The Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the States of Guernsey Desiring to conclude an Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital, have agreed as follows:
Article 1
Persons covered
This Agreement shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting Parties.
Article 2
Taxes covered
1. This Agreement shall apply to taxes on income and on capital imposed on behalf of a Contracting Party or of its local authorities, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.
2. There shall be regarded as taxes on income and on capital all taxes imposed on total income, on total capital, or on elements of income or of capital, 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 Guernsey: the income tax;
(Hereinafter referred to as «Guernsey tax»);
b) in Luxembourg:
(i) the income tax on individuals (l’impôt sur le revenu des personnes physiques); (ii) the corporation tax (l’impôt sur le revenu des collectivités);
(iii) the capital tax (l’impôt sur la fortune); and
(iv) the communal trade tax (l’impôt commercial communal); (hereinafter referred to as «Luxembourg tax»).
4. The Agreement shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes that 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 Parties shall notify each other of any significant changes that have been made in their taxation laws.
Article 3
General Definitions
1. For the purposes of this Convention, unless the context otherwise requires:
a) the term «Guernsey» means the States of Guernsey and, when used in a geographical sense, means Guernsey, Alderney and Herm, including the territorial sea adjacent to those islands, in accordance with international law; save that any reference to the law of Guernsey is to the law of the island of Guernsey as it applies there and in the islands of Alderney and Herm;
b) the term «Luxembourg» means the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and, when used in a geographical sense, means the territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg;
c) the term «business» includes the performance of professional services and of other activities of an independent character;
d) the term «company» means any body corporate or any entity that is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;
e) the term «competent authority» means:
(i) in Guernsey, the Director of Income Tax or his delegate;
(ii) in Luxembourg, the Minister of Finance or his authorised representative;
f) the terms «a Contracting Party» and «the other Contracting Party» mean Guernsey or Luxembourg as the context requires;
g) the term «enterprise» applies to the carrying on of any business;
h) the terms «enterprise of a Contracting Party» and «enterprise of the other Contracting Party» mean respectively an enterprise carried on by a resident of a Contracting Party and an enterprise carried on by a resident of the other Contracting Party;
i) the term «international traffic» means any transport by a ship, aircraft or road vehicle operated by an enterprise that has its place of effective management in a Contracting Party, except when the ship, aircraft or road vehicle is operated solely between places in the other Contracting Party;
j) the term «national» means:
(i) in relation to Guernsey, any individual who has a place of abode in Guernsey and possesses British citizenship and any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such under the laws of Guernsey;
(ii) in relation to Luxembourg:
a) any individual possessing the nationality of Luxembourg; and
b) any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in
Luxembourg;
k) the term «person» includes an individual, a company and any other body of persons.
2. As regards the application of the Agreement at any time by a Contracting Party, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning that it has at that time under the law of that Party for the purposes of the taxes to which the Agreement applies, any meaning under the applicable tax laws of that Party prevailing over a meaning given to the term under other laws of that Party.
Article 4
resident
1. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term «resident of a Contracting Party» means any person who, under the laws of that Party, is liable to tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature, and also includes that Party and any local authority thereof. This term, however, does not include any person who is liable to tax in that Party in respect only of income from sources in that Party or capital situated therein.
2. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 an individual is a resident of both Contracting Parties, then his status shall be determined as follows:
a) he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Party in which he has a permanent home available to him; if he has a permanent home available to him in both Parties, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Party with which his personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests);
b) if the Party 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 Party, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Party in which he has an habitual abode;
c) if he has an habitual abode in both Parties or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Party of which he is a national;
d) if he is a national of both Parties or of neither of them, the competent authorities of the Contracting Parties 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 parties, then it shall be deemed to be a resident only of the party in which its place of 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 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;
d) a factory;
e) a workshop, and
f) a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction of natural resources.
3. A building site or construction or installation or a dredging project constitutes a permanent establishment only if it lasts more than 12 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 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 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 an independent status to whom paragraph 6 applies - is acting on behalf of an enterprise and has, and habitually exercises, in a Contracting Party an authority to conclude contracts in the name of the enterprise, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in that Party in respect of any activities which that person undertakes for 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.
6. An enterprise shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in a Contracting Party merely because it carries on business in that Party 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 a Contracting Party controls or is controlled by a company which is a resident of the other Contracting Party, or which carries on business in that other Party (whether through a permanent establishment or otherwise), shall not of itself constitute either company a permanent establishment of the other.
Article 6
Income from immovable property
1. Income derived by a resident of a Contracting Party from immovable property (including income from agriculture or forestry) situated in the other Contracting Party may be taxed in that other Party.
2. The term «immovable property» shall have the meaning which it has under the law of the Contracting Party 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, sources and other natural resources; ships, boats and aircraft 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.
Article 7
Business profits
1. Profits of an enterprise of a Contracting Party shall be taxable only in that Party unless the enterprise carries on business in the other Contracting Party through a permanent establishment situated therein. If the enterprise carries on business as aforesaid, the profits that are attributable to the permanent establishment in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 may be taxed in that other Party.
2. For the purposes of this Article and Article 22, the profits that are attributable in each Contracting Party to the permanent establishment referred to in paragraph 1 are the profits it might be expected to make, in particular in its dealings with other parts of the enterprise, if it were a separate and independent enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities under the same or similar conditions, taking into account the functions performed, assets used and risks assumed by the enterprise through the permanent establishment and through the other parts of the enterprise.
3. Where, in accordance with paragraph 2, a Contracting Party adjusts the profits that are attributable to a permanent establishment of an enterprise of one of the Contracting Parties and taxes accordingly profits of the enterprise that have been charged to tax in the other Party, the other Party shall, to the extent necessary to eliminate double taxation on these profits, make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged on those profits. In determining such adjustment, the competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall if necessary consult each other.
4. 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, inland waterways transport and air transport
1. Profits from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in the Contracting Party in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.
2. Profits from the operation of boats engaged in inland waterways transport shall be taxable only in the Contracting
Party in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.
3. For the purposes of this Article, profits derived from the operation in international traffic of ships and aircraft include profits:
a) derived from the rental of ships and aircraft if such ships or aircraft are operated in international traffic; and
b) derived from the use, maintenance or rental of containers (including trailers and related equipment for the transport of containers) used for the transport of goods and merchandise,
where such rental profits or profits from such use, maintenance or rental, as the case may be, are incidental to the profits described in paragraph 1.
4. If the place of effective management of a shipping enterprise or of an inland waterways transport enterprise is aboard a ship or boat, then it shall be deemed to be situated in the Contracting Party in which the home harbour of the ship or boat is situated, or, if there is no such home harbour, in the Contracting Party of which the operator of the ship or boat is a resident.
5. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall also apply to profits from the participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating agency.
1. Where:
Article 9
Associated enterprises
a) an enterprise of a Contracting Party participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of the other Contracting Party, or
b) the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of a contracting party and an enterprise of the other contracting party, 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 party includes in the profits of an enterprise of that party - and taxes accordingly - profits on which an enterprise of the other contracting party has been charged to tax in that other party and the profits so included are profits which would have accrued to the enterprise of the first-mentioned party if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those which would have been made between independent enterprises, then that other party 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 this Agreement and the competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall if necessary consult each other.
Article 10
Dividends
1. Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a Contracting Party to a resident of the other Contracting Party may be taxed in that other Party.
2. However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting Party of which the company paying the dividends is a resident and according to the laws of that Party, but if the beneficial owner of the dividends is a resident of the other Contracting Party, the tax so charged shall not exceed:
a) 5 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends if the beneficial owner is a company (other than a partnership) which holds directly at least 10 per cent of the capital of the company paying the dividends;
b) 15 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends in all other cases.
This paragraph shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid.
3. The term «dividends» as used in this Article means income from shares, «jouissance» shares or «jouissance» rights, mining shares, 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 Party of which the company making the distribution is a resident, and in the case of Luxembourg, the investor’s share of the profit in a commercial, industrial, mining or craft undertaking, paid proportionally to the profits and by virtue of his capital outlay, as well as interest and payments on bonds, where, over and above the fixed rate of interest, a right of assignment is granted for supplementary interest varying according to the unretained earnings.
4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a Contracting Party, carries on business in the other Contracting Party of which the company paying the dividends is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.
5. Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting Party derives profits or income from the other Contracting Party, that other Party 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 Party or insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment situated in that other Party, 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 Party.
Article 11
Interest
1. Interest arising in a Contracting Party and beneficially owned by a resident of the other Contracting Party shall be taxable only in that other Party.
2. 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 and prizes attaching to such securities, bonds or debentures. However, the term «interest» shall not include income referred to in Article 10. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purpose of this Article.
3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the interest, being a resident of a Contracting Party, carries on business in the other Contracting Party in which the interest arises, through a permanent establishment situated therein, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.
4. 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 case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting Party, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Agreement.
Article 12
Royalties
1. Royalties arising in a Contracting Party and beneficially owned by a resident of the other Contracting Party shall be taxable only in that other Party.
2. 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, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience.
3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties, being a resident of a Contracting Party, carries on business in the other Contracting Party in which the royalties arise, through a permanent establishment situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.
4. 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 Party, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Agreement.
Article 13
Capital gains
1. Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting Party from the alienation of immovable property referred to in Article 6 and situated in the other Contracting Party may be taxed in that other Party.
2. Gains from the alienation of movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting Party has in the other Contracting Party, including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise), may be taxed in that other Party.
3. Gains from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in international traffic, boats engaged in inland waterways transport or movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships, aircraft or boats, shall be taxable only in the Contracting Party in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.
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 Contracting Party of which the alienator is a resident.
Article 14
Income from employment
1. Subject to the provisions of Articles 15, 17 and 18, salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting Party in respect of an employment shall be taxable only in that Party unless the employment is exercised in the other Contracting Party. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is derived therefrom may be taxed in that other Party.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting Party in respect of an employment exercised in the other Contracting Party shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned Party if:
a) the recipient is present in the other Party for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve month period commencing or ending 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 Party, and
c) the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment which the employer has in the other Party.
3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship, aircraft or road vehicle operated in international traffic, or aboard a boat engaged in inland waterways transport, may be taxed in the Contracting Party in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.
Article 15
Directors’ fees
Directors’ fees and other similar payments derived by a resident of a Contracting Party in his capacity as a member of the board of directors of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting Party may be taxed in that other Party
Article 16
Artistes and sportspersons
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7 and 14, income derived by a resident of a Contracting Party as an entertainer, such as a theatre, motion picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as a sportsperson, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting Party, may be taxed in that other Party.
2. Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsperson in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or sportsperson himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7 and 14, be taxed in the Contracting Party in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsperson are exercised.
Article 17
Pensions
1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 18, pensions and other similar remuneration (including lump-sum payments) paid to a resident of a Contracting Party in consideration of past employment shall be taxable only in that Party.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, pensions and other payments made under the social security legislation of a Contracting Party shall be taxable only in that Party.
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, pensions and other similar remuneration (including lump-sum payments) arising in a Contracting Party and paid to a resident of the other Contracting Party shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned Party, provided that such payments derive from contributions paid to or from provisions made under a pension scheme by the recipient or on his behalf and that these contributions, provisions or the pensions or other similar remuneration have been subjected to tax in the first-mentioned Party under the ordinary rules of its tax laws or have been deducted from the taxable base in the first-mentioned Party under the ordinary rules of its tax laws.
Article 18
Government service
1. a) Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration paid by a Contracting Party or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that Party or authority shall be taxable only in that Party.
b) However, such salaries, wages and other similar remuneration shall be taxable only in the other Contracting
Party if the services are rendered in that Party and the individual is a resident of that Party who: (i) is a national of that Party; or
(ii) did not become a resident of that Party solely for the purpose of rendering the services.
2. a) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, pensions and other similar remuneration (including lump sum payments) paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting Party or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that Party or authority shall be taxable only in that Party.
b) However, such pensions and other similar remuneration (including lump sum payments) shall be taxable only in the other Contracting Party if the individual is a resident of, and a national of, that Party.
3. The provisions of Articles 14, 15, 16 and 17 shall apply to salaries, wages, pensions, and other similar remuneration in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting Party or a local authority thereof.
Article 19
Students
Payments which a student or business apprentice who is or was immediately before visiting a Contracting Party a resident of the other Contracting Party and who is present in the first-mentioned Party 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 Party, provided that such payments arise from sources outside that Party.
Article 20
Other income
1. Items of income of a resident of a Contracting Party, wherever arising, not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Agreement shall be taxable only in that Party.
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 a Contracting Party, carries on business in the other Contracting Party through a permanent establishment situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.
Article 21
Capital
1. Capital represented by immovable property referred to in Article 6, owned by a resident of a Contracting Party and situated in the other Contracting Party, may be taxed in that other Party.
2. Capital represented by movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting Party has in the other Contracting Party may be taxed in that other Party.
3. Capital represented by ships and aircraft operated in international traffic and by boats engaged in inland waterways transport, and by movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships, aircraft and boats, shall be taxable only in the Contracting Party in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.
4. All other elements of capital of a resident of a Contracting Party shall be taxable only in that Party.
Article 22
Elimination of Double taxation
1. Subject to the provisions of the laws of Guernsey regarding the allowance as a credit against Guernsey tax of tax payable in a territory outside Guernsey (which shall not affect the general principle hereof):
a) subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph c), where a resident of Guernsey derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, may be taxed in Luxembourg, Guernsey shall allow as a deduction from the tax payable in respect of that income, an amount equal to the income tax paid in Luxembourg;
b) such deduction shall not, however, exceed that part of the income tax, as computed before deduction is given, which is attributable to the income which may be taxed in Luxembourg;
c) where a resident of Guernsey derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement shall be taxable only in Luxembourg, Guernsey may include this income in calculating the amount of tax on the remaining income of such resident.
2. Subject to the provisions of Luxembourg law regarding the elimination of double taxation which shall not affect the general principle hereof, double taxation shall be eliminated as follows:
a) where a resident of Luxembourg derives income or owns capital which, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, may be taxed in Guernsey, Luxembourg shall, subject to the provisions of sub-paragraphs b), c) and d), exempt such income or capital from tax, but may, in order to calculate the amount of tax on the remaining income or capital of the resident, apply the same rates of tax as if the income or capital had not been exempted;
b) where a resident of Luxembourg derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 7, 10,
13(2) and 16 may be taxed in Guernsey, Luxembourg shall allow as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident an amount equal to the tax paid in Guernsey, but only, with respect to Articles 7 and 13(2), if the business profits and the capital gains are not derived from activities in agriculture, industry, infrastructure and tourism in Guernsey. Such deduction shall not, however, exceed that part of the tax, as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable to such items of income derived from Guernsey;
c) where a company which is a resident of Luxembourg derives dividends from Guernsey sources, Luxembourg shall exempt such dividends from tax, provided that the company which is a resident of Luxembourg holds directly at least 10 per cent of the capital of the company paying the dividends since the beginning of the accounting year and if this company is subject to Guernsey tax corresponding to the Luxembourg corporation tax. The above-mentioned shares in the Guernsey company are, under the same conditions, exempt from the Luxembourg capital tax. This exemption under this sub-paragraph shall also apply notwithstanding that the Guernsey company is exempted from tax or taxed at a reduced rate in Guernsey and if these dividends are derived out of profits from activities in agriculture, industry, infrastructure or tourism in Guernsey;
d) the provisions of sub-paragraph a) shall not apply to income derived or capital owned by a resident of Luxembourg where Guernsey applies the provisions of this Agreement to exempt such income or capital from tax or applies the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 10 to such income.
Article 23
Non-Discrimination
1. Nationals of a Contracting Party shall not be subjected in the other Contracting Party 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 Party in the same circumstances, in particular with respect to residence, 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 Contracting Parties.
2. The taxation on a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting Party has in the other Contracting Party shall not be less favourably levied in that other Party than the taxation levied on enterprises of that other Party carrying on the same activities. This provision shall not be construed as obliging a Contracting Party to grant to residents of the other Contracting Party any personal allowances, reliefs and reductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family responsibilities which it grants to its own residents.
3. Except where the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 9, paragraph 4 of Article 11, or paragraph 4 of Article 12 apply, interest, royalties and other disbursements paid by an enterprise of a Contracting Party to a resident of the other Contracting Party 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 Party. Similarly, any debts of an enterprise of a Contracting Party to a resident of the other Contracting Party shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable capital of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been contracted to a resident of the first-mentioned Party.
4. Enterprises of a Contracting Party, the capital of which is wholly or partly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by one or more residents of the other Contracting Party, shall not be subjected in the first-mentioned Party 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 Party are or may be subjected.
5. The provisions of this Article shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 2, apply to taxes of every kind and description.
Article 24
Mutual agreement Procedure
1. Where a person considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting Parties result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, he may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the domestic law of those Parties, present his case to the competent authority of the Contracting Party of which he is a resident or, if his case comes under paragraph 1 of Article 23, to that of the Contracting Party of which he is a national. The case must be presented within three 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 Party, with a view to the avoidance of taxation which is not in accordance with the Agreement. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting Parties.
3. The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties 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 Parties may communicate with each other directly, including through a joint commission consisting of themselves or their representatives, for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs.
5. Where,
a) under paragraph 1, a person has presented a case to the competent authority of a Contracting Party on the basis that the actions of one or both of the Contracting Parties have resulted for that person in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and
b) the competent authorities are unable to reach an agreement to resolve that case pursuant to paragraph 2 within two years from the presentation of the case to the competent authority of the other Contracting Party,
any unresolved issues arising from the case shall be submitted to arbitration if both competent authorities and the taxpayer agree and the taxpayer agrees in writing to be bound by the decision of the arbitration board. These unresolved issues shall not, however, be submitted to arbitration if a decision on these issues has already been rendered by a court or administrative tribunal of either Party. The decision of the arbitration board in a particular case shall be binding on both Parties with respect to that case and shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic laws of these Parties. The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this paragraph.
Article 25
Exchange of information
1. The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall exchange such information as is foreseeably relevant for carrying out the provisions of this Agreement or to the administration or enforcement of the domestic laws concerning taxes of every kind and description imposed on behalf of the Contracting Parties, or of their local authorities, insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Agreement. The exchange of information is not restricted by Articles 1 and 2.
2. Any information received under paragraph 1 by a Contracting Party shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic laws of that Party and shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) concerned with the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, the determination of appeals in relation to the taxes referred to in paragraph 1, or the oversight of the above. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes. They may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions.
3. In no case shall the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 be construed so as to impose on a Contracting Party the obligation:
a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting Party;
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 Party;
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).
4. If information is requested by a Contracting Party in accordance with this Article, the other Contracting Party shall use its information gathering measures to obtain the requested information, even though that other Party may not need such information for its own tax purposes. The obligation contained in the preceding sentence is subject to the limitations of paragraph 3 but in no case shall such limitations be construed to permit a Contracting Party to decline to supply information solely because it has no domestic interest in such information.
5. In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 3 be construed to permit a Contracting Party to decline to supply information upon request solely because the information is held by a bank, other financial institution, nominee or person acting in an agency or a fiduciary capacity or because it relates to ownership interests in a person.
Article 26
Members of diplomatic missions and consular Posts
Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the fiscal privileges of members of diplomatic missions or consular posts under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements.
Article 27
Entry into force
1. Each Contracting Party shall notify the other in writing, through appropriate channels, that the procedures required by its law for the entry into force of this Agreement have been satisfied. The Agreement shall enter into force on the date of receipt of the last notification.
2. The Agreement shall have effect:
a) in respect of taxes withheld at source, to income derived on or after 1 January of the calendar year next following the year in which the Agreement enters into force;
b) in respect of other taxes on income, and taxes on capital, to taxes chargeable for any taxable year beginning on or after 1 January of the calendar year next following the year in which the Agreement enters into force.
Article 28
Termination
1. This Agreement shall remain in force until terminated by a Contracting Party. Either Contracting Party may terminate the Agreement, through appropriate channels, by giving notice of termination at least six months before the end of any calendar year beginning after the expiration of a period of five years from the date of its entry into force.
2. The Agreement shall cease to have effect:
a) in respect of taxes withheld at source, to income derived on or after 1 January of the calendar year next following the year in which the notice is given;
b) in respect of other taxes on income, and taxes on capital, to taxes chargeable for any taxable year beginning on or after 1 January of the calendar year next following the year in which the notice is given.
In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorised thereto, have signed this Agreement. Done in duplicate at London this 10th day of May 2013, in the English language.
Protocol
At the moment of the signing of the Agreement between the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Guernsey for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital, both Contracting Parties have agreed upon the following provisions, which shall form an integral part of the Agreement:
I. with reference to Article 4:
1. A collective investment vehicle which is established in a Contracting Party and that is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes in that Contracting Party shall be considered as a resident of the Contracting Party in which it is established and as the beneficial owner of the income it receives.
2. A collective investment vehicle which is established in a Contracting Party and that is not treated as a body corporate for tax purposes in that Contracting Party shall be considered as an individual who is resident of the Contracting Party in which it is established and as the beneficial owner of the income it receives.
II. with reference to Article 25:
Any request for information under the Agreement shall be formulated with the greatest detail possible and, in particular, the competent authority of the requesting Party shall provide the following information to the competent authority of the requested Party:
a) the identity of the person under examination or investigation;
b) the period for which the information is sought;
c) the nature of the information sought and the form in which the requesting Party wishes to receive it;
d) the reason for believing that the information requested is foreseeably relevant to the carrying out of the provisions of the Agreement or to the administration or enforcement of the domestic laws concerning taxes imposed on behalf of the requesting Party;
e) the tax purpose for which the information is sought;
f) grounds for believing that the information requested is held in the requested Party or is in the possession of or obtainable by a person within the jurisdiction of the requested Party;
g) to the extent known the name and address of any person believed to be in possession of or able to obtain the requested information;
h) a statement that the requesting Party has pursued all means available in its own territory to obtain the information, except those that would give rise to disproportionate difficulties.
In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol. Done in duplicate at London this 10th day of May 2013, in the English language.
Read also:
Regulated or
Unregulated 