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Non-discrimination clause in tax treaties – Select issues and recent developments – Part 4

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Non-discrimination clause in tax treaties – Select issues and recent developments – Part 4

Non-discrimination clause in tax treaties – Select issues and recent developments – Part 4

In part 3 of the series, I have discussed Article 24(2) which deals with the stateless person in detail. In this part, I will discuss Article 24(3) dealing with PE non-discrimination.

This paragraph deals with a ‘permanent establishment’ (PE) that an ‘enterprise of a Contracting State’ has in the other ‘Contracting State’. Thus, it deals with the non-discrimination of a resident of a Contracting State in respect of the enterprise carried on through a PE by such a person in other contracting state.

Article 24(3) applies when the following conditions are satisfied –

  • There is a PE of an ‘enterprise’ of a contracting state in other contracting state
  • Such PE is subject to taxation in other contracting state
  • Such taxation is less favourably levied than taxation levied on enterprise of other contracting state
  • The enterprise of other contracting state carry on same activities as that of the PE

Understanding certain important terms –

  • Enterprise/ PE: This article applies only if the taxpayer has PE and not otherwise. It seeks to end discrimination on the actual residency of the overseas entity
  • Less favourably:  PE of the Residence State shall not be treated ‘less  favourably’ in taxation matters by the Source State as compared with an ‘enterprise’ of the Source State
  • Same activities: OECD commentary has explained the term through illustrations. It states that regulated and unregulated activities would generally not constitute the ‘same activities’
  • Levied: Levy means to access, raise, execute, exact, tax, collect, gather, take up, seize
  • In the same circumstances: The expression implies that a PE and a local enterprise that is the object of comparison with the PE should always be in the ‘same circumstances’

Application of Article 24(3) in certain situations

  • Computation of taxable income – PE must be given the same right as resident enterprises are given in relation to –
    • Claim of deduction of trading expenses
    • Deduction of depreciation
    • Deduction for provision for re-investment in fixed assets
    • Carry forward or backward a loss
    • Claim benefit of tax incentive provisions
  • Structure and rate of tax – The manner of levy of taxes may vary from country to country. Indian IT Act expressly permits differential rates of domestic and overseas companies. The relevant extract is reproduced below –

“For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the charge of tax in respect of a foreign company at a rate higher than the rate at which a domestic company is chargeable, shall not be regarded as a less favourable charge or levy of tax in respect of such foreign company.”

  • Credit for WHT suffered by a PE – A PE in Source State may receive overseas income (e.g., dividend, interest, etc.) and such income may be taxed in the Source State. It appears that by invoking Article 24(3), a PE may be able to avail of a credit in the Source State for the foreign withholding tax on dividends, interest, etc. if such credit is granted to resident enterprises of the Source State
  • Miscellaneous situations – As article 24(3) applies to taxation of PE’s own business, hence, PE may not be able to invoke Article 24(3) in the following situations –
    • Rules relating to group consolidation
    • Rules relating to the distributing profits

Principle emanating from Indian judicial pronouncements in the context of Article 24(3) on Non-discrimination –

  • Section 44C of the Income-tax Act, 1961 limitation on the deduction of head office expenditure would not apply in the case of non-resident companies in light of the non-discrimination clause in the tax treaty (Metchem Canada Inc. v. Deputy Commissioner of Income-tax [2006] 100 ITD 251 (MUM.))
  • Benefit of certain Export linked deductions under Section 80HHE and Section 80HHC of the Income-tax Act, 1961 should be allowable to PE of the foreign company (Bhagwan T. Shivlani v Income-tax Officer (IT)-2(2), (Mumbai) [2012] 20 taxmann.com 821)

Distinction between Article 24(1) and Article 24(3) on Non-discrimination clause –

The views in all sections are personal views of the author.

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