Tax convention between Romania and Spain

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tax convention between Romania and Spain

CONVENTION BETWEEN ROMANIA AND THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN FOR THE ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME AND THE PREVENTION OF TAX EVASION AND AVOIDANCE

Preamble

Romania and the Kingdom of Spain,

Desiring to further develop their economic relationship and to enhance their cooperation in tax matters,

Intending to conclude a Convention for the elimination of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and the prevention of tax evasion and avoidance without creating opportunities for non-taxation or reduced taxation through tax evasion or avoidance, including through treaty-shopping arrangements aimed at obtaining reliefs provided in this Convention for the indirect benefit of residents of third States,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1. PERSONS COVERED

This Convention shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.

For the purposes of this Convention, income derived by or through an entity or arrangement that is treated as wholly or partly fiscally transparent under the tax law of either Contracting State shall be considered to be income of a resident of a Contracting State but only to the extent that the income is treated, for purposes of taxation by that State, as the income of a resident of that State.

Article 2. TAXES COVERED

This Convention shall apply to taxes on income imposed on behalf of a Contracting State or of its political subdivisions or administrative-territorial units, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied

There shall be regarded as taxes on income all taxes imposed on total income, or on elements of income, including taxes on gains from the alienation of movable or immovable property, as well as taxes on capital appreciation,

The existing taxes to which the Convention shall apply are in particular:

  • in the case of Romania:
    1. the tax on income; and
    2. the tax on profit;
  • in the case of Spain:
    1. the income tax on individuals;
    2. the corporation tax; and
    3. the income tax on non-residents.

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

Article 3. GENERAL DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Convention, unless the context otherwise requires:

  • the term “Romania” means the state territory of Romania, including its territorial sea and air space above them, over which Romania exercises sovereignty, as well as the contiguous zone, the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone over which Romania exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction, in accordance with its legislation and with the rules and principles of international law;
  • the term “Spain” means the Kingdom of Spain and, when used in a geographical sense, means the territory of the Kingdom of Spain, including inland waters, the air space, the territorial sea and any area outside the territorial sea upon which, in accordance with international law and on application of its domestic legislation, the Kingdom of Spain exercises or may exercise in the future jurisdiction or sovereign rights with respect to the seabed, its subsoil and superjacent waters, and their natural resources;
  • the terms “a Contracting State” and “the other Contracting State” mean Romania or Spain, as the context requires;
  • the term “person” includes an individual, a company and any other body of persons;
  • the term “company” means any body corporate or any entity that is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;
  • the term “enterprise” applies to the carrying on of any business;
  • 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 “international traffic” means any transport by a ship or aircraft operated by an enterprise that has its place of effective management in a Contracting State, except when the ship or aircraft is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State;
  • the term “competent authority” means:
    1. in the case of Romania, the Minister of Public Finance or his authorized representative;
    2. in the case of Spain, the Minister of Finance and Civil Service or his authorized representative;
  • the term “national” means:
    1. in the case of Romania, any individual possessing the Romanian citizenship in accordance with the laws of Romania and any legal person, body of persons and any other entity set up and deriving its status as such from the laws in force in Romania;
    2. in the case of Spain, any individual possessing the nationality of Spain and any legal person, partnership, association or any other entity set up and deriving its status as such from the laws in force in Spain;
  • the term “business” includes the performance of professional services and of other activities of an independent character;
  • the term “pension scheme” means:
    1. in Romania, any scheme or other arrangement established in Romania which:
      • is generally exempt from income taxation in Romania; and
      • operates to administer or provide pension or retirement benefits or to earn income for the benefit of one or more such arrangements;
    2. in Spain, any scheme, fund, mutual benefit institution or other entity established in Spain:
      • which is operated principally to manage the right of its beneficiaries to receive income or capital upon retirement, survivorship, widowhood, orphanhood, or disability, or to earn income for the benefit of one or more such entities; and
      • contributions to which are deductible from the taxable base of personal taxes.

As regards the application of the Convention at any time by a Contracting State, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning that it has at that time under the law of that State for the purposes of the taxes to which the 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.

Article 4. RESIDENT

For the purposes of this Convention, the term “resident of a Contracting State” means any person who, under the laws of that State, is liable to tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management, place of registration or any other criterion of a similar nature, and also includes that State and any political subdivision, local authority or administrative-territorial unit thereof. This term, however, does not include any person who is liable to tax in that State in respect only of income from sources in that State.

Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then his status shall be determined as follows:

  • 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) ,
  • if the State in which he has his centre of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he has not a permanent home available to him in either State, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has an habitual abode;
  • 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;
  • if he is a national of both 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 only of the 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 an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.

The term “permanent establishment” includes especially:

  • a place of management;
  • a branch;
  • an office;
  • a factory;
  • a workshop, and
  • a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction of natural resources.

A building site or construction or installation project constitutes a permanent establishment only if it lasts more than twelve months.

Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, the term “permanent establishment” shall be deemed not 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 a 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 stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise, which is exhibited at a trade fair or exhibition, and which is sold by the enterprise no later than one month after the end of such fair or exhibition;
  • the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise or of collecting information, for the enterprise;
  • 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;
  • the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of activities mentioned in subparagraphs a) to f), provided that the overall activity of the fixed place of business resulting from this combination is of a preparatory or auxiliary character.

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, where a person — other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 6 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 4 which, if exercised through a fixed place of business, would not make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment under the provisions of that paragraph.

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 that other State.

The term “immovable property” shall have the meaning which it has under the law of the Contracting State in which the property in question is situated. The term 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 landed 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.

Where the ownership of shares or other rights directly or indirectly entitles the owner of such shares or rights to the enjoyment of immovable property, the income from the direct use, letting or use in any other form of such right to the enjoyment may be taxed in the Contracting State in which the immovable property is situated.

The provisions of paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 shall also apply to the income from immovable property of an enterprise.

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.

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. SHIPPING AND AIR TRANSPORT

Profits from the operation of ships or aircraft 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 from the participation in a pool, a joint business or 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 Contracting State and that other State agrees that 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.

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, dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a Contracting State may also be taxed in that State 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 5 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends.

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident shall exempt from tax the dividends paid if the beneficial owner of the dividends is:

  • a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State and holds for more than one year, directly or indirectly, at least 10 per cent of the capital of the company paying the dividends;
  • a pension scheme which is a resident of the other Contracting State.

This paragraph 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, “jouissance” shares or “jouissance” rights, mining shares, founders’ shares or other rights, not being debt-claims, participating in profits, as well as income from other corporate rights which is subjected to the same taxation treatment as income from shares by the laws of the State of which the company making the distribution is a resident.

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 and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 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 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 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

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 arising in a Contracting State may also be taxed in that State 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 3 per cent of the gross amount of the interest.

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, interest arising in a Contracting State shall be exempt from tax in that State if it is derived and beneficially owned by the other Contracting State or a political subdivision or administrative-territorial unit thereof or any agency or bank or institution of that State or political subdivision or administrative-territorial unit or if the debt-claims of a resident of the other Contracting State are warranted, insured or financed by a financial institution wholly or mainly owned by that other 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 such securities, bonds or debentures, as well as all other income assimilated to income from money lent by the taxation laws of the State in which the income arises. 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 and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

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 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 arise in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated.

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

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 arising in a Contracting State may also be taxed in that State 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 3 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties.

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 software and cinematograph films, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience.

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 and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

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 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, 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

Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of immovable property referred to in Article 6 and situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

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, including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise) , may be taxed in that other Contracting State.

Gains 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 the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.

Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of shares, other than shares in which there is substantial and regular trading on a stock exchange, or comparable interests, deriving more than 50 per cent of their value directly or indirectly from immovable property situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State. In determining that percentage, immovable property used by a company in the ordinary course of its business shall not be taken into account.

Gains from the alienation of shares or other rights, which directly or indirectly entitle the owner of such shares or rights to the enjoyment of immovable property situated in a Contracting State, may be taxed in that State.

Gains from the alienation of any property other than that referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident.

Article 14. INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT

Subject to the provisions of Articles 15, 17 and 18, 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 any twelve month period commencing or ending in the fiscal 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 which the employer has in the other State.

Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic, may be taxed in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.

Article 15. 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 of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

Article 16. ARTISTES AND SPORTSPERSONS

Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7 and 14, 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 sportsperson, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.

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

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, income derived from the activities exercised by artistes or sportspersons in a Contracting State where the visit to that State is financed from public funds of the other State or a political subdivision, local authority or administrative-territorial unit thereof or by a public agency of that other State or subdivision, authority or unit and the activity is carried out other than for the purpose of profit shall be exempt from tax in the Contracting State in which these activities are exercised.

Article 17. PENSIONS

Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 18, 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 18. GOVERNMENT SERVICE

  • Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration paid by a Contracting State or a political subdivision, a local authority or an administrative-territorial unit thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision, authority or unit shall be taxable only in that State.
  • However, such salaries, wages and other similar remuneration 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:
    1. is a national of that State; or
    2. did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the services.
  • Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, pensions and other similar remuneration paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a political subdivision, a local authority or an administrative-territorial unit thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision, authority or unit shall be taxable only in that State.
  • However, such pensions and other similar remuneration 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 Articles 14, 15, 16 and 17 shall apply to salaries, wages, pensions, and other similar remuneration in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or a political subdivision, a local authority or an administrative-territorial unit thereof.

Article 19. STUDENTS AND BUSINESS APPRENTICES

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

Article 20. OTHER INCOME

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.

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 and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

Article 21. ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION

It is agreed that double taxation shall be avoided as follows:

In the case of Romania:

Where a resident of Romania derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, may be taxed in Spain. Romania shall allow as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident, an amount equal to the income tax paid in Spain.

Such deduction shall not, however, exceed that part of the income tax, as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable to the income which may be taxed in Spain.

In the case of Spain, double taxation shall be avoided following either the provisions of its internal legislation or the following provisions in accordance with the internal legislation of Spain:

  • Where a resident of Spain derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, may be taxed in Romania, Spain shall allow:
    1. as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident, an amount equal to the income tax paid in Romania;
    2. the deduction of the underlying corporation tax in accordance with the internal legislation of Spain.

Such deduction shall not, however, exceed that part of the income tax, as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable to the income which may be taxed in Romania.

  • Where in accordance with any provision of the Convention income derived by a resident of Spain is exempt from tax in Spain, Spain may nevertheless, in calculating the amount of tax on the remaining income of such resident, take into account the exempted income.

Article 22. NON-DISCRIMINATION

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.

The taxation on a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State shall not be less favorably 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.

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.

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 the first-mentioned State are or may be subjected.

The provisions of this Article shall only apply to taxes which are covered by this Convention.

Article 23. MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROCEDURE

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 22, 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.

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.

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 joint commission consisting of representatives of the competent authorities of the Contracting States.

Article 24. EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION

The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is foreseeably relevant for carrying out the provisions of this Convention or to the administration or enforcement of the domestic laws concerning taxes of every kind and description imposed on behalf of the Contracting States, or of their political subdivisions, local authorities or administrative-territorial units, insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Convention. The exchange of information is not restricted by Articles 1 and 2

Any information received under paragraph 1 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, the determination of appeals in relation to the taxes referred to in paragraph 1, or the oversight of the above. 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, information received by a Contracting State may be used for other purposes when such information may be used for such other purposes under the law of the requesting State and the competent authority of the supplying State authorizes such use.

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

  • to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;
  • to supply information which is 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).

If information is requested by a Contracting State in accordance with this Article, the other Contracting State shall use its information gathering measures to obtain the requested information, even though that other State may not need such information for its own tax purposes. The obligation contained in the preceding sentence is subject to the limitations of paragraph 3 but in no case shall such limitations be construed to permit a Contracting State to decline to supply information solely because it has no domestic interest in such information.

In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 3 be construed to permit a Contracting State to decline to supply information solely because the information is held by a bank, other financial institution, nominee or person acting in an agency or a fiduciary capacity or because it relates to ownership interests in a person.

Article 25. ASSISTANCE IN THE COLLECTION OF TAXES

The Contracting States shall lend assistance to each other in the collection of revenue claims. This assistance is not restricted by Articles 1 and 2. The competent authorities of the Contracting States may by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this Article.

The term “revenue claim” as used in this Article means an amount owed in respect of taxes of every kind and description imposed on behalf of the Contracting States, or of their political subdivisions, local authorities or administrative-territorial units, insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to this Convention or any other instrument to which the Contracting States are parties, as well as interest, administrative penalties and costs of collection or conservancy related to such amount.

When a revenue claim of a Contracting State is enforceable under the laws of that State and is owed by a person who, at that time, cannot, under the laws of that State, prevent its collection, that revenue claim shall, at the request of the competent authority of that State, be accepted for purposes of collection by the competent authority of the other Contracting State. That revenue claim shall be collected by that other State in accordance with the provisions of its laws applicable to the enforcement and collection of its own taxes as if the revenue claim were a revenue claim of that other State.

When a revenue claim of a Contracting State is a claim in respect of which that State may, under its law, take measures of conservancy with a view to ensure its collection, that revenue claim shall, at the request of the competent authority of that State, be accepted for purposes of taking measures of conservancy by the competent authority of the other Contracting State. That other State shall take measures of conservancy in respect of that revenue claim in accordance with the provisions of its laws as if the revenue claim were a revenue claim of that other State even if, at the time when such measures are applied, the revenue claim is not enforceable in the first-mentioned State or is owed by a person who has a right to prevent its collection.

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 3 and 4, a revenue claim accepted by a Contracting State for purposes of paragraph 3 or 4 shall not, in that State, be subject to the time limits or accorded any priority applicable to a revenue claim under the laws of that State by reason of its nature as such. In addition, a revenue claim accepted by a Contracting State for the purposes of paragraph 3 or 4 shall not, in that State, have any priority applicable to that revenue claim under the laws of the other Contracting State.

Proceedings with respect to the existence, validity or the amount of a revenue claim of a Contracting State shall not be brought before the courts or administrative bodies of the other Contracting State.

Where, at any time after a request has been made by a Contracting State under paragraph 3 or 4 and before the other Contracting State has collected and remitted the relevant revenue claim to the first-mentioned State, the relevant revenue claim ceases to be

  • in the case of a request under paragraph 3, a revenue claim of the first-mentioned State that is enforceable under the laws of that State and is owed by a person who, at that time, cannot, under the laws of that State, prevent its collection, or
  • in the case of a request under paragraph 4, a revenue claim of the first-mentioned State in respect of which that State may, under its laws, take measures of conservancy with a view to ensure its collection

the competent authority of the first-mentioned State shall promptly notify the competent authority of the other State of that fact and, at the option of the other State, the first-mentioned State shall either suspend or withdraw its request.

In no case shall the provisions of this Article be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation:

  • to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;
  • to carry out measures which would be contrary to public policy (ordre public);
  • to provide assistance if the other Contracting State has not pursued all reasonable measures of collection or conservancy, as the case may be, available under its laws or administrative practice;
  • to provide assistance in those cases where the administrative burden for that State is clearly disproportionate to the benefit to be derived by the other Contracting State.

Article 26. 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 27. ENTRY INTO FORCE

The Contracting States shall notify each other, through diplomatic channels, that the internal procedures required by each Contracting State for the entry into force of this Convention have been complied with.

This Convention shall enter into force after a period of three months following the date of receipt of the later of the notifications referred to in paragraph 1 and shall have effect in respect of income derived on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next following the year in which this Convention enters into force.

The Convention between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Romania and the Government of the Kingdom of Spain for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and on capital, signed at Madrid on 24 May 1979, shall terminate on the date of entry into force of this Convention and shall cease to be effective from the date upon which this Convention has effect.

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, the provisions of Articles 23, 24 and 25 shall have effect from the date of entry into force of this Convention, without regard to the taxable period to which the matter relates.

Article 28. TERMINATION

This Convention shall remain in force indefinitely. Either Contracting State may terminate this Convention, through diplomatic channels, by giving written notice of termination at least six months before the end of any calendar year beginning on or after the expiration of a period of five years from the date of its entry into force. In such event, the Convention shall cease to have effect in respect of income derived on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next following the year in which the notice of termination is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, duly authorized thereto, have signed this Convention.

DONE in duplicate at Bucharest this 18 day of October 2017, in the Romanian, Spanish and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation between the texts, it shall be resolved in accordance with the English text.

PROTOCOL

Upon the signature of the Convention between Romania and the Kingdom of Spain for the elimination of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and the prevention of tax evasion and avoidance, the undersigned have agreed upon the following provisions which shall be an integral part of the Convention:

Entitlement to treaty benefits
  • Nothing in this Convention shall prejudice the right of each Contracting State to apply its domestic legal anti-abuse rules, whether or not described as such, insofar as they do not give rise to taxation contrary to this Convention.
  • This Convention does not prevent the Contracting States to apply domestic Controlled Foreign Company rules.
  • Notwithstanding the provisions of this Convention, a benefit under this Convention shall not be granted in respect of an item of income if it is reasonable to conclude, having regard to all relevant facts and circumstances, that obtaining that benefit was one of the principal purposes of any arrangement or transaction that resulted directly or indirectly in that benefit, unless it is established that granting that benefit in these circumstances would be in accordance with the object and purpose of the relevant provisions of this Convention.
Ad. Article 11

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, as long as, according to its internal legislation, interest arising in a Contracting State is exempt from tax in that State, the rate provided for in paragraph 2 shall be reduced to zero.

Ad. paragraph 4 of Article 6 and paragraph 5 of Article 13

No income or gains derived from an immovable property shall be attributable to owners of shares or other rights to the enjoyment of such immovable property on a time-sharing agreement, when such enjoyment does not exceed two weeks in a calendar year.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, duly authorized thereto, have signed this Protocol. DONE in duplicate at Bucharest this 18 day of October 2017, in the Romanian, Spanish and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation between the texts, it shall be resolved in accordance with the English text.

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