Resolução da Assembleia da República n.º 12/2003 — Aprova, para ratificação, a Convenção entre a República Portuguesa e a República da Letónia para Evitar a Dupla…

2 - However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident and according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the dividends is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends.

This paragraph shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid.

3 - The term «dividends» as used in this article means income from shares or other rights, not being debt-claims, participating in profits, as well as income from other rights which is subjected to the same taxation treatment as income from shares by the laws of the State of which the company making the distribution is a resident.

4 - The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of article 7 or article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

5 - Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State derives profits or income from the other Contracting State, that other State may not impose any tax on the dividends paid by the company, except insofar as such dividends are paid to a resident of that other State or insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base situated in that other State, nor subject the company's undistributed profits to a tax on the company's undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in such other State.

Article 11

Interest

1 - Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2 - However, such interest 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 of the interest is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent of the gross amount of the interest.

3 - Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, interest arising in a Contracting State, derived and beneficially owned by the Government of the other Contracting State, including its political or administrative subdivisions and local authorities, the Central Bank or any financial institution wholly owned by that Government, or interest derived on loans guaranteed by that Government shall be exempt from tax in the first-mentioned State.

4 - The term «interest» as used in this article means income from debt-claims of every kind, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in the debtor's profits, and in particular, income from government securities and income from bonds or debentures, including premiums and prizes attaching to such securities, bonds or debentures. The term «interest» shall not include any income which is treated as a dividend under the provisions of article 10. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purpose of this article.

5 - The provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the interest, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the interest arises, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of article 7 or article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

6 - Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the interest, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, and such interest is borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such interest shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.

7 - Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the interest, having regard to the debt-claim for which it is paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.

Article 12

Royalties

1 - Royalties arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2 - However, such royalties may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise and according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the royalties is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties.

3 - The term «royalties» as used in this article means payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work including cinematograph films and films or tapes for radio or television broadcasting, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for the use of, or the right to use, industrial, commercial or scientific equipment, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience.

4 - The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 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, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of article 7 or article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

5 - Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the royalties, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the liability to pay the royalties was incurred, and such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.

6 - Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties, having regard to the use, right or information for which they are paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.

Article 13

Capital gains

1 - Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of immovable property referred to in article 6 and situated in the other Contracting State or shares in a company the assets of which consist mainly of such property may be taxed in that other State.

2 - Gains from the alienation of movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State or of movable property pertaining to a fixed base available to a resident of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing independent personal services, including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise) or of such fixed base, may be taxed in that other State.

3 - Gains derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in international traffic or movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircraft, shall be taxable only in that State.

4 - Gains from the alienation of any property other than that referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident.

Article 14

Independent personal services

1 - Income derived by an individual who is a resident of a Contracting State in respect of professional services or other activities of an independent character shall be taxable only in that Contracting State. But such income may also be taxed in the other Contracting State:

2 - The term «professional services» includes especially independent scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teaching activities as well as the independent activities of physicians, lawyers, engineers, architects, dentists and accountants.

Article 15

Dependent personal services

1 - Subject to the provisions of articles 16, 18, 19, 20 and 21, salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment shall be taxable only in that State unless the employment is exercised in the other Contracting State. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is derived therefrom may be taxed in that other State.

2 - Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised in the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if:

3 - Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this article, remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic by an enterprise of a Contracting State may be taxed in that State.

Article 16

Directors' fees

Director's fees and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as a member of the board of directors or any other similar organ of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

Article 17

Artistes and sportsmen

1 - Notwithstanding the provisions of articles 14 and 15, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer, such as a theatre, motion picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as a sportsman, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.

2 - Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsman in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or sportsman himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of articles 7, 14 and 15, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsman are exercised.

3 - The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to income derived from activities exercised in a Contracting State by an entertainer or a sportsman if the visit to that State is wholly or mainly supported by public funds of one or both of the Contracting States or its political or administrative subdivisions or local authorities thereof. In such case, the income shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the entertainer or sportsman is a resident.

Article 18

Pensions

Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of article 19, pensions and other similar remuneration paid to a resident of a Contracting State in consideration of past employment shall be taxable only in that State.

Article 19

Government service

1 - a) Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, other than a pension, paid by a Contracting State or a political or administrative subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State.

ii) Did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the services.

2 - a) Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a political or administrative subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State.

3 - The provisions of articles 15, 16, 17 and 18 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 or administrative subdivision or a local authority thereof.

Article 20

Students

Payments which a student, an apprentice or a trainee who is or was immediately before visiting a Contracting State a resident of the other Contracting State and who is present in the first-mentioned State solely for the purpose of his education or training receives for the purpose of his maintenance, education or training shall not be taxed in that State, provided that such payments arise from sources outside that State.

Article 21

Professors and researchers

1 - An individual who visits a Contracting State for the purpose of teaching or carrying out research at a university, college or other recognized educational or scientific research institution in that Contracting State and who is or was immediately before that visit a resident of the other Contracting State, shall be exempted from taxation in the first-mentioned Contracting State on remuneration for such teaching or research for a period not exceeding two years from the date of his first visit for that purpose.

2 - The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income from research if such research is undertaken not in the public interest but primarily for the private benefit of a specific person or persons.

Article 22

Offshore activities

1 - The provisions of this article shall apply notwithstanding the provisions of articles 4 to 20 of this Convention.

2 - For the purposes of this article, the term «offshore activities» means activities carried on offshore in a Contracting State in connection with the exploration or exploitation of the sea bed and subsoil and their natural resources situated in that State.

3 - A person who is a resident of a Contracting State and carries on offshore activities in the other Contracting State shall, subject to paragraph 4, be deemed to be carrying on business in that other State through a permanent establishment or a fixed base situated therein.

4 - The provisions of paragraph 3 shall not apply where the offshore activities are carried on for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 30 days in any twelve month period. For the purposes of this paragraph:

5 - Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment connected with offshore activities in the other Contracting State may, to the extent that the duties are performed offshore in that other State, be taxed in that other State. However, such remuneration shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if the employment is carried on for an employer who is not a resident of the other State and for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 30 days in any twelve month period.

6 - Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of:

may be taxed in that other State.

In this paragraph the term «exploration or exploitation rights» means rights to assets to be produced by offshore activities carried on in the other Contracting State, or to interests in or to the benefit of such assets.

Article 23

Other income

1 - Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, not dealt with in the foregoing articles of this Convention shall be taxable only in that State.

2 - The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income, other than income from immovable property as defined in paragraph 2 of article 6, if the recipient of such income, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of article 7 or article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

3 - Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, items of income of a resident of a Contracting State not dealt with in the foregoing articles of this Convention and arising in the other Contracting State may also be taxed in that other State.

Article 24

Elimination of double taxation

The double taxation shall be eliminated as follows:

1) In Portugal:

2) In Latvia:

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, which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of that other State in the same circumstances, in particular with respect to residence, are or may be subjected. This provision shall, notwithstanding the provisions of article 1, also apply to persons who are not residents of one or both of the Contracting States.

2 - Stateless persons who are residents of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in either Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith, which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of the State concerned in the same circumstances, in particular with respect to residence, are or may be subjected.

3 - The taxation on a permanent establishment which 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. This provision shall not be construed as obliging a Contracting State to grant to residents of the other Contracting State any personal allowances, reliefs and reductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family responsibilities which it grants to its own residents.

4 - Except where the provisions of paragraph 1 of article 9, paragraph 7 of article 11, or paragraph 6 of article 12, apply, interest, royalties and other disbursements paid by an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable profits of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been paid to a resident of the first-mentioned State.

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

6 - The provisions of this article shall, notwithstanding the provisions of article 2, apply to taxes of every kind and description.

Article 26

Mutual agreement procedure

1 - Where a person considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, he may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the domestic law of those States, present his case to the competent authority of the Contracting State of which he is a resident or, if his case comes under paragraph 1 of article 25, to that of the Contracting State of which he is a national. The case must be presented within three years from the first notification of the action resulting in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.

2 - The competent authority shall endeavour, if the objection appears to it to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at a satisfactory solution, to resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other Contracting State, with a view to the avoidance of taxation which is not in accordance with the Convention. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting States.

3 - The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of the Convention. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in the Convention.

4 - The competent authorities of the Contracting States may communicate with each other directly, including through a joint commission consisting of themselves or their representatives, for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs.

Article 27

Exchange of information

1 - The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Convention or of the domestic laws of the Contracting States concerning taxes covered by the Convention insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Convention. The exchange of information is not restricted by article 1. Any information received by a Contracting State shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic laws of that State and shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) concerned with the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to, the taxes covered by the Convention. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes. They may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions.

2 - In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 1 be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation:

Article 28

Limitation of benefits

The provisions of this Convention shall not be construed as obliging a Contracting State to grant the benefits under this Convention to any person that is a resident of the other Contracting State, if, according to the competent authorities of both Contracting States, the receipt of those benefits will constitute an abuse of the general principles of the Convention.

Article 29

Members of diplomatic missions and consular posts

Nothing in this Convention shall affect the fiscal privileges of members of diplomatic missions or consular posts under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements.

Article 30

Entry into force

Each of the Contracting States shall notify the other of the completion of the procedures required by its law for the bringing into force of this Convention. The Convention shall enter into force on the date of the later of these notifications and shall thereupon have effect:

1 ) In Portugal:

2) In Latvia:

Article 31

Termination

This Convention shall remain in force until terminated by one of the Contracting States. Either Contracting State may terminate the Convention, through diplomatic channels, by giving written notice of termination at least six months before the end of any calendar year following after the period of three years from the date on which the Convention enters into force. In such event the Convention shall cease to have effect:

1) In Portugal:

2) In Latvia:

In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorized thereto, have signed this Convention.

Done in duplicate at Riga this 19th day of June 2001, in the Portuguese, Latvian and English languages, all three texts being equally authentic. In case of divergent interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

For the Portuguese Republic:

(ver assinatura no documento original)

For the Republic of Latvia:

(ver assinatura no documento original)

PROTOCOL

At the moment of signing the Convention between the Portuguese Republic and the Republic of Latvia for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, the undersigned have agreed upon the following, which shall be an integral part of the Convention:

Ad article 2 (2)

It is understood that taxes on total amounts of wages or salaries paid by enterprises shall also be regarded as taxes on income, but social security charges or any other similar charge shall not be regarded as taxes on income.

Ad article 4 (3)

1 - It is understood that while the agreement between the competent authorities has not been reached, such person shall not be entitled to claim any benefits provided by this Convention. The agreement reached shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of article 26.

2 - It is understood that the provisions of paragraph 3 are applicable as long as the place of effective management criteria for the determination of residence is not used under the domestic legislation of Latvia. In the case of implementation of such criteria the competent authorities of Latvia shall inform the competent authorities of Portugal as soon as such criteria is implemented, and the following provisions shall be applicable instead of the provisions of paragraph 3 from the earliest possible date as determined by the competent authorities:

«3 - Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 a person other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then it shall be deemed to be a resident of the State in which its place of effective management is situated.»

Ad article 6

1 - It is understood that the provisions of this article shall also apply to income from movable property or from services connected with the use of immovable property which, under the taxation law of the Contracting State in which the immovable property in question is situated, is assimilated to income from immovable property.

2 - Regarding paragraph 3 of this article, the Contracting States understand that all income and gains arising from the alienation of immovable property located in a Contracting State may be taxed in that State in accordance with article 13 of this Convention.

Ad article 7

In respect of paragraph 3 of this article, and without changing the general principle thereof, the term «expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the permanent establishment» means those deductible expenses directly relating to the business of the permanent establishment.

Ad article 10

In respect of paragraph 3 of this article, the term «dividends» also includes profits attributed under an arrangement for participation in profits (in the case of Portugal, «associação em participação»).

Ad article 13 (3)

It is understood that the provisions of paragraph 3 of article 13 shall be applicable only to gains derived by an enterprise operating ships or aircraft in international traffic.

Ad article 26

It is understood that nothing in paragraph 3 shall be construed so as to impose on the competent authorities of a Contracting State the obligation to eliminate double taxation in cases not provided for in the Convention.

Ad article 28

It is understood that «abuse of the general principles of the Convention» may include a situation where the benefits under the Convention shall be granted by a Contracting State in respect of an item of income arising in that State which is not subject to taxation in the other Contracting State or is subject to taxation at a considerably lower tax rate than the tax rate generally applicable in that other State.

In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorized thereto, have signed this Protocol.

Done in duplicate at Riga this 19th day of June 2001, in the Portuguese, Latvian and English languages, all three texts being equally authentic. In case of divergent interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

For the Portuguese Republic:

(ver assinatura no documento original)

For the Republic of Latvia:

(ver assinatura no documento original)