اجتناب از اخذ مالیات مضاعف و جلوگیری از فرار مالی درمورد مالیات بر درآمد (انگلیسی)
Desiring to conclude an Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income
تاریخ انعقاد:1379/05/04
تاریخ اجرا:1379/10/11
IN THE NAME OF GOD
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
AND
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA
Desiring to conclude an Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income,
HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
PERSONAL SCOPE
This Agreement shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.
Article 2
TAXES COVERED
1. This Agreement shall apply to taxes on income imposed on behalf of each Contracting State, 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.
3. The existing taxes to which the Agreement shall apply are in particular:
(a) in the case of the Islamic Republic of Iran:
the income tax
(hereinafter referred to as ” the tax of the Islamic Republic of Iran” ) ;
(b) in the case of the Sri Lanka :
the income tax , including the income tax based on the turnover of enterprises licensed by the Board of Investment ,
(hereinafter referred to as” Sri Lanka tax ” ) .
4. The Agreement shall also apply to any identical or substantially similar taxes classified in accordance with the definition in paragraph 3 of this Article 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 Contracting States shall notify each other within a reasonable period of any changes which have been made in their respective taxation laws.
Article 3
GENERAL DEFINITIONS
1. For the purposes of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) the terms “a Contracting State” and “the other Contracting State” mean the Islamic Republic of Iran or Sri Lanka as the context requires;
(b)
(i) the term “Islamic Republic of Iran” means the territories under the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
(ii) the term” Sri Lanka” means the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,including any area outside the territorial sea of Sri Lanka which in accordance with international law has been or may hereafter be designated, under the laws of Sri Lanka
concerning the continental shelf, as an area within which the rights of Sri Lanka with respect to the waters,sea bed and sub-soil and the natural resources may be exercised ;
(c) the term “person” includes an individual, a company and any other body of persons ;
(d) the term “company” means any body corporate or any entity which is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;
(e) the terms “enterprise of a Contracting State” and “enterprise of the other Contracting State” mean respectively an enterprise carried on by a resident of a Contracting State and an enterprise carried on by a resident of the other Contracting State;
(f) the term “international traffic” means any transport by a ship or aircraft operated by an enterprise of a Contracting State, except when the ship or aircraft is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State;
(g) the term “national” means:
(i) any individual possessing the nationality of a Contracting State ;
(ii) any legal person , partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in a Contracting State;
(h) the term” competent authority ” means :
(i)in the Islamic Republic of Iran :
the Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance or his authorized representative,
(ii) in Sri Lanka : the Commissioner General of Inland Revenue.
2.As regards the application of the Agreement by a Contracting State, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning which it has under the laws of that Contracting State relating to the taxes which are the subject of this Agreement.
Article 4
RESIDENT
1.For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “resident of a Contracting State” means any person who ,under the laws of that State, is liable to tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature.
2. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then his status shall be determined as follows:
(a) he shall be deemed to be a resident 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 Contracting State in which he has an habitual abode;
(c) if he has an habitual abode in both Contracting 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 Contracting 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 Contracting States, then it shall be deemed to be a resident of the State in which its effective management is situated.
Article 5
PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT
1. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “permanent establishment” means a fixed place of business through which an enterprise of a Contracting State wholly or partly carries on business in the other Contracting State.
2. The term “permanent establishment” includes especially:
(a) a place of management;
(b) a branch;
(c) an office;
(d) a factory;
(e) a workshop;
(f) a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of exploration, exploitation or extraction of natural resources .
3. A building site,a construction ,assembly or installation project or supervisory activities in connection therewith constitutes a permanent establishment but only where such site, project or activities continue for a period of more than twelve 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 or display of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise;
(b) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage or display;
(c) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise;
(d) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise, or of collecting information, for the enterprise;
(e) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of advertising, for the supply of information, for scientific research or for similar activities which have a preparatory or auxiliary character , for the enterprise;
(f)the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of activities mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e) provided that the overall activity of the fixed place of business resulting from this combination is of a preparatory or auxiliary character.
5. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, where a person-other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 7 applies – is acting in a Contracting State on behalf of an enterprise of the other Contracting State, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the first -mentioned Contracting State in respect of any activities which that person undertakes for the enterprise, if such person:
(a)has and habitually exercises in that State an authority to conclude contracts in the name of the enterprise , unless the activities of such person are limited to those mentioned in paragraph 4 which, if exercised through a fixed place of business , would not make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment under the provisions of that paragraph ; or
(b)has no such authority , but habitually maintains in the first – mentioned State a stock of goods or merchandise from which he regularly delivers goods or merchandise on behalf of the enterprise; or
(c)habitually secures orders in the first- mentioned State for the enterprise and other enterprises which are controlled by it or have a controlling interest in it .
6. An enterprise of a Contracting State 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 such persons are acting in the ordinary course of their business.
However, when the activities of such an agent are devoted wholly or almost wholly on behalf of that enterprise, he shall not be considered an agent of an independent status if the transactions between the agent and the enterprise were not made under arms length conditions.
7.The fact that a company which is a resident of a Contracting State controls or is controlled by a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State, or which carries on business in that other State (whether through a permanent establishment or otherwise), shall not by itself constitute either company a permanent establishment of the other.
Article 6
INCOME FROM IMMOVABLE PROPERTY
1. Income from immovable property may be taxed in the Contracting State in which such property is situated.
2. The term “immovable property” shall have the meaning which it has under the law of the Contracting State in which the property in question is situated. The term shall in any case include property accessory to immovable property, livestock and equipment used in agriculture and forestry, rights to which the provisions of general law respecting landed property apply, usufruct of immovable property and rights to variable or fixed payments as consideration for the working of,or the right to work, mineral deposits,oil or gas wells, quarries and other places of extraction of natural resources including timber or other forest products. Ships, boats and aircraft, shall not be regarded as immovable property.
3. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article 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 of this Article shall also apply to the income from immovable property of an enterprise and to the income from immovable property used for the performance of independent personal services.
Article 7
BUSINESS PROFITS
1. The profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State unless the enterprise carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein. If the enterprise carries on business as aforesaid, the profits of the enterprise may be taxed in the other State but only so much of them as is attributable to (a) that permanent establishment; (b) sales in that other State of goods or merchandise of the same kind as those sold through that permanent establishment; or (c) other business activities carried on in that other State of the same kind as those effected through that permanent establishment.
2. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3 of this Article where an enterprise of a Contracting State carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, there shall in each Contracting State be attributed to that permanent establishment the profits which it might be expected to make if it were a distinct and separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities, under the same or similar conditions and dealing wholly independently with the enterprise of which it is a permanent establishment.
3.In determining the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed as deductions expenses including executive and general administrative expenses, which would be deductible if the permanent establishment were an independent enterprise insofar as they are incurred for the purposes of the permanent establishment, whether incurred in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere.
4. Insofar as it has been customary in a Contracting State to determine the profits to be attributed to a permanent establishment on the basis of an apportionment of the total profits of the enterprise to its various parts, nothing in paragraph 2 shall preclude that Contracting State from determining the profits to be taxed by such an apportionment as may be customary. The method of apportionment adopted shall, however, be such that the result shall be in accordance with the principles embodied in this Article.
5. 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.
6. The profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year unless there is good and sufficient reason to the contrary.
7. Where profits include items of income which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Agreement, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article.
Article 8
Shipping and Air Transport
1. Profits derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in that State.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article profits derived from the operation of ships in international traffic may be taxed in the Contracting State in which such operation is carried on ; but the tax so charged shall not exceed 50 percent of the tax otherwise imposed by the internal law of that State .
Article 9
ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES
1. Where
(a) an enterprise of a Contracting State participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of the other Contracting State, or
(b) the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital ofan enterprise of a Contracting State and an enterprise of the other Contracting State, and in either case conditions are made or imposed between the two enterprises in their commercial or financial relations which differ from those which would be made between independent enterprises, then any profits which would, but for those conditions, have accrued to one of the enterprises, but, by reason of those conditions, have not so accrued,may be included in the profits of that enterprise and taxed accordingly.
2. Where a Contracting State includes in the profits of an enterprise of that State – and taxes accordingly – profits on which an enterprise of the other Contracting
State has been charged to tax in that other State and the profits so included are by the first-mentioned State claimed to be profits which would have accrued to the enterprise of the first-mentioned State if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those which would have been made between independent enterprises, then that other State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein on those profits. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall be had to the other provisions of the Agreement and the competent authorities of the Contracting States, shall, if necessary, consult each other.
Article 10
DIVIDENDS
1. Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
2. However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident and according to the laws of that State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the dividends the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 percent of the gross amount of the dividends.
3. The term “dividends” as used in this Article means income from shares,”Jouissance” shares or “Jouissance” 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 resident.
4.The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.
5. Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State derives profits or income from the other Contracting State, that other State may not impose any tax on the dividends paid by the company, except insofar as such dividends are paid to a resident of that other State or insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base situated in that other State, nor subject the companys undistributed profits to a tax on the companys undistributed profits,even if the dividend paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in such other State.
Article 11
INTEREST
1. Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
2. However, such interest may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which it arises, and according to the laws of that State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the interest the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 percent of the gross amount of the interest.
3.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 debtors profits, and in particular, income from government securities and income from bonds or debentures, including premiums and prizes attaching to such securities, bonds or debentures. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purpose of this Article.
4. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph2, interest arising in a Contracting State and derived by the Government, Governmental ministries, other Governmental institutions, municipalities or other local authorities,Central Bank and other banks wholly owned by the Government of the other Contracting State,shall be exempted from tax in the first-mentioned State.
5.The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the interest, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the interest arises, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such a case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.
6. Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, a local authority, or a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the interest, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base, in connection with which the indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, and such interest is borne by such a permanent establishment or fixed base then such interest shall be deemed to arise in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base, is situated.
7. Where by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the interest, having regard to the debt – claim for which it is paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such a case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Agreement.
Article 12
ROYALTIES
1. Royalties arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
2. However, such royalties may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise and according to the laws of that State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the royalties the tax so charged shall not exceed 8 percent of the gross amount of the royalties.
3.The term “royalties” as used in this Article means payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work including cinematograph films,or films or tapes for radio or television broadcasting ,any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for the use of, or the right to use, industrial, commercial or scientific equipment, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience.
4.The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties, being a resident of a Contracting State, 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 provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.
5. Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, a local authority or a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the royalties, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the right or property giving rise to the royalties is effectively connected, and such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment, or fixed base then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.
6. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties, 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 beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Agreement.
Article 13
CAPITAL GAINS
1. Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of immovable property referred to in Article 6 and situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
2.Gains from the alienation of movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State or of movable property pertaining to a fixed base available to a resident of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing independent personal services, including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise)or of such fixed base may be taxed in that other State.
3. Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in international traffic or movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircraft shall be taxable only in that State .
4.Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of shares or other corporate rights in a company the assets of which directly or indirectly consist mainly of immovable property situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
5. Gains from the alienation of any property other than that referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident.
Article 14
INDEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES
1. Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of professional services or other activities of an independent 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 or he is present in that other State for a period or periods exceeding in the aggregate 90 days in any twelve month period. If he has such a fixed base or is present in that other State for the aforesaid period or periods , the income may be taxed in that other State but only so much of it as is attributable to that fixed base or is derived in that other State during the aforesiad period or periods.
2. 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.
Article 15
DEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES
1. Subject to the provisions of Articles 16, 18, 19 and 20 of this Agreement salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment shall be taxable only in that State unless the employment is exercised in the other Contracting State.If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is derived therefrom may be taxed in that other State.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised in the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if:
(a) the recipient is present in that other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve month period ; 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 borne by a permanent establishment or a fixed base which the employer has in that other State.
3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration paid by an enterprise of a Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic shall be taxed only in that State.
Article 16
DIRECTORS FEES
Directors fees and other similar payments derived by a resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as a member of the board of directors of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
Article 17
ARTISTES AND SPORTSMEN
1.Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 14 and 15, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer, such as a theater, motion picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as a sportsman, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.
2. Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsman in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or sportsman himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7, 14 and 15, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsman are exercised.
3.Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, the income derived by an entertainer or a sportsman from activities performed in the other Contracting State within any cultural agreement concluded between the Governments of the Contracting States, shall be exempted from tax in that other State.
Article 18
PENSIONS AND ANNUITIES
1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 19, any pension or other similar remuneration paid to a resident of one of the Contracting States from a source in the other Contracting State in consideration of past employment or services in that other Contracting state and any annuity paid to such a resident from such a source may be taxed in that other State.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, pensions and other payments under the public social security legislation or civil service law of a Contracting State shall be taxed only in that State.
3. The term “annuity” means a stated sum payable periodically at stated times during life or during a specified or ascertainable period of time under an obligation to make the payments in return for adequate and full consideration in money or moneys worth.
Article 19
GOVERNMENT SERVICES
1.Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, other than a pension, paid by, or out of funds created by a Contracting State or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or local 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 individual is a resident of that State who:
(i) is a national of that State; or
(ii) did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the services.
2. The provisions of Articles 15, 16 and 18 shall apply to remuneration and pensions in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or a local authority thereof.
Article 20
TEACHERS AND RESEARCHERS
A professor, teacher or researcher who makes a temporary visit to a Contracting State for the purpose of teaching or conducting research at a university, college, school or other recognized educational institution and who is, or immediately before such visit was, a resident of the other Contracting State shall be exempted from tax in the first – mentioned State for a period not exceeding two years in respect of remuneration for such teaching or research.
This Article shall not apply to remuneration which a professor or teacher receives for conducting research if the research is undertaken primarily for the private benefit of a specific person or persons.
Article 21
Students And Trainees
1. Payments which a student, apprentice, or business trainee who is or was immediately before visiting a Contracting State a resident of the other Contracting State and who is present in the first – mentioned State 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. An individual who is a resident of one of the Contracting States at the time he becomes temporarily present in the other Contracting State and who is temporarily present in the other State as an employee of,or under contract with , a resident of the first – mentioned State , or as a participant in a programme sponsored by the Government of the other State or by any international organization for the primary purpose of :
(a) acquiring technical , professional , or business experience from a person other than that resident of the first- mentioned State or other than a person related to such resident ; or
(b) studying at a university or other recognized educational institution in that other State,shall be exempt from tax in that other State for a period not exceeding one year with respect to his income from employment .
Article 22
OTHER INCOME
The laws in force in either of the States shall continue to govern the taxation of income except when express provisions to the contrary are made in this Agreement.
Article 23
METHOD FOR THE ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION
1. Where a resident of a Contracting State derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, may be taxed in the other Contracting State, the first-mentioned State shall allow as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident,an amount equal to the income tax paid in that other State.
Such deduction shall not, however, exceed that part of the income tax as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable, to the income which may be taxed in that other State.
2. Where in accordance with any provision of the Agreement income derived by a resident of a Contracting State is exempted from tax in that State, such State may nevertheless, in calculating the amount of tax on the remaining income of such resident, take into account the exempted income.
Article 24
NON-DISCRIMINATION
1. Nationals of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in the other Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of that other State in the same circumstances are or may be subjected.
2. The taxation of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State shall not be less favourably levied in that other State than the taxation levied on enterprises of that other State carrying on the same activities.
3. Enterprises of a Contracting State, the capital of which is wholly or partly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by one or more residents of the other Contracting State, shall not be subjected in the first-mentioned State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which other similar enterprises of the first-mentioned State are or may be subjected.
4. These provisions shall not be construed as obliging a Contracting State to grant to residents of the other Contracting State any personal allowances, reliefs and reductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family responsibilities which it grants to its own residents.
Article 25
MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROCEDURE
1. Where a resident of a Contracting State 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 Agreement, he may, irrespective of 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 or, if his case comes under paragraph 1 of Article 24, to that of the other Contracting State of which he is a national. The case must be presented within two years from the first notification of the action resulting in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement.
2. The competent authority shall endeavour, if the objection appears to it to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at a satisfactory solution, to resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other Contracting State, with a view to the avoidance of double taxation which is not in accordance with this Agreement.
3. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of the 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 Contracting States may communicate with each other directly for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs.The competent authorities, through consultations, shall develop appropriate bilateral procedures, conditions, methods and techniques for the implementation of the mutual agreement procedure provided for in this Article.
Article 26
EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION
1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Agreement or of the domestic laws of the Contracting States concerning taxes covered by the Agreement, insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Agreement, as well as to prevent 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 which are the subject of the Agreement. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes but may disclose the information in public court proceedings, or in judicial decisions.
2. In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 1 be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation:
(a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and the administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;
(b) to supply information which is not obtainable under the laws or in the normal course of the administration of that or of the other Contracting State;
(c) to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process, or information, the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy (ordre Public).
Article 27
DIPLOMATIC AGENTS AND CONSULAR OFFICERS
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.
Article 28
ENTRY INTO FORCE
1. This Agreement shall be ratified and the instruments of ratification shall be exchanged as soon as possible.
2. This Agreement shall enter into force upon the exchange of instruments of ratification and shall have effect:
(a) in the Islamic Republic of Iran:
(i) in respect of taxes withheld at the source, in relation to amounts of income derived on or after 1 January in the calendar year next following the year in which the Agreement enters into force;
(ii) in respect of other taxes on income, in relation to such taxes chargeable for any taxable year beginning on or after 1 January in the calendar year next following the year in which the Agreement enters into force.
(b) in Sri Lanka :
in respect of income assessable for any year of assessment commencing on or after 1 April in the calendar year next following that in which the Agreement enters into force.
Article 29
TERMINATION
This Agreement shall remain in force until terminated by a Contracting State. Either Contracting State may terminate the Agreement, through diplomatic channels, by giving written notice of termination at least six months before the end of any calendar year following after the period of five years from the date on which the Agreement enters into force.
In such event, the Agreement shall cease to have effect:
(a) in the Islamic Republic of Iran :
(i) in respect of taxes withheld at the source, in relation to amounts of income derived on or after 1 January in the calendar year next following the year in which the notice of the termination is given;
(ii) in respect of other taxes on income, in relation to such taxes chargeable for any taxable year beginning on or after 1 January in the calendar year next following the year in which the notice of the termination is given.
(b) in Sri Lanka:
(i) in respect of income assessable for any year of assessment commencing on or after 1 April in the calendar year next following that in which the notice of the termination is given.
In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorised thereto, by their respective Governments, have signed this Agreement.
Done in duplicate at………… on ………………(…………..) in the Persian,Sinhala and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.
For the Government For the Government
of the of the Democratic Socialist
Islamic Republic of Iran Republic of Sri Lanka
