A PROTOCOL AMENDING THE 1980 TAX CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA
颁布时间:1983-06-14
MESSAGE
FROM
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
TRANSMITTING
A PROTOCOL AMENDING THE 1980 CONVENTION BETWEEN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA WITH RESPECT
TO TAXES ON INCOME AND ON CAPITAL, SIGNED AT OTTAWA
ON JUNE 14, 1983, WITH A RELATED EXCHANGE OF NOTES
LETTER OF SUBMITTAL (PROTOCOL 1)
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, September 2, 1983.
The PRESIDENT,
The White House.
THE PRESIDENT: I have the honor to submit to you, with a view to its
transmission to the Senate for advice and consent to ratification, the
Protocol amending the Convention between the United States and Canada with
respect to taxes on income and on capital, signed at Washington on
September 26. 1980, which Protocol was signed at Ottawa on June 14, 1983.
Also submitted for transmission to the Senate is a related exchange of
notes.
The Convention was transmitted to the Senate on November 12, 1980, but
Senate consideration of the Convention was delayed until certain technical
problems in the text had been resolved. The Protocol resolves these
technical problems by clarifying the language of the Convention to assure
that its original intent is fulfilled. In addition, the Protocol
introduces new rules not previously considered
A necessary change is found in Articles IX and XIII of the Protocol.
Paragraph 3 of Article IX amends paragraph 6 of Article XVIII (Pensions
and Annuities) of the Convention by splitting the rule in the paragraph
relating to the taxation of alimony and child support payments into two
subparagraphs.
This is done to permit proper cross-referencing in paragraph 3(a) of
Article XXIX (Miscellaneous Rules) of the Convention. Article XIII of the
Protocol amends Article XXIX to assure that the United States will
preserve its full right to tax pensions, annuities, and alimony received
by United States citizens who are resident in Canada.
Article VI of the Protocol makes some significant changes to Article
XIII (Gains) of the Convention. Paragraph 3 of Article XIII has been
rewritten to enable the United States to exercise its full taxing right
under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (section 897 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended). Further, paragraph 9 of
Article XIII has been modified to clarify the circumstances under which a
resident of one Contracting State, upon alienating a capital asset, is
entitled to an exemption from tax in the other State with respect to
appreciation prior to the Conventions entry into force.
Paragraph 2 of Article VII of the Protocol introduces a new paragraph
4 to Article XVI (Artistes and Athletes) of the Convention, through which
a bonus paid as inducement to an athlete resident in one State to sign a
contract with an employer resident in the other State may be taxed in the
latter State. But at a rate not to exceed 15 percent of the amount of the
bonus. In the convention, as signed, the treatment of such bonuses in the
State of residence of the employer is unclear, and, in any event,
recipients of bonuses are not protected by a limit on the rate of tax in
such State.
The Protocol is subject to ratification and will enter into force upon
the exchange at Washington of instruments of ratification and shall
thereupon have effect in accordance with Article XXX (Entry into Force) of
the Convention.
An exchange of notes dealing with tax rates for natural resource
royalties is also transmitted. Although a limit on such rates was set by
the 1942 Convention, the pending Convention does not set such a limit.
This exchange of notes assures that, in the event either State
significantly raises its statutory tax rates, negotiations to provide an
appropriate limit to such tax rate will be resumed at the request of
either.
A technical memorandum explaining in detail the provisions of the
Protocol is being prepared by the Department of the Treasury and will be
submitted to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
The Department of the Treasury, with the cooperation of the Department
of State, was primarily responsible for the negotiation of the Protocol.
It has the approval of both Departments.
Respectively submitted,
GEORGE P. SHULTZ.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL (PROTOCOL 1)
THE WHITE HOUSE, September 21, 1983.
To the Senate of the United States:
I transmit herewith, for Senate advice and consent to ratification, a
Protocol signed at Ottawa on June 14, 1983, amending the Convention
between the United States and Canada with respect to taxes on income and
on capital, signed at Washington on September 26, 1980. I also transmit a
related exchange of notes and the report of the Department of State with
respect to the Protocol Senate consideration of the Convention, which was
transmitted for advice and consent to ratification by letter dated
November 12, 1980, has been delayed pending the correction of certain
technical problems in its text. The Protocol resolves these technical
problems by clarifying the language of the Convention to assure that its
original intent is fulfilled.
In addition, the Protocol makes a necessary change regarding pensions,
annuities and alimony and amends the Convention to permit the United
States to exercise its full taxing right, under the Foreign Investment in
Real Property Act, section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Protocol
also includes a new rule which affects an athlete resident in one State
who is a recipient of a bonus from an employer resident in another State.
The new rule protects such a recipient by limiting the rate of tax in the
State of the employer.
It is most desirable that this Protocol, together with the Convention,
be considered by the Senate as soon as possible and that the Senate give
advice and consent to ratification of both instruments.
RONALD REAGAN.
PROTOCOL AMENDING THE CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES
OF' AMERICA AND CANADA WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME AND
ON CAPITAL SIGNED AT WASHINGTON ON SEPTEMBER 26, 1980
The United States of America and Canada, Desiring to conclude a
Protocol to amend the Convention with respect to Taxes on Income and on
Capital signed at Washington on September 26,1980 (hereinafter referred to
as "the Convention"),
Have Agreed as Follows:
ARTICLE 1
Subparagraph 1(h) of Article III (General Definitions) of the
Convention shall be deleted and replaced by the following:
"(h) The term "international traffic" with reference to a resident of
a Contracting State means any voyage of a ship or aircraft to transport
passengers or property (whether or not operated or used by that resident)
except where the principal purpose of the voyage is to transport
passengers or property between places within the other Contracting State;"
ARTICLE II
Paragraph 4 of Article V (Permanent Establishment) shall be deleted
and replaced by the following: "4. The use of an installation or drilling
rig or ship in a Contracting State to explore for or exploit natural
resources constitutes a permanent establishment if, but only if, such use
is for more than three months in any twelve-month period."
ARTICLE III
Article VI (Income from Real Property) shall be deleted and replaced
by the following:
"1. Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from real
property (including income from agriculture, forestry or other natural
resources) situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that
other State.
2. For the purposes of this Convention, the term "real property" shall
have the meaning which it has under the taxation laws of the Contracting
State in which the property in question is situated and shall include any
option or similar right in respect thereof. The term shall in any case
include usufruct of real property, rights to explore for or to exploit
mineral deposits, sources and other natural resources and rights to
amounts computed by reference to the amount or value of production from
such resources; ships and aircraft shall not be regarded as real property.
3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply to income derived from
the direct use, letting or use in any other form of real property and to
income from the alienation of such property."
ARTICLE IV
Paragraph 1 of Article VIII (Transportation) shall be deleted and
replaced by the following:
"1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles VII (Business Profits),
XII (Royalties) and XIII (Gains), profits derived by a resident of a
Contracting State from the operation of ships or aircraft in international
traffic, and gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the
alienation of ships, aircraft or containers (including trailers and
related equipment for the transport of containers) used principally in
international traffic, shall be exempt from tax in the other Contracting
State."
ARTICLE V
1. Paragraph 3 of Article XII (Royalties) shall be deleted; and
replaced by the following:
"3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, copyright royalties
and other like payments in respect of the production or reproduction of
any literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work (but not including
royalties in respect of motion pictures and works on film, videotape or
other means of reproduction for use in connection with television) arising
in a Contracting State and beneficially owned by a resident of the other
Contracting State shall be taxable only in that other State."
2. Paragraph 4 of Article XII (Royalties) shall be deleted and
replaced by the following:
"4. 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 motion
pictures and works on film, videotape or other means of reproduction for
use in connection with television), any patent, trade mark, design or
model, plan, secret formula or process, or for the use of, or the right to
use, tangible personal property or for information concerning industrial,
commercial or scientific experience, and, notwithstanding the provisions
of Article XIII (Gains), includes gains from the alienation of any
intangible property or rights described in this paragraph to the extent
that such gains are contingent on the productivity, use or subsequent
disposition of such property or rights."
3. Subparagraph 6(b) of Article XII (Royalties) shall be deleted and
replaced by the following:
"(b) Where the royalties are for the use of, or the right to use,
intangible property or tangible personal property in a Contracting State,
then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in that State and not in the
State of which the payer is a resident."
ARTICLE VI
1. Paragraph 3 of Article XIII (Gains) shall be deleted and replaced
by the following:
"3. For the purposes of this Article the term real property situated
in the other Contracting State
(a) In the case of real property situated in the United States, means
a United States real property interest and real property referred to in
Article VI (Income from Real Property)situated in the United States; and
(b) In the case of real property situated in Canada means:
(i) Real property referred to in Article VI (Income from Real
Property) situated in Canada;
(ii) A share of the capital stock of a company, the value of whose
shares is derived principally from real property situated in Canada; and
(iii) An interest in a partnership, trust or estate, the value of
which is derived principally from real property situated in Canada."
2. Paragraph 5 of Article XIII (Gains) shall be deleted and replaced
by the following:
"5. The provisions of paragraph 4 shall not affect the right of a
Contracting State to levy tax on gains from the alienation of property
derived by an individual who is a resident of the other Contracting State
if such individual:
(a) Was a resident of the first-mentioned State for 120 months during
any period of 20 consecutive years preceding the alienation of the
property; and
(b) Was a resident of the first-mentioned State at any time during the
ten years immediately preceding the alienation of the property;
and if such property (or property for which such property was
substituted in an alienation the gain on which was not recognized for the
purposes of taxation in the first-mentioned State) was owned by the
individual at the time he ceased to be a resident of the first-mentioned
State."
3. Paragraph 9 of Article XIII (Gains) shall be deleted and replaced
by the following:
"9. Where a person who is a resident of a Contracting State alienates
a capital asset which may in accordance with this Article be taxed in the
other Contracting State and
(a) That person owned the asset on September 26, 1980 and was resident
in the firstmentioned State on that date; or
(b) The asset was acquired by that person in an alienation of property
which qualified as a non-recognition transaction for the purposes of
taxation in that other State;the amount of the gain which is liable to tax
in that other State in accordance with this Article shall be reduced by
the proportion of the gain attributable on a monthly basis to the period
ending on December 31 of the year in which the Convention enters into
force, or such greater portion of the gain as is shown to the satisfaction
of the competent authority of the other State to be reasonably
attributable to that period. For the purposes of this paragraph the term
"nonrecognition transaction" includes a transaction to which paragraph 8
applies and, in the case of taxation in the United States, a transaction
that would have been a non-recognition transaction but for Sections 897(d)
and 897(e) of the Internal Revenue Code. The provisions of this paragraph
shall not apply to
(c) An asset that on September 26, 1980 formed part of the business
property of a permanent establishment or pertained to a fixed base of a
resident of a Contracting State situated in the other Contracting State;
(d) An alienation by a resident of a Contracting State of an asset
that was owned at any time after September 26, 1980 and before such
alienation by a person who was not at all times after that date while the
asset was owned by such person a resident of that State; or
(e) An alienation of an asset that was acquired by a person at any
time after September 26, 1980 and before such alienation in a transaction
other than a non-recognition transaction."
ARTICLE VII
1. Paragraph 3 of Article XVI (Artistes and Athletes) shall be deleted
and replaced by the following:
"3. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to the income
of:
(a) An athlete in respect of his activities as an employee of a team
which participates in a league with regularly schedule games in both
Contracting States; or
(b) A team described in subparagraph (a)."
2. There shall be added to Article XVI (Artistes and Athletes) a new
paragraph 4, as follows:
"4. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles XIV (Independent
Personal Services) and XV (Dependent Personal Services) an amount paid by
a resident of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting
State as an inducement to sign an agreement relating to the performance of
the services of an athlete (other than an amount referred to in paragraph
1 of Article XV (Dependent Personal Services)) may be taxed in the
first-mentioned State, but the tax so charged shall not exceed 15 per cent
of the gross amount of such payment."
ARTICLE VIII
1. The Title of Article XVII shall be deleted and replaced by the
following:
"Withholding of Taxes in Respect of Personal Services"
2. Paragraph 2 of Article XVII (Withholding of Taxes in Respect of
Personal Services) shall be deleted and replaced by the following:
"2. Where the competent authority of a Contracting State considers
that an amount that would otherwise be deducted or withheld from any
amount paid or credited to an individual who is a resident of the other
Contracting State in respect of the performance of personal services in
the first-mentioned State is excessive in relation to the estimated tax
liability for the taxable year of that individual in the firstmentioned
State, it may determine that a lesser amount will be deducted or
withheld."
ARTICLE IX
1. Paragraph 1 of Article XVIII (Pensions and Annuities) shall be
deleted and replaced by the following:
"1. Pensions and annuities arising in a Contracting State and paid to
a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other
State, but the amount of any such pension that would be excluded from
taxable income in the first-mentioned State if the recipient were a
resident thereof shall be exempt from taxation in that other State."
2. Subparagraph 2(b) of Article XVIII (Pensions and Annuities) shall
be deleted and replaced by the following:
"(b) Annuities may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which
they arise and according to the laws of that State; but if a resident of
the other Contracting State is the beneficial owner of an annuity payment,
the tax so charged shall not exceed 15 per cent of the portion of such
payment that would not be excluded from taxable income in the
first-mentioned State if the beneficial owner were a resident thereof."
3. Paragraph 6 of Article XVIII (Pensions and Annuities) shall be
deleted and replaced by the following:
"6. Alimony and other similar amounts (including child support
payments) arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the
other Contracting State shall be taxable as follows:
(a) Such amounts shall be taxable only in that other State;
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a), the amount
that would be excluded from taxable income in the first-mentioned State if
the recipient were a resident thereof shall be exempt from taxation in
that other State."
ARTICLE X
Paragraph 2 of Article XXI (Exempt Organizations) shall be deleted and
replaced by the following: "2. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3
income referred to in Article X (Dividends) and XI (Interest) derived by:
(a) A trust, company or other organization which is resident in a
Contracting State,generally exempt from tax in a taxable year in that
State and constituted and operate exclusively to administer or provide
benefits under one or more funds or plans established to provide pension,
retirement or other employee benefits; or
(b) A trust, company or other organization which is resident in
Contracting State, not taxed in a taxable year in that State and
constituted and operated exclusively to earn income for the benefit of an
organization referred to in subparagraph (a); shall be exempt from tax in
the taxable year in the other Contracting State."
ARTICLE XI
1. Paragraph 1 of Article XXIV (Elimination of Double Taxation) shall
be deleted and replaced by the following:
"1. In the case of the United States subject to the provisions of
paragraph 4, 5 and 6, double taxation shall be avoided as follows: In
accordance with the provisions and subject to the limitations of the law
of the United States (as it may be amended from time to time without
changing the general principle hereof), the United States shall allow to a
citizen or resident of the United States, or to a company electing to be
treated as a domestic corporation, as a credit against the United States
tax on income the appropriate amount of income tax paid or accrued to
Canada; and, in the case of a company which is a resident of the United
States owning at least 10 per cent of the voting stock of a company which
is a resident of Canada from which it receives dividends in any taxable
year, the United States shall allow as a credit against the United States
tax on income the appropriate amount of income tax paid or accrued to
Canada by that company with respect to the profits out of which such
dividends are paid."
2. Paragraph 2 of Article XXIV (Elimination of Double Taxation) shall
be deleted and replaced by the following: "2. In the case of Canada,
subject to the provisions of paragraphs 4, 5 and 6, double taxation shall
be avoided as follows:
(a) Subject to the provisions of the law of Canada regarding the
deduction from tax payable in Canada of tax paid in a territory outside
Canada and to any subsequent modification of those provisions (which shall
not affect the general principle hereof), and unless a greater deduction
or relief is provided under the law of Canada, income tax paid or accrued
to the United States on profits, income or gains arising in the United
States shall be deducted from any Canadian tax payable in respect of such
profits, income or gains;
(b) Subject to the provisions of the law of Canada regarding the
determination of the exempt surplus of a foreign affiliate and to any
subsequent modification of those provisions (which shall not affect the
general principle hereof), for the purposes of computing Canadian tax, a
company which is a resident of Canada shall be allowed to deduct in
computing its taxable income any dividend received by it out of the exempt
surplus of a foreign affiliate which is a resident of the United States;
and
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a), where Canada
imposes a tax on gains from the alienation of property that, but for the
provisions of paragraph 5 of Article XIII (Gains), would not be taxable in
Canada, income tax paid or accrued to the United States on such gains
shall be deducted from any Canadian tax payable in respect of such gains."
3. There shall be added to Article XXIV (Elimination of Double
Taxation) a new paragraph 9, as follows:
"9 The provisions of this Article relating to the source of profits,
income or gains shall not apply for the purpose of determining a credit
against United States tax for any foreign taxes other than income taxes
paid or accrued to Canada."
ARTICLE XII
Paragraph 6 of Article XXV (Non-Discrimination) shall be deleted and
replaced by the following:
"6. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article XXIV (Elimination of
Double Taxation), the taxation on a permanent establishment which a
resident of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State shall
not be less favorably levied in the other State than the taxation levied
on residents of the other State carrying on the same activities. This
paragraph shall not be construed as obliging a Contracting State:
(a) To grant to a resident 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; or
(b) To grant to a company which is a resident of the other Contracting
State the same tax relief that it provides to a company which is a
resident of the first-mentioned State with respect to dividends received
by it from a company."
ARTICLE XIII
1. Paragraph 2 of Article XXIX (Miscellaneous Rules) shall be deleted
and replaced by the following:
"2. Except as provided in paragraph 3, nothing in the Convention shall
be construed as preventing a Contracting State from taxing its residents
(as determined under Article IV (Residence)) and, in the case of the
United States, its citizens (including a former citizen whose loss of
citizenship had as one of its principal purposes the avoidance of tax, but
only for a period of ten years following such loss) and companies electing
to be treated as domestic corporations, as if there were no convention
between the United States and Canada with respect to taxes on income and
on capital."
2. Subparagraph 3(a) of Article XXIX (Miscellaneous Rules) shall be
deleted and replaced by the following:
"(a) Under paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article IX (Related Persons),
paragraphs 6 and 7 of Article XIII (Gains), paragraphs 1, 3, 4, and 6(b)
of Article XVIII (Pensions and Annuities), paragraph 5 of Article XXIX
(Miscellaneous Rules), paragraphs 3 and 5 of Article XXX (Entry into
Force), and Articles XIX (Government Service), XXI (Exempt Organizations),
XXIV (Elimination of Double Taxation), XXV (Non-Discrimination) and XXVI
(Mutual Agreement Procedure); and"
3. Paragraph 4 of Article XXIX (Miscellaneous Rules) shall be deleted
and replaced by the following:
"4. With respect to taxable years not barred by the statute of
limitations ending on or before December 31 of the year before the year in
which the Social Security Agreement between Canada and the United States
(signed in Ottawa on March 11, 1981) enters into force, income from
personal services not subject to tax by the United States under this
Convention or the 1942 Convention shall not be considered wages or net
earnings from self-employment for purposes of social security taxes
imposed under the Internal Revenue Code."
4. Paragraph 5 of Article XXIX (Miscellaneous Rules) shall be deleted
and replaced by the following:
"5. A beneficiary of a Canadian registered retirement savings plan may
elect, under rules established by the competent authority of the United
States, to defer United States taxation with respect to any income accrued
in the plan but not distributed by the plan, until such time as a
distribution is made from such plan, or any plan substituted therefor. The
provisions of the preceding sentence shall not apply to income which is
reasonably attributable to contributions made to the plan by the
beneficiary while he was not a resident of Canada."
5. Paragraph 6 of Article XXIX (Miscellaneous Rules) shall be deleted
and replaced by the following:
"6. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Convention,
(a) Where profits, income or gains derived by a trust is to be treated
for the purposes of the Convention as income of a resident of a
Contracting State, and a principal purpose for the establishment,
acquisition or maintenance of the trust was to obtain a benefit under the
Convention or the 1942 Convention for persons who are not residents of
that State, Articles VI (Income from Real Property) through XXIV
(Elimination of Double Taxation) shall not apply in relation to the
profits, income or gains of the trust; and
(b) Articles VI (Income from Real Property) through XXIV (Elimination
of Double Taxation) shall not apply to non-resident-owned investment
corporations as defined under section 133 of the Income Tax Act of Canada,
or under any similar provision enacted by Canada after the date of
signature of the Protocol."
ARTICLE XIV
Paragraph 3 of Article XXX (Entry into Force) shall be deleted and
replaced by the following:
"3. For the purposes of applying the United States foreign tax credit
in relation to taxes paid or accrued to Canada:
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2(a) of Article II
(Taxes Covered), the tax on 1971 undistributed income on hand imposed by
Part IX of the Income Tax Act of Canada shall be considered to be an
income tax for distributions made on or after the first day of January
1972 and before the first day of January 1979 and shall be considered to
be imposed upon the recipient of a distribution, in the proportion that
the distribution out of undistributed income with respect to which the tax
has been paid bears to 85 per cent of such undistributed income;
(b) The principles of paragraph 6 of Article XXIV (Elimination of
Double Taxation) shall have effect for taxable years beginning on or after
the first day of January 1976; and
(c) The provisions of paragraph 1 of Article XXIV shall have effect
for taxable years beginning on or after the first day of January 1981.
Any claim for refund based on the provisions of this paragraph may be
filed on or before June 30 of the calendar year following that in which
the Convention enters into force, notwithstanding any rule of domestic law
to the contrary."
ARTICLE XV
1. This Protocol shall be subject to ratification in accordance with
the applicable procedures of Canada and the United States and instruments
of ratification shall be exchanged at Washington as soon as possible.
2. The Protocol shall enter into force upon the exchange of
instruments of ratification and shall have effect in accordance with
Article XXX (Entry into Force) of the Convention.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto by
their respective Governments, have signed this Protocol.
Done in two copies at Ottawa this 14th day of June, 1983, in the
English and French languages, each text being equally authentic.
FOR THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
OF CANADA UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(s) Marc Lalonde (s) Paul H. Robinson, Jr.
NOTES OF EXCHANGE (PROTOCOL 1)
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, June 14,1983.
His Excellency PAUL H. ROBINSON, Jr.,
Ambassador of the United States of America, Ottawa, Ontario.
EXCELLENCY: The Convention between Canada and the United States of
America, with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital signed at
Washington on September 26, 1980, as amended by the Protocol signed today,
provides that income from real property, including natural resources, may
be taxed by the Contracting State in which the real property is situated
under the statutory rules of that State. This rule is the international
standard, consistent with the OECD Model Double Taxation Convention on
Income and on Capital and with recent tax conventions of both countries.
The 1942 Convention provides a 15% limit on the statutory rate of tax
at which royalties including natural resource royalties may be taxed.
Concern has been expressed by persons receiving natural resource royalties
that the new Convention provides no limitation in the tax rate that either
country may impose. Canada and the United States agree that if either
country increases the statutory tax rate which now applies to such natural
resource royalties paid to non-residents (25% in Canada and 30% in the
United States), negotiations will be resumed promptly upon request by
either country with a view to considering an amendment to the Convention
to provide an appropriate limit to the rate at which such royalties may be
taxed.
Accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
MARC LALONDE
Minister of Finance.
OTTAWA, June 14, 1983.
Hon. MARC LALONDE,
Minister of Finance.
SIR: The Convention between Canada and the United States of America,
with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital signed at Washington on
September 26, 1980, as amended by the Protocol signed today, provides that
income from real property, including natural resources; may be taxed by
the Contracting State in which the real property is situated under the
statutory rules of the State. This rule is the international standard,
consistent with the OECD Model Double Taxation Convention on Income and on
Capital and with recent tax conventions of both countries.
The 1942 Convention provides a 15 percent limit on the statutory rate
of tax at which royalties including natural resource royalties may be
taxed. Concern has been expressed by persons receiving natural resource
royalties that the new Convention provides no limitation in the tax rate
that either country may impose. Canada and the United States agree that if
either country increases the statutory tax rate which now applies to such
natural resource royalties paid to non-residents (25 percent in Canada and
30 percent in the United States), negotiations will be resumed promptly
upon request by either country with a view to considering an amendment to
the Convention to provide an appropriate limit to the rate at which such
royalties may be taxed.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(s) PAUL H. ROBINSON, Jr.,
I certify that this is an accurate copy of the original.
MARIO RUGGIA,
Vice Consul, U.S. Embassy,
Ottawa, Canada.