China - Pakistan Tax Treaty
AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
AND
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN
FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME
The Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan;
Desiring to conclude an Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income;
Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 PERSONAL SCOPE
This Agreement shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.
ARTICLE 2 TAXES COVERED
-
This Agreement shall apply to taxes on income imposed on
behalf of a Contracting State or of its political subdivisions or local authorities, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.
- The existing taxes to which the Agreement shall apply are:
(a) in Pakistan:
(i) the income tax;
(ii) the super tax; and
(iii) the surcharge;
(hereinafter referred to as “Pakistan tax” ) .
(b) in China:
(i) the individual income tax;
(ii) the income tax concerning joint ventures with Chinese and
foreign
investment;
(iii) the income tax concerning foreign enterprises; and
(iv) the local income tax; (hereinafter referred to as “Chinese tax” )
- This Agreement shall also apply to any identical or
substantially similar taxes which are imposed after the date of signature of this Agreement in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes referred to in paragraph 2. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of any substantial changes which have been made in their respective taxation laws within a reasonable period of time after such changes.
ARTICLE 3 GENERAL DEFINITIONS
- For the purposes of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) the term “Pakistan” used in the geographical sense means
Pakistan as
defined in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and includes
any area outside the territorial waters of Pakistan which under the laws of
Pakistan and international law is an area within which Pakistan
exercises
sovereign rights and exclusive jurisdiction with respect to the
natural
resources of the seabed, sub-soil and superjacent waters;
(b) the term “China” means the People’s Republic of China, when used in the
geographical sense, means all the territory of the People’s Republic of China,
including its territorial sea, in which the Chinese laws relating to
taxation
apply, and any area beyond its territorial sea, within which the
People’s
Republic of China has sovereign rights of exploration for and exploitation of
resources of the seabed and its sub-soil and superjacent water resources in accordance with international law:
(c) the terms “a Contracting State” and “the other Contracting
State” mean
China or Pakistan as the context requires;
(d) the term “tax” means Chinese tax or Pakistan tax, as the context requires;
(e) the term “person” includes an individual, a company and any other body of persons;
(f) the term “company” means any body corporate or any entity
which is
treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;
(g) the terms “enterprise of a Contracting State” and “enterprise of the other Contracting State” mean, respectively, an enterprise carried on by a resident of a Contracting State and an enterprise carried on by a resident of the other Contracting State;
(h) the term “national” means:
(i) any individual possessing the nationality of a Contracting State;
(ii) any legal person, partnership and association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in a Contracting State;
(i) the term “international traffic” means any transport by a ship
or aircraft
operated by an enterprise which has its place of effective management in a
Contracting State, except when the ship or aircraft is operated
solely
between places in the other Contracting State;
(j) the term “competent authority” means, in the case of China,
State Tax
Bureau or its authorized representative, and in the case of Pakistan,
the
Central Board of Revenue or its authorized representative.
- As regards the application of this Agreement by a Contracting State, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning which it has under the laws of that Contracting State concerning the taxes to which this Agreement applies.
ARTICLE 4 RESIDENT
- For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “resident of a
Contracting State” means any person who, under the laws of that Contracting State, is
liable to tax
therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of head office
or effective
management or any other criterion of a similar nature.
But this term does not include any person who is liable to tax in that State in respect only of income from sources in that State.
- Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1, an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then his status shall be determined as follows:
(a) He shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State in which he
has a permanent home available to him, if he has a permanent home
available to him in both Contracting States, he shall be deemed to
be a
resident of the Contracting State with which this personal and economic
relations are closer (centre of vital interests) ;
(b) If the State in which he has his centre of vital interests
cannot be
determined, or if he has not a permanent home available to him in either
Contracting State, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the State in which
he has an habitual abode;
(c) If he has an habitual abode in both Contracting States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State of which he is a national;
(d) If he is a national of both Contracting States or of neither
of them, the
competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by
mutual agreement.
- Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1, a person
other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then it shall be deemed
to be a resident of the Contracting State in which the head office of its business is situated. However, where such a person has the place of effective management
of its business in one of the Contracting States and the place of head
office of its business in the other Contracting State, then the competent
authorities of the Contracting States shall determine by mutual agreement the State of
which the person shall be deemed to be a resident for the purposes of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 5 PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT
-
For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “permanent establishment” means a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.
-
The term “permanent establishment” includes especially:
(a) a place of management;
(b) a branch;
(c) an office;
(d) a factory
(e) a workshop;
(f) a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of
extraction of
natural resources; and
(g) a permanent sales exhibition.
-
The term “permanent establishment” likewise encompasses a building site, a construction, assembly or installation project or supervisory activities
in connection therewith, but only where such site, project or activities continue for a period of more than six months. -
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 to 3, the term
“permanent establishment” shall be deemed not to include:
(a) the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise;
(b) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage display;
(c) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise;
(d) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the
purpose of
purchasing goods of merchandise or of collecting information, for the
enterprise;
(e) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the
purpose of
carrying on, for the enterprise, any other activity of a preparatory
or
auxiliary character;
- Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, where a
person–other than
an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 7 applies–is
acting in a
Contracting State on behalf of an enterprise of the other Contracting
State, that
enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the
first-mentioned
Contracting State in respect of any activities which that person
undertakes for the
enterprise, if such a person:
(a) has and habitually exercises in that State an authority to conclude
contracts
in the name of the enterprise, unless the activities of such person
are
limited to those mentioned in paragraph 4 which, if exercised through
a
fixed place of business, would not make this fixed place of business
a
permanent establishment under the provisions of that paragraph; or
(b) has no such authority, but habitually maintains in the first-mentioned State a stock of goods or merchandise from which he regularly delivers goods or merchandise on behalf of the enterprise.
-
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, an insurance enterprise of a Contracting State shall, except in regard to reinsurance, be
deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State if it collects premiums in the territory of that other State or insures risks situated therein through a person other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 7 applies. -
An enterprise of a Contracting State shall not be deemed to
have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State merely because it carries on business in that other Contracting State through a broker, general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status, provided that such persons are acting in the ordinary course of their business. However, when the activities of such an agent are devoted wholly or almost wholly on behalf of that enterprise, he will not be considered an agent of an independent status within the meaning of this paragraph. -
The fact that a company which is a resident of a Contracting State controls or is controlled by a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State, or which carries on business in that other Contracting State (whether through
a permanent establishment or otherwise), shall not of itself constitute either company a permanent establishment of the other.
ARTICLE 6
INCOME FROM IMMOVABLE PROPERTY
-
Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from
immovable property (including income from agriculture and forestry) situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other Contracting State. -
The term “immovable property” shall have the meaning which it has
under the law of the Contracting State in which the property in question is situated. The term shall in any case include property accessory to immovable property,
livestock and equipment used in agriculture and forestry, rights to which the provisions of general law respecting landed property apply, usufruct of immovable property and
rights to variable or fixed payments as consideration for the working of, or the right to work, mineral deposits, sources and other natural resources. Ships and aircraft shall not be regarded as immovable property. -
The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply to income derived from the direct use, letting or use in any other form of immovable property.
-
The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 shall also apply to the
income from immovable property of an enterprise and to income from immovable property used for the performance of independent personal services.
ARTICLE 7 BUSINESS PROFITS
- The profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be
taxable only in that
State unless the enterprise carries on business in the other Contracting State
through a
permanent establishment situated therein. If the enterprise carries on
business as aforesaid, the profits of the enterprise may be taxed in the other
State but only so much of them as is attributable to:
(a) that permanent establishment;
(b) sales in that other State of goods or merchandise of the same or similar kind as those sold through that permanent establishment; or
(c) other business activities (other than activities referred to in paragraph 3 of Article 5) carried on in that other State of the same or similar kind as those carried on through that permanent establishment.
However, the provisions of sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) of this paragraph shall
not
apply if the enterprise proves that such sales or activities could
not have been
undertaken by the permanent establishment.
- Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3, where an enterprise
of a Contracting State carries on business in the other Contracting State
through a permanent establishment situated therein, there shall in each Contracting State be attributed to that permanent establishment the profits which it might be expected to make if it were a distinct and separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar
activities under the
same or similar conditions and dealing wholly independently with the
enterprise of
which it is a permanent establishment.
-
In determining the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed as deductions expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the
business of the permanent establishment, including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred, whether in the State in which the permanent establishment
is situated or elsewhere, which are allowed under the provisions of the domestic law of the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated. The application of the provisions of the domestic law shall be in accordance with the
principles contained in this paragraph. However, no such deduction shall be allowed in respect of amounts, if any, paid (otherwise than towards reimbursement of actual expenses) by the permanent establishment to the head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices, by way of royalties, fees or other similar payments in return for the use of patents or other rights, or by way of commission, for specific services performed or for management, or, except in the case of a banking enterprise, by way of interest on moneys lent to the permanent establishment. Likewise, no account shall be taken, in the determination of the profits of a permanent establishment, for
amounts charged (otherwise than towards reimbursement of actual expenses), by the permanent establishment to the head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices, by way of royalties, fees or other similar payments in return for the use of patents or other rights, or by way of commission for specific services performed or for
management, or except in the case of a banking enterprise by way of interest on moneys
lent to the head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices. -
Insofar as it has been customary in a Contracting State to determine the profits to be attributed to a permanent establishment on the basis of an
apportionment of the total profits of the enterprise to its various parts, nothing in paragraph 2 shall preclude that Contracting State from determining the profits to be
taxed by such an apportionment as may be customary. The method of apportionment adopted shall, however, be such that the result shall be in accordance with the principles contained in this Article. -
No profits shall be attributed to a permanent establishment by reason of the mere purchase by that permanent establishment of goods or merchandise for the enterprise.
-
For the purposes of paragraphs 1 to 5, the profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year unless there is good and sufficient reason to the contrary.
-
Where profits include items of income which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Agreement, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article.
ARTICLE 8
SHIPPING AND AIR TRANSPORT
-
Profits from the operation of ships or aircraft in international
traffic shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated. -
If the place of effective management of a shipping enterprise is aboard a ship, then it shall be deemed to be situated in the Contracting State in
which the home harbour of the ship is situated, or if there is no such home harbour, in the Contracting State of which the operator of the ship is a resident. -
The provisions of paragraph 1 shall also apply to profits from the participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating agency.
ARTICLE 9 ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES
- Where:
(a) an enterprise of a Contracting State participates directly or indirectly
in the
management, control or capital of an enterprise of the other
Contracting
State, or
(b) the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the
management,
control or capital of an enterprise of a Contracting State and an enterprise
of the other Contracting State, and in either case conditions are made
or
imposed between the two enterprises in their commercial or financial
relations which differ from those which would be made between
independent enterprises, then any profits which would, but for those
conditions, have accrued to one of the enterprises, but by reason of those
conditions, have not so accured, may be included in the profits of
that
enterprise and taxed accordingly.
-
Where a Contracting State includes in the profits of an
enterprise of that
Contracting State and taxes accordingly-profits on which an enterprise
of the other
Contracting State has been charged to tax in that other Contracting
State, and the
profits so included are profits which would have accured to the
enterprise of the
first-mentioned State if the conditions made between the two
enterprises had been
those which would have been made between independent enterprises, then that
other
Contracting State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of tax
charged
therein on those profits. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall
be had to
the other provisions of this Agreement and the competent
authorities of the
Contracting States shall, if necessary, consult each other.
ARTICLE 10 DIVIDENDS
-
Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a
Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other Contracting State. -
However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident and according to the laws of that Contracting State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the dividends the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends.
The provisions of this paragraph shall not affect the taxation of
the company in
respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid.
-
The term “dividends” as used in this Article means income from shares, or other rights, not being debt-claims, participating in profits, as well as
income from other corporate rights which is subjected to the same taxation treatment as income from shares by the laws of the State of which the company making the
distribution is a resident. -
The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on
business in the other Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other Contracting State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the
holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 15, as the case may be, shall apply. -
Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State
derives profits or income from the other Contracting State, that other Contracting 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 Contracting State or insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment or fixed base situated in that other Contracting 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 Contracting State.
ARTICLE 11 INTEREST
-
Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident
of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other Contracting State. -
However, such interest may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which it arises and according to the laws of that Contracting State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the interest the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent of the gross amount of the interest.
-
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, interest arising in a Contracting State shall be exempted from tax in the Contracting State, if the interest is paid to:
(a) the Government of the other Contracting State;
(b) State Banks of the other Contracting State;
(c) local authorities, financial institutions and agencies of
the other
Contracting State, which are agreed upon from time to time by the
competent authorities of both Contracting States. “State Banks” mentioned
in the sub-paragraph (b) mean, in the case of China, the People’s Bank of
China and Bank of China, in the case of Pakistan, the State Bank of
Pakistan.
-
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 shall not be regarded as interest for the purpose of this Article. -
The provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 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 Contracting State
independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent
establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 15, as the case may be, shall apply. -
Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when
the payer is the Government of that Contracting State a local authority thereof or a
resident of that Contracting State. Where, however, the person paying the interest,
whether he is a
resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State
a permanent
establishment 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, then such interest shall be deemed to
arise in the
Contracting State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is
situated.
- Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the
beneficial
owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of
the interest, having regard to the debt-claim for which it is paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the
last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 12 ROYALTIES
-
Royalties arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other Contracting State.
-
However, such royalties may also be taxed in the Contrarting State in which they arise, and according to the laws of that Contracting State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the royalties, the tax so charged shall not exceed 12.5 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties.
-
The term “royalties” as used in this Article means payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work including cinematograph films and films or tapes
for radio or television broadcasting, any patent, know-how, trade mark, design or
model, plan, secret formula or process. or for the use of, or the right to use, industrial, commercial or scientific equipment, or for information concerning industrial,
commercial or scientific experience. -
The provisions of paragraphs l 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 Contracting State
independent personal services from a fixed base, situated therein, and the right or
property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with
such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 15, as the case may be, shall apply. -
Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is the Government of that Contracting State, a local authority thereof 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, 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. -
Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties, having regard to the use, right or information for which they are
paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments
shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 13 CAPITAL GAINS
-
Fees for technical services arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracring State may be taxed in that other Contracting State.
-
However, such fees for technical services may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise and according to the laws of that State, but if
the recipient is the beneficial owner thereof, the tax so charged shall not exceed 12.5 per cent of the gross amount of the fees. -
The term “fees for technical services” as used in this
Article means any consideration (including any lump sum consideration) for the provision of rendering of any managerial, technical or consultancy services by a resident of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State (including the provision by such resident of the services of technical or other personnel) but does not include consideration for any activities mentioned in paragraph 3 of Article 5 or Article 15 of the Agreement.
- The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial
owner of the
fees for technical services being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on
business
in the other Contracting State in which the fees for technical services arise,
through a
permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State
independent
personal services from a fixed base situated therein and the contract
in respect of
which the fees for technical services are paid is effectively
connected with such
permanent establishment or fixed base. In such cases the provisions of
Article 7 or
Article 15, as the case may be, shall apply.
- 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 fees for technical services exceeds the amount which would have been paid 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 Agreement.
ARTICLE 14 INDEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES
-
Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the
alienation of immovable property referred to in Article 6 and situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other Contracting State.
-
Gains from the alienation of movable property forming part of
the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State or of movable property pertaining to a fixed base available to a resident of a Contracting State in the other
Contracting State for the purpose of performing independent personal services, including such gains
from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or together with
the whole enterprise) or of such a fixed base, may be taxed in that other Contracting State. -
Gains from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in international traffic or movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircraft shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the place of effective
management of the enterprise is situated. -
Gains from the alienation of shares of the capital stock of a company the property of which consists directly or indirectly principally of immovable property situated in a Contracting State may be taxed in that Contracting State.
-
Gains from the alienation of shares other than those mentioned
in paragraph 4 representing a participation of at least 25 per cent in a company which is a resident of a Contracting State may be taxed in that Contracting State. -
Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the
alienation of any property other than that referred to in paragraphs 1 to 5 and
arising in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other Contracting State.
ARTICLE 15 DEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES
- 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 Contracting State except in one of the following circumstances, when
such income may also be taxed in the other Contracting State:
(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
(b) if his stay in the other Contracting State is for a period or periods exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in the calendar year concerned; in that case, only so much of the income as is derived from his activities performed in that other Contracting State may be taxed in that other Contracting State.
-
The term “professional services” includes especially independent
scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teaching activities as well as the independent activities of physicians, lawyers, engineers, architects, dentists and accountants.
ARTICLE 16 DIRECTORS' FEES
-
Subject to the provisions of Articles 17, 19, 20 and 21, 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 Contracting 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 Contracting State. -
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, remuneration
derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised in the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if:
(a) the recipient is present in the other Contracting State for a
period or
periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in the calendar year
concerned; and
(b) the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who
is not a
resident of the other Contracting State; and
(c) the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment or a fixed base which the employer has in the other Contracting State.
-
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of
this Article,
remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or
aircraft
operated by an enterprise of a Contracting State in international
traffic, shall be
taxable only in the Contracting State in which the place of effective
management of
the enterprise is situated.
ARTICLE 17 DIRECTOR’S FEE
-
Director’s 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 Contracting State.
-
Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a
resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as an official in a top-level managerial position of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other Contracting State.
ARTICLE 18 ARTISES AND ATHLETES
-
Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 15 and 16, income
derived by a resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer, such as a
theatre, motion picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as an athlete, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed
in that other Contracting State. -
Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or an athlete in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or athlete himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7, 15 and 16, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of
the entertainer or athlete are exercised. -
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this
Article, income derived from such activities as are referred to in paragraph 1,
performed under a cultural agreement or arrangement between the Contracting States shall
be exempt from tax in the Contracting State in which the activities are exercised if the visit to that state is wholly or substantially supported by public or government funds of either Contracting State.
ARTICLE 19 PENSIONS
-
Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 20, pensions and other similar remuneration paid to a resident of a Contracting State in
consideration of past employment shall be taxable only in that Contracting State. -
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, pensions paid and
other similar payments made by the Government of a Contracting State or a local authority thereof under a public welfare scheme of the social security system of that Contracting State shall be taxable only in that Contracting State.
ARTICLE 20 GOVERNMENT SERVICE
-
(a) Remuneration, other than pension, paid by the
Government of a
Contracting State or a local authority thereof to an individual in
respect of
services rendered to the Government of that Contracting State or a
local
authority thereof, in the discharge of functions of a governmental nature, shall
be taxable only in that Contracting State.
(b) However, such remuneration shall be taxable only in the other Contracting
State if the services are rendered in that other Contracting State
and the
individual is a resident of that other Contracting State who:
(i) is a national of that other Contracting State; or
(ii) did not become a resident of that other Contracting State solely for the purpose of rendering the services.
-
(a) Any pension paid by, or out of funds to which contributions
are made by,
the Government of a Contracting State or a local authority thereof
to an
individual in respect of services rendered to the Government of that Contracting
State or a local authority thereof shall be taxable only in that Contracting
State.
(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 other Contracting State.
- The provisions of Articles 16, 17, 18 and 19 shall apply to
remuneration and pensions in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by the Government of a Contracting State or a local authority thereof.
ARTICLE 21 TEACHERS AND RESEARCHERS
-
An individual who is, or immediately before visiting a Contracting State was, a resident of the other Contracting State and is present in the
first-mentioned Contracting State for the primary purpose of teaching, giving
lectures or conducting research at a university, college, school or educational
institution or scientific research institution accredited by the Government of the first-mentioned State shall be exempt from tax in the first-mentioned Contracting
State, for a period of two years from the date of his first arrival in the
first-mentioned Contracting State, in respect of remuneration for such teaching, lectures or research, and other income received outside the first-mentioned Contracting State. -
This Article shall not apply to income from research if
such research is undertaken primarily for the private benefit of a specific person or persons.
ARTICLE 22 STUDENTS AND TRAINEES
A student, business apprentice or trainee 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, training
shall be exempt from tax within a period of five years from the date of his
first arrival
in that first-mentioned State on the following payments or income received or
derived
by him for the purpose of his maintenance, education or training:
(a) payments derived from sources outside that Contracting State for
the
purpose of his maintenance, education, study, research or training;
(b) grants, scholarships or awards supplied by the Government, or a scientific, educational, cultural or other tax-exempt organization; and
(c) income derived from personal services performed in that
Contracting
State.
ARTICLE 23 OTHER INCOME
-
Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Agreement shall be taxable
only in that Contracting State. -
The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income, other than income from immovable property as defined in paragraph 2 of Article 6, if the
recipient of such income, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business
in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other Contracting 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. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 15, as the case may be, shall apply. -
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, items of
income of a resident of a Contracting State not dealt with in the foregoing
Articles of this Agreement and arising in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other Contracting State.
ARTICLE 24
METHODS FOR ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION
- In Pakistan, double taxation shall be eliminated as follows:
(a) Subject to the provisions of the laws of Pakistan, regarding the allowance as a credit against Pakistan tax, the amount of Chinese tax payable, under the laws of China and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, whether directly or by deduction, by a resident of Pakistan, in respect of income derived from China, shall be allowed as a credit against the Pakistan tax payable in respect of such income. The amount of credit, however, shall not exceed the amount of the Pakistan tax on that income computed in accordance with the taxation laws of Pakistan.
(b) Where the income derived from China is a dividend paid by a company which
is a resident of China to a company which is a resident of Pakistan and which
owns not less than 10 per cent of the shares of the company paying
the
dividend, the credit shall take into account the tax paid to China
by the
company paying dividend in respect of its income.
(c) For the purpose of sub-paragraphs (a) and (b), Chinese tax paid shall include the amount of Chinese tax which would have been paid if the Chinese tax had not been exempted, reduced or refunded in accordance with:
(i) Article 5 and 6 of the Income Tax law of the People’s Republic
of China
concerning Joint Ventures with Chinese and Foreign Investment and Article 3
of the Detailed Rules and Regulations for the implementation of the Income
Tax law of the People’s Republic of China concerning Joint Ventures with Chinese and Foreign Investment;
(ii) Articles 4 and 5 of the Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China concerning Foreign Enterprises;
(iii) Articles 1, 2, 3, 4 and 10 of Part 1, Articles 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Part 2 and Article 1, 2 and 3 of Part 3 of the interim provisions of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China on Reduction in or Exemption from Enterprise Income Tax and the Consolidated Industrial and Commercial Tax for Special Economic Zones and Fourteen Coastal Cities;
(iv) Articles 12 and 19 of the State Council
Regulations for the
Encouragement of Investment in the Development of Hainan Island;
(v) Articles 8, 9 and 10 of the State Council Regulations
concerning the
Encouragement of Foreign Investment; and
(vi) Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Interim Provisions of the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China regarding (reduction in or exemption from) Enterprise Income Tax and Industrial and Commercial Consolidated Tax for Encouraging Foreign Investment in the Coastal Open Economic Areas;
(vii) any other similar special incentive measures designed to
promote
economic development in the People’s Republic of China which may be
introduced in the laws of the People’s Republic of China after the date of
signature of this Agreement, and which may be agreed upon by the
competent authorities of the Contracting States.
- In the case of China, double taxation shall be eliminated as follows:
(a) Where a resident of China derives income from Pakistan the amount of tax on that income payable in Pakistan in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, may be credited against the Chinese tax imposed on that resident. The amount of credit, however, shall not exceed the amount of the Chinese tax on that income computed in accordance with the taxation laws and regulations of China.
(b) Where the income derived from Pakistan is a dividend paid by
a
company which is a resident of Pakistan to a company which is a
resident of China and which owns not less than 10 percent of the shares
of the company paying the dividend, the credit shall take into account
the tax paid to Pakistan by the company paying the dividend in respect of its income.
(c) For the purpose of sub-paragraphs (a) and (b), Pakistan tax
paid shall
include:
(i) the amount of Pakistan tax which would have been paid if the Pakistan tax had not been exempted, reduced or refunded in accordance with the tax incentives granted under Pakistan Income Tax Ordinance, 1979, as amended from time to time;
(ii) any other similar special incentive measures designed to
promote
economic development in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan which may be
introduced in the laws of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan after the date of
signature of this Agreement, and which may be agreed upon by the
competent authorities of the Contracting States.
- In the application of paragraph 1(c) or paragraph 2(c) of this Article in relation to dividend, interest, royalty income and fees for technical services to which Articles 10, 11, 12 and 13 respectively apply, the amount of Pakistan tax or Chinese tax shall be deemed to be the amount equal to:
(i) in the case of dividends, 15 per cent of the gross amount
of such
dividends;
(ii) in the case of interest, 10 per cent of the gross amount of such interest;
(iii) in the case of royalties, 15 per cent of the gross amount of such royalties; and
(iv) in the case of fees for technical services, 15 per cent of the gross amount of such fees.
ARTICLE 25
NON-DISCRIMINATION
-
Nationals of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in the other Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith, which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of that other Contracting State in the same circumstances are or may be
subjected. The provisions of this paragraph shall, notwithstanding the provisions of
Article 1, also apply to persons who are not residents of one or both of the Contracting States. -
The taxation on a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State shall not be less favourably levied in that other Contracting State than the taxation levied on enterprises of that
other Contracting State carrying on the same activities. -
Except where the provisions of Article 9, paragraph 7 of Article 11, or paragraph 6 of Article 12, apply interest, royalties and other disbursements paid by an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State
shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable profits of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been paid to a resident of the first-mentioned State. -
Enterprises of a Contracting State, the capital of which is wholly or partly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by one or more residents of the other Contracting State, shall not be subjected in the first-mentioned State to any
taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which other similar enterprises of the first-mentioned State are or may be subjected. -
Nothing contained in the preceding paragraphs of this Article shall be construed as obliging either of the Contracting States, to grant to a resident of the other Contracting State those allowances, reliefs, reductions, credits and
rebates for tax purposes which are by law available only to a resident of the Contracting State.
ARTICLE 26
MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROCEDURE
-
Where a person considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, 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 25, 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 Agreement. -
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 provisions of this Agreement. Any agreement reached shall be
implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting States. -
The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the
interpretation or application of the Agreement. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in this Agreement. -
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. The competent authorities shall through consultations develop appropriate bilateral procedures, conditions, methods and techniques for the
implementation of the mutual agreement procedure provided for in this Article.
ARTICLE 27 EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION
-
The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall
exchange such information as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Agreement or of the domestic laws of the Contracting States concerning taxes covered by the Agreement, insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to this Agreement, in particular for the prevention of evasion of such taxes. The exchange of information is not restricted by Article 1. Any information received by a Contracting State shall
be treated as secret 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 Agreement. 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. -
In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 1 be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation:
(a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws
and the
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 28
DIPLOMATIC AGENTS AND CONSULAR OFFICERS
Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the fiscal privileges of diplomatic agents or consular officers under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreement.
ARTICLE 29 ENTRY INTO FORCE
Each of the Contracting States shall notify to the other the
completion of the
procedures required by its law for the bringing into force of this
Agreement. This
Areement shall enter into force on the date of the later of these notifications
and shall
thereupon have effect:
(a) in Pakistan:
(i) in respect of tax withheld at the source on amounts paid or credited to non-residents on or after the first day of July of the year next following that in which the Agreement enters into force; and
(ii) in respect of other taxes for assessment years beginning on or after the first day of July of the year next following that in which the Agreement enters into force.
(b) in China:
(i) in respect of tax withheld at the source on amounts paid or credited to non-residents on or after the first day of July of the year next following that in which the Agreement enters into force; and
(ii) in respect of other taxes for taxation years beginning on or
after the
first day of January of the year next following that in which the
Agreement enters into force.
ARTICLE 30 TERMINATION
This Agreement shall continue in effect indefinitely but either of the
Contracting
States may, on or before the thirtieth day of June in any calendar year
beginning after
the expiration of a period of five years from the date of its
entry into force, give
written notice of termination to the other Contracting State through
the diplomatic
channel. In such event this Agreement shall cease to have effect as respects
income
derived during the taxable years beginning on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next following that in which the notice of termination is given.
DONE at Islamabad, this 15th day of November, 1989, in duplicate in the English and Chinese languages, both texts being equally authentic.
For the Goveroment For the Government
of the People’s Republic of China of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan