METHODS OF ELIMINATING DOUBLE TAXATION

The objective of double taxation can be achieved Tax treaties employ various methods or a combination of
(I) EXEMPTION METHOD –

One method of avoiding double taxation is for the residence country to altogether exclude foreign income from its tax base. The country of source is then given exclusive right to tax such incomes. This is known as complete exemption method and is sometimes followed in respect of profits attributable to foreign permanent establishments or income from immovable property. Indian tax treaties with Denmark, Norway and Sweden embody with respect to certain incomes.

(II) CREDIT METHOD

This method reflects the underline concept that the resident remains liable in the country of residence on its global income, however as far the quantum of tax liabilities is concerned credit for tax paid in the source country is given by the residence country against its domestic tax as if the foreign tax were paid to the country of residence itself.

(III) TAX SPARING

One of the aims of the Indian Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements is to stimulate foreign investment flows in India from foreign developed countries. One way to achieve this aim is to let the investor to preserve to himself/itself benefits of tax incentives available in India for such investments. This is done through “Tax Sparing”. Here the tax credit is allowed by the country of its residence, not only in respect of taxes actually paid by it in India but also in respect of those taxes India forgoes due to its fiscal incentive provisions under the Indian Income Tax Act.

Thus, tax sparing credit is an extension of the normal and regular tax credit to taxes that are spared by the source country i.e. forgiven or reduced due to rebates with the intention of providing incentives for investments.

The regular tax credit is a measure for prevention of double taxation, but the tax sparing credit extends the relief granted by the source country to the investor in the residence country by the way of an incentive to stimulate foreign investment flows and does not seek reciprocal arrangements by the developing countries.

APPLICABILITY OF TREATY BENEFITS

In order to get the benefit of a tax treaty, it is necessary to have an access to it. For that purpose, a person must qualify in terms of the treaty as a: 

- person 

- resident of any of the Contracting states; and 

- beneficial owner of the income by the way of dividends, interest or royalties for a lower rate of withholding tax.

RESIDENCE OF A PERSON/ RESIDENT

The determination of the residential status is of great significance as the taxability of income under the domestic laws depends upon it, and as also only the resident of a contracting state can seek relief from double taxation.

The expression ‘resident of contracting state’ is defined to mean any person who, under the laws of that state, is 

1. liable to tax therein by reason of 

2. domicile, residence, place of management or 

3. any other criterion of a similar nature.

The treaty provisions set forth rules for determination whether a person is a resident of a contracting state for purposes of the treaty. The determination looks for first to a person’s liability to tax as a resident under the respective taxation laws of the contracting state. If a person is resident in both the contracting states, there are provisions to assign a single state of residence to him for purposes of the treaty through tie-breaking rules.

BUSINESS INCOME

The business income of a non-resident is taxable in India under section 9(1)(i) of the ITA only if it accrues or arises, directly or indirectly, through or from any business connection in India, property in India, asset or source of income in India, or through the transfer of an Indian capital asset. Explanation 2 of section 9(1) (i) contain an inclusive definition of business connection; as per which a business connection is said to exist if any person carrying on a business activity acts on behalf of a non-resident and:
# has and habitually exercises an authority to conclude contracts on behalf of the non-resident 

# has no such authority, but habitually maintains in India a stock of goods or merchandise from which he regularly delivers goods or merchandise on behalf of the non-resident 

# habitually secures orders in India, mainly or wholly for the non-resident or its affiliates.

PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT

Double taxation agreement restricts the jurisdiction of the contracting states to taxing business income of a foreign enterprise only if such enterprise carries on business in India through a permanent establishment.

The term “permanent establishment” as defined in Article 5 means a fixed place of business through which business of an enterprise is carried on. The definition requires performance of business activity through a fixed place of business in another country. The expression has been defined as:
a. fixed place of business through which the business of an 

b. enterprise is 

c. Wholly or partly carried on.

The first part of Article 5(1) postulates that the existence of a fixed place of business whereas the second part postulates that the business is carried on through a fixed place. If the second part is not attracted, there is no permanent establishment.[10] Thereby meaning that there should necessarily be a fixed place of business through which the enterprise must conduct business activity and that activity must be income generating.

TREATING SHOPPING

Treating shopping is an expression which refers to the act of a resident of a third country taking advantage of a fiscal treaty between states. A person acts through a legal entity created in a state essentially to obtain treaty benefits that would not be available directly to such person.

The basic feature of treaty shopping is the establishment of base companies in other states solely for the purpose of enjoying the benefit of a particular treaty rules existing between the state involved and the third state. An example of treaty shopping can be the India-Mauritius double Taxation agreement where various companies have been incorporated in Mauritius to take advantage of the Indo-Mauritius DTAA in which capital gains are to be assessed as per the law of the state of residence of the entity .However, under the Mauritian law, tax is not levied on capital gains which means that the capital gains made by the Mauritian entity on transfer of shares in an Indian company go unassessed.

However, the last few tears have seen a change in the approach of the States in the wake of wide reports of extensive money laundering and the tax evasion. As a consequences, a lot of countries are adopting a “Limitation of Benefits” clause in the tax treaties so as o restrict third parties from taking advantage of tax treaties between two other states.

INDIAN TAX REGIME

The Income Tax Act, 1961 (ITA) governs taxation of income in India. According to section 5 of the ITA, Indian residents[11] are taxable on their worldwide income, and nonresidents are taxed only on income that has its source in India.10 Section 6 of the ITA defines who may be a tax resident and contains different residency criteria for companies, firms, and individuals. The scope of section 5 is expanded by the ‘‘legal fiction contained in section 9,’’ which deems certain kinds of income to be of Indian source.

The ITA favors source-based taxation as compared to the OECD model conventions or treaties entered into by many developed countries that favor residence based taxation. Indian courts have supported source based taxation in several cases in the past.

INDIAN POLICY WITH RESPECT TO DOUBLE TAXATION AVOIDANCE AGREEMENTS

The policy adopted by the Indian government in regard to double taxation treaties may be worded as follows:

•  Trading with India should be relieved of Indian taxes considerably so as to promote its economic and industrial development.
•  There should be co-ordination of Indian taxation with foreign tax legislation for Indian as well as foreign companies trading with India 
•  The agreements are intended to permit the Indian authorities to co-operate with the foreign tax administration. 
•  Tax treaties are a good compromise between taxation at source and taxation in the country of residence 
•  India primarily follows the UN model convention and one therefore finds the tax-sparing and credit methods for elimination of double taxation in most Indian treaties as well as more source-based taxation in respect of the articles on ‘royalties’ and ‘other income’ than in the OECD model convention.

CONCLUSION

The regime of international taxation exists through bilateral tax treaties based upon model treaties, developed by the OECD and the UN, between the Contracting States. India has entered into a wide network of tax treaties with various countries all over the world to facilitate free flow of capital into and from India. However, the international tax regime has to be restructured continuously so as to respond to the current challenges and drawbacks. Know more about information: Business tax consultants and Tax consulting company

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