CONVENTION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ROMANIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME AND CAPITAL
Preamble
The Government of the Socialist Republic of Romania and the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, desiring to promote and strengthen the economic relations between the two countries on the basis of respecting the principles of independence and national sovereignty, equality in rights, reciprocal advantage and non-interference in domestic matters, have decided to conclude the Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital.
For this purpose they have agreed upon as follows:
Article 1
Personal scope
This Convention shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.
Article 2
Taxes covered by the Convention
This Convention shall apply to taxes on income and on capital imposed by one of the Contracting States or by its administrative territorial units or local Authorities, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.
There shall be regarded as taxes on income and on capital all taxes imposed on total income, on total capital, or on elements of income or of capital including taxes on gains from the alienation of movable or immovable property.
The existing taxes to which the Convention shall apply are in particular:
in the case of Romania:
tax on incomes derived by individuals and corporate bodies;
tax on the profits of joint companies constituted with the participation of Romanian economic organisations and foreign partners;
tax on income realised from agricultural activities;
(hereinafter referred to as “Romanian tax”),
in the case of Cyprus:
the income tax;
the special contribution;
the capital gains tax;
(hereinafter referred to as “Cyprus tax”).
This Convention shall also apply to any identical or substantially similar taxes which 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 to each other any significant changes which have been made in their respective taxation laws.
Article 3
General definition
In this Convention, unless the context otherwise requires:
the term “Romania” used in a geographical sense, means the territory of the Socialist Republic of Romania including the territorial sea and the continental shelf as well as any other area beyond the territorial waters of Romania where Romania exercises sovereign rights in accordance with the international law and with its own law concerning the exploration and exploitation of natural, biological and mineral resources existing in the sea waters, sea bed and in its subsoil;
the term “Cyprus” means the Republic of Cyprus, and includes any area adjacent to the territorial waters of Cyprus which in accordance with international law has been or may hereafter be designated, under the laws of Cyprus concerning the Continental Shelf, as an area within which the rights of Cyprus with respect to the sea bed and subsoil and their natural resources may be exercised;
the terms “a Contracting State” and “the other Contracting State” mean Romania and Cyprus as the context requires;
the term “person” comprises a physical or juridical person and any other body of persons;
the term “company” means any body corporate including a joint company incorporated under the Romanian law or any entity which is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;
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;
the term “national” means;
any individual possessing the citizenship of a Contracting State;
any legal person, partnership and association deriving its status as such from the law in force in a Contracting State;
the term “international traffic” means any transport by a ship or aircraft or land vehicle operated by an enterprise which has its place of effective management in a Contracting State, except when such traffic is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State;
the term “competent authority” means:
in the case of Romania, the Minister of Finance or his authorised representative.
in the case of Cyprus, the Minister of Finance or his authorised representative.
In the application of this Convention by a Contracting State, any term not otherwise defined shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning which it has under the laws of that Contracting State relating to the taxes which are the subject of this Convention.
Article 4
Fiscal domicile
For the purposes of this Convention, the term “resident of a Contracting State” means any person who, under the law of that State, is liable to taxation therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature.
Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then this case shall be determined in accordance with the following rules:
he shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State in which he has a permanent home available to him. If he has a permanent home available to him in both Contracting States, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State with which his personal and economic relations are closest (centre of vital interests);
if the Contracting State in which he has his centre of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he has no permanent home available to him in either Contracting State, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State in which he has a habitual abode;
if he has a habitual abode in both Contracting States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State of which he is a national;
if he is a national of both Contracting States or of neither of them, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement.
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 Contracting State in which its place of effective management is situated.
Article 5
Permanent establishment
For the purposes of this Convention the term “permanent establishment” means a fixed place of business through which the business of the enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.
The term “permanent establishment” shall include especially:
a place of management;
a branch;
an office;
a factory;
a workshop;
a mine, a quarry, an oil or gas well or any other place of extraction of natural resources;
a building site or construction or installation project other than that referred to in paragraph 3(g) of this Article, which exists for more than twelve months.
The term “permanent establishment” shall not be deemed to include:
the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise;
the maintenance of stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery;
the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise;
the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise, or for collecting information, for the enterprise;
the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of advertising, for supply of information, for scientific research or for similar activities which have a preparatory or auxiliary character, for the enterprise;
the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of activities mentioned in subparagraphs (a) to (e) provided that the overall activity of the fixed place of business resulting from this combination is of a preparatory or auxiliary character;
an assembly project carried on by an enterprise of a Contracting State in connection with the delivery of machinery or equipment from that State to the other Contracting State;
the sale of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise displayed in the frame of an occasional temporary fair or exhibition after the closing of the said fair or exhibition.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, where a person – other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 5 applies – is acting on behalf of an enterprise and has, and habitually exercises, in a Contracting State an authority to conclude contracts in the name of the enterprise, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in that State in respect of any activities which that person undertakes for the enterprise, unless the activities of such person are limited to those mentioned in paragraph 3 which, if exercised through a fixed place of business, would not make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment under the provisions of that paragraph.
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 persons are acting in the ordinary course of their business.
The fact that a company which is a resident of a Contracting State controls or is controlled by a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State, or which carries on business in that other State (whether through a permanent establishment or otherwise), shall not of itself constitute either company a permanent establishment of the other.
Article 6
Income from immovable property
Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from immovable property (including income from agriculture or forestry) situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in the other State.
The term “immovable property” shall, subject to the provisions of sub-paragraphs (b) and (c), be defined in accordance with the law of the Contracting State in which the property in question is situated.
The term “immovable property” shall in any case include property accessory to immovable property, livestock and equipment used in agriculture and forestry, rights to which the provisions of general law respecting immovable property apply, usufruct of immovable property and rights to variable or fixed payments as consideration for the working of, or the right to work, mineral deposits, sources and other natural resources.
Ships and aircraft shall not be regarded as immovable property.
The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply to income derived from the direct use, letting, or use in any other form of immovable property.
The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 shall also apply to the income from immovable property of an enterprise and to income from immovable property used for the performance of professional services.
Article 7
Business profits
The profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State unless the enterprise carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein. If the enterprise carries on business as aforesaid, the profits of the enterprise may be taxed in the other State but only so much of them as is attributable to that permanent establishment.
Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3, where an enterprise of a Contracting State carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, there shall in each Contracting State be attributed to that permanent establishment the profits which it might be expected to make if it were a distinct and separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities under the same or similar conditions and dealing wholly independently with the enterprise of which it is a permanent establishment.
In determining the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed as deductions expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the permanent establishment including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred, whether in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere.
In so far as it has been customary in a Contracting State to determine the profits to be attributed to a permanent establishment on the basis of an apportionment of the total profits of the enterprise to its various parts, nothing in paragraph 2 shall preclude that Contracting State from determining the profits to be taxed by such an apportionment as may be customary; the method of apportionment adopted shall, however, be such that the result shall be in accordance with the principles contained in this Article.
No profits shall be attributed to a permanent establishment by reason of the mere purchase by that permanent establishment of goods or merchandise for the enterprise.
For the purposes of the preceding paragraphs, the profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year unless there is good and sufficient reason to the contrary.
Where profits include items of income which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Convention, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article.
Article 8
Transport enterprises
Profits from the operation of ships, aircraft or road vehicles in international traffic shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.
If the place of effective management of a shipping enterprise is aboard a ship, then it shall be deemed to be situated in the Contracting State in which the home harbour of the ship is situated, or if there is no such home harbour, in the Contracting State of which the operator of the ship is a resident.
The provisions of paragraph 1 shall also apply to profits derived from the participation in a pool, in a joint business or in an international operating agency.
Article 9
Associated enterprises
Where
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
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 which differ from those which would be made between independent enterprises, then any profits which would, but for those conditions, 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.
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 profits so included are profits which would have accrued to the enterprise of the first-mentioned State if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those which 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 had to the other provisions of this Convention and the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall, if necessary, consult each other.
Article 10
Dividends
Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
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 the tax so charged shall not exceed 10% of the gross amount of the dividends.
The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not affect the amounts of tax chargeable on the income or profits out of which such dividends are paid.
The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of paragraphs 2 and 3.
The provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3 shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid.
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 corporate rights which is subject to the same taxation treatment as income from shares by the taxation law of the State of which the company making the distribution is a resident. In this context, the profits distributed by Romanian joint companies to the capital subscribers are assimilated to dividends.
The provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall not apply if the recipient 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 based situated therein and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such a permanent establishment or fixed base. In such a case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 15, as the case may be, shall apply.
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 dividends paid by the company to residents of the first-mentioned State or subject the company’s undistributed profits to a tax on undistributed profits even if the dividends paid, or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in that other State.
Article 11
Interest
Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
However, interest derived from one of the Contracting States by a resident of the other Contracting State who is the beneficial owner thereof may also be taxed in the first- mentioned Contracting State at a rate not exceeding 10% of the gross amount thereof.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article interest arising from credits or loans accorded by the Government of a Contracting State or by a Bank or other institution in the name or on behalf of that Government shall be taxable only in that State.
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 bonds or debentures. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purpose of this article.
The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the interest, being a resident of a Contracting State carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the interest arises through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such a case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 15, as the case may be, shall apply.
Interest shall be deemed to be derived from a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, an administrative territorial unit or a local authority thereof or 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 in connection with which the indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, and such interest is borne by such permanent establishment, then such interest shall be deemed to be derived from the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated.
Where, owing to a special relationship between the payer and the recipient or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the interest paid, 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 recipient in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In that case the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the law of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.
Article 12
Royalties
Royalties arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
However, royalties of the kind referred to in subparagraph (a) of paragraph 3 may be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise, and according to the law of that State, but the tax so charged shall not exceed 5% of the gross amount of the royalties. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this limitation.
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 patent (certificate for invention), trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or any industrial, commercial, or scientific equipment, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience;
any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work including cinematograph films, and films or tapes for television or radio broadcasting.
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 a case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 15, as the case may be, shall apply.
Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that Contracting State itself, an administrative territorial unit, a local authority or a resident of that Contracting 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 in connection with which the liability to pay the royalties was incurred, and such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment, then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated.
Where, owing to a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties paid, 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 that case, the excess parts of the payments shall remain taxable according to the law of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.
Article 13
Commissions
Commissions arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
However, such commission may be taxed in the Contracting State in which it arises, and according to the law of that State, but the tax so charged shall not exceed 5% of the amount of the commission.
The term “commission” as used in this Article means a payment made to a broker, a general commission agent or to any other person whose business is considered similar to that of a broker or agent by the taxation law of the Contracting State in which such payment arises.
The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the recipient of the commission, being a resident of a Contracting State, has in the other Contracting State in which the commission arises a permanent establishment with which the activity giving rise to the commission is effectively connected. In such a case, the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.
Commission shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, an administrative territorial unit, a local authority or a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the commission, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment in connection with which the activities for which the payment is made was incurred, and such commission is borne by such permanent establishment, then such commission shall be deemed to arise in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated.
Where owing to a special relationship between the payer and the recipient or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the commission paid, having regard to the activities for which it is paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the recipient in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In that case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the law of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.
Article 14
Capital gains
Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from alienation of immovable property, as defined in paragraph 2 of Article 6, may be taxed in the Contracting State in which such immovable property is situated.
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 together with the whole enterprise) or of such a fixed base, may be taxed in the other State.
Gains from the alienation of ships, aircraft and road vehicles operated in international traffic or movable property pertaining to the operation of such means of transportation shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.
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 15
Independent personal services
Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of professional services or other independent activities of a similar character shall be taxable only in that State unless he has a fixed base regularly available to him in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing his activities. If he has such a fixed base, the income may be taxed in the other Contracting State but only so much of it as is attributed to that fixed base.
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 16
Dependent personal services
Subject to the provisions of Articles 17, 19 and 20, 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.
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:
the recipient is present in the other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in the calendar year concerned, and
the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident of the other State, and
the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment or a fixed base which the employer has in the other State.
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship, aircraft, or road vehicle operated in international traffic, may be taxed in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.
Article 17
Directors’ fees
Directors’ fees and other similar payments derived by a resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as a member of the board of directors or another similar organ of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
Article 18
Artistes and athletes
Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 15 and 16, 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 an athlete, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State. However, income derived from such activities shall be exempt from tax in that State if the activities are performed under a cultural agreement or arrangement between the Contracting States.
Article 19
Government services
Remuneration, other than a pension, paid by a Contracting State or an administrative territorial unit 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.
However, remuneration referred to in paragraph 1 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:
is a national of that State; or
did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the services.
Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or an administrative territorial unit or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State, administrative territorial unit or local authority, shall be taxable only in that State.
However, such pension shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the individual is a resident of, and a national of, that State.
The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to remuneration in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or an administrative territorial unit or a local authority thereof.
Article 20
Pensions
Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 19 pensions, annuities and other similar remuneration paid to a resident of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State.
Article 21
Students
Payments which a student or business apprentice who is present in a Contracting State solely for the purpose of his education or training and who is or was immediately before such visit a resident of the other Contracting State receives for the purpose of his maintenance, education or training shall not be taxed in the first-mentioned Contracting State, provided that such payments are made to him from sources outside that State.
A student at a university or other institution for higher education in a Contracting State, or a business apprentice who is present in the other Contracting State for a period or periods not exceeding 183 days in the calendar year concerned and who is or was immediately before such visit a resident of the first-mentioned State, shall not be taxed in the other Contracting State in respect of remuneration for services rendered in that other State, provided that the services are in connection with his studies or training and the remuneration constitutes earnings necessary for his maintenance.
Article 22
Teachers
A professor or teacher resident of a Contracting State who is engaged in teaching or research at a university or at any other approved educational institution of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first Contracting State on all remuneration received in respect of that activity for a period not exceeding two years from the beginning of their activity.
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 23
Income not expressly mentioned
Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State which are not expressly mentioned in the foregoing Articles of this Convention shall be taxable only in that State.
Article 24
Capital
Capital represented by immovable property, as defined in paragraph 2 of Article 6, may be taxed in the Contracting State in which such immovable property is situated.
Capital represented by movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment of an enterprise, or by movable property pertaining to a fixed base used for the performance of independent personal services, may be taxed in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.
Ships, aircraft or road vehicles operated in international traffic and movable property pertaining to the operation of such means of transportation, shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.
All other elements of capital of a resident of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State.
Article 25
Elimination of double taxation
Double taxation shall be avoided as follows:
In the case of Romania, taxes paid in Cyprus by Romanian residents on income derived or capital owned which in accordance with the provisions of this Convention may be taxed in Cyprus shall be deducted from the taxes owed to the Romanian State. Profits paid by the Romanian State enterprises to the State budget shall, in this Article be deemed as a tax of Romania.
In the case of Cyprus, subject to the existing provisions of the law of Cyprus regarding the deduction from tax payable in Cyprus of tax paid in a territory outside Cyprus and to any subsequent modification of those provisions — which shall not affect the general principle hereof — and unless a greater deduction or relief is provided under the laws of Cyprus, tax payable in Romania on profits, income or gains arising in Romania shall be deducted from any Cyprus tax payable in respect of such profits, income or gains.
For the purposes of paragraph 1 the term “Cyprus tax” shall be deemed to include:
the Cyprus tax which would have been payable on any profits or interest granted tax incentive exemption or relief in Cyprus, for such tax incentive exemption or relief;
the Cyprus tax which would have been deductible from any dividend paid out of profits granted tax incentive exemption or relief in Cyprus but for such tax incentive exemption or relief.
Article 26
Limitation of relief
Where under any provision of this Convention income is relieved from tax in one of the Contracting States and, under the law in force in the other Contracting State, a person in respect of the said income, 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 as is remitted to or received in the other Contracting State.
Article 27
Non-discrimination
The 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 are or may be subjected.
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 an enterprise 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 tax purposes on account of civil status or family responsibilities which it grants to its own residents.
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 Contracting 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 that first-mentioned State are or may be subjected.
In this Article the term “taxation” means taxes of every kind and description.
Article 28
Mutual agreement procedure
Alert
Where a resident of a Contracting State considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with this Convention, he may, notwithstanding the remedies provided by the national laws of those States, present his case to the competent authority of the Contracting State of which he is a resident.
The competent authority shall endeavour, if the objection appears to it to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at an appropriate 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 not in accordance with the Convention.
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.
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. When it seems advisable in order to reach agreement to have an oral exchange of opinions, such exchange may take place through a Commission consisting of representatives of the competent authorities of the Contracting States.
Article 29
Exchange of information
The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is necessary for the carrying out of this Convention and of the domestic laws of the Contracting States concerning taxes covered by this Convention in so far as the taxation thereunder is in accordance with this Convention. Any information so exchanged shall be treated as secret and shall not be disclosed to any persons or authorities, including courts, other than those concerned with the assessment, collection, enforcement or prosecution in respect of taxes which are the subject of the Convention.
In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 1 be construed so as to impose on one of the Contracting States the obligation:
to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws or the administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;
to supply particulars which are not obtainable under the laws or in the normal course of the administration of that or of the other Contracting State;
to supply information which 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 (ordre public).
Article 30
Diplomatic and consular officials
Nothing in this Convention shall affect the fiscal privileges of diplomatic or consular officials under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements.
Article 31
Entry into force
The Governments of the Contracting states shall notify to each other that the constitutional requirements for the entry into force of this Convention have been complied with.
The Convention shall enter into force on the date of the later of the notifications referred to in paragraph 1 and its provisions shall have effect for the first time:
in respect of taxes withheld at source, to amounts derived on or after 1st January in the calendar year next following that in which the Convention enters into force;
in respect of other taxes on income, and taxes on capital, to taxes which are levied for the taxable year beginning on or after 1st January in the calendar year next following that in which the Convention enters into force.
Article 32
Termination
This Convention shall remain in force until denounced by one of the Contracting States. Either Contracting State may denounce the Convention through diplomatic channels, by giving notice of termination at least six months before the end of any calendar year following after the period of five years from the date on which the Convention enters into force. In such event, the Convention shall cease to have effect:
in respect of taxes withheld at source, to amounts derived on or after 1st January in the calendar year next following that in which the notice is given;
in respect of other taxes on income, and taxes on capital, to taxes which are levied for any taxable year beginning on or after 1st January in the calendar year next following that in which the notice is given.
In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorised thereto, have signed this Convention.
Done in duplicate at Nicosia this 16th of November, 1981, in two original copies each in the Romanian, Greek and English languages, the three texts having the same value. In the case there is any divergence of interpretation of the provisions of this Convention the English text shall prevail.
