DOUBLE TAXATION RELIEF ON TAXES ON INCOME WITH THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC [ S.L.123.59 SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 123.59 DOUBLE TAXATION RELIEF ON TAXES ON INCOME WITH THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC ORDER 16th Oc

Article 7or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

5. Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State derives profits or income from the other Contracting State, that other State may not impose any tax on the dividends paid by the company, except insofar as such dividends are paid to a resident of that other State or insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base situated in that other State, nor subject the company’s undistributed profits to a tax on the company’s undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in such other State. Article 11 INTEREST 1. Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State. 2. However, such interest may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which it arises and according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the interest is a resident of the other Contracting State the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 percent of the gross amount of the interest. 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, any such interest as is mentioned in paragraph 1 shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the recipient is a resident, if the beneficial owner of the interest is a resident of that State, and if one of the following conditions is fulfilled: (

1. a)such recipient is a Contracting State, or one of its local authorities, or a statutory body of either, including the central bank of that State; or such interest is paid by a Contracting State, or by its local authorities, or a statutory body of either; or (
2. b)such interest is paid in respect of any debt-claim or loan guaranteed, insured or supported by a Contracting State or another person acting on behalf of a Contracting State. 4. The term "interest" as used in this Article means income from debt-claims of every kind, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in the debtor’s profits, and in particular income from government securities and income from bonds or debentures, including premiums and prizes attaching to such securities, bonds or debentures. Penalty charges for late payment DOUBLE TAXATION RELIEF ON TAXES ON INCOME WITH THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC [ S.L.123.59 9 shall not be regarded as interest for the purpose of this Article. 5. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the interest, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the interest arises, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base.

Article 7or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

1. Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the person paying the interest, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, and such interest is borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base.
2. 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
3. Royalties arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
4. However, such royalties may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise and according to the laws of that State, but the tax so charged shall not exceed 18 percent of the gross amount of the royalties referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of these limitations.
5. The term "royalties" as used in this Article means payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work including cinematograph films, or tapes for television or radio broadcasting, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, or any industrial or scientific equipment, or for information concerning industrial or scientific experience.
6. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the royalties arise, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base.

Article 7or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

5. Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that Contracting State itself, a local authority or a resident of that Contracting State. Where, however, the person paying the royalties, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the liability to pay the royalties was incurred, 10 [ S.L.123.59 DOUBLE TAXATION RELIEF ON TAXES ON INCOME WITH THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC and such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated. 6. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties, having regard to the use, right or information for which they are paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the law of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention. Article 13 CAPITAL GAINS 1. Gains derived from the alienation of immovable property may be taxed in the Contracting State where such immovable property is situated. 2. Gains from the alienation of shares or comparable interests in a company, the assets of which consist wholly or principally of immovable property, may be taxed in the Contracting State in which the assets or the principal assets of the company are situated. 3. Gains from the alienation of movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State or of movable property pertaining to a fixed base available to a resident of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing independent personal services, including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise) or of such fixed base, may be taxed in that other State. 4. Gains from the alienation of property forming part of the business property of an enterprise of a Contracting State and consisting of ships or aircraft operated by such enterprise in international traffic or movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircraft shall be taxable only in that Contracting State. 5. Gains from the alienation of any property, other than that referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4, shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident. Article 14 INDEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES 1. Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of professional services or other activities of an independent character shall be taxable only in that State. However, such income may be taxed in the other Contracting State in the following circumstances: (

1. a)if he has a fixed base regularly available to him in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing his activities; in that case, only so much of the income as is attributable to that fixed base may be taxed in that other Contracting State; or (
2. b)if his stay in the other Contracting State is for a period or periods amounting to or exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelvemonth period commencing or ending in the fiscal year concerned; in that case, only so much of the income as is derived from the activity exercised in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State. DOUBLE TAXATION RELIEF ON TAXES ON INCOME WITH THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC [ S.L.123.59 11 2. The term "professional services" includes especially independent scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teaching activities as well as the independent activities of physicians, lawyers, engineers, architects, dentists and accountants. Article 15 DEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES 1. Subject to the provisions of Articles 16, 18 and 19, salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment shall be taxable only in that State unless the employment is exercised in the other Contracting State. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is derived therefrom may be taxed in that other State. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised in the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if all the following conditions are fulfilled: (
3. a)the recipient is present in the other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve-month period commencing or ending in the fiscal year concerned; (
4. b)the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident of the other State; and (
5. c)the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment or a fixed base which the employer has in the other State. 3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic by an enterprise of a Contracting State may be taxed in that State. Article 16 DIRECTORS’ FEES 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 17 ARTISTES AND SPORTSMEN 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 14 and 15, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer, such as a theatre, motion picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as a sportsman, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State. 2. Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsman in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or sportsman himself but to another person, whether a resident of a Contracting State or not, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7, 14 and 15, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsman are exercised. 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer or sportsman from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if those activities in the other State are supported mainly by 12 [ S.L.123.59 DOUBLE TAXATION RELIEF ON TAXES ON INCOME WITH THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC public funds of the first-mentioned State or its local authorities. Article 18 PENSIONS 1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 19, pensions and other similar remuneration paid to a resident of a Contracting State in consideration of past employment shall be taxable only in that State. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, pensions and other payments under the social security legislation of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State. 3. Nothing contained in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall affect the provisions of the law of a Contracting State concerning the exemption of pensions from tax. Article 19 GOVERNMENT SERVICE 1. (
6. a)Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, other than a pension, paid by a Contracting State or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or authority shall be taxable only in that State. (
7. b)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: (
8. i)(
9. ii)2. is a national of that State; or did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the services. (
10. a)Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or authority shall be taxable only in that State. (
11. b)However, such pension shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the individual is a resident of, and a national of, that State. 3. The provisions of Articles 15, 16 and 18 shall apply to salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, and to pensions, in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or a local authority thereof. 4. Nothing contained in paragraph 2 shall affect the provisions of the law of a Contracting State concerning the exemption of pensions from tax. Article 20 STUDENTS 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 taxable in that State, provided that such payments arise from sources outside that State. DOUBLE TAXATION RELIEF ON TAXES ON INCOME WITH THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC [ S.L.123.59 13 Article 21 OTHER INCOME 1. Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Convention shall be taxable only in that State. 2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income, other than income from immovable property as defined in paragraph 2 of Article 6, if the beneficial owner of such income, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base.

Article 7or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

Article 22 ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION

1. Where a resident of a Contracting State derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, may be taxed in the other Contracting State, then the first Contracting State shall allow as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident an amount equal to the income tax paid in the other Contracting State; 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 the other Contracting State.
2. Where, in accordance with any provision of this Convention, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State is exempt from tax in that State, such State may nevertheless, in calculating the amount of tax on the remaining income of such resident, take into account the exempted income. Article 23 NON-DISCRIMINATION
3. 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.
4. The taxation of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State shall not be less favourably levied in that other State than the taxation levied on enterprises of that other State carrying on the same activities. This provision shall not be construed as obliging a Contracting State to grant to residents of the other Contracting State any personal allowances, reliefs and reductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family responsibilities which it grants to its own residents.
5. 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 that enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been paid to a resident of the first-mentioned State.
6. 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 14 [ S.L.123.59 DOUBLE TAXATION RELIEF ON TAXES ON INCOME WITH THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC Contracting State, shall not be subjected in the first-mentioned State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which other similar enterprises of the firstmentioned State are or may be subjected. Article 24 MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROCEDURE
7. 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 23, 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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 of this Article. When it seems advisable in order to reach agreement to have an oral exchange of opinions, such exchange may take place through a commission consisting of the competent authorities of the Contracting States.
11. The competent authorities of the Contracting States may by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this Convention. Article 25 EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION
12. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Convention or of the domestic laws of the Contracting States concerning taxes covered by the Convention insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Convention. The exchange of information is not restricted by Article
13. Any information received by a Contracting State shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic laws of that State and shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) involved in the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to, the taxes covered by the Convention. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes. They may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions.
14. In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 1 be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation: DOUBLE TAXATION RELIEF ON TAXES ON INCOME WITH THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC [ S.L.123.59 15 (a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State; (b) to supply information which is not obtainable under the laws or in the normal course of the administration of that or of the other Contracting State; (c) to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process, or information, the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy (ordre public). Article 26 MEMBERS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS OR 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
15. The Contracting States shall notify each other, through diplomatic channels, that the legal requirements for the entry into force of this Convention have been complied with. This Convention shall enter into force thirty days after the date of the later of these notifications.
16. The provisions of the Convention shall have effect in respect of taxes on income derived during any calendar year or accounting period, as the case may be, beginning on or after the first day of January immediately following the date on which the Convention enters into force. Article 28 TERMINATION
17. This Convention shall remain in force indefinitely unless it is terminated by a Contracting State. After a period of five years from the date on which the Convention enters into force, either Contracting State may terminate it by giving notice of termination, through diplomatic channels, at least six months before the end of any calendar year.
18. In such event the Convention shall cease to have effect in respect of taxes on income derived during any calendar year or accounting period, as the case may be, beginning on or after the first day of January immediately following the date on which the notice is given. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, duly authorized thereto, have signed this Convention. DONE at Damascus, this 22nd day of February, 1999 in the English language. Guido de Marco Vice Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs M. Khaled Al Mahayni Minister of Finance For the Government of the Republic of Malta For the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic