Par Latvijas Republikas valdības un Amerikas Savienoto Valstu valdības līgumu par starptautisko nodokļu pienākumu izpildes uzlabošanu un likuma par ār

Par Latvijas Republikas valdības un Amerikas Savienoto Valstu valdības līgumu par starptautisko nodokļu pienākumu izpildes uzlabošanu un likuma par ārvalstu kontu nodokļu pienākumu izpildi (FATCA) ieviešanu Uzmanību! Jūs lietojat neatbilstošu interneta pārlūkprogrammu. Lai varētu lietot visas Likumi.lv piedāvātās iespējas, piedāvājam BEZ MAKSAS ielādēt jaunāku pārlūkprogrammas versiju. Iesakām izmēģināt arī vietnes MOBILO VERSIJU - m.likumi.lv (piemērota arī mazāk jaudīgiem datoriem). nerādīt turpmāk šo paziņojumu Apstiprināt Paldies par viedokli!   Rādīt vēlāk LATVIJAS REPUBLIKAS TIESĪBU AKTI veidi tēmas visvairāk skatītie jaunākie LV  EN uz sākumu meklēt Izvērstā meklēšana Noklusējuma vērtības Izvērstā meklēšana Kā meklēt? Meklēt nosaukumā meklēt locījumos meklēt frāzi Meklēt tekstā meklēt locījumos meklēt frāzi Izdevējs Veids nemeklēt grozījumos Pieņemts Stājas spēkā Dokumenta Nr. līdz līdz Publicēts LV Zaudējis spēku Redakcija uz līdz līdz Statuss: spēkā esošs vēl nav spēkā zaudējis spēku meklēt notīrīt Saeima ir pieņēmusi un Valsts prezidents izsludina šādu likumu: Par Latvijas Republikas valdības un Amerikas Savienoto Valstu valdības līgumu par starptautisko nodokļu pienākumu izpildes uzlabošanu un likuma par ārvalstu kontu nodokļu pienākumu izpildi (FATCA) ieviešanu 1.pants. 2014.gada 27.jūnijā parakstītais Latvijas Republikas valdības un Amerikas Savienoto Valstu valdības līgums par starptautisko nodokļu pienākumu izpildes uzlabošanu un likuma par ārvalstu kontu nodokļu pienākumu izpildi (FATCA) ieviešanu (turpmāk - Līgums) un tā Saprašanās memorands ar šo likumu tiek pieņemts un apstiprināts. 2.pants. Līgumā paredzēto saistību izpildi koordinē Finanšu ministrija. 3.pants. Līgums stājas spēkā tā 10.pantā noteiktajā laikā un kārtībā, un Ārlietu ministrija par to paziņo oficiālajā izdevumā "Latvijas Vēstnesis". 4.pants. Likums stājas spēkā nākamajā dienā pēc tā izsludināšanas. Līdz ar likumu izsludināms Līgums angļu valodā un tā tulkojums latviešu valodā. Likums Saeimā pieņemts 2014.gada 4.decembrī. Valsts prezidents A.Bērziņš Rīgā 2014.gada 11.decembrī Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Latvia to Improve International Tax Compliance and to Implement FATCA Whereas, the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Latvia (each, a "Party," and together, the "Parties") desire to conclude an agreement to improve international tax compliance through mutual assistance in tax matters based on an effective infrastructure for the automatic exchange of information; Whereas, Article 27 of the Convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Latvia for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, done at Washington on January 15, 1998, (the "Convention") authorizes the exchange of information for tax purposes, including on an automatic basis; Whereas, the United States of America enacted provisions commonly known as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act ("FATCA"), which introduce a reporting regime for financial institutions with respect to certain accounts; Whereas, the Government of the Republic of Latvia is supportive of the underlying policy goal of FATCA to improve tax compliance; Whereas, FATCA has raised a number of issues, including that Latvian financial institutions may not be able to comply with certain aspects of FATCA due to domestic legal impediments; Whereas, the Government of the United States of America collects information regarding certain accounts maintained by U.S. financial institutions held by residents of Latvia and is committed to exchanging such information with the Government of the Republic of Latvia and pursuing equivalent levels of exchange, provided that the appropriate safeguards and infrastructure for an effective exchange relationship are in place; Whereas, the Parties are committed to working together over the longer term towards achieving common reporting and due diligence standards for financial institutions; Whereas, the Government of the United States of America acknowledges the need to coordinate the reporting obligations under FATCA with other U.S. tax reporting obligations of Latvian financial institutions to avoid duplicative reporting; Whereas, an intergovernmental approach to FATCA implementation would address legal impediments and reduce burdens for Latvian financial institutions; Whereas, the Parties desire to conclude an agreement to improve international tax compliance and provide for the implementation of FATCA based on domestic reporting and reciprocal automatic exchange pursuant to the Convention, and subject to the confidentiality and other protections provided for therein, including the provisions limiting the use of the information exchanged under the Convention; Now, therefore, the Parties have agreed as follows: Article 1 Definitions 1. For purposes of this agreement and any annexes thereto ("Agreement"), the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below: a) The term "United States" means the United States of America, including the States thereof, but does not include the U.S. Territories. Any reference to a "State" of the United States includes the District of Columbia. b) The term "U.S. Territory" means American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. c) The term "IRS" means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. d) The term "Latvia" means the Republic of Latvia. e) The term "Partner Jurisdiction" means a jurisdiction that has in effect an agreement with the United States to facilitate the implementation of FATCA. The IRS shall publish a list identifying all Partner Jurisdictions. f) The term "Competent Authority" means: (1) in the case of the United States, the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate; and (2) in the case of Latvia, the Ministry of Finance or its authorised representative. g) The term "Financial Institution" means a Custodial Institution, a Depository Institution, an Investment Entity, or a Specified Insurance Company. h) The term "Custodial Institution" means any Entity that holds, as a substantial portion of its business, financial assets for the account of others. An entity holds financial assets for the account of others as a substantial portion of its business if the entity's gross income attributable to the holding of financial assets and related financial services equals or exceeds 20 percent of the entity's gross income during the shorter of: (i) the three-year period that ends on December 31 (or the final day of a non-calendar year accounting period) prior to the year in which the determination is being made; or (ii) the period during which the entity has been in existence. i) The term "Depository Institution" means any Entity that accepts deposits in the ordinary course of a banking or similar business. j) The term "Investment Entity" means any Entity that conducts as a business (or is managed by an entity that conducts as a business) one or more of the following activities or operations for or on behalf of a customer: (1) trading in money market instruments (cheques, bills, certificates of deposit, derivatives, etc.); foreign exchange; exchange, interest rate and index instruments; transferable securities; or commodity futures trading; (2) individual and collective portfolio management; or (3) otherwise investing, administering, or managing funds or money on behalf of other persons. This subparagraph l(j) shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with similar language set forth in the definition of "financial institution" in the Financial Action Task Force Recommendations. k) The term "Specified Insurance Company" means any Entity that is an insurance company (or the holding company of an insurance company) that issues, or is obligated to make payments with respect to, a Cash Value Insurance Contract or an Annuity Contract. l) The term "Latvian Financial Institution" means (i) any Financial Institution organized under the laws of Latvia, but excluding any branch of such Financial Institution that is located outside Latvia, and (ii) any branch of a Financial Institution not organized under the laws of Latvia, if such branch is located in Latvia. m) The term "Partner Jurisdiction Financial Institution" means (i) any Financial Institution established in a Partner Jurisdiction, but excluding any branch of such Financial Institution that is located outside the Partner Jurisdiction, and (ii) any branch of a Financial Institution not established in the Partner Jurisdiction, if such branch is located in the Partner Jurisdiction. n) The term "Reporting Financial Institution" means a Reporting Latvian Financial Institution or a Reporting U.S. Financial Institution, as the context requires. o) The term "Reporting Latvian Financial Institution" means any Latvian Financial Institution that is not a Non-Reporting Latvian Financial Institution. p) The term "Reporting U.S. Financial Institution" means (i) any Financial Institution that is resident in the United States, but excluding any branch of such Financial Institution that is located outside the United States, and (ii) any branch of a Financial Institution not resident in the United States, if such branch is located in the United States, provided that the Financial Institution or branch has control, receipt, or custody of income with respect to which information is required to be exchanged under subparagraph (2)(b) of Article 2 of this Agreement. The term "Non-Reporting Latvian Financial Institution" means any Latvian Financial Institution, or other Entity resident in Latvia, that is described in Annex II as a Non-Reporting Latvian Financial Institution or that otherwise qualifies as a deemed-compliant FFI or an exempt beneficial owner under relevant U.S. Treasury Regulations. The term "Nonparticipating Financial Institution" means a nonparticipating FFI, as that term is defined in relevant U.S. Treasury Regulations, but does not include a Latvian Financial Institution or other Partner Jurisdiction Financial Institution other than a Financial Institution treated as a Nonparticipating Financial Institution pursuant to subparagraph 2(b) of Article 5 of this Agreement or the corresponding provision in an agreement between the United States and a Partner Jurisdiction. The term "Financial Account" means an account maintained by a Financial Institution, and includes: (1) in the case of an Entity that is a Financial Institution solely because it is an Investment Entity, any equity or debt interest (other than interests that are regularly traded on an established securities market) in the Financial Institution; (2) in the case of a Financial Institution not described in subparagraph l(s)(l) of this Article, any equity or debt interest in the Financial Institution (other than interests that are regularly traded on an established securities market), if (i) the value of the debt or equity interest is determined, directly or indirectly, primarily by reference to assets that give rise to U.S. Source Withholdable Payments, and (ii) the class of interests was established with a purpose of avoiding reporting in accordance with this Agreement; and (3) any Cash Value Insurance Contract and any Annuity Contract issued or maintained by a Financial Institution, other than a noninvestment-linked, nontransferable immediate life annuity that is issued to an individual and monetizes a pension or disability benefit provided under an account that is excluded from the definition of Financial Account in Annex II. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Financial Account" does not include any account that is excluded from the definition of Financial Account in Annex II. For purposes of this Agreement, interests are "regularly traded" if there is a meaningful volume of trading with respect to the interests on an ongoing basis, and an "established securities market" means an exchange that is officially recognized and supervised by a governmental authority in which the market is located and that has a meaningful annual value of shares traded on the exchange. For purposes of this subparagraph l(s), an interest in a Financial Institution is not "regularly traded" and shall be treated as a Financial Account if the holder of the interest (other than a Financial Institution acting as an intermediary) is registered on the books of such Financial Institution. The preceding sentence will not apply to interests first registered on the books of such Financial Institution prior to July 1, 2014, and with respect to interests first registered on the books of such Financial Institution on or after July 1, 2014, a Financial Institution is not required to apply the preceding sentence prior to January 1, 2016. The term "Depository Account" includes any commercial, checking, savings, time, or thrift account, or an account that is evidenced by a certificate of deposit, thrift certificate, investment certificate, certificate of indebtedness, or other similar instrument maintained by a Financial Institution in the ordinary course of a banking or similar business. A Depository Account also includes an amount held by an insurance company pursuant to a guaranteed investment contract or similar agreement to pay or credit interest thereon. The term "Custodial Account" means an account (other than an Insurance Contract or Annuity Contract) for the benefit of another person that holds any financial instrument or contract held for investment (including, but not limited to, a share or stock in a corporation, a note, bond, debenture, or other evidence of indebtedness, a currency or commodity transaction, a credit default swap, a swap based upon a nonfinancial index, a notional principal contract, an Insurance Contract or Annuity Contract, and any option or other derivative instrument). The term "Equity Interest" means, in the case of a partnership that is a Financial Institution, either a capital or profits interest in the partnership. In the case of a trust that is a Financial Institution, an Equity Interest is considered to be held by any person treated as a settlor or beneficiary of all or a portion of the trust, or any other natural person exercising ultimate effective control over the trust. A Specified U.S. Person shall be treated as being a beneficiary of a foreign trust if such Specified U.S. Person has the right to receive directly or indirectly (for example, through a nominee) a mandatory distribution or may receive, directly or indirectly, a discretionary distribution from the trust. The term "Insurance Contract" means a contract (other than an Annuity Contract) under which the issuer agrees to pay an amount upon the occurrence of a specified contingency involving mortality, morbidity, accident, liability, or property risk. The term "Annuity Contract" means a contract under which the issuer agrees to make payments for a period of time determined in whole or in part by reference to the life expectancy of one or more individuals. The term also includes a contract that is considered to be an Annuity Contract in accordance with the law, regulation, or practice of the jurisdiction in which the contract was issued, and under which the issuer agrees to make payments for a term of years.у) The term "Cash Value Insurance Contract" means an Insurance Contract (other than an indemnity reinsurance contract between two insurance companies) that has a Cash Value greater than $50,000. z) The term "Cash Value" means the greater of (i) the amount that the policyholder is entitled to receive upon surrender or termination of the contract (determined without reduction for any surrender charge or policy loan), and (ii) the amount the policyholder can borrow under or with regard to the contract. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Cash Value" does not include an amount payable under an Insurance Contract as: (1) a personal injury or sickness benefit or other benefit providing indemnification of an economic loss incurred upon the occurrence of the event insured against; (2) a refund to the policyholder of a previously paid premium under an Insurance Contract (other than under a life insurance contract) due to policy cancellation or termination, decrease in risk exposure during the effective period of the Insurance Contract, or arising from a redetermination of the premium due to correction of posting or other similar error; or (3) a policyholder dividend based upon the underwriting experience of the contract or group involved. aa) The term "Reportable Account" means a U.S. Reportable Account or a Latvian Reportable Account, as the context requires. bb) The term "Latvian Reportable Account" means a Financial Account maintained by a Reporting U.S. Financial Institution if: (i) in the case of a Depository Account, the account is held by an individual resident in Latvia and more than $10 of interest is paid to such account in any given calendar year; or (ii) in the case of a Financial Account other than a Depository Account, the Account Holder is a resident of Latvia, including an Entity that certifies that it is resident in Latvia for tax purposes, with respect to which U.S. source income that is subject to reporting under chapter 3 of subtitle A or chapter 61 of subtitle F of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code is paid or credited. cc) The term "U.S. Reportable Account" means a Financial Account maintained by a Reporting Latvian Financial Institution and held by one or more Specified U.S. Persons or by a Non-U.S. Entity with one or more Controlling Persons that is a Specified U.S. Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an account shall not be treated as a U.S. Reportable Account if such account is not identified as a U.S. Reportable Account after application of the due diligence procedures in Annex I. dd) The term "Account Holder" means the person listed or identified as the holder of a Financial Account by the Financial Institution that maintains the account. A person, other than a Financial Institution, holding a Financial Account for the benefit or account of another person as agent, custodian, nominee, signatory, investment advisor, or intermediary, is not treated as holding the account for purposes of this Agreement, and such other person is treated as holding the account. For purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, the term "Financial Institution" does not include a Financial Institution organized or incorporated in a U.S. Territory. In the case of a Cash Value Insurance Contract or an Annuity Contract, the Account Holder is any person entitled to access the Cash Value or change the beneficiary of the contract. If no person can access the Cash Value or change the beneficiary, the Account Holder is any person named as the owner in the contract and any person with a vested entitlement to payment under the terms of the contract. Upon the maturity of a Cash Value Insurance Contract or an Annuity Contract, each person entitled to receive a payment under the contract is treated as an Account Holder. The term "U.S. Person" means a U.S. citizen or resident individual, a partnership or corporation organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States or any State thereof, a trust if (i) a court within the United States would have authority under applicable law to render orders or judgments concerning substantially all issues regarding administration of the trust, and (ii) one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or an estate of a decedent that is a citizen or resident of the United States. This subparagraph l(ee) shall be interpreted in accordance with the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. The term "Specified U.S. Person" means a U.S. Person, other than: (i) a corporation the stock of which is regularly traded on one or more established securities markets; (ii) any corporation that is a member of the same expanded affiliated group, as defined in section 1471(e)(2) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, as a corporation described in clause (i); (iii) the United States or any wholly owned agency or instrumentality thereof; (iv) any State of the United States, any U.S. Territory, any political subdivision of any of the foregoing, or any wholly owned agency or instrumentality of any one or more of the foregoing; (v) any organization exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code or an individual retirement plan as defined in section 7701(a)(37) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code; (vi) any bank as defined in section 581 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code; (vii) any real estate investment trust as defined in section 856 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code; (viii) any regulated investment company as defined in section 851 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code or any entity registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-64); (ix) any common trust fund as defined in section 584(a) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code; (x) any trust that is exempt from tax under section 664(c) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code or that is described in section 4947(a)(1) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code; (xi) a dealer in securities, commodities, or derivative financial instruments (including notional principal contracts, futures, forwards, and options) that is registered as such under the laws of the United States or any State; (xii) a broker as defined in section 6045(c) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code; or (xiii) any tax-exempt trust under a plan that is described in section 403(b) or section 457(g) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. gg) The term "Entity" means a legal person or a legal arrangement such as a trust. hh) The term "Non-U.S. Entity" means an Entity that is not a U.S. Person. ii) The term "U.S. Source Withholdable Payment" means any payment of interest (including any original issue discount), dividends, rents, salaries, wages, premiums, annuities, compensations, remunerations, emoluments, and other fixed or determinable annual or periodical gains, profits, and income, if such payment is from sources within the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a U.S. Source Withholdable Payment does not include any payment that is not treated as a withholdable payment in relevant U.S. Treasury Regulations. jj) An Entity is a "Related Entity" of another Entity if either Entity controls the other Entity, or the two Entities are under common control. For this purpose control includes direct or indirect ownership of more than 50 percent of the vote or value in an Entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Latvia may treat an Entity as not a Related Entity of another Entity if the two Entities are not members of the same expanded affiliated group as defined in section 1471(e)(2) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. kk) The term "U.S. TIN" means a U.S. federal taxpayer identifying number. ll) The term "Latvian TIN" means a Latvian taxpayer identifying number. mm) The term "Controlling Persons" means the natural persons who exercise control over an Entity. In the case of a trust, such term means the settlor, the trustees, the protector (if any), the beneficiaries or class of beneficiaries, and any other natural person exercising ultimate effective control over the trust, and in the case of a legal arrangement other than a trust, such term means persons in equivalent or similar positions. The term "Controlling Persons" shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the Financial Action Task Force Recommendations. 2. Any term not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall, unless the context otherwise requires or the Competent Authorities agree to a common meaning (as permitted by domestic law), have the meaning that it has at that time under the law of the Party applying this Agreement, any meaning under the applicable tax laws of that Party prevailing over a meaning given to the term under other laws of that Party. Article 2 Obligations to Obtain and Exchange Information with Respect to Reportable Accounts 1. Subject to the provisions of Article 3 of this Agreement, each Party shall obtain the information specified in paragraph 2 of this Article with respect to all Reportable Accounts and shall annually exchange this information with the other Party on an automatic basis pursuant to the provisions of Article 27 of the Convention. 2. The information to be obtained and exchanged is: a) In the case of Latvia with respect to each U.S. Reportable Account of each Reporting Latvian Financial Institution: (1) the name, address, and U.S. TIN of each Specified U.S. Person that is an Account Holder of such account and, in the case of a Non-U.S. Entity that, after application of the due diligence procedures set forth in Annex I, is identified as having one or more Controlling Persons that is a Specified U.S. Person, the name, address, and U.S. TIN (if any) of such entity and each such Specified U.S. Person; (2) the account number (or functional equivalent in the absence of an account number); (3) the name and identifying number of the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution; (4) the account balance or value (including, in the case of a Cash Value Insurance Contract or Annuity Contract, the Cash Value or surrender value) as of the end of the relevant calendar year or other appropriate reporting period or, if the account was closed during such year, immediately before closure; (5) in the case of any Custodial Account: (A) the total gross amount of interest, the total gross amount of dividends, and the total gross amount of other income generated with respect to the assets held in the account, in each case paid or credited to the account (or with respect to the account) during the calendar year or other appropriate reporting period; and (B) the total gross proceeds from the sale or redemption of property paid or credited to the account during the calendar year or other appropriate reporting period with respect to which the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution acted as a custodian, broker, nominee, or otherwise as an agent for the Account Holder; (6) in the case of any Depository Account, the total gross amount of interest paid or credited to the account during the calendar year or other appropriate reporting period; and (7) in the case of any account not described in subparagraph 2(a)(5) or 2(a)(6) of this Article, the total gross amount paid or credited to the Account Holder with respect to the account during the calendar year or other appropriate reporting period with respect to which the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution is the obligor or debtor, including the aggregate amount of any redemption payments made to the Account Holder during the calendar year or other appropriate reporting period. b) In the case of the United States, with respect to each Latvian Reportable Account of each Reporting U.S. Financial Institution: (1) the name, address, and Latvian TIN of any person that is a resident of Latvia and is an Account Holder of the account; (2) the account number (or the functional equivalent in the absence of an account number); (3) the name and identifying number of the Reporting U.S. Financial Institution; (4) the gross amount of interest paid on a Depository Account; (5) the gross amount of U.S. source dividends paid or credited to the account; and (6) the gross amount of other U.S. source income paid or credited to the account, to the extent subject to reporting under chapter 3 of subtitle A or chapter 61 of subtitle F of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Article 3 Time and Manner of Exchange of Information 1. For purposes of the exchange obligation in Article 2 of this Agreement, the amount and characterization of payments made with respect to a U.S. Reportable Account may be determined in accordance with the principles of the tax laws of Latvia, and the amount and characterization of payments made with respect to a Latvian Reportable Account may be determined in accordance with principles of U.S. federal income tax law. 2. For purposes of the exchange obligation in Article 2 of this Agreement, the information exchanged shall identify the currency in which each relevant amount is denominated. 3. With respect to paragraph 2 of Article 2 of this Agreement, information is to be obtained and exchanged with respect to 2014 and all subsequent years, except that: a) In the case of Latvia: (1) the information to be obtained and exchanged with respect to 2014 is only the information described in subparagraphs 2(a)(1) through 2(a)(4) of Article 2 of this Agreement; (2) the information to be obtained and exchanged with respect to 2015 is the information described in subparagraphs 2(a)(1) through 2(a)(7) of Article 2 of this Agreement, except for gross proceeds described in subparagraph 2(a)(5)(B) of Article 2 of this Agreement; and (3) the information to be obtained and exchanged with respect to 2016 and subsequent years is the information described in subparagraphs 2(a)(1) through 2(a)(7) of Article 2 of this Agreement; b) In the case of the United States, the information to be obtained and exchanged with respect to 2014 and subsequent years is all of the information identified in subparagraph 2(b) of Article 2 of this Agreement. 4. Notwithstanding paragraph 3 of this Article, with respect to each Reportable Account that is maintained by a Reporting Financial Institution as of June 30, 2014, and subject to paragraph 4 of Article 6 of this Agreement, the Parties are not required to obtain and include in the exchanged information the Latvian TIN or the U.S. TIN, as applicable, of any relevant person if such taxpayer identifying number is not in the records of the Reporting Financial Institution. In such a case, the Parties shall obtain and include in the exchanged information the date of birth of the relevant person, if the Reporting Financial Institution has such date of birth in its records. 5. Subject to paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Article, the information described in Article 2 of this Agreement shall be exchanged within nine months after the end of the calendar year to which the information relates. 6. The Competent Authorities of Latvia and the United States shall enter into an agreement or arrangement under the mutual agreement procedure provided for in Article 26 of the Convention, which shall: a) establish the procedures for the automatic exchange obligations described in Article 2 of this Agreement; b) prescribe rules and procedures as may be necessary to implement Article 5 of this Agreement; and c) establish as necessary procedures for the exchange of the information reported under subparagraph 1(b) of Article 4 of this Agreement. 7. All information exchanged shall be subject to the confidentiality and other protections provided for in the Convention, including the provisions limiting the use of the information exchanged. 8. Following entry into force of this Agreement, each Competent Authority shall provide written notification to the other Competent Authority when it is satisfied that the jurisdiction of the other Competent Authority has in place (i) appropriate safeguards to ensure that the information received pursuant to this Agreement shall remain confidential and be used solely for tax purposes, and (ii) the infrastructure for an effective exchange relationship (including established processes for ensuring timely, accurate, and confidential information exchanges, effective and reliable communications, and demonstrated capabilities to promptly resolve questions and concerns about exchanges or requests for exchanges and to administer the provisions of Article 5 of this Agreement). The Competent Authorities shall endeavor in good faith to meet, prior to September 2015, to establish that each jurisdiction has such safeguards and infrastructure in place. 9. The obligations of the Parties to obtain and exchange information under Article 2 of this Agreement shall take effect on the date of the later of the written notifications described in paragraph 8 of this Article. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Latvian Competent Authority is satisfied that the United States has the safeguards and infrastructure described in paragraph 8 of this Article in place, but additional time is necessary for the U.S. Competent Authority to establish that Latvia has such safeguards and infrastructure in place, the obligation of Latvia to obtain and exchange information under Article 2 of this Agreement shall take effect on the date of the written notification provided by the Latvian Competent Authority to the U.S. Competent Authority pursuant to paragraph 8 of this Article. 10. This Agreement shall terminate on September 30, 2015, if Article 2 of this Agreement is not in effect for either Party pursuant to paragraph 9 of this Article by that date. Article 4 Application of FATCA to Latvian Financial Institutions 1. Treatment of Reporting Latvian Financial Institutions. Each Reporting Latvian Financial Institution shall be treated as complying with, and not subject to withholding under, section 1471 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code if Latvia complies with its obligations under Articles 2 and 3 of this Agreement with respect to such Reporting Latvian Financial Institution, and the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution: a) identifies U.S. Reportable Accounts and reports annually to the Latvian Competent Authority the information required to be reported in subparagraph 2(a) of Article 2 of this Agreement in the time and manner described in Article 3 of this Agreement; b) for each of 2015 and 2016, reports annually to the Latvian Competent Authority the name of each Nonparticipating Financial Institution to which it has made payments and the aggregate amount of such payments; c) complies with the applicable registration requirements on the IRS FATCA registration website; d) to the extent that a Reporting Latvian Financial Institution is (i) acting as a qualified intermediary (for purposes of section 1441 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code) that has elected to assume primary withholding responsibility under chapter 3 of subtitle A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, (ii) a foreign partnership that has elected to act as a withholding foreign partnership (for purposes of both sections 1441 and 1471 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code), or (iii) a foreign trust that has elected to act as a withholding foreign trust (for purposes of both sections 1441 and 1471 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code), withholds 30 percent of any U.S. Source Withholdable Payment to any Nonparticipating Financial Institution; and e) in the case of a Reporting Latvian Financial Institution that is not described in subparagraph 1(d) of this Article and that makes a payment of, or acts as an intermediary with respect to, a U.S. Source Withholdable Payment to any Nonparticipating Financial Institution, the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution provides to any immediate payor of such U.S. Source Withholdable Payment the information required for withholding and reporting to occur with respect to such payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Reporting Latvian Financial Institution with respect to which the conditions of this paragraph 1 are not satisfied shall not be subject to withholding under section 1471 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code unless such Reporting Latvian Financial Institution is treated by the IRS as a Nonparticipating Financial Institution pursuant to subparagraph 2(b) of Article 5 of this Agreement. 2. Suspension of Rules Relating to Recalcitrant Accounts. The United States shall not require a Reporting Latvian Financial Institution to withhold tax under section 1471 or 1472 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code with respect to an account held by a recalcitrant account holder (as defined in section 1471(d)(6) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code), or to close such account, if the U.S. Competent Authority receives the information set forth in subparagraph 2(a) of Article 2 of this Agreement, subject to the provisions of Article 3 of this Agreement, with respect to such account. 3. Specific Treatment of Latvian Retirement Plans. The United States shall treat as deemed-compliant FFIs or exempt beneficial owners, as appropriate, for purposes of sections 1471 and 1472 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, Latvian retirement plans described in Annex II. For this purpose, a Latvian retirement plan includes an Entity established or located in, and regulated by, Latvia, or a predetermined contractual or legal arrangement, operated to provide pension or retirement benefits or earn income for providing such benefits under the laws of Latvia and regulated with respect to contributions, distributions, reporting, sponsorship, and taxation. 4. Identification and Treatment of Other Deemed-Compliant FFIs and Exempt Beneficial Owners. The United States shall treat each Non-Reporting Latvian Financial Institution as a deemed-compliant FFI or as an exempt beneficial owner, as appropriate, for purposes of section 1471 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. 5. Special Rules Regarding Related Entities and Branches That Are Nonparticipating Financial Institutions. If a Latvian Financial Institution, that otherwise meets the requirements described in paragraph 1 of this Article or is described in paragraph 3 or 4 of this Article, has a Related Entity or branch that operates in a jurisdiction that prevents such Related Entity or branch from fulfilling the requirements of a participating FFI or deemed-compliant FFI for purposes of section 1471 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code or has a Related Entity or branch that is treated as a Nonparticipating Financial Institution solely due to the expiration of the transitional rule for limited FFIs and limited branches under relevant U.S. Treasury Regulations, such Latvian Financial Institution shall continue to be in compliance with the terms of this Agreement and shall continue to be treated as a deemed-compliant FFI or exempt beneficial owner, as appropriate, for purposes of section 1471 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, provided that: a) the Latvian Financial Institution treats each such Related Entity or branch as a separate Nonparticipating Financial Institution for purposes of all the reporting and withholding requirements of this Agreement and each such Related Entity or branch identifies itself to withholding agents as a Nonparticipating Financial Institution; b) each such Related Entity or branch identifies its U.S. accounts and reports the information with respect to those accounts as required under section 1471 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code to the extent permitted under the relevant laws pertaining to the Related Entity or branch; and c) such Related Entity or branch does not specifically solicit U.S. accounts held by persons that are not resident in the jurisdiction where such Related Entity or branch is located or accounts held by Nonparticipating Financial Institutions that are not established in the jurisdiction where such Related Entity or branch is located, and such Related Entity or branch is not used by the Latvian Financial Institution or any other Related Entity to circumvent the obligations under this Agreement or under section 1471 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, as appropriate. 6. Coordination of Timing. Notwithstanding paragraphs 3 and 5 of Article 3 of this Agreement: a) Latvia shall not be obligated to obtain and exchange information with respect to a calendar year that is prior to the calendar year with respect to which similar information is required to be reported to the IRS by participating FFIs pursuant to relevant U.S. Treasury Regulations; b) Latvia shall not be obligated to begin exchanging information prior to the date by which participating FFIs are required to report similar information to the IRS under relevant U.S. Treasury Regulations; c) the United States shall not be obligated to obtain and exchange information with respect to a calendar year that is prior to the first calendar year with respect to which Latvia is required to obtain and exchange information; and d) the United States shall not be obligated to begin exchanging information prior to the date by which Latvia is required to begin exchanging information. 7. Coordination of Definitions with U.S. Treasury Regulations. Notwithstanding Article 1 of this Agreement and the definitions provided in the Annexes to this Agreement, in implementing this Agreement, Latvia may use, and may permit Latvian Financial Institutions to use, a definition in relevant U.S. Treasury Regulations in lieu of a corresponding definition in this Agreement, provided that such application would not frustrate the purposes of this Agreement. Article 5 Collaboration on Compliance and Enforcement 1. Minor and Administrative Errors. A Competent Authority shall notify the Competent Authority of the other Party when the first-mentioned Competent Authority has reason to believe that administrative errors or other minor errors may have led to incorrect or incomplete information reporting or resulted in other infringements of this Agreement. The Competent Authority of such other Party shall apply its domestic law (including applicable penalties) to obtain corrected and/or complete information or to resolve other infringements of this Agreement. 2. Significant Non-Compliance. a) A Competent Authority shall notify the Competent Authority of the other Party when the first-mentioned Competent Authority has determined that there is significant non-compliance with the obligations under this Agreement with respect to a Reporting Financial Institution in the other jurisdiction. The Competent Authority of such other Party shall apply its domestic law (including applicable penalties) to address the significant non-compliance described in the notice. b) If, in the case of a Reporting Latvian Financial Institution, such enforcement actions do not resolve the non-compliance within a period of 18 months after notification of significant non-compliance is first provided, the United States shall treat the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution as a Nonparticipating Financial Institution pursuant to this subparagraph 2(b). 3. Reliance on Third Party Service Providers. Each Party may allow Reporting Financial Institutions to use third party service providers to fulfill the obligations imposed on such Reporting Financial Institutions by a Party, as contemplated in this Agreement, but these obligations shall remain the responsibility of the Reporting Financial Institutions. 4. Prevention of Avoidance. The Parties shall implement as necessary requirements to prevent Financial Institutions from adopting practices intended to circumvent the reporting required under this Agreement. Article 6 Mutual Commitment to Continue to Enhance the Effectiveness of Information Exchange and Transparency 1. Reciprocity. The Government of the United States acknowledges the need to achieve equivalent levels of reciprocal automatic information exchange with Latvia. The Government of the United States is committed to further improve transparency and enhance the exchange relationship with Latvia by pursuing the adoption of regulations and advocating and supporting relevant legislation to achieve such equivalent levels of reciprocal automatic information exchange. 2. Treatment of Passthru Payments and Gross Proceeds. The Parties are committed to work together, along with Partner Jurisdictions, to develop a practical and effective alternative approach to achieve the policy objectives of foreign passthru payment and gross proceeds withholding that minimizes burden. 3. Development of Common Reporting and Exchange Model. The Parties are committed to working with Partner Jurisdictions, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the European Union, on adapting the terms of this Agreement and other agreements between the United States and Partner Jurisdictions to a common model for automatic exchange of information, including the development of reporting and due diligence standards for financial institutions. 4. Documentation of Accounts Maintained as of June 30,2014. With respect to Reportable Accounts maintained by a Reporting Financial Institution as of June 30, 2014: a) The United States commits to establish, by January 1, 2017, for reporting with respect to 2017 and subsequent years, rules requiring Reporting U.S. Financial Institutions to obtain and report the Latvian TIN of each Account Holder of a Latvian Reportable Account as required pursuant to subparagraph 2(b)(1) of Article 2 of this Agreement; and b) Latvia commits to establish, by January 1, 2017, for reporting with respect to 2017 and subsequent years, rules requiring Reporting Latvian Financial Institutions to obtain the U.S. TIN of each Specified U.S. Person as required pursuant to subparagraph 2(a)(1) of Article 2 of this Agreement. Article 7 Consistency in the Application of FATCA to Partner Jurisdictions 1. Latvia shall be granted the benefit of any more favorable terms under Article 4 or Annex I of this Agreement relating to the application of FATCA to Latvian Financial Institutions afforded to another Partner Jurisdiction under a signed bilateral agreement pursuant to which the other Partner Jurisdiction commits to undertake the same obligations as Latvia described in Articles 2 and 3 of this Agreement, and subject to the same terms and conditions as described therein and in Articles 5 through 9 of this Agreement. 2. The United States shall notify Latvia of any such more favorable terms, and such more favorable terms shall apply automatically under this Agreement as if such terms were specified in this Agreement and effective as of the date of the signing of the agreement incorporating the more favorable terms, unless Latvia declines in writing the application thereof. Article 8 Consultations and Amendments 1. In case any difficulties in the implementation of this Agreement arise, either Party may request consultations to develop appropriate measures to ensure the fulfillment of this Agreement. 2. This Agreement may be amended by written mutual agreement of the Parties. Unless otherwise agreed upon, such an amendment shall enter into force through the same procedures as set forth in paragraph 1 of Article 10 of this Agreement. Article 9 Annexes The Annexes form an integral part of this Agreement. Article 10 Term of Agreement 1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of Latvia's written notification to the United States that Latvia has completed its necessary internal procedures for entry into force of this Agreement. 2. Either Party may terminate this Agreement by giving notice of termination in writing to the other Party. Such termination shall become effective on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of 12 months after the date of the notice of termination. 3. The Parties shall, prior to December 31, 2016, consult in good faith to amend this Agreement as necessary to reflect progress on the commitments set forth in Article 6 of this Agreement. In witness whereof, the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Agreement. Done at Riga, in duplicate, in the English language, this 27th day of June, 2014. FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA: Minister of Finance Andris Vilks FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Mark Pekala ANNEX I DUE DILIGENCE OBLIGATIONS FOR IDENTIFYING AND REPORTING ON U.S. REPORTABLE ACCOUNTS AND ON PAYMENTS TO CERTAIN NONPARTICIPATING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS I. General. A. Latvia shall require that Reporting Latvian Financial Institutions apply the due diligence procedures contained in this Annex I to identify U.S. Reportable Accounts and accounts held by Nonparticipating Financial Institutions. B. For purposes of the Agreement, 1. All dollar amounts are in U.S. dollars and shall be read to include the equivalent in other currencies. 2. Except as otherwise provided herein, the balance or value of an account shall be determined as of the last day of the calendar year or other appropriate reporting period. 3. Where a balance or value threshold is to be determined as of June 30, 2014 under this Annex I, the relevant balance or value shall be determined as of that day or the last day of the reporting period ending immediately before June 30, 2014, and where a balance or value threshold is to be determined as of the last day of a calendar year under this Annex I, the relevant balance or value shall be determined as of the last day of the calendar year or other appropriate reporting period. 4. Subject to subparagraph E(l) of section II of this Annex I, an account shall be treated as a U.S. Reportable Account beginning as of the date it is identified as such pursuant to the due diligence procedures in this Annex I. 5. Unless otherwise provided, information with respect to a U.S. Reportable Account shall be reported annually in the calendar year following the year to which the information relates. С. As an alternative to the procedures described in each section of this Annex I, Latvia may permit Reporting Latvian Financial Institutions to rely on the procedures described in relevant U.S. Treasury Regulations to establish whether an account is a U.S. Reportable Account or an account held by a Nonparticipating Financial Institution. Latvia may permit Reporting Latvian Financial Institutions to make such election separately for each section of this Annex I either with respect to all relevant Financial Accounts or, separately, with respect to any clearly identified group of such accounts (such as by line of business or the location of where the account is maintained). II. Preexisting Individual Accounts. The following rules and procedures apply for purposes of identifying U.S. Reportable Accounts among Preexisting Accounts held by individuals ("Preexisting Individual Accounts"). Accounts Not Required to Be Reviewed, Identified, or Reported, Unless the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution elects otherwise, either with respect to all Preexisting Individual Accounts or, separately, with respect to any clearly identified group of such accounts, where the implementing rules in Latvia provide for such an election, the following Preexisting Individual Accounts are not required to be reviewed, identified, or reported as U.S. Reportable Accounts: 1. Subject to subparagraph E(2) of this section, a Preexisting Individual Account with a balance or value that does not exceed $50,000 as of June 30, 2014. 2. Subject to subparagraph E(2) of this section, a Preexisting Individual Account that is a Cash Value Insurance Contract or an Annuity Contract with a balance or value of $250,000 or less as of June 30, 2014. 3. A Preexisting Individual Account that is a Cash Value Insurance Contract or an Annuity Contract, provided the law or regulations of Latvia or the United States effectively prevent the sale of such a Cash Value Insurance Contract or an Annuity Contract to U.S. residents (e.g., if the relevant Financial Institution does not have the required registration under U.S. law, and the law of Latvia requires reporting or withholding with respect to insurance products held by residents of Latvia). 4. A Depository Account with a balance of $50,000 or less. B. Review Procedures for Preexisting Individual Accounts With a Balance or Value as of June 30,2014, that Exceeds $50,000 ($250,000 for a Cash Value Insurance Contract or Annuity Contract), But Does Not Exceed $1,000,000 ("Lower Value Accounts"). 1. Electronic Record Search. The Reporting Latvian Financial Institution must review electronically searchable data maintained by the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution for any of the following U.S. indicia: a) Identification of the Account Holder as a U.S. citizen or resident; b) Unambiguous indication of a U.S. place of birth; c) Current U.S. mailing or residence address (including a U.S. post office box); d) Current U.S. telephone number; e) Standing instructions to transfer funds to an account maintained in the United States; f) Currently effective power of attorney or signatory authority granted to a person with a U.S. address; or g) An "in-care-of' or "hold mail" address that is the sole address the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution has on file for the Account Holder. In the case of a Preexisting Individual Account that is a Lower Value Account, an "in-care-of address outside the United States or "hold mail" address shall not be treated as U.S. indicia. 2. If none of the U.S. indicia listed in subparagraph B(l) of this section are discovered in the electronic search, then no further action is required until there is a change in circumstances that results in one or more U.S. indicia being associated with the account, or the account becomes a High Value Account described in paragraph D of this section. 3. If any of the U.S. indicia listed in subparagraph B(l) of this section are discovered in the electronic search, or if there is a change in circumstances that results in one or more U.S. indicia being associated with the account, then the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution must treat the account as a U.S. Reportable Account unless it elects to apply subparagraph B(4) of this section and one of the exceptions in such subparagraph applies with respect to that account. 4. Notwithstanding a finding of U.S. indicia under subparagraph B(l) of this section, a Reporting Latvian Financial Institution is not required to treat an account as a U.S. Reportable Account if: a) Where the Account Holder information unambiguously indicates a U.S. place of birth, the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution obtains, or has previously reviewed and maintains a record of: (1) A self-certification that the Account Holder is neither a U.S. citizen nor a U.S. resident for tax purposes (which may be on an IRS Form W-8 or other similar agreed form); (2) A non-U.S. passport or other government-issued identification evidencing the Account Holder's citizenship or nationality in a country other than the United States; and (3) A copy of the Account Holder's Certificate of Loss of Nationality of the United States or a reasonable explanation of: (a) The reason the Account Holder does not have such a certificate despite relinquishing U.S. citizenship; or (b) The reason the Account Holder did not obtain U.S. citizenship at birth. b) Where the Account Holder information contains a current U.S. mailing or residence address, or one or more U.S. telephone numbers that are the only telephone numbers associated with the account, the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution obtains, or has previously reviewed and maintains a record of: (1) A self-certification that the Account Holder is neither a U.S. citizen nor a U.S. resident for tax purposes (which may be on an IRS Form W-8 or other similar agreed form); and (2) Documentary evidence, as defined in paragraph D of section VI of this Annex I, establishing the Account Holder's non-U.S. status. c) Where the Account Holder information contains standing instructions to transfer funds to an account maintained in the United States, the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution obtains, or has previously reviewed and maintains a record of: (1) A self-certification that the Account Holder is neither a U.S. citizen nor a U.S. resident for tax purposes (which may be on an IRS Form W-8 or other similar agreed form); and (2) Documentary evidence, as defined in paragraph D of section VI of this Annex I, establishing the Account Holder's non-U.S. status. d) Where the Account Holder information contains a currently effective power of attorney or signatory authority granted to a person with a U.S. address, has an "in-care-of address or "hold mair address that is the sole address identified for the Account Holder, or has one or more U.S. telephone numbers (if a non-U.S. telephone number is also associated with the account), the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution obtains, or has previously reviewed and maintains a record of: (1) A self-certification that the Account Holder is neither a U.S. citizen nor a U.S. resident for tax purposes (which may be on an IRS Form W-8 or other similar agreed form); or (2) Documentary evidence, as defined in paragraph D of section VI of this Annex I, establishing the Account Holder's non-U.S. status. C. Additional Procedures Applicable to Preexisting Individual Accounts That Are Lower Value Accounts. 1. Review of Preexisting Individual Accounts that are Lower Value Accounts for U.S. indicia must be completed by June 30, 2016. 2. If there is a change of circumstances with respect to a Preexisting Individual Account that is a Lower Value Account that results in one or more U.S. indicia described in subparagraph B(l) of this section being associated with the account, then the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution must treat the account as a U.S. Reportable Account unless subparagraph B(4) of this section applies. 3. Except for Depository Accounts described in subparagraph A(4) of this section, any Preexisting Individual Account that has been identified as a U.S. Reportable Account under this section shall be treated as a U.S. Reportable Account in all subsequent years, unless the Account Holder ceases to be a Specified U.S. Person. D. Enhanced Review Procedures for Preexisting Individual Accounts With a Balance or Value That Exceeds $1,000,000 as of June 30,2014, or December 31 of 2015 or Any Subsequent Year ("High Value Accounts"). 1. Electronic Record Search. The Reporting Latvian Financial Institution must review electronically searchable data maintained by the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution for any of the U.S. indicia described in subparagraph B(l) of this section. 2. Paper Record Search. If the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution's electronically searchable databases include fields for, and capture all of the information described in, subparagraph D(3) of this section, then no further paper record search is required. If the electronic databases do not capture all of this information, then with respect to a High Value Account, the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution must also review the current customer master file and, to the extent not contained in the current customer master file, the following documents associated with the account and obtained by the Reporting Latvian Financial Institution within the last five years for any of the U.S. indicia described in subparagraph B(l) of this section: a) The most recent docum …