The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing and ratification of Agreement between India and Samoa for the exchange of information with respect to Taxes.

The Agreement will stimulate the flow of exchange of information between India and Samoa for tax purposes which will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance.

There is no financial implications at present.  Only in the event of extraordinary costs exceeding USD 500, the same will be borne by India.  India has similar provisions in other such tax information exchange agreement.

Salient features of the Agreement:

1.  The Agreement enables the competent authorities of India and Samoa to provide assistance through exchange of information that is foreseeably relevant to the administration and enforcement of the domestic laws of the two countries concerning taxes covered by this Agreement.

2.  The information received under the Agreement shall be treated as confidential and may be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts or administrative bodies) concerned with assessment, collection, enforcement, prosecution or determination of appeals in relation to taxes covered under the Agreement. Information may be disclosed to any other person or entity or authority or jurisdiction with the prior written consent of the information sending country.

3.  The Agreement also provides for Mutual Agreement Procedure "for resolving any difference or for agreeing on procedures under the Agreement.

4.  The Agreement shall enter into force on the date of notification of completion of the procedures required by the respective laws of the two countries for entry into force of the Agreement.

Background:

The Central Government is authorized under section 90 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 to enter into an Agreement with a foreign country or specified territory for exchange of information for the prevention of evasion or avoidance of income-tax chargeable under the Income-tax Act, 1961. Negotiations for entering into an Agreement for the exchange of information with respect to Taxes were finalized between India and Samoa in June, 2016 and both countries have agreed on the text of the Agreement.

Exchange of information for tax purposes enables cross border sharing to combat evasion, subject to confidentiality and consent. The Agreement enables competent authorities of India and Samoa to exchange information foreseeably relevant to administration and enforcement of domestic tax laws, subject to confidentiality and restricted disclosure only to persons or authorities concerned with assessment, collection, enforcement, prosecution or appeals; further disclosure requires prior written consent of the information sending country. It provides a Mutual Agreement Procedure to resolve differences, conditions entry into force on completion of domestic procedures, and contemplates limited cost allocation for extraordinary expenses.