the mutual agreement.
XVII. Ad Article 26
In respect of paragraph 1 of Article 26 it is understood
that as long as the Republic of Turkey has not signed the additional protocol
of March 17, 1978, to the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal
Matters of April 20, 1959, the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 26
shall not be operative to information required for prosecution.
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