The U.N. Model's New Fees for Technical Services Provision

The U.N. Model's New Fees for Technical Services Provision

Author: T. Falcão

Publisher:

Published: 2018

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In this article, the author examines the newly introduced article 12A of the U.N. model tax treaty, which specifically addresses fees for technical services, discussing how the article functions within the model, how it responds to concerns about base erosion and profit shifting, and how it fits into today's international tax environment.


The Taxation of Fees for Technical Services on the Basis of Article 12A UN Model Convention

The Taxation of Fees for Technical Services on the Basis of Article 12A UN Model Convention

Author: David Orzechowski-Zölzer

Publisher: Kluwer Law International B.V.

Published: 2024-05-21

Total Pages: 330

ISBN-13: 9403543078

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Although rules on the allocation of taxing rights for fees for technical services have been provided for in bilateral tax treaties by African, Asian, and South American countries for decades, it was only in the 2017 update that the UN Model Tax Treaty included Article 12A on the matter, thus suggesting its inclusion in the tax treaty network of its Member States. Consequently, from a cross-border perspective, the interpretation of Article 12A is of great importance for both taxpayers and tax authorities. This book presents the first comprehensive analysis of the scope of technical services in comparison to ordinary (non-technical) services and the differentiation between Article 12A and other allocation rules of the UN Model. The book’s analysis focuses on the interpretation of the concept of technical services by examining the historical evolution of Article 12 of the OECD and UN Models and the systematic context in which it is embedded. Aspects of this analysis examined include the following: the base-erosion principle as justification for establishing source taxing rights without the physical presence of the service provider in the state in which fees for technical services arise; whether the term ‘technical’ is sufficiently defined in the Commentaries to the UN Model or whether it shall be ascribed a different meaning to increase legal certainty for tax authorities and taxpayers; relevance of the OECD Model and its Commentaries as the basis for the UN Model and its Commentaries; rules of precedence concerning the application of Article 12A in relation to the other allocation rules of the UN Model; the connection between royalties and fees for technical services; application of Article 12A UN Model to challenges arising from the digitalized economy; and the allocation of taxing rights for fees for technical services rendered in a third state. Tax treaties of selected African countries are examined, as these countries were the earliest adopters of the concept of fees for technical services into their tax treaty network. The book also provides an overview of literature and jurisprudence on country practices in Brazil, India, and other countries, as well as relevant documents of international organizations. This book provides practitioners, government officials, and academics with a deep understanding of the interpretation and application of Article 12A UN Model. It will prove of great value in preparing for tax treaty negotiations and also in informing and advising enterprises that intend to conduct business in developing countries through the provision of specialized services.


Scope and Interpretation of Article 12A : Assessing the Impact of the New Fees for Technical Services Article

Scope and Interpretation of Article 12A : Assessing the Impact of the New Fees for Technical Services Article

Author: T. Falcão

Publisher:

Published: 2018

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

One of the most important changes in the update of the UN Model of 2017, released in May 2018, is the introduction of a new Article 12A dedicated to fees for technical services. This article analyses the policy considerations which underly the new provision and describes past and current tax treaty practice with regard to the allocation of taxing rights on fees for technical services. It examines the scope of the new model Article 12A and its interaction and potential overlap with items of income covered under Article 5 and Article 7 (permanent establishment and business profits), Article 12 (royalties) and Article 14 (independent services) of the UN Model. In the final section, it analyses how the new provision might play a significant role in the taxation of (certain business models of) the digital economy.


Special Features of the UN Model Convention

Special Features of the UN Model Convention

Author: Anna Binder

Publisher: Linde Verlag GmbH

Published: 2019-10-01

Total Pages: 664

ISBN-13: 3709410398

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Detailed research on the UN Model Convention’s unique features The UN Model Convention has a significant influence on international tax treaty practice and is especially used by emerging and developing countries as a starting point for treaty negotiations. Driven by the aim to achieve consistency in the international tax treaty practice, the structure and content is, to a large extent, similar in the UN Model and the OECD Model. However, whereas the OECD has historically focused its efforts on issues mainly relevant for developed countries, the UN Tax Committee has continuously attempted to specifically take into account tax treaty policies for developing countries when drafting and amending the UN Model Convention. Compared to the OECD Model Convention, the UN Model Convention aims at giving more weight to the source principle. Popular examples are the PE definition in the UN Model which provides for a lower threshold than Article 5 of the OECD Model or Article 12A on Fees for Technical Services which has been introduced with the latest amendment of the UN Model Convention 2017 and allows for a withholding tax to be levied on payments to non-residents when the payer of the fee is a resident of that contracting State irrespective of where the services are provided. Interestingly, in the discussions of the tax challenges arising from the digitalization of the economy, the OECD and the G20 are also exploring options to allocate more taxing rights to the jurisdiction of the customer and/or user, i.e., the ‘market jurisdictions’. As this has traditionally been the focus of the UN Model Convention, its unique features and developing countries’ practices could be taken into account when exploring new nexus rules that are not constrained by the physical presence requirement. This book contains the master’s theses of the full-time LL.M. program 2018-2019 for which ‘Special Features of the UN Model Convention’ has been chosen as the general topic. With this book, the authors and editors do not aim at discussing each article of the UN Model Convention but rather focus on the unique features of the UN Model Convention, which are explored in detail. This is supplemented with an evaluation of the function and relevance of the UN Tax Committee in the international tax policy discussion and with an analysis of the influences of the OECD's BEPS project on the UN Model.he OECD's BEPS project on the UN Model.


Tax, Inequality, and Human Rights

Tax, Inequality, and Human Rights

Author: Philip Alston

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2019-04-11

Total Pages: 621

ISBN-13: 0190882255

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In Tax, Inequality, and Human Rights, experts in human rights law and in tax law debate the linkages between the two fields and highlight how each can help to tackle rapidly growing inequality in the economic, social, and political realms. Against a backdrop of systemic corporate tax avoidance, widespread use of tax havens, persistent pressures to embrace austerity policies, and growing gaps between the rich and poor, this book encourages readers to understand fiscal policy as human rights policy, and thus as having profound consequences for the well-being of citizens around the world. Prominent scholars and practitioners examine how the foundational principles of tax law and human rights law intersect and diverge; discuss the cross-border nature and human rights impacts of abusive practices like tax avoidance and evasion; question the reluctance of states to bring transparency and accountability to tax policies and practices; highlight the responsibility of private sector actors for shaping and misshaping tax laws; and critically evaluate domestic tax rules through the lens of equality and nondiscrimination. The contributing authors also explore how international human rights obligations should influence the framework for both domestic and international tax reforms. They address what human rights law requires of state tax policies and how tax laws and loopholes affect the enjoyment of human rights by people outside a state's borders. Because tax and human rights both turn on the relationship between the individual and the state, neo-liberalism's erosion of the social contract threatens to undermine them both.


International Taxation of Income from Services under Double Taxation Conventions

International Taxation of Income from Services under Double Taxation Conventions

Author: Marta Castelon

Publisher: Kluwer Law International B.V.

Published: 2016-04-24

Total Pages: 381

ISBN-13: 9041195955

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The provision of international services has increased enormously, mainly due to the precipitous growth of the digital economy. Accordingly, the interpretation and application of double taxation conventions (DTCs) to income from services has become a dominant focus in the international taxation. This multiple-award-winning book is an indispensable tool for practitioners and a major contribution to the debate about tax reform. It responds to the need for a comprehensive overview of the tax opportunities and risks relating to the provision of international services. It also offers the rst in-depth analysis of the taxation of income from services vis-à-vis the multilateral instrument (MLI) resulting from the OECD’s Base Erosion and Pro t Shifting (BEPS) initiative. With the thorough analysis of the international taxation of income from services over the last two centuries, the author sheds new light on present tax policy debates and develops workable proposals for bringing brick-and-mortar DTCs into the digital reality. With an abundance of case studies, treaty interpretations, appraisals of policy discussions, and practical solutions, the author examines every aspect of the subject, including the following: – the Model DTCs of the OECD, the United Nations, Germany, and the United States, their similarities and differences; – relationships among the MLI, the Model DTCs, and speci c DTCs; – development of the provisions dealing with services in the DTCs; – how tax authorities and courts of different countries (e.g., the United States, Germany, Brazil, India, and China) apply DTC provisions on the taxation of international services; – opportunities and risks relating to different business practices, such as the subcontracting of services provisions, the hiring-out of labour, the secondment of employees, and the engagement of contract and toll manufacturers; – practical questions about the taxation of different distribution models – from fully edged distributors to commissionaires; – challenges and proposals relating to the differentiation between various types of services under DTCs; – the permanent establishment concept; – to what extent the structure, purposes, and scope of DTCs differ from those of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS); – how changes in the US Model DTC of 2016 affect international service provisions; and – proposed changes to amending the OECD and UN Model DTCs. Viable proposals to simplify DTC provisions dealing with service income and align them with current challenges such as the digital economy and the increasing volume of remote services are offered, particularly in light of the likely impact of the ‘BEPS package’ and its subsequent MLI. This book is poised to become one of the key practice resources for tax lawyers, in-house counsel, and policymakers in the coming years. Interested academics too will bene t from the author’s skill in recognizing the ongoing role of taxation fundamentals in the major revolution currently underway.


Tax Treaty Case Law around the Globe 2018

Tax Treaty Case Law around the Globe 2018

Author: Eric Kemmeren

Publisher: Linde Verlag GmbH

Published: 2019-06-13

Total Pages: 456

ISBN-13: 3709410061

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A Global Overview of International Tax Disputes on DTC This book is a unique publication that gives a global overview of international tax disputes on double tax conventions and thereby fills a gap in the area of tax treaty case law. It covers the 35 most important tax treaty cases which were decided around the world in 2017. The systematic structure of each chapter allows for the easy and efficient study and comparison of the various methods adopted for applying and interpreting tax treaties in different cases. With the continuously increasing importance of tax treaties, Tax Treaty Case Law around the Globe 2018 is a valuable reference tool for anyone interested in tax treaty case law. This book is of interest to tax practitioners, multinational businesses, policymakers, tax administrators, judges and academics.


Corporate Income Taxes under Pressure

Corporate Income Taxes under Pressure

Author: Ruud A. de Mooij

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2021-02-26

Total Pages: 388

ISBN-13: 1513511777

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The book describes the difficulties of the current international corporate income tax system. It starts by describing its origins and how changes, such as the development of multinational enterprises and digitalization have created fundamental problems, not foreseen at its inception. These include tax competition—as governments try to attract tax bases through low tax rates or incentives, and profit shifting, as companies avoid tax by reporting profits in jurisdictions with lower tax rates. The book then discusses solutions, including both evolutionary changes to the current system and fundamental reform options. It covers both reform efforts already under way, for example under the Inclusive Framework at the OECD, and potential radical reform ideas developed by academics.


International Tax Primer

International Tax Primer

Author: Brian J. Arnold

Publisher: Kluwer Law International B.V.

Published: 2016-01-21

Total Pages: 253

ISBN-13: 9041159819

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

International Tax Primer provides an introduction to the policies that countries seek to advance with their international tax rules, with numerous examples drawn from the practices of both developed and developing countries. This third edition has been expanded substantially, due to the major developments that have occurred since the second edition of this indispensable resource appeared in 2004 – not least the fact that innumerable smalland medium-sized firms, as well as individuals, now engage in cross-border transactions that cause them and their tax advisers to confront international tax issues on a regular basis. Moreover, as the countries of the world have become increasingly integrated economically, the importance of the major issues that a country must confront in designing its international tax rules and in coordinating those rules with the tax systems of its trading partners has mushroomed. The book strikes a balance between the specific and the general by illustrating the funda mental principles and structure of international tax with frequent reference to actual practice in a variety of countries. Coverage includes the following: • role of the tax adviser in planning international transactions; • taxation of residents on foreign income and of non-residents on domestic income; • mechanisms used to mitigate the risks to taxpayers of international double taxation; • transfer pricing rules to prevent the avoidance of tax by multinational corporations; • anti-avoidance measures dealing with tax havens, treaty shopping, and other offensive tax planning activities; • overview and analysis of the provisions of bilateral tax treaties and the OECD and UN • Model Treaties on which they are generally based; and • challenges posed by taxation of income derived from the digital economy. New material in the third edition includes analysis of the OECD’s initiative against base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS), tax aspects of hybrid entities and financial instruments, and taxation of fees for technical services as proposed under the UN Model Treaty. Although of greatest value to tax practitioners and government officials confronting interna tional tax for the first time, this book is sure to continue in use by tax professionals at every level of experience and on a worldwide basis.