Hungary - Bahrain Tax Treaty

CONVENTION

BETWEEN

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

AND

THE GOVERNMENT OF HUNGARY

FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION

THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION

WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME

The Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Government of Hungary, desiring to conclude a Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, and to further develop and facilitate their relationship,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1 PERSONS COVERED

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

Article 2 TAXES COVERED

l. This Convention shall apply to taxes on income imposed on behalf of a Contracting State or of its local authorities, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.

2 There shall be regarded as taxes on income all taxes imposed on total income or on elements of income, including taxes on gains from the alienation of movable or immovable property. taxes on the total amount of wages or salaries paid by enterprises, as well as taxes on capital appreciation.

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

(a) in Bahrain, to income tax payable under Amiri Decree No. 22/1979 (hereinafter referred to as “Bahrain Tax”); and

(b) in Hungary:

(i) the personal income tax; (il) the corporate tax

(hereinafter referred to as “Hungarian tax”).

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

Article 3 GENERAL DEFINITIONS

1. For the purposes of this Convention, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) the term “Bahrain” means the territory of the Kingdom of Bahrain as well as the maritime areas, seabed and subsoil over which Bahrain exercises, in

accordance with international law, sovereign rights and jurisdiction;

(b) the term “Hungary” means the territory of Hungary as defined by its laws in accordance with international law;

(c) the terms “a Contracting State” and “the other Contracting State” mean Bahrain or Hungary, as the context requires:

(d) the term “person” includes an individual, a company and any other body of persons;

(e) the term “company” means any body corporate or any entity that is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes or any entity constituted or recognised under the laws of one or other of the Contracting States as a body corporate:

(f) the term “enterprise” applies to the carrying on of any business:

(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 “international traffic’ means any transport by a ship or aircraft operated by an enterprise of a Contracting State, except when the ship or aircraft is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State;

(i) the term “competent authority” means:

(i) in the case of Bahrain, the Minister of Finance or his authorised representative; and

(ii) in the case of Hungary, the minister responsible for tax policy or his authorised representative;

the term “national” means: (i) any individual possessing the nationality of a Contracting State;

(ii) any legal person. partnership, association or other entity deriving its status as such from the laws in foree in a Contracting State;

the term “business” includes the performance of professional services and of other activities of an independent character.

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

Article 4 RESIDENT

For the purposes of this Convention, the term “resident of a Contracting State” means:

(a) in the case of Bahrain,

(i) an individual who is a national of Bahrain and who is present in Bahrain for a period or periods totalling in the aggregate at least 183 days in the fiscal year concerned, and

(ii) any other person which, under the laws of Bahrain, is liable to tax therein by reason of domicile, residence, place of incorporation, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature;

(b) in the case of Hungary, any person who, under the laws of Hungary is liable to tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management, place of incorporation or any other criterion of a similar nature.

The term “resident of a Contracting State” also includes that State or any local authority and a pension fund that is recognised and controlled according to the statutory provisions of a Contracting State and the income of which is generally exempt from tax in that State. This term, however, does not include any person who is liable to tax in that State in respect only of income from sources in that State or capital situated therein.

Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph | 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 only of the State in which he has a permanent home available to him: if he has a permanent home available to him in both States, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests);

(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 State, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has an habitual abode:

(c) if he has an habitual abode in both States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State of which he is a national;

(d) if he is a national of both States or of neither of them, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement.

Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph | a person other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then it shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which it is incorporated. If it is incorporated in both States or in neither of them, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement.

Article 5 PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT

For the purposes of this Convention, the term “permanent establishment” means a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.

The term “permanent establishment” includes especially:

(a) 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;

(g) arefinery; (h) a sales outlet: and (i) a warehouse in relation to a person providing storage facilities for others.

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

Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, the term “permanent establishment” shall be deemed not to include:

(a) the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage. display or delivery 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 or delivery:

(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 or merchandise or of collecting information, for the enterprise;

(ce) 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;

(fj the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of activities mentioned in subparagraphs (a) to (e), provided that the overall activity of the fixed place of business resulting from this combination is of a preparatory or auxiliary character,

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs | and 2, where a person — other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 6 applies — is acting on behalf of an enterprise and has, and habitually exercises, in a Contracting State an authority to conclude contracts in the name of the enterprise, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in that State in respect of any activities which that person undertakes for the enterprise, unless the activities of such person are limited to those mentioned in paragraph 4 which, if exercised through a fixed place of business, would not make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment under the provisions of that paragraph,

An enterprise shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in a Contracting a) State merely because it carries on business in that State through a broker, general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status, provided that such persons are acting in the ordinary course of their business.

The fact that a company which is a resident of a Contracting State controls or is controlled by a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State, or which carries on business in that other State (whether through a permanent establishment or otherwise), shall not of itself constitute either company a permanent establishment of the other.

Article 6 INCOME FROM IMMOVABLE PROPERTY

Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from immovable property (including income from agriculture or forestry) situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

The term “immovable property” shall have the meaning which it has under the law of the Contracting State in which the property in question is situated. The term shall in any case include property accessory to immovable property, livestock and equipment used in agriculture and forestry, rights to which the provisions of general law respecting landed property apply, usufruct of immovable property and rights to variable or fixed payments as consideration for the working of, or the right to work, mineral deposits, sources and other natural resources; ships, boats and aircraft shall not be regarded as immovable property.

The provisions of paragraph | shall apply to income derived from the direct use, letting or use in any other form of immovable property.

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

Article 7 BUSINESS PROFITS

The profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State unless the enterprise carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein. If the enterprise carries on business as aforesaid, the profits of the enterprise may be taxed in the other State but only so much of them as is attributable to that permanent establishment,

Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3, where an enterprise of a Contracting State carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, there shall in each Contracting State be attributed to that permanent establishment the profits which it might be expected to make if it were a distinct and separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities under the same or similar conditions and dealing wholly independently with the enterprise of which it is a permanent establishment.

In determining the profits of a permanent establishment. there shall be allowed as deductions expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the permanent establishment. including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred, whether in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere.

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 the preceding paragraphs, the profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year unless there is good and sufficient reason to the contrary.

Where profits include items of income which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Convention, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article.

Article 8 INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT

Profits derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in that Contracting State.

The provisions of paragraph | 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 accrued, may be included in the profits of that enterprise and taxed accordingly.

Where a Contracting State includes in the profits of an enterprise of that State — and taxes accordingly — profits on which an enterprise of the other Contracting State has been charged to tax in that other State and the profits so included are profits which would have accrued to the enterprise of the first-mentioned State if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those which would have been made between independent enterprises, then that other State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein on those profits if it agrees with the adjustment made by the first-mentioned State. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Convention 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 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 State, but if the beneficial owner of the dividends is a resident of the other Contracting State. the tax so charged shall not exceed:

(a) zero per cent (0 %) of the gross amount of the dividends if the beneficial owner is a company (other than a partnership that is not liable to tax); and

(b) five per cent (5 %) of the gross amount of the dividends in all other cases.

This paragraph shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of these limitations.

The term “dividends” as used in this Article means income from shares, “jouissance™ shares or “jouissance” rights, mining shares, founders’ shares or other rights, not being debt-claims, participating in profits, as well as income 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 | and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident through a permanent establishment situated therein and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. [n such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State derives profits or income from the other Contracting State, that other State may not impose any tax on the dividends paid by the company, except insofar as such dividends are paid to a resident of that other State or insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment situated in that other State, nor subject the company's undistributed profits to a tax on the company's undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in such other State.

Article 11 INCOME FROM DEBT-CLAIMS

Income from debt-claims arising in a Contracting State and beneficially owned by a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in that other State.

The term “income from debt-claims” 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. The term income from debt-claims shall not include any item of income which is considered as a dividend under the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 10. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as income from a debt-claim for the purpose of this Article.

The provisions of paragraph | shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the income from a debt-claim, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the income from the debt-claim arises, through a permanent establishment situated therein, and the debt-claim in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

Income from a debt-claim shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the income from a debt-claim, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting Staite a permanent establishment in connection with which the indebtedness on which the income from a debt-claim is paid was incurred and such income is borne by such permanent establishment, then such income shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated.

Where by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the income, having regard to the debt-claim for which it is paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention,

Article 12 ROYALTIES

Royalties arising in a Contracting State and beneficially owned by a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in that other State,

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

The provisions of paragraph | shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the royalties arise, through a permanent establishment situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties, having regard to the use, right or information for which they are paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last- mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.

Article 13 CAPITAL GAINS

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

Gains, other than those dealt with in paragraph 4 of this Article, from the alienation of movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise), may be taxed in that other State.

Gains derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State 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 that State.

Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of shares or comparable interests deriving more than 50 per cent of their value directly or indirectly from immovable property situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

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 INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT

Subject to the provisions of Articles 15, 17, 18 and 20, 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. [f the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is derived therefrom may be taxed in that other State.

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised in the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if:

(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 tax year concerned, and

(b) — the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident of the other State, and

(c) the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment which the employer has in the other State.

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

Article 15 DIRECTORS' FEES

Directors' fees and other similar payments derived by a resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as a member of the board of directors or the supervisory board of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

Article 16 ARTISTES AND SPORTSMEN

Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7 and 14, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer, such as a theatre, motion picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as a sportsman, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.

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

Article 17 PENSIONS

Pensions and other similar remuneration arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State in consideration of past employment shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State.

Article 18 GOVERNMENT SERVICE

L. (a) Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration 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.

(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:

(i) is a national of that State; or

(ii) did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the services.

2. The provisions of Articles 14, 15 and 16 shall apply to salaries, wages and other similar remuneration in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or a local authority thereof.

Article 19 STUDENTS

Payments which a student, apprentice or business 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 or training, receives for the purpose of his maintenance, education or training shall not be taxed in that State, provided that such payments arise from sources outside that State.

Article 20 PROFESSORS AND TEACHERS

l. A professor or teacher who visits one of the Contracting States for a period not exceeding two years, reckoned from the date he first visits that Contracting State, for the sole purpose of teaching or carrying out advanced study (including research) at a university. college or other recognised research institute or other establishment for higher education in that Contracting State and who was immediately before that visit a resident of the other Contracting State shall be exempt from tax in the first-mentioned Contracting State on any remuneration for such teaching or study,

2 The preceding provisions of this Article shall not apply to remuneration which a professor or teacher receives for conducting research if the research is undertaken primarily for the private benefit of a specific person or persons.

Article 21 OTHER INCOME

1. liems of income of a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising. not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Convention shall be taxable only in that State.

The provisions of paragraph | shall not apply to income, other than income from immovable property as defined in paragraph 2 of Article 6, if the recipient of such income, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

Article 22 ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION

In Bahrain double taxation shall be eliminated as follows:

where a resident of Bahrain derives income which in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, may be taxed in Hungary, the amount of Hungarian tax payable in respect of that income, shall be allowed as a deduction against the Bahrain tax imposed on that resident in respect of that income. The deduction shall not, however, exceed that part of the Bahrain tax which is attributable to such income.

In Hungary double taxation shall be eliminated as follows:

(a) Where a resident of Hungary derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention may be taxed in Bahrain, Hungary shall, subject to the provisions of sub-paragraphs (b) and (c), exempt such income from tax.

(b) Where a resident of Hungary derives items of income which, in accordance with the provisions of Article 10, may be taxed in Bahrain, Hungary shall allow as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident an amount equal to the tax paid in Bahrain. Such deduction shall not, however, exceed that part of the tax, as computed before the deduction is given which is attributable to such items of income derived from Bahrain.

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

(d) The provisions of sub-paragraph (a) shall not apply to income derived by a resident of Hungary where Bahrain applies the provisions of this Convention to exempt such income from tax or applies the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 10 to such income.

Article 23 NON-DISCRIMINATION

Nationals of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in the other Contracting State to any taxation or amy requirement connected therewith, which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of that other State in the same circumstances, in particular with respect to residence, are or may be subjected. This provision shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 1, also apply to persons who are not residents of one or both of the Contracting States.

Stateless persons who are residents of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in either 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 the State concerned in the same circumstances, in particular with respect to residence, are or may be subjected.

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 State than the taxation levied on enterprises of that other State carrying on the same activities. This provision shall not be construed as obliging a Contracting State to grant to residents of the other Contracting State any personal allowances, reliefs and reductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family responsibilities which it grants to its own residents.

Except where the provisions of paragraph | of Article 9, paragraph 4 of Article 11, or paragraph 4 of Article 12, apply. income from debt-claims. 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. Similarly. any debts of an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable capital of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been contracted to a resident of the first-mentioned State.

Enterprises of a Contracting State, the capital of which is wholly or partly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by one or more residents of the other Contracting State, shall not be subjected in the first-mentioned Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which other similar enterprises of the first- mentioned State are or may be subjected.

The provisions of this Article shall. notwithstanding the provisions of Article 2, apply to taxes of every kind and description.

Article 24 MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROCEDURE

Where a person considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, he may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the domestic law of those States, present his case to the competent authority of the Contracting State of which he is a resident or, if his case comes under paragraph | 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.

The competent authority shall endeavour, if the objection appears to it to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at a satisfactory solution, to resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other Contracting State, with a view to the avoidance of taxation which is not in accordance with the Convention. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting States.

The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of the Convention. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in the Convention.

The competent authorities of the Contracting States may communicate with each other directly, including through a joint commission consisting of themselves or their representatives, for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs.

Article 25 EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION

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

Any information received under paragraph | 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) cancerned with the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, the determination of appeals in relation to the taxes referred to in paragraph 1, or the oversight of the above. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes. They may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions.

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

(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).

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

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

Article 26 MEMBERS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS AND CONSULAR POSTS

Nothing in this Convention shall affect the fiscal privileges of members of diplomatic missions or consular posts under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements.

Article 27 LIMITATION ON BENEFITS

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other Article of this Convention, a resident of a Contracting State shall not receive the benefit of any reduction in or exemption from tax provided for in this Convention by the other Contracting State if the competent authority of the other State determines that the main purpose or one of the main purposes of such resident or a person connected with such resident was to obtain the benefits of this Convention, Before a resident of a Contracting State is denied relief from taxation in the other Contracting State by reason of the preceding sentence, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall consult each other. Likewise, the competent authorities of the Contracting States may consult each other with regard to the application of this Article.

Article 28 ENTRY INTO FORCE

1. The Contracting Parties shall notify each other through diplomatic channels that their domestic requirements for the entry into force of this Convention have been complied with.
2. This Convention shall enter into force on the 30th day following the receipt of the

latter of the notifications referred to in paragraph | and its provisions shall have effect in both Contracting States:

(a) with respect to taxes withheld at source, on income derived on or after 1 January of the calendar year next following that in which the Convention enters into force;

(b) with respect to other taxes on income and taxes on capital, for taxes chargeable for any tax year beginning on or after | January of the calendar year next following that in which the Convention enters into force.

Article 29 TERMINATION

This Convention shall remain in force until terminated by a Contracting State. Either Contracting State may terminate the Convention through diplomatic channels, by giving notice of termination at least six months before the end of any calendar year after five years from the date of entry into force of the Convention.

In such event, this Convention shall cease to have effect in both Contracting States:

16

{a) with respect to taxes withheld at source, on income derived on or after | January of the calendar year next following that in which the notice is given;

(b) with respect to other taxes on income and taxes on capital, to taxes chargeable

for any tax year beginning on or after | January of the calendar year next following that in which the notice is given.

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

Done in duplicate at Manama this 24" day of February 2014, in the Arabic, Hungarian and

English languages, each text being equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation the English text shall prevail.

For the Government of For the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain Hungary

K Co fr

PROTOCOL

to the Convention between the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Government of Hungary for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income signed on the 24"" of February 2014 at Manama

The Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Government of Hungary have in addition to the Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income signed on the 24"" of February 2014 at Manama agreed on the following provisions, which shall form an integral part of the said Convention:

1. With reference to Article 2 of the said Convention: It is understood that |

nothing in the said Convention shall affect the right of either one of the Contracting States to apply their domestic laws and regulations related to the taxation of income and profits derived from the exploitation of hydrocarbons and its associated activities (the ownership, management, production, exploration, extraction, transportation, and distribution of hydrocarbons) situated in the territory of the respective Contracting States as the case may be.

2. The said Convention shall in no way prejudice the following:

(a) the obligations of Bahrain deriving from its membership of the Co-operation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), and

(b) the obligations of Hungary deriving from its membership of the European Union (EU).

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.

Done in duplicate at Manama this 24" day of February 2014, in the Arabic, Hungarian and English languages, each text being equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation the English text shall prevail.

For the Government of For the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain Hungary