United Kingdom Statutory Instruments

(a) that the arrangements specified in the Convention set out in Part I of the Schedule to this Order and the Protocol set out in Part II of that Schedule and in the Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement set out in Part III of that Schedule have been made with the Government of the United States of America with a view to affording relief from double taxation in relation to income tax, corporation tax or capital gains tax and taxes of a similar character imposed by the laws of the United States of America;

(b) that those arrangements include provisions with respect to the exchange of information necessary for carrying out the domestic laws of the United Kingdom and the laws of the United States of America concerning taxes covered by the arrangements including, in particular, provisions about the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to those taxes; and

(c) that it is expedient that those arrangements should have effect.

A. K. Galloway,
Clerk of the Privy Council

(a) by the laws of either Contracting State; or

(b) by any other agreement between the Contracting States.

     3.

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 2 of this Article:


(i) any question arising as to the interpretation or application of this Convention and, in particular, whether a taxation measure is within the scope of this Convention, shall be determined exclusively in accordance with the provisions of Article 26 (Mutual Agreement Procedure) of this Convention; and

(ii) the provisions of Article II and Article XVII of the General Agreement on Trade in Services shall not apply to a taxation measure unless the competent authorities agree that the measure is not within the scope of Article 25 (Non-discrimination) of this Convention.



(b) For the purposes of this paragraph, a "measure" is a law, regulation, rule, procedure, decision, administrative action, or any similar provision or action.

     4. Notwithstanding any provision of this Convention except paragraph 5 of this Article, a Contracting State may tax its residents (as determined under Article 4 (Residence)), and by reason of citizenship may tax its citizens, as if this Convention had not come into effect.

     5. The provisions of paragraph 4 of this Article shall not affect:

(a) the benefits conferred by a Contracting State under paragraph 2 of Article 9 (Associated Enterprises), sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 1 and paragraphs 3 and 5 of Article 17 (Pensions, Social Security, Annuities, Alimony, and Child Support), paragraph 1 of Article 18 (Pension Schemes) and Articles 24 (Relief From Double Taxation), 25 (Non-discrimination), and 26 (Mutual Agreement Procedure) of this Convention; and

(b) the benefits conferred by a Contracting State under paragraph 2 of Article 18 (Pension Schemes) and Articles 19 (Government Service), 20 (Students), and 28 (Diplomatic Agents and Consular Officers) of this Convention, upon individuals who are neither citizens of, nor have been admitted for permanent residence in, that State.

     6. A former citizen or long-term resident whose loss of citizenship or long-term resident status had as one of its principal purposes the avoidance of tax (as defined under the laws of the Contracting State of which the person was a citizen or long-term resident) shall be treated for the purposes of paragraph 4 of this Article as a citizen of that Contracting State but only for a period of 10 years following the loss of such status. This paragraph shall apply only in respect of income from sources within that Contracting State (including income deemed under the domestic law of that State to arise from such sources). Paragraph 4 of this Article shall not apply in the case of any former citizen or long-term resident of a Contracting State who ceased to be a citizen or long-term resident of that State at any time before February 6th, 1995.

     7. Where under any provision of this Convention income or gains arising in one of the Contracting States are relieved from tax in that Contracting State and, under the law in force in the other Contracting State, a person, in respect of the said income or gains, is subject to tax by reference to the amount thereof which is remitted to or received in that other Contracting State and not by reference to the full amount thereof, then the relief to be allowed under this Convention in the first-mentioned Contracting State shall apply only to so much of the income or gains as is taxed in the other Contracting State.

     8. An item of income, profit or gain derived through a person that is fiscally transparent under the laws of either Contracting State shall be considered to be derived by a resident of a Contracting State to the extent that the item is treated for the purposes of the taxation law of such Contracting State as the income, profit or gain of a resident.

(a) in the case of the United States:


(i) the Federal income taxes imposed by the Internal Revenue Code (but excluding social security taxes); and

(ii) the Federal excise taxes imposed on insurance policies issued by foreign insurers and with respect to private foundations;



(b) in the case of the United Kingdom:



(i) the income tax;

(ii) the capital gains tax;

(iii) the corporation tax; and

(iv) the petroleum revenue tax.

     4. This Convention shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes that are imposed after the date of signature of this Convention in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of any changes that have been made in their respective taxation or other laws that significantly affect their obligations under this Convention.

(a) the term "person" includes an individual, an estate, a trust, a partnership, a company, and any other body of persons;

(b) the term "company" means any body corporate or any entity that is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;

(c) the term "enterprise" applies to the carrying on of any business;

(d) the term "business" includes the performance of professional services and of other activities of an independent character;

(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, except when the ship or aircraft is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State;

(g) the term "competent authority" means:


(i) in the United States: the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate; and

(ii) in the United Kingdom: the Commissioners of Inland Revenue or their authorised representative;



(h) the term "United States" means the United States of America, and includes the states thereof and the District of Columbia; such term also includes the territorial sea thereof and the sea bed and sub-soil of the submarine areas adjacent to that territorial sea, over which the United States exercises sovereign rights in accordance with international law; the term, however, does not include Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam or any other United States possession or territory;

(i) the term "United Kingdom" means Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including any area outside the territorial sea of the United Kingdom which in accordance with international law has been or may hereafter be designated, under the laws of the United Kingdom concerning the Continental Shelf, as an area within which the rights of the United Kingdom with respect to the sea bed and sub-soil and their natural resources may be exercised;

(j) the term "national" of a Contracting State, means:



(i) in relation to the United States,


(A) any individual possessing the citizenship of the United States; and

(B) any legal person, partnership, association or other entity deriving its status as such from the laws in force in the United States;



(ii) in relation to the United Kingdom,



(A) any British citizen, or any British subject not possessing the citizenship of any other Commonwealth country or territory, provided he has the right of abode in the United Kingdom; and

(B) any legal person, partnership, association or other entity deriving its status as such from the laws in force in the United Kingdom;



(k) the term "qualified governmental entity" means:



(i) a Contracting State, or a political subdivision or local authority of a Contracting State;

(ii) a person that is wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or local authority of a Contracting State, provided


(A) it is organised under the laws of the Contracting State;

(B) its earnings are credited to its own account with no portion of its income inuring to the benefit of any private person;

(C) its assets vest in the Contracting State, political subdivision or local authority upon dissolution; and

(D) it does not carry on a business;



(l) the term "Contracting State" means the United States or the United Kingdom, as the context requires;

(m) the term "real property" means any interest (other than an interest solely as a creditor) in land, crops or timber growing on land, mines, wells and other places of extraction of natural resources, as well as any fixture built on land (buildings, structures, etc.) and other property considered real or immovable property under the law of the Contracting State in which the property in question is situated. The term shall in any case include livestock and equipment used in agriculture and forestry, rights to which the provisions of general law respecting landed property apply, usufruct of real property and rights to variable or fixed payments as consideration for the working of, or the right to work, mineral deposits and other natural resources; ships, boats and aircraft shall not be regarded as real property.

(n) the term "conduit arrangement" means a transaction or series of transactions:



(i) which is structured in such a way that a resident of a Contracting State entitled to the benefits of this Convention receives an item of income arising in the other Contracting State but that resident pays, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of that income (at any time or in any form) to another person who is not a resident of either Contracting State and who, if it received that item of income direct from the other Contracting State, would not be entitled under a convention for the avoidance of double taxation between the state in which that other person is resident and the Contracting State in which the income arises, or otherwise, to benefits with respect to that item of income which are equivalent to, or more favourable than, those available under this Convention to a resident of a Contracting State; and

(ii) which has as its main purpose, or one of its main purposes, obtaining such increased benefits as are available under this Convention.



(o) the term "pension scheme" means any plan, scheme, fund, trust or other arrangement established in a Contracting State which is:



(i) generally exempt from income taxation in that State; and

(ii) operated principally to administer or provide pension or retirement benefits or to earn income for the benefit of one or more such arrangements.

     2. As regards the application of this Convention at any time by a Contracting State, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, or the competent authorities agree on a common meaning pursuant to the provisions of Article 26 (Mutual Agreement Procedure) of this Convention, have the meaning which it has at that time under the law of that State for the purposes of the taxes to which this Convention applies, any meaning under the applicable tax laws of that State prevailing over a meaning given to the term under other laws of that State.

(a) a pension scheme;

(b) a plan, scheme, fund, trust, company or other arrangement established in a Contracting State that is operated exclusively to administer or provide employee benefits and that, by reason of its nature as such, is generally exempt from income taxation in that State;

(c) an organisation that is established exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, artistic, cultural, or educational purposes and that is a resident of a Contracting State according to its laws, notwithstanding that all or part of its income or gains may be exempt from tax under the domestic law of that State; and

(d) a qualified governmental entity that is, is a part of, or is established in, that State.

     4. 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 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);

(b) if the State in which he has his centre of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he does not have 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;

(c) 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 a national;

(d) if he is a national of both States or of neither of them, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to settle the question by mutual agreement.

     5. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article a person other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to determine by mutual agreement the mode of application of this Convention to that person. If the competent authorities do not reach such an agreement, that person shall not be entitled to claim any benefit provided by this Convention, except those provided by paragraph 4 of Article 24 (Relief from Double Taxation), Article 25 (Non-discrimination) and Article 26 (Mutual Agreement Procedure).

     6. A marriage before January 1st, 1974 between a woman who is a United States national and a man domiciled within the United Kingdom shall be deemed to have taken place on January 1st, 1974 for the purpose of determining her domicile for United Kingdom tax purposes, on or after the date on which this Convention first has effect in relation to her.

(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 project constitutes a permanent establishment only if it lasts for 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, 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 the activities mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e) of this paragraph, 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 of this Article, where a person - other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 6 of this Article applies - is acting on behalf of an enterprise and has and habitually exercises in a Contracting State an authority to conclude contracts that are binding on the enterprise, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in that State in respect of any activities that the person undertakes for the enterprise, unless the activities of such person are limited to those mentioned in paragraph 4 of this Article that, 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 State merely because it carries on business in that State through a broker, general commission agent, or any other agent of an independent status, provided that such person is acting in the ordinary course of his business as an independent agent.

     7. The fact that a company that is a resident of a Contracting State controls or is controlled by a company that is a resident of the other Contracting State, or that carries on business in that other State (whether through a permanent establishment or otherwise), shall not constitute either company a permanent establishment of the other.

(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 of an 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 that differ from those that would be made between independent enterprises, then any profits that, but for those conditions, would 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 other Contracting State agrees that the profits so included are profits that would have accrued to the enterprise of the first-mentioned State if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those that 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 paid to the other provisions of this Convention and the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall if necessary consult each other.

(a) 5 per cent. of the gross amount of the dividends if the beneficial owner is a company that owns shares representing directly or indirectly at least 10 per cent. of the voting power 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. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article, dividends shall not be taxed in the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident if the beneficial owner of the dividends is a resident of the other Contracting State and either:

(a) a company that has owned shares representing 80 per cent. or more of the voting power of the company paying the dividends for a 12-month period ending on the date the dividend is declared, and that:


(i) owned shares representing, directly or indirectly, at least 80 per cent. of the voting power of the company paying the dividends prior to October 1st, 1998; or

(ii) is a qualified person by reason of sub-paragraph (c) of paragraph 2 of Article 23 (Limitation on Benefits) of this Convention; or

(iii) is entitled to benefits with respect to the dividends under paragraph 3 or paragraph 6 of that Article; or



(b) a pension scheme, provided that such dividends are not derived from the carrying on of a business, directly or indirectly, by such pension scheme.

     4. Sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 2 and paragraph 3 of this Article shall not apply in the case of dividends paid by a pooled investment vehicle which is a resident of a Contracting State. Sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 2 of this Article shall apply in the case of dividends paid by a pooled investment vehicle, the assets of which consist wholly or mainly of shares, securities or currencies or derivative contracts relating to shares, securities or currencies. In the case of dividends paid by a pooled investment vehicle not described in the preceding sentence, sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 2 of this Article shall apply only if:

(a) the beneficial owner of the dividends is an individual holding an interest of not more than 10 per cent. in the pooled investment vehicle;

(b) the dividends are paid with respect to a class of stock that is publicly traded and the beneficial owner of the dividends is a person holding an interest of not more than 5 per cent. of any class of the stock of the pooled investment vehicle; or

(c) the beneficial owner of the dividends is a person holding an interest of not more than 10 per cent. in the pooled investment vehicle and that vehicle is diversified.

     5. The previous provisions of this Article 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 payer is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, and the dividends are attributable to such permanent establishment. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 (Business Profits) of this Convention shall apply.

     6. A Contracting State may not impose any tax on dividends paid by a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State, except insofar as the dividends are paid to a resident of the first-mentioned State or the dividends are attributable to a permanent establishment situated in that State, nor may it impose tax on a company's undistributed profits, except as provided in paragraph 7 of this Article, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in that State.

     7. A company that is a resident of a Contracting State and that has a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State, or that is subject to tax in that other State on a net basis on its income or gains that may be taxed in that other State under Article 6 (Income from Real Property) or under paragraph 1 of Article 13 (Gains) of this Convention, may be subject in that other State to a tax in addition to any tax that may be imposed by that other State in accordance with the other provisions of this Convention. Such tax, however, may be imposed on only the portion of the business profits of the company attributable to the permanent establishment, and the portion of the income or gains referred to in the preceding sentence that is subject to tax under Article 6 or under paragraph 1 of Article 13, that, in the case of the United States, represents the dividend equivalent amount of such profits, income or gains and, in the case of the United Kingdom, is an amount that is analogous to the dividend equivalent amount. This paragraph shall not apply in the case of a company which:

(a) prior to October 1st, 1998 was engaged in activities giving rise to profits attributable to that permanent establishment or to income or gains to which the provisions of Article 6 or, as the case may be, paragraph 1 of Article 13 apply;

(b) is a qualified person by reason of sub-paragraph (c) of paragraph 2 of Article 23 (Limitation on Benefits) of this Convention; or

(c) is entitled to benefits under paragraph 3 or paragraph 6 of that Article with respect to an item of income, profit or gain described in this paragraph.

     8. The additional tax referred to in paragraph 7 of this Article may not be imposed at a rate in excess of the rate specified in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 2 of this Article.

     9. The provisions of this Article shall not apply in respect of any dividend paid under, or as part of, a conduit arrangement.

     10. For the purposes of this Article:

(a) the term "dividends" means income from shares or other rights, not being debt-claims, participating in profits, as well as income from other corporate rights and any other item which, under the laws of the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividend is a resident, is treated as a dividend or a distribution of a company;

(b) the term "pooled investment vehicle" means a person:


(i) whose assets consist wholly or mainly of real property, or of shares, securities or currencies, or of derivative contracts relating to shares, securities or currencies or real property;

(ii) whose gross income consists wholly or mainly of dividends, interests, gains from the alienation of assets and rents and other income and gains from the holding and alienation of real property; and

(iii) which, in respect of its income, profits or gains, is exempt from, or is not chargeable to, tax in the State of which it is a resident, or is subject to tax at a special rate in that State, or which is entitled to a deduction for dividends paid to its shareholders in computing the amount of its income, profits or gains;



(c) a pooled investment vehicle is "diversified" if the value of no single interest in real property exceeds 10 per cent. of the pooled investment vehicle's total interests in real property. For the purposes of this rule, foreclosure property shall not be considered an interest in real property. Where a pooled investment vehicle holds an interest in a partnership, it shall be treated as owning directly a proportion of the partnership's interests in real property corresponding to the proportion of its interest in the partnership.



Article 11
Interest

     1. Interest arising in a Contracting State and beneficially owned by a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in that other State.

     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 or prizes attaching to such securities, bonds or debentures, and all other income that is subjected to the same taxation treatment as income from money lent by the taxation law of the Contracting State in which the income arises. Income dealt with in Article 10 (Dividends) of this Convention and penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purposes of this Article.

     3. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article 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, and the interest is attributable to such permanent establishment. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 (Business Profits) of this Convention 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 exceeds, for whatever reason, 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 State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.

     5.

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article, interest paid by a resident of a Contracting State and determined by reference to receipts, sales, income, profits or other cash flow of the debtor or a related person, to any change in the value of any property of the debtor or a related person or to any dividend, partnership distribution or similar payment made by the debtor to a related person, may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which it arises, and according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner is a resident of the other Contracting State the gross amount of the interest may be taxed at a rate not exceeding the rate prescribed in sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 2 of Article 10 (Dividends) of this Convention.

(b) Sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph shall not apply to any interest solely by reason of the fact that it is paid under an arrangement the terms of which provide:


(i) that the amount of interest payable shall be reduced in the event of an improvement in the factors by reference to which the amount of interest payable is determined; or

(ii) that the amount of interest payable shall be increased in the event of a deterioration in the factors by reference to which the amount of interest payable is determined.

     6. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article, a Contracting State may tax, in accordance with its domestic law, interest paid with respect to the ownership interests in a vehicle used for the securitisation of real estate mortgages or other assets, to the extent that the amount of interest paid exceeds the return on comparable debt instruments as specified by the domestic law of that State.

     7. The provisions of this Article shall not apply in respect of any interest paid under, or as part of, a conduit arrangement.

(a) any consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic, scientific or other work (including computer software and cinematographhic films) including works reproduced on audio or video tapes or disks or any other means of image or sound reproduction, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or other like right or property, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience; and

(b) any gain derived from the alienation of any right or property described in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, to the extent that the amount of such gain is contingent on the productivity, use, or disposition of the right or property.

     3. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article 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, and the royalties are attributable to such permanent establishment. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 (Business Profits) of this Convention 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 paid exceeds, for whatever reason, 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 Convention.

     5. The provisions of this Article shall not apply in respect of any royalty paid under, or as part of, a conduit arrangement.

(a) rights to assets to be produced by the exploration or exploitation of the sea bed and sub-soil of that other State and their natural resources, including rights to interests in or the benefit of such assets;

(b) where that other State is the United States, a United States real property interest; and

(c) where that other State is the United Kingdom:


(i) shares, including rights to acquire shares, other than shares in which there is regular trading on a stock exchange, deriving their value or the greater part of their value directly or indirectly from real property situated in the United Kingdom; and

(ii) an interest in a partnership or trust to the extent that the assets of the partnership or trust consist of real property situated in the United Kingdom, or of shares referred to in clause (i) of this sub-paragraph.

     3. Gains from the alienation of property (other than real property) forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment that an enterprise of a Contracting State has or had in the other Contracting State, including gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise), may be taxed in that other State, whether or not that permanent establishment exists at the time of the alienation.

     4. Gains derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in international traffic by the enterprise, or of containers used in international traffic, or of property (other than real property) pertaining to the operation or use of such ships, aircraft or containers, shall be taxable only in that State.

     5. Gains from the alienation of any property other than property referred to in the preceding paragraphs of this Article shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident.

     6. The provisions of paragraph 5 of this Article shall not affect the right of a Contracting State to levy according to its law a tax on gains from the alienation of any property derived by an individual who is a resident of the other Contracting State and has been a resident of the first-mentioned Contracting State at any time during the six years immediately preceding the alienation of the property.

(a) the recipient is present in the other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve-month period commencing or ending in the taxable year or year of assessment concerned;

(b) the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident of the other State; and

(c) the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment which the employer has in the other State.

     3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration described in paragraph 1 of this Article that is derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment as a member of the regular complement of a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic shall be taxable only in that State.

(a) Pensions and other similar remuneration beneficially owned by a resident of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State.

(b) Notwithstanding sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, the amount of any such pension or remuneration paid from a pension scheme established in the other Contracting State that would be exempt from taxation in that other State if the beneficial owner were a resident thereof shall be exempt from taxation in the first-mentioned State.

     2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article, a lump-sum payment derived from a pension scheme established in a Contracting State and beneficially owned by a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State.

     3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article, payments made by a Contracting State under the provisions of the social security or similar legislation of that State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in that other State.

     4. Any annuity derived and beneficially owned by an individual ("the annuitant") who is a resident of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State. The term "annuity" as used in this paragraph means a stated sum paid periodically at stated times during the life of the annuitant, or during a specified or ascertainable period of time, under an obligation to make the payments in return for adequate and full consideration (other than in return for services rendered).

     5. Periodic payments, made pursuant to a written separation agreement or a decree of divorce, separate maintenance, or compulsory support, including payments for the support of a child, paid by a resident of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State, shall be exempt from tax in both Contracting States, except that, if the payer is entitled to relief from tax for such payments in the first-mentioned State, such payments shall be taxable only in the other State.

(a) contributions paid by or on behalf of that individual to the pension scheme during the period that he exercises an employment or self-employment in the other State shall be deductible (or excludable) in computing his taxable income in that other State; and

(b) any benefits accrued under the pension scheme, or contributions made to the pension scheme by or on behalf of the individual's employer, during that period shall not be treated as part of the employee's taxable income and any such contributions shall be allowed as a deduction in computing the business profits of his employer in that other State.

The reliefs available under this paragraph shall not exceed the reliefs that would be allowed by the other State to residents of that State for contributions to, or benefits accrued under, a pension scheme established in that State.

     3. The provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article shall not apply unless:

(a) contributions by or on behalf of the individual, or by or on behalf of the individual's employer, to the pension scheme (or to another similar pension scheme for which the first-mentioned pension scheme was substituted) were made before the individual began to exercise an employment or self-employment in the other State; and

(b) the competent authority of the other State has agreed that the pension scheme generally corresponds to a pension scheme established in that other State.

     4. Where, under sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 2 of this Article, contributions to a pension scheme are deductible (or excludable) in computing an individual's taxable income in a Contracting State and, under the laws in force in that State, the individual is subject to tax in that State, in respect of income, profits or gains, by reference to the amount thereof which is remitted to or received in that State and not by reference to the full amount thereof, then the relief that would otherwise be available to that individual under that sub-paragraph in respect of such contributions shall be reduced to an amount that bears the same proportion to that relief as the amount of the income, profits or gains in respect of which the individual is subject to tax in that State bears to the amount of the income, profits or gains in respect of which he would be subject to tax if he were so subject in respect of the full amount thereof and not only in respect of the amount remitted to or received in that State.

     5.

(a) Where a citizen of the United States who is a resident of the United Kingdom exercises an employment in the United Kingdom the income from which is taxable in the United Kingdom and is borne by an employer who is a resident of the United Kingdom or by a permanent establishment situated in the United Kingdom, and the individual is a member or beneficiary of, or participant in, a pension scheme established in the United Kingdom,


(i) contributions paid by or on behalf of that individual to the pension scheme during the period that he exercises the employment in the United Kingdom, and that are attributable to the employment, shall be deductible (or excludable) in computing his taxable income in the United States; and

(ii) any benefits accrued under the pension scheme, or contributions made to the pension scheme by or on behalf of the individual's employer, during that period, and that are attributable to the employment, shall not be treated as part of the employee's taxable income in computing his taxable income in the United States.

This paragraph shall apply only to the extent that the contributions or benefits qualify for tax relief in the United Kingdom.

(b) The reliefs available under this paragraph shall not exceed the reliefs that would be allowed by the United States to its residents for contributions to, or benefits accrued under, a generally corresponding pension scheme established in the United States.

(c) For purposes of determining an individual's eligibility to participate in and receive tax benefits with respect to a pension scheme established in the United States, contributions made to, or benefits accrued under, a pension scheme established in the United Kingdom shall be treated as contributions or benefits under a generally corresponding pension scheme established in the United States to the extent reliefs are available to the individual under this paragraph.

(d) This paragraph shall not apply unless the competent authority of the United States has agreed that the pension scheme generally corresponds to a pension scheme established in the United States.

Article 19
Government service

     1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 14 (Income from Employment), 15 (Directors' Fees) and 16 (Entertainers and Sportsmen) of this Convention:

(a) salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, other than a pension, paid from the public funds of a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall, subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph, be taxable only in that State;

(b) such salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, however, 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. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 17 (Pensions, Social Security, Annuities, Alimony, and Child Support) of this Convention:

(a) any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall, subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph, be taxable only in that State;

(b) such pension, however, shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the individual is a resident of, and a national of, that State.

     3. The provisions of Articles 14 (Income from Employment), 15 (Directors' Fees), 16 (Entertainers and Sportsmen) and 17 (Pensions, Social Security, Annuities, Alimony, and Child Support) of this Convention 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.

(a) where an enterprise of a Contracting State carrying on exploration activities in the other Contracting State is associated with another enterprise carrying on substantially similar exploration activities there, the former enterprise shall be deemed to be carrying on all such activities of the latter enterprise, except to the extent that those activities are carried on at the same time as its own activities;

(b) an enterprise shall be regarded as associated with another enterprise if one participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of the other or if the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of both enterprises.

     4. Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State from an employment in respect of exploration activities or exploitation activities carried on in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State, to the extent that the duties are performed offshore in that other State. However, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of such employment performed in the other Contracting State shall not be taxable in that other State if the employment is performed in that other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 30 days within any period of twelve months.

(a) an individual;

(b) a qualified governmental entity;

(c) a company, if


(i) the principal class of its shares is listed or admitted to dealings on a recognised stock exchange specified in clauses (i) or (ii) of sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 7 of this Article and is regularly traded on one or more recognised stock exchanges, or

(ii) shares representing at least 50 per cent. of the aggregate voting power and value of the company are owned directly or indirectly by five or fewer companies entitled to benefits under clause (i) of this sub-paragraph, provided that, in the case of indirect ownership, each intermediate owner is a resident of either Contracting State;



(d) a person other than an individual or a company, if:



(i) the principal class of units in that person is listed or admitted to dealings on a recognised stock exchange specified in clauses (i) or (ii) of sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 7 of this Article and is regularly traded on one or more recognised stock exchanges, or

(ii) the direct or indirect owners of at least 50 per cent. of the beneficial interests in that person are qualified persons by reason of clause (i) of sub-paragraph (c) or clause (i) of this sub-paragraph;



(e) a person described in sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of paragraph 3 of Article 4 (Residence) of this Convention, provided that, in the case of a person described in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of that paragraph, more than 50 per cent. of the person's beneficiaries, members or participants are individuals who are residents of either Contracting State;

(f) a person other than an individual, if:



(i) on at least half the days of the taxable or chargeable period persons that are qualified persons by reason of sub-paragraphs (a), (b), clause (i) of sub-paragraph (c), clause (i) of sub-paragraph (d), or sub-paragraph (e) of this paragraph own, directly or indirectly, shares or other beneficial interests representing at least 50 per cent. of the aggregate voting power and value of the person, and

(ii) less than 50 per cent. of the person's gross income for that taxable or chargeable period is paid or accrued, directly or indirectly, to persons who are not residents of either Contracting State in the form of payments that are deductible for the purposes of the taxes covered by this Convention in the State of which the person is a resident (but not including arm's length payments in the ordinary course of business for services or tangible property and payments in respect of financial obligations to a bank, provided that where such a bank is not a resident of a Contracting State such payment is attributable to a permanent establishment of that bank located in one of the Contracting States); or



(g) a trust or trustee of a trust in their capacity as such if at least 50 per cent. of the beneficial interest in the trust is held by persons who are either:



(i) qualified persons by reason of sub-paragraphs (a), (b), clause (i) of sub-paragraph (c), clause (i) of sub-paragraph (d), or sub-paragraph (e) of this paragraph; or

(ii) equivalent beneficiaries,



provided that less than 50 per cent. of the gross income arising to such trust or trustee in their capacity as such for the taxable or chargeable period is paid or accrued, directly or indirectly, to persons who are not residents of either Contracting State in the form of payments that are deductible for the purposes of the taxes covered by this Convention in the Contracting State of which that trust or trustee is a resident (but not including arm's length payments in the ordinary course of business for services or tangible property and payments in respect of financial obligations to a bank, provided that where such a bank is not a resident of a Contracting State such payment is attributable to a permanent establishment of that bank located in one of the Contracting States).

     3. Notwithstanding that a company that is a resident of a Contracting State may not be a qualified person, it shall be entitled to the benefits of this Convention otherwise accorded to residents of a Contracting State with respect to an item of income, profit or gain if it satisfies any other specified conditions for the obtaining of such benefits and:

(a) shares representing at least 95 per cent. of the aggregate voting power and value of the company are owned, directly or indirectly, by seven or fewer persons who are equivalent beneficiaries; and

(b) less than 50 per cent. of the company's gross income for the taxable or chargeable period in which the item of income, profit or gain arises is paid or accrued, directly or indirectly, to persons who are not equivalent beneficiaries, in the form of payments that are deductible for the purposes of the taxes covered by this Convention in the State of which the company is a resident (but not including arm's length payments in the ordinary course of business for services or tangible property and payments in respect of financial obligations to a bank, provided that where such a bank is not a resident of a Contracting State such payment is attributable to a permanent establishment of that bank located in one of the Contracting States).

     4.

(a) Notwithstanding that a resident of a Contracting State may not be a qualified person, it shall be entitled to the benefits of this Convention with respect to an item of income, profit or gain derived from the other Contracting State, if the resident is engaged in the active conduct of a trade or business in the first-mentioned State (other than the business of making or managing investments for the resident's own account, unless these activities are banking, insurance or securities activities carried on by a bank, insurance company or registered securities dealer), the income, profit or gain derived from the other Contracting State is derived in connection with, or is incidental to, that trade or business and that resident satisfies any other specified conditions for the obtaining of such benefits.

(b) If a resident of a Contracting State or any of its associated enterprises carries on a trade or business activity in the other Contracting State which gives rise to an item of income, profit or gain, sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph shall apply to such item only if the trade or business activity in the first-mentioned State is substantial in relation to the trade or business activity in the other State. Whether a trade or business activity is substantial for the purposes of this paragraph shall be determined on the basis of all the facts and circumstances.

(c) In determining whether a person is engaged in the active conduct of a trade or business in a Contracting State under sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, activities conducted by a partnership in which that person is a partner and activities conducted by persons connected to such person shall be deemed to be conducted by such person. A person shall be connected to another if one possesses at least 50 per cent. of the beneficial interest in the other (or, in the case of a company, shares representing at least 50 per cent. of the aggregate voting power and value of the company or of the beneficial equity interest in the company) or another person possesses, directly or indirectly, at least 50 per cent. of the beneficial interest (or, in the case of a company, shares representing at least 50 per cent. of the aggregate voting power and value of the company or of the beneficial equity interest in the company) in each person. In any case, a person shall be considered to be connected to another if, on the basis of all the facts and circumstances, one has control of the other or both are under the control of the same person or persons.

     5. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, if a company that is a resident of a Contracting State, or a company that controls such a company, has outstanding a class of shares:

(a) which is subject to terms or other arrangements which entitle its holders to a portion of the income, profit or gain of the company derived from the other Contracting State that is larger than the portion such holders would receive in the absence of such terms or arrangements; and

(b) 50 per cent. or more of the voting power and value of which is owned by persons who are not equivalent beneficiaries,

the benefits of this Convention shall apply only to that proportion of the income which those holders would have received in the absence of those terms or arrangements.

     6. A resident of a Contracting State that is neither a qualified person nor entitled to benefits with respect to an item of income, profit or gain under paragraph 3 or 4 of this Article shall, nevertheless, be granted benefits of this Convention with respect to such item if the competent authority of the other Contracting State determines that the establishment, acquisition or maintenance of such resident and the conduct of its operations did not have as one of its principal purposes the obtaining of benefits under this Convention.

The competent authority of the other Contracting State shall consult with the competent authority of the first-mentioned State before refusing to grant benefits of this Convention under this paragraph.

     7. For the purposes of this Article the following rules and definitions shall apply:

(a) the term "recognised stock exchange" means:


(i) the NASDAQ System and any stock exchange registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a national securities exchange under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934;

(ii) the London Stock Exchange and any other recognised investment exchange within the meaning of the Financial Services Act 1986 or, as the case may be, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

(iii) the Irish Stock Exchange, the Swiss Stock Exchange and the stock exchanges of Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Johannesburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Stockholm, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto and Vienna; and

(iv) any other stock exchange which the competent authorities agree to recognise for the purposes of this Article;

(b) (i) the term "principal class of shares" means the ordinary or common shares of the company, provided that such class of shares represents the majority of the voting power and value of the company. If no single class of ordinary or common shares represents the majority of the aggregate voting power and value of the company, the "principal class of shares" is that class or those classes that in the aggregate represent a majority of the aggregate voting power and value of the company;

(ii) the term "shares" shall include depository receipts thereof or trust certificates thereof;



(c) the term "units" as used in sub-paragraph (d) of paragraph 2 of this Article includes shares and any other instrument, not being a debt-claim, granting an entitlement to share in the assets or income of, or receive a distribution from, the person. The term "principal class of units" means the class of units which represents the majority of the value of the person. If no single class of units represents the majority of the value of the person, the "principal class of units" is those classes that in the aggregate represent the majority of the value of the person;

(d) an equivalent beneficiary is a resident of a Member State of the European Community or of a European Economic Area state or of a party to the North American Free Trade Agreement but only if that resident:



(i)


(A) would be entitled to all the benefits of a comprehensive convention for the avoidance of double taxation between any Member State of the European Community or a European Economic Area state or any party to the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Contracting State from which the benefits of this Convention are claimed, provided that if such convention does not contain a comprehensive limitation on benefits article, the person would be a qualified person under paragraph 2 of this Article (or for the purposes of sub-paragraph (g) of paragraph 2, under the provisions specified in clause (i) of that sub-paragraph) if such person were a resident of one of the Contracting States under Article 4 (Residence) of this Convention; and

(B) with respect to income referred to in Article 10 (Dividends), 11 (Interest) or 12 (Royalties) of this Convention, would be entitled under such convention to a rate of tax with respect to the particular class of income for which benefits are being claimed under this Convention that is at least as low as the rate applicable under this Convention; or



(ii) is a company resident in a Member State of the European Community which is entitled under the provisions of any Directive of the European Community to receive the particular class of income for which benefits are being claimed under this Convention free of withholding tax.



(e) For the purposes of paragraph 2 of this Article, the shares in a class of shares or the units in a class of units are considered to be regularly traded on one or more recognised stock exchanges in a chargeable or taxable period if the aggregate number of shares or units of that class traded on such stock exchange or exchanges during the twelve months ending on the day before the beginning of that taxable or chargeable period is at least six per cent. of the average number of shares or units outstanding in that class during that twelve-month period.

(f) A body corporate or unincorporated association shall be considered to be an insurance company if its gross income consists primarily of insurance or reinsurance premiums and investment income attributable to such premiums.



Article 24
Relief from double taxation

     1. In accordance with the provisions and subject to the limitations of the law of the United States (as it may be amended from time to time without changing the general principle hereof), the United States shall allow to a resident or citizen of the United States as a credit against the United States tax on income

(a) the income tax paid or accrued to the United Kingdom by or on behalf of such citizen or resident; and

(b) in the case of a United States company owning at least 10 per cent. of the voting stock of a company that is a resident of the United Kingdom and from which the United States company receives dividends, the income tax paid or accrued to the United Kingdom by or on behalf of the payer with respect to the profits out of which the dividends are paid.

For the purposes of this paragraph, the taxes referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 3 and in paragraph 4 of Article 2 (Taxes Covered) of this Convention shall be considered income taxes.

     2. For the purposes of applying paragraph 1 of this Article,

(a) subject to sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph, an item of gross income, as determined under the laws of the United States, derived by a resident of the United States that, under this Convention, may be taxed in the United Kingdom shall be deemed to be income from sources in the United Kingdom;

(b) however, gains derived by an individual while that individual was a resident of the United States, that are taxed in the United States in accordance with this Convention, and that may also be taxed in the United Kingdom by reason only of paragraph 6 of Article 13 (Gains) of this Convention, shall be deemed to be gains from sources in the United States.

     3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article, the amount of United Kingdom petroleum revenue tax allowable as a credit against United States tax shall be limited to the amount attributable to the United Kingdom source taxable income in the following way, namely:

(a) the amount of United Kingdom petroleum revenue tax on income from the extraction of minerals from oil or gas wells in the United Kingdom to be allowed as a credit for a taxable year shall not exceed the amount, if any, by which the product of the maximum statutory United States tax rate applicable to a corporation for such taxable year and the amount of such income exceeds the amount of other United Kingdom tax on such income;

(b) the amount of United Kingdom petroleum revenue tax on income from the extraction of minerals from oil or gas wells in the United Kingdom that is not allowable as a credit under sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, shall be deemed to be income taxes paid or accrued in the two preceding or five succeeding taxable years, to the extent not deemed paid or accrued in a prior taxable year, and shall be allowable as a credit in the year in which it is deemed paid or accrued subject to the limitation in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph;

(c) the provisions of sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of this paragraph shall apply separately, mutatis mutandis, to the amount of United Kingdom petroleum revenue tax on income from initial transportation, initial treatment and initial storage of minerals from oil or gas wells in the United Kingdom.

     4. Subject to the provisions of the law of the United Kingdom regarding the allowance as a credit against United Kingdom tax of tax payable in a territory outside the United Kingdom (which shall not affect the general principle hereof):

(a) United States tax payable under the laws of the United States and in accordance with this Convention, whether directly or by deduction, on profits, income or chargeable gains from sources within the United States (excluding, in the case of a dividend, United States tax in respect of the profits out of which the dividend is paid) shall be allowed as a credit against any United Kingdom tax computed by reference to the same profits, income or chargeable gains by reference to which the United States tax is computed;

(b) in the case of a dividend paid by a company which is a resident of the United States to a company which is a resident of the United Kingdom and which controls directly or indirectly at least 10 per cent. of the voting power in the company paying the dividend, the credit shall take into account (in addition to any United States tax for which credit may be allowed under the provisions of sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph) the United States tax payable by the company in respect of the profits out of which such dividend is paid;

(c) United States tax shall not be taken into account under sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph for the purpose of allowing credit against United Kingdom tax in the case of a dividend paid by a company which is a resident of the United States if and to the extent that


(i) the United Kingdom treats the dividend as beneficially owned by a resident of the United Kingdom; and

(ii) the United States treats the dividend as beneficially owned by a resident of the United States; and

(iii) the United States has allowed a deduction to a resident of the United States in respect of an amount determined by reference to that dividend;



(d) the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 1 (General Scope) of this Convention shall not apply to sub-paragraph (c) of this paragraph.

For the purposes of this paragraph, the income taxes referred to in clause (i) of sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 3 and in paragraph 4 of Article 2 (Taxes Covered) of this Convention shall be considered United States tax.

     5. For the purposes of paragraph 4 of this Article, profits, income and chargeable gains owned by a resident of the United Kingdom which may be taxed in the United States in accordance with this Convention shall be deemed to arise from sources within the United States.

     6. Where the United States taxes, in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article 1 (General Scope) of this Convention, a United States citizen, or a former United States citizen or long-term resident, who is a resident of the United Kingdom:

(a) the United Kingdom shall not be bound to give credit to such resident for United States tax on profits, income or chargeable gains from sources outside the United States as determined under the laws of the United Kingdom;

(b) in the case of profits, income or chargeable gains from sources within the United States, the United Kingdom shall take into account for the purposes of computing the credit to be allowed under paragraph 4 of this Article only the amount of tax, if any, that the United States may impose under the provisions of this Convention on a resident of the United Kingdom who is not a United States citizen;

(c) for the purposes of computing United States tax on the profits, income or chargeable gains referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph, the United States shall allow as a credit against United States tax the income tax and capital gains tax paid to the United Kingdom after the credit referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph; the credit so allowed shall not reduce the portion of the United States tax that is creditable against the United Kingdom tax in accordance with sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph; and

(d) for the exclusive purpose of relieving double taxation in the United States under sub-paragraph (c) of this paragraph, profits, income and chargeable gains referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph shall be deemed to arise in the United Kingdom to the extent necessary to avoid double taxation of such profits, income or chargeable gains under sub-paragraph (c) of this paragraph.

Article 25
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 that is more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of that other State in the same circumstances, particularly with respect to taxation on worldwide income, are or may be subjected.

     2. The taxation on a permanent establishment that 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. Except where the provisions of the second sentence of paragraph 5 of Article 7 (Business Profits), paragraph 1 of Article 9 (Associated Enterprises), paragraph 9 of Article 10 (Dividends), paragraphs 4 and 7 of Article 11 (Interest), paragraphs 4 and 5 of Article 12 (Royalties), or paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 22 (Other Income) of this Convention apply, interest, royalties, and other disbursements paid by a resident of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable profits of the first-mentioned resident, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been paid to a resident of the first-mentioned State.

     4. 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 that is more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which other similar enterprises of the first-mentioned State are or may be subjected.

     5. Nothing in this Article shall be construed as obliging either Contracting State to grant to individuals not resident in that State any of the personal allowances, reliefs and reductions for tax purposes which are granted to individuals so resident or to its nationals.

     6. Nothing in this Article shall be construed as preventing either Contracting State from imposing a tax as described in paragraph 7 of Article 10 (Dividends) of this Convention.

     7. The provisions of this Article shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 2 (Taxes Covered) of this Convention, also apply to taxes of every kind and description imposed by each Contracting State or by its political sub-divisions or local authorities.

(a) to the same attribution of income, deductions, credits, or allowances of an enterprise of a Contracting State to its permanent establishment situated in the other Contracting State;

(b) to the same allocation of income, deductions, credits, or allowances between persons;

(c) to the same characterization of particular items of income, including the same characterization of income that is assimilated to income from shares by the taxation law of one of the Contracting States and that is treated as a different class of income in the other Contracting State;

(d) to the same characterization of person;

(e) to the same application of source rules with respect to particular items of income;

(f) to a common meaning of a term;

(g) that the conditions for the application of the second sentence of paragraph 5 of Article 7 (Business Profits), paragraph 9 of Article 10 (Dividends), paragraph 7 of Article 11 (Interest), paragraph 5 of Article 12 (Royalties), or paragraph 4 of Article 22 (Other Income) of this Convention are met; and

(h) to the application of the provisions of domestic law regarding penalties, fines, and interest in a manner consistent with the purposes of this Convention.

They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in this Convention.

     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.

(a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;

(b) to supply information that 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 that 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.

     4. If specifically requested by the competent authority of a Contracting State, the competent authority of the other Contracting State shall provide information under this Article in the form of authenticated copies of unedited original documents (including books, papers, statements, records, accounts, and writings), to the same extent such documents can be obtained under the laws and administrative practices of that other State with respect to its own taxes.

     5. Each of the Contracting States shall endeavour to collect on behalf of the other Contracting State such amounts as may be necessary to ensure that relief granted by this Convention from taxation imposed by that other State does not inure to the benefit of persons not entitled thereto. This paragraph shall not impose upon either of the Contracting States the obligation to carry out administrative measures that would be contrary to its sovereignty, security, or public policy.

     6. The competent authority of a Contracting State intending to send officials of that State to the other Contracting State to interview individuals and examine books and records with the consent of the persons subject to examination shall notify the competent authority of the other Contracting State of that intention.

     7. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall consult with each other for the purpose of co-operating and advising in respect of any action to be taken in implementing this Article.

(a) in the United States:


(i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, for amounts paid or credited on or after the first day of the second month next following the date on which this Convention enters into force;

(ii) in respect of other taxes, for taxable periods beginning on or after the first day of January next following the date on which this Convention enters into force; and



(b) in the United Kingdom;



(i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, for amounts paid or credited on or after the first day of the second month next following the date on which this Convention enters into force;

(ii) in respect of income tax not described in clause (i) of this sub-paragraph and capital gains tax, for any year of assessment beginning on or after the sixth day of April next following the date on which this Convention enters into force;

(iii) in respect of corporation tax, for any financial year beginning on or after the first day of April next following the date on which this Convention enters into force;

(iv) in respect of petroleum revenue tax, for chargeable periods beginning on or after the first day of January next following the date on which this Convention enters into force.

     3. The Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital Gains, signed at London on December 31st, 1975, as modified by subsequent notes and protocols ("the prior Convention") shall cease to have effect in relation to any tax with effect from the date on which this Convention has effect in relation to that tax in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, where any person entitled to benefits under the prior Convention would have been entitled to greater benefits thereunder than under this Convention, the prior Convention shall, at the election of such person, continue to have effect in its entirety with respect to that person for a twelve-month period from the date on which the provisions of this Convention otherwise would have effect under paragraph 2 of this Article. The prior Convention shall terminate on the last date on which it has effect in relation to any tax in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this paragraph.

     4. Notwithstanding the entry into force of this Convention, an individual who is entitled to the benefits of Article 20 (Teachers) of the prior Convention at the time of the entry into force of this Convention shall continue to be entitled to such benefits until such time as the individual would have ceased to be entitled to such benefits if the prior Convention had remained in force.

     5. Nothwithstanding the entry into force of this Convention, an individual who is entitled to the benefits of Article 21 (Students and Trainees) of the prior Convention at the time of entry into force of this Convention shall continue to be entitled to such benefits as if the prior Convention had remained in force.

(a) in the United States:


(i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, for amounts paid or credited after the date that is six months after the date on which notice of termination was given; and

(ii) in respect of other taxes, for taxable periods beginning on or after the date that is six months after the date on which notice of termination was given.



(b) in the United Kingdom:



(i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, for amounts paid or credited after the date that is six months after the date on which notice of termination was given;

(ii) in respect of income tax not described in clause (i) of this sub-paragraph and capital gains tax, for any year of assessment beginning on or after the date that is six months after the date on which notice of termination was given;

(iii) in respect of corporation tax, for any financial year beginning on or after the date that is six months after the date on which notice of termination was given; and

(iv) in respect of petroleum revenue tax, for chargeable periods beginning on or after the date that is six months after the date on which notice of termination was given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention.

DONE at London in duplicate, this 24th day of July, 2001



FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND:


Gordon Brown


FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA


Paul H O'Neill

     " 5. The provisions of paragraph 4 of this Article shall not affect:


(a) the benefits conferred by a Contracting State under paragraph 2 of Article 9 (Associated Enterprises), sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 1 and paragraphs 3 and 5 of Article 17 (Pensions, Social Security, Annuities, Alimony, and Child Support), paragraphs 1 and 5 of Article 18 (Pension Schemes) and Articles 24 (Relief From Double Taxation), 25 (Non-discrimination), and 26 (Mutual Agreement Procedure) of this Convention; and

(b) the benefits conferred by a Contracting State under paragraph 2 of Article 18 (Pension Schemes) and Articles 19 (Government Service), 20 (Students), 20A (Teachers), and 28 (Diplomatic Agents and Consular Officers) of this Convention, upon individuals who are neither citizens of, nor have been admitted for permanent residence in, that State."


Article II

Paragraph 4 of Article 10 of the Convention shall be deleted and replaced by the following:

     " 4. Sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 2 and sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 3 of this Article shall not apply in the case of dividends paid by a pooled investment vehicle which is a resident of a Contracting State. Sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 2 and sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 3 of this Article shall apply in the case of dividends paid by a pooled investment vehicle, the assets of which consist wholly or mainly of shares, securities or currencies or derivative contracts relating to shares, securities or currencies. In the case of dividends paid by a pooled investment vehicle not described in the preceding sentence, sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 2 and sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 3 of this Article shall apply only if - 


(a) the beneficial owner of the dividends is an individual or pension scheme, in either case holding an interest of not more than 10 per cent. in the pooled investment vehicle;

(b) the dividends are paid with respect to a class of stock that is publicly traded and the beneficial owner of the dividends is a person holding an interest of not more than 5 per cent. of any class of the stock of the pooled investment vehicle; or

(c) the beneficial owner of the dividends is a person holding an interest of not more than 10 per cent. in the pooled investment vehicle and that vehicle is diversified."


Article III

The following new Article 20A shall be inserted:

" Article 20A
Teachers
     1. A professor or teacher who visits one of the Contracting States for a period not exceeding two years for the purpose of teaching or engaging in research at a university, college or other recognised educational institution in that Contracting State and who was immediately before that visit a resident of the other Contracting State, shall be exempted from tax by the first-mentioned Contracting State on any remuneration for such teaching or research for a period not exceeding two years from the date he first visits that State for such purpose.

     2. The exemption provided in this Article may be applied by the Contracting State in which the teaching or research is performed to current payments to such professor or teacher in anticipation or fulfilment of the requirements of paragraph 1 or by way of withholding and refund, but in either case exemption shall be conditional upon fulfilment of the requirements of paragraph 1.

     3. This Article shall apply to income from research only if such research is undertaken by the professor or teacher in the public interest and not primarily for the benefit of some other private person or persons."

" (d) an equivalent beneficiary is a resident of a Member State of the European Community or of a European Economic Area state or of a party to the North American Free Trade Agreement but only if that resident:


(i)


(A) would be entitled to all the benefits of a comprehensive convention for the avoidance of double taxation between any Member State of the European Community or a European Economic Area state or any party to the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Contracting State from which the benefits of this Convention are claimed, provided that if such convention does not contain a comprehensive limitation on benefits article, the person would be a qualified person under paragraph 2 of this Article (or for the purposes of sub-paragraph (g) of paragraph 2, under the provisions specified in clause (i) of that sub-paragraph) if such person were a resident of one of the Contracting States under Article 4 (Residence) of this Convention; and

(B) with respect to income referred to in Article 10 (Dividends), 11 (Interest) or 12 (Royalties) of this Convention, would be entitled under such convention to a rate of tax with respect to the particular class of income for which benefits are being claimed under this Convention that is at least as low as the rate applicable under this Convention; or



(ii) is a qualified person by reason of sub-paragraphs (a), (b), clause (i) of sub-paragraph (c), clause (i) of sub-paragraph (d), or sub-paragraph (e) of paragraph 2 of this Article.



For the purposes of applying paragraph 3 of Article 10 (Dividends) in order to determine whether a person, owning shares, directly or indirectly, in the company claiming the benefits of this Convention, is an equivalent beneficiary, such person shall be deemed to hold the same voting power in the company paying the dividend as the company claiming the benefits hold in such company."

     " 3.


(a) The Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital Gains, signed at London on 31st December 1975, as modified by subsequent notes and protocols ("the prior Convention") shall cease to have effect in relation to any tax with effect from the date on which this Convention has effect in relation to that tax in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article. In relation to tax credits in respect of dividends paid by companies which are residents of the United Kingdom, the prior Convention shall terminate and cease to be effective in respect of dividends paid on or after the first day of the second month next following the date on which this Convention enters into force.

(b) Notwithstanding sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, where any person entitled to benefits under the prior Convention would have been entitled to greater benefits thereunder than under this Convention, the prior Convention shall, at the election of such person, continue to have effect in its entirety with respect to that person for a twelve-month period from the date on which the provisions of this Convention otherwise would have effect under paragraph 2 of this Article. The prior Convention shall terminate on the last date on which it has effect in relation to any tax or to any entitlement to tax credits in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this sub-paragraph."

     2. Paragraph 4 of Article 29 of the Convention shall be deleted and paragraph 5 shall be re-numbered as paragraph 4.

(a) at the time of the individual's ceasing to be a citizen of that Contracting State or within a reasonable period thereafter, the individual is or becomes a resident fully liable to income tax in the other Contracting State, and

(b)


(i) the individual was a citizen of both Contracting States at birth and has remained a citizen of the other Contracting State;

(ii) at the time of the loss of such citizenship (or within a reasonable period thereafter), the individual was or became a citizen of the other Contracting State, and that other Contracting State was that individual's country of birth, or the country of birth of that individual's spouse or of either of that individual's parents;

(iii) in the 10 years preceding the loss of such citizenship the individual was present in that Contracting State for no more than 30 days in any taxable year or year of assessment; or

(iv) the loss of citizenship occurred before the individual attained the age of 18½ years;

    (3) it is further understood that, in the case of an individual who is a former long-term resident of a Contracting State, the following factors shall be considered favourably in determining whether or not one of the principal purposes of that individual's ceasing to be a long-term resident of that Contracting State was the avoidance of tax,

(a) at the time of the individual's ceasing to be a long-term resident of that Contracting State or within a reasonable period thereafter, the individual is or becomes a resident fully liable to income tax in the other Contracting State, and that other Contracting State is


(i) the country in which the individual was born;

(ii) the country in which the individual's spouse was born; or

(iii) the country where either of the individual's parents was born;



(b) in the 10 years preceding the individual's ceasing to be a long-term resident of that Contracting State, the individual was present in that Contracting State for no more than 30 days in each taxable year or year of assessment; or

(c) the individual ceases to be a long-term resident of that Contracting State before reaching the age of 18½ years; and

    (4) it is understood that, for the purposes of sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (2) and sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (3) above, an individual is not to be regarded as fully liable to income tax in a Contracting State if that individual is subject to tax in that State, in respect of income arising in the other Contracting State, by reference to the amount of such income which is remitted to or received in the first-mentioned State and not by reference to the full amount thereof.

With reference to paragraph 8 of Article 1 (General Scope):
it is understood that where an item of income, profit or gain is derived through a person which is a resident of a Contracting State the provisions of the paragraph shall not prevent that Contracting State from taxing the item as the income, profit or gain of that person.

It is further understood that, where, by virtue of the paragraph, an item of income, profit or gain is considered by a Contracting State to be derived by a person who is a resident of that Contracting State, and the same item is considered by the other Contracting State to be derived by that person or by a person who is a resident of that other Contracting State, the paragraph shall not prevent either Contracting State from taxing the item as the income, profit or gain of the person considered by that State to have derived the item of income, profit or gain.

It is further understood that, in applying the paragraph, the United Kingdom shall, exceptionally, regard an item of income, profit or gain arising to a person as falling within the paragraph where another person is charged to United Kingdom tax in respect of that item of income, profit or gain

(a) under section 660A or 739, Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988; or

(b) under section 77 or 86, Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992.

It is further understood that, in applying the paragraph, a person shall be regarded as fiscally transparent under the laws of the United Kingdom in relation to an item of income, profit or gain where a charge is made on another person on that item either:

(a) by virtue of section 13, Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992; or

(b) because that other person has (or, under section 118, Finance Act 1993, is treated as having) an equitable right in possession in a trust.

With reference to Article 2 (Taxes Covered):
it is understood that, if a political sub-division or local authority of the United States seeks to impose tax on the profits of any enterprise of the United Kingdom from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic, in circumstances where the Convention would preclude the imposition of a Federal income tax on those profits, the United States Government will use its best endeavours to persuade that political sub-division or local authority to refrain from imposing tax.

With reference to sub-paragraph (o) of paragraph 1 of Article 3 (General Definitions):
It is understood that pension schemes shall include the following and any identical or substantially similar schemes which are established pursuant to legislation introduced after the date of signature of the Convention:

(a) under the law of the United Kingdom, employment-related arrangements (other than a social security scheme) approved as retirement benefit schemes for the purposes of Chapter I of Part XIV of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988, and personal pension schemes approved under Chapter IV of Part XIV of that Act; and

(b) under the law of the United States, qualified plans under section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, individual retirement plans (including individual retirement plans that are part of a simplified employee pension plan that satisfies section 408(k), individual retirement accounts, individual retirement annuities, section 408(p) accounts, and Roth IRAs under section 408(A), section 403(a) qualified annuity plans, and section 403(b) plans.

With reference to Article 7 (Business Profits):
It is understood that the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines will apply, by analogy, for the purposes of determining the profits attributable to a permanent establishment. Accordingly, any of the methods described therein - including profits methods - may be used to determine the income of a permanent establishment so long as those methods are applied in accordance with the Guidelines. In particular, in determining the amount of attributable profits, the permanent establishment shall be treated as having the same amount of capital that it would need to support its activities if it were a distinct and separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities. With respect to financial institutions other than insurance companies, a Contracting State may determine the amount of capital to be attributed to a permanent establishment by allocating the institution's total equity between its various offices on the basis of the proportion of the financial institution's risk-weighted assets attributable to each of them.

With reference to paragraph 2 of Article 8 (Shipping and Air Transport):
it is understood that income earned by an enterprise from the inland transport of property or passengers within either Contracting State falls within Article 8 if the transport is undertaken as part of the international transport of property or passengers by the enterprise. Thus, if an enterprise of a Contracting State contracts to carry property from the other State to the first-mentioned State and, as part of that contract, it transports the property by truck from its point of origin to an airport in the other State (or it contracts with a trucking company to carry the property to the airport) the income earned by the enterprise from the overland leg of the journey would be taxable only in the first-mentioned State. Similarly, it is understood that Article 8 also would apply to income from lighterage undertaken as part of the international transport of goods.

With reference to Article 9 (Associated Enterprises), paragraph 4 of Article 11 (Interest) and paragraph 4 of Article 12 (Royalties):
it is understood that, if the amount of interest or royalties paid exceeds the amount that would have been paid in the absence of a special relationship, a Contracting State generally will adjust the amount of deductible interest or royalties paid under the authority of Article 9 and make such other adjustments as are appropriate. If such an adjustment is made, the Contracting State making such adjustment will not also impose its domestic rate of withholding tax with respect to such excess amount.

With reference to paragraph 7 of Article 10 (Dividends):
it is understood that the general principle of the "dividend equivalent amount", as used in United States law, is to approximate that portion of the income mentioned in paragraph 7 of Article 10 that is comparable to the amount that would be distributed as a dividend if such income were earned by a subsidiary incorporated in the United States. For any year, a foreign corporation's dividend equivalent amount is equal to the after-tax earnings attributable to the foreign corporation's (i) income attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States, (ii) income from real property in the United States that is taxed on a net basis under Article 6 (Income from Real Property), and (iii) gains from a real property interest taxable by the United States under paragraph 1 of Article 13 (Gains), reduced by any increase in the foreign corporation's net investment in U.S. assets or increased by any reduction in the foreign corporation's net investment in U.S. assets.

With reference to Article 14 (Income from Employment):
it is understood that any benefits, income or gains enjoyed by employees under share/stock option plans are regarded as "other similar remuneration" for the purposes of Article 14.

It is further understood that where an employee:

(a) has been granted a share/stock option in the course of an employment in one of the Contracting States;

(b) has exercised that employment in both States during the period between grant and exercise of the option;

(c) remains in that employment at the date of the exercise; and

(d) under the domestic law of the Contracting States, would be taxable by both Contracting States in respect of the option gain,

then, in order to avoid double taxation, a Contracting State of which, at the time of the exercise of the option, the employee is not a resident will tax only that proportion of the option gain which relates to the period or periods between the grant and the exercise of the option during which the individual has exercised the employment in that Contracting State.

With the aim of ensuring that no unrelieved double taxation arises the competent authorities of the Contracting States will endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of Article 14 and Article 24 (Relief from Double Taxation) in relation to employee share/stock option plans.

With reference to paragraph 1 of Article 17 (Pensions, Social Security, Annuities, Alimony, and Child Support):
it is understood that a payment shall be treated as a pension or other similar remuneration under paragraph 1 of Article 17 if it is a payment under a pension scheme as defined in sub-paragraph (o) of paragraph 1 of Article 3 (General Definitions) of the Convention.

With reference to sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 3 and sub-paragraph (d) of paragraph 5 of Article 18 (Pension Schemes):
it is understood that the pension schemes listed with respect to a Contracting State in this exchange of notes in connection with sub-paragraph (o) of paragraph 1 of Article 3 (General Definitions) shall generally correspond to the pension schemes listed in this exchange of notes with respect to the other Contracting State.

With reference to paragraph 1 of Article 22 (Other Income):
it is understood that the purpose of the exclusion from the paragraph for income paid out of trusts or the estates of deceased persons in the course of administration is to allow a recipient of such income the relief that would have been available to him under the provisions of the Convention had he received the income direct instead of through the trust or estate.

With reference to Article 23 (Limitation on Benefits):
it is understood that the term "gross income" means the total revenues derived by a resident of a Contracting State from its principal operations, less the direct costs of obtaining such revenues.

With reference to paragraph 4 of Article 23 (Limitation on Benefits):
it is understood that an item of income, profit or gain is to be considered as derived "in connection" with an active trade or business in a Contracting State if the activity generating the item in the other Contracting State is a line of business which forms a part of, or is complementary to, the trade or business conducted in the first-mentioned State. The line of business in the first-mentioned State may be "upstream" to that going on in the other State (e.g., providing inputs to a manufacturing process that occurs in that other State), "downstream" (e.g., selling the output of a manufacturer which is a resident of the other State) or "parallel" (e.g., selling in one Contracting State the same sorts of products that are being sold by the trade or business carried on in the other Contracting State).

It is understood that an item of income, profit or gain derived from a Contracting State would be considered "incidental" to the trade or business carried on in the other Contracting State if the item is not produced by a line of business which forms a part of, or is complementary to, the trade or business conducted in that other Contracting State by the recipient of the item, but the production of such item facilitates the conduct of the trade or business in that other Contracting State. An example of such "incidental" item of income, profit or gain is interest income earned from the short-term investment of working capital of a resident of a Contracting State in securities issued by persons in the other Contracting State.

With reference to paragraph 6 of Article 23 (Limitation on Benefits):
it is understood that in applying paragraph 6 of Article 23, the competent authorities will consider the obligations imposed upon the United Kingdom by its membership of the European Community and by its being a party to the European Economic Area Agreement, and on the United States by its being a party to the North American Free Trade Agreement. In particular, they will have regard to any legal requirements for the facilitation of the free movement of capital and persons, the differing internal tax systems, tax incentive regimes and existing tax treaty policies among Member States of the European Community or European Economic Area states, or, as the case may be, parties to the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Paragraph 6 of Article 23 requires the competent authority of the State from which benefits are claimed to consider whether the establishment, acquisition or maintenance of a resident and the conduct of its operations had as one of its principal purposes the obtaining of benefits under the Convention. That competent authority may determine under a given set of facts that a change in circumstances that would cause a qualified person to cease to qualify for treaty benefits under paragraph 2 of Article 23 need not result in a denial of benefits. Such changes in circumstances may include:

(a) a change in the state of residence of a major participator in a company;

(b) the sale of part of the ownership interests in a company to a resident of another Member State of the European Community or another European Economic Area state or, as the case may be, another party to the North American Free Trade Agreement; or

(c) an expansion of a company's activities in other Member States of the European Community or other European Economic Area States or, as the case may be, other parties to the North American Free Trade Agreement,

all under ordinary business conditions.

If the competent authority is satisfied that these changed circumstances are not attributable to tax avoidance motives, this will be a factor weighing in favour of granting benefits in accordance with paragraph 6 of Article 23.

With reference to sub-paragraph (e) of paragraph 7 of Article 23 (Limitation on Benefits):
it is understood that, if a class of shares was not listed on a recognised stock exchange in the twelve months referred to in the sub-paragraph, that class of shares will be treated as regularly traded only if that class meets the aggregate trading requirements of the sub-paragraph for the taxable or chargeable period in which the income arises.

With reference to Article 24 (Relief from Double Taxation):
it is understood that, under paragraph 4 or 8 of Article 1 (General Scope), the provisions of the Convention may permit the Contracting State of which a person is a resident (or, in the case of the United States, a citizen), to tax an item of income, profit or gain derived through another person (the entity) which is fiscally transparent under the laws of either Contracting State, and may permit the other Contracting State to tax

(a) the same person;

(b) the entity; or

(c) a third person

with respect to that item. Under such circumstances, the tax paid or accrued by the entity shall be treated as if it were paid or accrued by the first-mentioned person for the purposes of determining the relief from double taxation to be allowed by the State of which that first-mentioned person is a resident (or, in the case of the United States, a citizen), except that, in the case of an item of income from real property to which paragraph 1 of Article 6 (Income from Real Property) of the Convention applies, or a gain from the alienation of real property to which paragraph 1 of Article 13 (Gains) applies, the tax paid or accrued by the person who is a resident of the Contracting State in which the real property is situated shall be treated as if it were paid or accrued by the person who is a resident of the other Contracting State.

In the case where the same item of income, profit or gain derived through a trust is treated by each Contracting State as derived by different persons resident in either State, and

(a) the person taxed by one State is the settlor or grantor of a trust; and

(b) the person taxed by the other State is a beneficiary of that trust,

the tax paid or accrued by the beneficiary shall be treated as if it were paid or accrued by the settlor or grantor for the purposes of determining the relief from double taxation to be allowed by the State of which that settlor or grantor is a resident (or, in the case of the United States, a citizen), except that, in the case of an item of income from real property to which paragraph 1 of Article 6 (Income from Real Property) of the Convention applies, or a gain from the alienation of real property to which paragraph 1 of Article 13 (Gains) applies, the tax paid or accrued by the person who is a resident of the Contracting State in which the real property is situated shall be treated as if it were paid or accrued by the person who is a resident of the other Contracting State.

It is further understood that paragraphs 2 and 5 of Article 24 shall apply to such an item of income, profit or gain to the extent necessary to provide relief from double taxation.

With reference to paragraphs 1 and 4 of Article 24 (Relief from Double Taxation):
it is understood that, if a resident of a Contracting State receives a dividend that is described in sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 1 or sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 4 of Article 24, such dividend will be deemed to be income from sources in the other Contracting State, even if it may be taxed only in the first-mentioned Contracting State because of sub-paragraph a) of paragraph 3 of Article 10 (Dividends).

With reference to paragraph 2 of Article 26 (Mutual Agreement Procedure):
it is understood that where the competent authorities are endeavouring to resolve a case pursuant to the Article, neither Contracting State shall seek to collect the tax which is in dispute until the mutual agreement procedure has been completed. Any tax which is payable following the completion of the mutual agreement procedure shall, however, be subject to interest charges, and, if appropriate, surcharges or penalties, as long as it remains unpaid.

With reference to paragraph 3 of Article 26 (Mutual Agreement Procedure):
it is understood that any principle of general application established by an agreement between the competent authorities shall be published by both competent authorities.

With reference to Article 27 (Exchange of Information and Administrative Assistance):
it is understood that the powers of each Contracting State's competent authorities to obtain information include powers to obtain information held by financial institutions, nominees, or persons acting in an agency or fiduciary capacity (not including information that would reveal confidential communications between a client and an attorney, solicitor or other legal representative, where the client seeks legal advice), and information relating to the ownership of legal persons, and that each Contracting State's competent authorities are able to exchange such information in accordance with the Article.

With reference to Article 29 (Entry into Force):
it is understood that the provisions of Article 26 (Mutual Agreement Procedure) and Article 27 (Exchange of Information and Administrative Assistance) of the Convention shall have effect from the date of entry into force of the Convention, without regard to the taxable or chargeable period to which the matter relates.

In General:
it is understood that the two Governments shall consult together at regular intervals regarding the terms, operation and application of the Convention to ensure that it continues to serve the purposes of avoiding double taxation and preventing fiscal evasion and shall, where they consider it appropriate, conclude Protocols to amend the Convention. The first such consultation shall take place no later than December 31st in the fifth year following the date on which the Convention enters into force in accordance with the provisions of Article 29 (Entry into Force). Further consultations shall take place thereafter at intervals of no more than five years.

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, either Government may at any time request consultations with the other Government on matters relating to the terms, operation and application of the Convention which it considers require urgent resolution.

If the foregoing proposals are acceptable to the Government of the United States of America, I have the honour to suggest that the present note and Your Excellency's reply to that effect should be regarded as constituting an agreement between the two Governments in this matter, which shall enter into force at the same time as the Convention.

I avail myself of this opportunity to extend to Your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration.


R D Wilkinson
Director Americas Foreign and Commonwealth Office London

" I have the honour to refer to the Convention between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital Gains which has been signed today and to make on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland the following proposals:

With reference to paragraph 3 of Article 1 (General Scope):
it is understood that, at the time of the signing of the Convention, the only agreements in force as between the two Contracting States that may impose national treatment or most-favoured nation obligations are the General Agreement on Trade in Services, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, A Convention to Regulate the Commerce between the Territories of the United States and of His Britannic Majesty, signed in London on July 3rd, 1815, and the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, between His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, signed at London, on November 19th 1794. If it is determined that there were, at the date of the signing of the Convention, additional agreements in force between the Contracting States that create such obligations, the Contracting States will consider whether amendments to the Convention are necessary to ensure the proper interaction of the Convention and such other agreement with respect to tax measures.

With reference to paragraph 6 of Article 1 (General Scope):


    (1) it is understood that an individual shall be regarded as a former long-term resident of a Contracting State only if that individual (not being a citizen of that Contracting State) was a lawful permanent resident of that Contracting State in at least eight of the fifteen fiscal years ending with the fiscal year in which the individual ceased to be a long-term resident of that Contracting State;

    (2) it is further understood that, in the case of an individual who is a former citizen of a Contracting State, the following factors shall be considered favourably in determining whether or not one of the principal purposes of that individual's loss of citizenship of that Contracting State was the avoidance of tax,


(a) at the time of the individual's ceasing to be a citizen of that Contracting State or within a reasonable period thereafter, the individual is or becomes a resident fully liable to income tax in the other Contracting State, and

(b)


(i) the individual was a citizen of both Contracting States at birth and has remained a citizen of the other Contracting State;

(ii) at the time of the loss of such citizenship (or within a reasonable period thereafter), the individual was or became a citizen of the other Contracting State, and that other Contracting State was that individual's country of birth, or the country of birth of that individual's spouse or of either of that individual's parents;

(iii) in the 10 years preceding the loss of such citizenship the individual was present in that Contracting State for no more than 30 days in any taxable year or year of assessment; or

(iv) the loss of citizenship occurred before the individual attained the age of 18½ years;



    (3) it is further understood that, in the case of an individual who is a former long-term resident of a Contracting State, the following factors shall be considered favourably in determining whether or not one of the principal purposes of that individual's ceasing to be a long-term resident of that Contracting State was the avoidance of tax,



(a) at the time of the individual's ceasing to be a long-term resident of that Contracting State or within a reasonable period thereafter, the individual is or becomes a resident fully liable to income tax in the other Contracting State, and that other Contracting State is


(i) the country in which the individual was born;

(ii) the country in which the individual's spouse was born; or

(iii) the country where either of the individual's parents was born;



(b) in the 10 years preceding the individual's ceasing to be a long-term resident of that Contracting State, the individual was present in that Contracting State for no more than 30 days in each taxable year or year of assessment; or

(c) the individual ceases to be a long-term resident of that Contracting State before reaching the age of 18½ years; and



    (4) it is understood that, for the purposes of sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (2) and sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (3) above, an individual is not to be regarded as fully liable to income tax in a Contracting State if that individual is subject to tax in that State, in respect of income arising in the other Contracting State, by reference to the amount of such income which is remitted to or received in the first-mentioned State and not by reference to the full amount thereof.

With reference to paragraph 8 of Article 1 (General Scope):
it is understood that where an item of income, profit or gain is derived through a person which is a resident of a Contracting State the provisions of the paragraph shall not prevent that Contracting State from taxing the item as the income, profit or gain of that person.

It is further understood that, where, by virtue of the paragraph, an item of income, profit or gain is considered by a Contracting State to be derived by a person who is a resident of that Contracting State, and the same item is considered by the other Contracting State to be derived by that person or by a person who is a resident of that other Contracting State, the paragraph shall not prevent either Contracting State from taxing the item as the income, profit or gain of the person considered by that State to have derived the item of income, profit or gain.

It is further understood that, in applying the paragraph, the United Kingdom shall, exceptionally, regard an item of income, profit or gain arising to a person as falling within the paragraph where another person is charged to United Kingdom tax in respect of that item of income, profit or gain.



(a) under section 660A or 739, Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988; or

(b) under section 77 or 86, Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992.



It is further understood that, in applying the paragraph, a person shall be regarded as fiscally transparent under the laws of the United Kingdom in relation to an item of income, profit or gain where a charge is made on another person on that item either:



(a) by virtue of section 13, Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992; or

(b) because that other person has (or, under section 118, Finance Act 1993, is treated as having) an equitable right in possession in a trust.



With reference to Article 2 (Taxes Covered):
it is understood that, if a political sub-division or local authority of the United States seeks to impose tax on the profits of any enterprise of the United Kingdom from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic, in circumstances where the Convention would preclude the imposition of a Federal income tax on those profits the United States Government will use its best endeavours to persuade that political sub-division or local authority to refrain from imposing tax.

With reference to sub-paragraph (o) of paragraph 1 of Article 3 (General Definitions):
it is understood that pension schemes shall include the following and any identical or substantially similar schemes which are established pursuant to legislation introduced after the date of signature of the Convention:



(a) under the law of the United Kingdom, employment-related arrangements (other than a social security scheme) approved as retirement benefit schemes for the purposes of Chapter I of Part XIV of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988, and personal pension schemes approved under Chapter IV of Part XIV of that Act; and

(b) under the law of the United States, qualified plans under section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, individual retirement plans (including individual retirement plans that are part of a simplified employee pension plan that satisfies section 408(k), individual retirement accounts, individual retirement annuities, section 408(p) accounts, and Roth IRAs under section 408(A), section 403(a) qualified annuity plans, and section 403(b) plans.



With reference to Article 7 (Business Profits):
it is understood that the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines will apply, by analogy, for the purposes of determining the profits attributable to a permanent establishment. Accordingly, any of the methods described therein - including profits methods - may be used to determine the income of a permanent establishment so long as those methods are applied in accordance with the Guidelines. In particular, in determining the amount of attributable profits, the permanent establishment shall be treated as having the same amount of capital that it would need to support its activities if it were a distinct and separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities. With respect to financial institutions other than insurance companies, a Contracting State may determine the amount of capital to be attributed to a permanent establishment by allocating the institution's total equity between its various offices on the basis of the proportion of the financial institution's risk-weighted assets attributable to each of them.

With reference to paragraph 2 of Article 8 (Shipping and Air Transport):
it is understood that income earned by an enterprise from the inland transport of property or passengers within either Contracting State falls within Article 8 if the transport is undertaken as part of the international transport of property or passengers by the enterprise. Thus, if an enterprise of a Contracting State contracts to carry property from the other State to the first-mentioned State and, as part of that contract, it transports the property by truck from its point of origin to an airport in the other State (or it contracts with a trucking company to carry the property to the airport) the income earned by the enterprise from the overland leg of the journey would be taxable only in the first-mentioned State. Similarly, it is understood that Article 8 also would apply to income from lighterage undertaken as part of the international transport of goods.

With reference to Article 9 (Associated Enterprises), paragraph 4 of Article 11 (Interest) and paragraph 4 of Article 12 (Royalties):
it is understood that, if the amount of interest or royalties paid exceeds the amount that would have been paid in the absence of a special relationship, a Contracting State generally will adjust the amount of deductible interest or royalties paid under the authority of Article 9 and make such other adjustments as are appropriate. If such an adjustment is made, the Contracting State making such adjustment will not also impose its domestic rate of withholding tax with respect to such excess amount.

With reference to paragraph 7 of Article 10 (Dividends):
it is understood that the general principle of the "dividend equivalent amount", as used in United States law, is to approximate that portion of the income mentioned in paragraph 7 of Article 10 that is comparable to the amount that would be distributed as a dividend if such income were earned by a subsidiary incorporated in the United States. For any year, a foreign corporation's dividend equivalent amount is equal to the after-tax earnings attributable to the foreign corporation's (i) income attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States, (ii) income from real property in the United States that is taxed on a net basis under Article 6 (Income from Real Property), and (iii) gain from a real property interest taxable by the United States under paragraph 1 of Article 13 (Gains), reduced by any increase in the foreign corporation's net investment in U.S. assets or increased by any reduction in the foreign corporation's net investment in U.S. assets.

With reference to Article 14 (Income from Employment):
it is understood that any benefits, income or gains enjoyed by employees under share/stock option plans are regarded as "other similar remuneration" for the purposes of Article 14.

It is further understood that where an employee:



(a) has been granted a share/stock option in the course of an employment in one of the Contracting States;

(b) has exercised that employment in both States during the period between grant and exercise of the option;

(c) remains in that employment at the date of the exercise; and

(d) under the domestic law of the Contracting States, would be taxable by both Contracting States in respect of the option gain,



then, in order to avoid double taxation, a Contracting State of which, at the time of the exercise of the option, the employee is not a resident will tax only that proportion of the option gain which relates to the period or periods between the grant and the exercise of the option during which the individual has exercised the employment in that Contracting State.

With the aim of ensuring that no unrelieved double taxation arises the competent authorities of the Contracting States will endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of Article 14 and Article 24 (Relief from Double Taxation) in relation to employee share/stock option plans.

With reference to paragraph 1 of Article 17 (Pensions, Social Security, Annuities, Alimony, and Child Support):
it is understood that a payment shall be treated as a pension or other similar remuneration under paragraph 1 of Article 17 if it is a payment under a pension scheme as defined in sub-paragraph (o) of paragraph 1 of Article 3 (General Definitions) of the Convention.

With reference to sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 3 and sub-paragraph (d) of paragraph 5 of Article 18 (Pension Schemes):
it is understood that the pension schemes listed with respect to a Contracting State in this exchange of notes in connection with sub-paragraph (o) of paragraph 1 of Article 3 (General Definitions) shall generally correspond to the pension schemes listed in this exchange of notes with respect to the other Contracting State.

With reference to paragraph 1 of Article 22 (Other Income):
it is understood that the purpose of the exclusion from the paragraph for income paid out of trusts or the estates of deceased persons in the course of administration is to allow a recipient of such income the relief that would have been available to him under the provisions of the Convention had he received the income direct instead of through the trust or estate.

With reference to Article 23 (Limitation on Benefits):
it is understood that the term "gross income" means the total revenues derived by a resident of a Contracting State from its principal operations, less the direct costs of obtaining such revenues.

With reference to paragraph 4 of Article 23 (Limitation on Benefits):
it is understood that an item of income, profit or gain is to be considered as derived "in connection" with an active trade or business in a Contracting State if the activity generating the item in the other Contracting State is a line of business which forms a part of, or is complementary to, the trade or business conducted in the first-mentioned State. The line of business in the first-mentioned State may be "upstream" to that going on in the other State (e.g., providing inputs to a manufacturing process that occurs in that other State) "downstream" (e.g., selling the output of a manufacturer which is a resident of the other State) or "parallel" (e.g., selling in one Contracting State the same sorts of products that are being sold by the trade or business carried on in the other Contracting State).

It is understood that an item of income, profit or gain derived from a Contracting State would be considered "incidental" to the trade or business carried on in the other Contracting State if the item is not produced by a line of business which forms a part of, or is complementary to, the trade or business conducted in that other Contracting State by the recipient of the item, but the production of such item facilitates the conduct of the trade or business in that other Contracting State. An example of such "incidental" item of income, profit or gain is interest income earned from the short-term investment of working capital of a resident of a Contracting State in securities issued by persons in the other Contracting State.

With reference to paragraph 6 of Article 23 (Limitation on Benefits):
it is understood that in applying paragraph 6 of Article 23, the competent authorities will consider the obligations imposed upon the United Kingdom by its membership of the European Community and by its being a party to the European Economic Area Agreement, and on the United States by its being a party to the North American Free Trade Agreement. In particular, they will have regard to any legal requirements for the facilitation of the free movement of capital and persons, the differing internal tax systems, tax incentive regimes and existing tax treaty policies among Member States of the European Community or European Economic Area states, or, as the case may be, parties to the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Paragraph 6 of Article 23 requires the competent authority of the State from which benefits are claimed to consider whether the establishment, acquisition or maintenance of a resident and the conduct of its operations had as one of its principal purposes the obtaining of benefits under the Convention. That competent authority may determine under a given set of facts that a change in circumstances that would cause a qualified person to cease to qualify for treaty benefits under paragraph 2 of Article 23 need not result in a denial of benefits. Such changes in circumstances may include:



(a) a change in the state of residence of a major participator in a company;

(b) the sale of part of the ownership interests in a company to a resident of another Member State of the European Community or another European Economic Area state or, as the case may be, another party to the North American Free Trade Agreement; or

(c) an expansion of a company's activities in other Member States of the European Community or other European Economic Area states or, as the case may be, other parties to the North American Free Trade Agreement,



all under ordinary business conditions.

If the competent authority is satisfied that these changed circumstances are not attributable to tax avoidance motives, this will be a factor weighing in favour of granting benefits in accordance with paragraph 6 of Article 23.

With reference to sub-paragraph (e) of paragraph 7 of Article 23 (Limitation on Benefits):
it is understood that, if a class of shares was not listed on a recognised stock exchange in the twelve months referred to in the sub-paragraph, that class of shares will be treated as regularly traded only if that class meets the aggregate trading requirements of the sub-paragraph for the taxable or chargeable period in which the income arises.

With reference to Article 24 (Relief from Double Taxation):
it is understood that, under paragraph 4 or 8 of Article 1 (General Scope), the provisions of the Convention may permit the Contracting State of which a person is a resident (or, in the case of the United States, a citizen), to tax an item of income, profit or gain derived through another person (the entity) which is fiscally transparent under the laws of either Contracting State, and may permit the other Contracting State to tax



(a) the same person;

(b) the entity; or

(c) a third person



with respect to that item. Under such circumstances, the tax paid or accrued by the entity shall be treated as if it were paid or accrued by the first-mentioned person for the purposes of determining the relief from double taxation to be allowed by the State of which that first-mentioned person is a resident (or, in the case of the United States, a citizen), except that, in the case of an item of income from real property to which paragraph 1 of Article 6 (Income from Real Property) of the Convention applies, or a gain from the alienation of real property to which paragraph 1 of Article 13 (Gains) applies, the tax paid or accrued by the person who is a resident of the Contracting State in which the real property is situated shall be treated as if it were paid or accrued by the person who is a resident of the other Contracting State.

In the case where the same item of income, profit or gain derived through a trust is treated by each Contracting State as derived by different persons resident in either State, and



(a) the person taxed by one State is the settlor or grantor of a trust; and

(b) the person taxed by the other State is a beneficiary of that trust,



the tax paid or accrued by the beneficiary shall be treated as if it were paid or accrued by the settlor or grantor for the purposes of determining the relief from double taxation to be allowed by the State of which that settlor or grantor is a resident (or, in the case of the United States, a citizen), except that, in the case of an item of income from real property to which paragraph 1 of Article 6 (Income from Real Property) of the Convention applies, or a gain from the alienation of real property to which paragraph 1 of Article 13 (Gains) applies, the tax paid or accrued by the person who is a resident of the Contracting State in which the real property is situated shall be treated as if it were paid or accrued by the person who is a resident of the other Contracting State.

It is further understood that paragraphs 2 and 5 of Article 24 shall apply to such an item of income, profit or gain to the extent necessary to provide relief from double taxation.

With reference to paragraphs 1 and 4 of Article 24 (Relief from Double Taxation):
it is understood that, if a resident of a Contracting State receives a dividend that is described in sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 1 or sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 4 of Article 24, such dividend will be deemed to be income from sources in the other Contracting State, even if it may be taxed only in the first-mentioned Contracting State because of sub-paragraph a) of paragraph 3 of Article 10 (Dividends).

With reference to paragraph 2 of Article 26 (Mutual Agreement Procedure):
it is understood that where the competent authorities are endeavouring to resolve a case pursuant to the Article, neither Contracting State shall seek to collect the tax which is in dispute until the mutual agreement procedure has been completed. Any tax which is payable following the completion of the mutual agreement procedure shall, however, be subject to interest charges, and, if appropriate, surcharges or penalties, as long as it remains unpaid.

With reference to paragraph 3 of Article 26 (Mutual Agreement Procedure):
it is understood that any principle of general application established by an agreement between the competent authorities shall be published by both competent authorities.

With reference to Article 27 (Exchange of Information and Administrative Assistance):
it is understood that the powers of each Contracting State's competent authorities to obtain information include powers to obtain information held by financial institutions, nominees, or persons acting in an agency or fiduciary capacity (not including information that would reveal confidential communications between a client and an attorney, solicitor or other legal representative, where the client seeks legal advice), and information relating to the ownership of legal persons, and that each Contracting State's competent authorities are able to exchange such information in accordance with the Article.

With reference to Article 29 (Entry into Force):
it is understood that the provisions of Article 26 (Mutual Agreement Procedure) and Article 27 (Exchange of Information and Administrative Assistance) of the Convention shall have effect from the date of entry into force of the Convention, without regard to the taxable or chargeable period to which the matter relates.

In General:
it is understood that the two Governments shall consult together at regular intervals regarding the terms, operation and application of the Convention to ensure that it continues to serve the purposes of avoiding double taxation and preventing fiscal evasion and shall, where they consider it appropriate, conclude Protocols to amend the Convention. The first such consultation shall take place no later than December 31st in the fifth year following the date on which the Convention enters into force in accordance with the provisions of Article 29 (Entry into Force). Further consultations shall take place thereafter at intervals of no more than five years.

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, either Government may at any time request consultations with the other Government on matters relating to the terms, operation and application of the Convention which it considers require urgent resolution.

If the foregoing proposals are acceptable to the Government of the United States of America, I have the honour to suggest that the present note and Your Excellency's reply to that effect should be regarded as constituting an agreement between the two Governments in this matter, which shall enter into force at the same time as the Convention."

The foregoing proposals being acceptable to the Government of the United States of America, I have the honour to confirm that your note and this reply shall be regarded as constituting an agreement between the two Governments in this matter which shall enter into force at the same time as the Convention.

Please accept the renewed assurance of my highest consideration.



Sincerely,


W S Farish
Ambassador, The Honourable William S. Farish, The American Ambassador to the Court of St. James, London