TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
Convention between the Government of Republic of India and the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro for the Avoidance of Double Taxation
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... and Montenegro' shall be read as reference to Serbia; And whereas the date of entry into force of the said Convention is the 23rd day of September, 2008, being the date of later of the notifications of completion of the procedures as required by the respective laws for entry into force of this convention, in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 30 of the said convention; And whereas sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 2 of Article 30 of the said Convention provides that the provisions of the Convention shall have effect in India in respect of the taxes on income derived and taxes on capital owned in each fiscal year beginning on or after the first day of April in the calendar year next following the year in which the Convention enters into force; Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 90 of the Income-Act, 1961 (43 of 1961) and section 44A of the Wealth-tax Act, 1957 (27 of 1957), the Central Government hereby directs that all the provisions of the said Convention shall be given effect to in the Union of India. Annexure CONVENTION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA AND THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF SERBIA AND MONT....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....a and Montenegro, its internal sea waters and the belt of the territorial sea, the air space thereover, as well as the seabed and subsoil of the part of the continental shelf outside the outer limit of the territorial sea over which Serbia and Montenegro exercises its sovereign rights for the purposes of exploration and exploitation of their natural resources in accordance with its internal legislation and international laws; 3) the term "India" means the territory of India and includes the territorial sea and airspace above it, as well as any other maritime zone in which India has sovereign rights, other rights and jurisdiction, according to the Indian law and in accordance with international law, including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea; 4) the term "political subdivisions", in the state community Serbia and Montenegro, means Member States; 5) the term "national" means: - any individual possessing the nationality of a Contracting State; - any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in a Contracting State. 6) the term "person" includes an individual, a company, a bo....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....us shall be determined as follows: 1) he shall be deemed to be a resident only 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 only of the State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests); 2) 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 only of the State in which he has an habitual abode; 3) If he has an habitual abode in both States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State of which he is national; 4) If he is a national of both States 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 only of the State in which its place of effective management is situated. If the State in which its pl....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....esulting 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 a person: 1) 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 2) 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. 6. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, an insurance enterprise of a Contracti....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....endent 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 that permanent establishment. 2. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3, 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 which are incurred for the purposes of the business of the permanent establis....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....on, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article. ARTICLE 8 INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC 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. For the purposes of this Article, profits from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall mean the profits derived by an enterprise referred to in paragraph 1, from transportation by sea or air of passengers, goods, mail or livestock. 3. Profits derived by an enterprise referred to in paragraph 1, which is a resident of a Contracting State from the use or rental of containers (including trailers and other equipment for the transport of containers) used for the transport of goods or merchandise by that enterprise in international traffic shall be taxable only in that Contracting State unless the containers are used solely within the other Contracting State. 4. For the purposes of this Article, interest on funds directly connected with the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be regarded as profits derived from the operation of s....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... 1) 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 25 per cent of the capital of the company paying the dividends, 2) 15 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends in all other cases. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of these limitations. This paragraph shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid. 3. The terms "dividends" as used in this Article means income from 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 a 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 t....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... late payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purpose of this Article. 5. The Provision 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 case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 15, as the case may be, shall apply. 6. Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that State. Where, however the person paying the interest, whether he is 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 permanent establishment or fixed base; then such interest shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establis....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....ed to arise in Contracting State when the payer is 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 fixed base in connection with which the liability to pay the royalties was incurred, and such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated. 6. Where, by reason of 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 provision 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 Convention. ARTICLE 13 FEES FOR TECHNICAL SERVICES 1. Fees ....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....ervices, having regard to the services for which they are paid exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the tax payer and the beneficial owner is 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 Convention. ARTICLE 14 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 enterprises) or of such fix....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....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 that other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if: 1) the recipient is present in the other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve months period commencing or ending in the fiscal year concerned, and 2) the remuneration is paid by or, on behalf of an employer who is not a resident of the other state; and 3) the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment or a fixed base which the employer has in the other State. 2. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic by an enterprise of a Contracting State may be taxed in the State. ARTICLE 17 DIRECTORS' FEES Directors' fees and other similar payments derived b....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State. 2) However, such pension shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the individual is a resident of, and a national of, that State. 3. The provision of Articles 16, 17, 18 and 19 shall apply to salaries, wages and other similar remuneration and to pensions, in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof. ARTICLE 21 STUDENTS 1. Payments which a student or business apprentice 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 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 State, provided that such payments arise from sources outside that State. 2. In respect of grants, scholarships and remuneration from employment not covered by paragraph 1, a student or business apprentice referred to in paragraph 1 shall, in addition, be entitled du....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....ces, card games and other games of any sort or gambling or betting of any form or nature whatsoever, such income may be taxed in that other Contracting State. ARTICLE 24 CAPITAL 1. Capital represented by immovable property referred to in Article 6, owned by a resident of a Contracting State and situated in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State. 2. Capital represented by movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprises of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State or by 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, may be taxed in that other State. 3. Capital represented by ships and aircraft operated in international traffic, and by movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships and aircraft shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the enterprises owning such property is a resident. 4. All other elements of capital of a resident of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State. ARTICLE 25 ELIMINAT....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....activities. This provision shall not be construed as preventing a Contracting State from charging the profits of a permanent establishment which a company of the other Contracting State has in the first mentioned State at a rate of tax which is higher than that imposed on the profits of a similar company of the first-mentioned Contracting State, nor as being in conflict with the provisions paragraph 3 of Article 7 of this Convention. Further, this provision shall also 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. 3. Except where the provisions of Article 9, paragraph 7 of Article 11, or paragraph 6 of Article 12, apply interest, royalties and other disbursements paid by an enterprise of a Contracting State to a residents of the other Contracting State 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 State. Similarly, any debts of an ent....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs. When it seems advisable in order to reach an agreement to have oral exchange of opinions, such exchange may take place through a Commission consisting of representatives of the competent authorities of the Contracting States. ARTICLE 28 EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION 1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information (including documents or certified copies of the documents) as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Convention or of the domestic laws of the Contracting States concerning taxes covered by the Convention insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Convention in particular for the prevention of fraud or evasion of 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) concerned with the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... calendar year after the fifth year from the date of entry into force of the Convention. In such event, the Convention shall cease to have effect: 1) in Serbia and Montenegro: in respect of the taxes on income derived and the taxes on capital owned in each fiscal year beginning on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next following the year in which the notice of termination is given 2) in India: in respect of the taxes on income derived and the taxes on capital owned each fiscal year beginning on or after the first day of April in the calendar year next following the year in which the notice of termination is given. IN WITNESS whereof the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto, have signed this Convention. DONE in duplicate at New Delhi this 8th day of February 2006 in the English, Hindi and Serbian languages, all three texts being equally authentic. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail. FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA Sd/- Shri P. Chidambaram Finance Minister FOR THE COUNCIL OF MINISTER OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO Sd/- Prof. Dr Predrag Ivanovic Minister....