PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON I
颁布时间:1989-08-29
At the signing today of the Convention between the United States of
America and the Federal Republic of Germany for the "Avoidance of Double
Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on
Income and Capital and to Certain Other Taxes, the undersigned have agreed
upon the following provision, which shall form an integral part of the
Convention:
1. With reference to the general effects of the Convention
a) Notwithstanding any provision of the Convention or this Protocol
except subparagraph b), the United States may tax its residents (as
determined under Article 4 (Residence)) and its citizens as if the
Convention had not come into effect. For this purpose, the term "citizen"
shall include a former citizen whose loss of citizenship had as one of its
principal purposes the avoidance of income tax, but only for a period of
10 years following such loss.
b) The provisions of subparagraph a) shall not affect the benefits
conferred by the United States
aa) under paragraph 2 of Article 9 (Associated Enterprises), paragraph
6 of Article 13 (Gains), paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 18 (Pensions,
Annuities, Alimony, and Child Support) and paragraphs 1 c) and 2 of
Article 19 (Government Service; Social Security), and under Articles 23
(Relief from Double Taxation), 24 (Nondiscrimination), and 25 (Mutual
Agreement Procedure); and
bb) under paragraph 1 b) of Article 19 (Government Service; Social
Security),and under Articles 20 (Visiting Professors and Teachers;
Students and Trainees) and 30 (Members of Diplomatic Missions and Consular
Posts), upon individuals who are neither citizens of, nor have immigrant
status in, the United States.
c) The Convention shall not restrict in any manner any exclusion,
exemption, deduction, credit, or other allowance now or hereafter accorded
aa) by the laws of either Contracting State; or
bb) by any other agreement between the Contracting States.
d) Nothing in the Convention shall be construed to prevent the Federal
Republic of Germany from imposing its taxes on amounts included in the
income of a resident of the Federal Republic of Germany according to part
4 of the German "Aussensteuergesetz". Where such imposition of tax gives
rise to a double taxation, the competent authorities shall consult for the
elimination of such double taxation according to paragraph 3 of Article 25
(Mutual Agreement Procedure).
2. With reference to Paragraph 1 of Article 4 (Residence)
The Federal Republic of Germany shall treat a United States citizen or an
alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence (a "green card" holder) as
a resident of the United States only if such person has a substantial
presence, permanent home, or habitual abode in the United States.
3. With reference to Article 5 (Permanent Establishment) and Article
14 (Independent Personal Services)
A resident of a Contracting State that performs in the other
Contracting State concerts, theatrical or artistic performances, or
similar shows and revues and that may not be taxed in that other State
under the provision of Article 17 (Artistes and Athletes) shall not be
deemed to have a permanent establishment or fixed base in that State if
its presence does not exceed in the aggregate 183 days in the calendar
year concerned.
4. With reference to paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 7 (Business
Profits) and paragraph 3 of Article 13 (Gains)
For the implementation of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 7 and
paragraph 3 of Article 13 any income, gain, or expense attributable to a
permanent establishment or a fixed base during its existence is taxable or
deductible in the Contracting State where such permanent establishment or
fixed base is situated even if the payments are deferred until such
permanent establishment or fixed base has ceased to exist. Nothing in the
preceding sentence shall affect the application to such deferred payments
of rules regarding the accrual of income and expenses according to the
domestic law of a Contracting State.
5. With reference to Article 7 (Business Profits) and Article 13
(Gains) Gains from the alienation of immovable property that at any time
formed part of the business property of a permanent establishment or fixed
base that a resident of one Contracting State has or had in the other
Contracting State may be taxed by that other State only to the extent of
the gain that accrued during that time. Notwithstanding any provision of
Article 7 or Article 13, such tax may be imposed on such gains at the time
when realized and recognized under the laws of that other State, if it is
within ten years of the date on which the property ceases to be part of
the business property of the permanent establishment or fixed base (or
such shorter period provided by the laws of either Contracting State).
6. With reference to paragraph 3 of Article 7 (Business Profits)
The competent authorities may mutually agree to common procedures
different from those under national law for the allocation to a permanent
establishment of expenses mentioned in paragraph 3 of Article 7.
7. With reference to Article 9 (Associated Enterprises)
Either State may apply the rules of its national law that permit the
distribution, apportionment, or allocation of income, deductions, credits,
or allowances between related persons with a view to apportioning or
allocating such deductions, credits, or allowances in accordance with the
general principles of paragraph 1 of Article 9. Article 9 shall not be
construed to limit either Contracting State in allocating income between
persons that are related other than by direct or indirect participation
within the meaning of paragraph 1, such as by commercial or contractual
relationships resulting in controlling influence, so long as such
allocation is otherwise in accordance with the general principles of
paragraph 1 of Article 9.
8. With reference to paragraph 3 of Article 10 (Dividends)
For United States income tax purposes, the United States shareholder shall
be treated as if it had received as a dividend a refund of German tax
equal to 5.88 percent of the dividend actually paid, determined before the
German withholding tax on such dividend. The sum of this refund and such
actual dividend shall be deemed to have been subject to German withholding
tax at the rate prescribed in paragraph 2 b) of Article 10.
9. With reference to paragraph 8 of Article 10 (Dividends)
The general principle of the "dividend equivalent amount", as used in the
United States law, is to approximate that portion of the income mentioned
in paragraph 8 a) that is comparable to the amount that would be
distributed as a dividend if such income were earned by a locally
incorporated subsidiary.
10. With reference to Articles 10 (Dividends), 11 (Interest), and 12
(Royalties) A Contracting State shall deem the recipient of dividends,
interest, or royalties who is a resident of the other Contracting State to
be the beneficial owner for the purposes of Articles 10, 11, and 12 if the
recipient is the person to which the income is attributable for tax
purposes under the laws of the firstmentioned State.
11. With reference to Article 11 (Interest)
The excess of the amount of interest deductible by a United States
permanent establishment of a German company over the interest actually
paid by such permanent establishment shall be treated as interest derived
and beneficially owned by a resident of the Federal Republic of Germany.
12. With reference to Article 12 (Royalties)Where an artiste resident
in one Contracting State records a performance in the other Contracting
State, has a copyrightable interest in the recording, and receives
consideration for the right to use the recording based on the sale or
public playing of such recording, then such consideration shall be
governed by this Article.
13. With reference to paragraph 2 of Article 13 (Gains)
The term "immovable property situated in the other Contracting State", as
described in this paragraph, when the United States is that other
Contracting State includes a United States real property interest.
14. With reference to paragraph 3 of Article 13 (Gains)
Nothing in this Article shall prevent gains from the alienation by a
resident of a Contracting State of an interest in a partnership, trust,
or estate that has a permanent establishment situated in the other
Contracting State from being treated as gain under paragraph 3.
15. With reference to paragraph 1 of Article 17 (Artistes and
Athletes) If an artiste or athlete is not subject to tax in the Federal
Republic of Germany under the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 17, tax
may be withheld at source in the Federal Republic of Germany and shall be
refunded to the taxpayer only upon application at the end of the calendar
year concerned.
Paragraph 6 of Article 29 (Refund of Withholding Tax) shall remain
unaffected.
16. With reference to paragraph 3 of Article 18. (Pensions, Annuities,
Alimony, and Child Support) In determining the taxable income of an
individual who is a resident of the Federal Republic of Germany there
shall be allowed as a deduction in respect of alimony or similar
allowances paid to an individual who is a resident of the United States
the amount that would be allowed as a deduction if that last-mentioned
individual were subject to unlimited tax liability in the Federal Republic
of Germany.
17. With reference to paragraph 2 of Article 20 (Visiting Professors
and Teachers; Students and Trainees) Payments that are made out of public
funds of a Contracting State or by a scholarship organization endowed with
such funds shall be considered to arise in full from sources outside the
other State. The preceding sentence shall also apply when such payments
are made under programs funded jointly by organizations of both
Contracting States if more than 50 percent of these funds are provided out
of public funds of the first-mentioned State or by a scholarship
organization endowed with such funds. The competent authorities shall
consult with each other to identify those scholarship programs whose
payments shall be treated as arising from sources outside a Contracting
State under the foregoing rules.
18. With reference to paragraphs 1, 4, and 5 of Article 20 (Visiting
Professors and Teachers; Students and Trainees) If a resident of a
Contracting State remains in the other Contracting State for a period of
time exceeding that prescribed, that other State may tax the individual
under its national law for the entire period of the visit, unless in a
particular case the competent authorities of the Contracting States agree
otherwise.
19. With reference to paragraph 2 of Article 21 (Other Income)
Where the recipient and the payor of a dividend are both residents of the
Federal Republic of Germany and the dividend is attributed to a permanent
establishment or a fixed base that the recipient of the dividend has in
the United States, the Federal Republic of Germany may tax such a dividend
at the rates provided for in paragraph 2 and 3 of Article 10 (Dividends).
The United States shall give a credit for such tax according to the
provisions of Article 23 (Relief from Double Taxation).
20. With reference to paragraph 1 of Article 23 (Relief from Double
Taxation) In cases where the Convention gives to the Federal Republic of
Germany the right to tax income and such income is regarded as United
States source income under United States law the United States shall grant
the credit provided for in paragraph 1 of Article 23, subject to any law
of the United States limiting the foreign tax credit in a way that
prevents the crediting of a foreign tax against United States source
income, and the credit provided for in paragraph 3 of Article 23. For
purposes of paragraph 1 of Article 23, the "general principle hereof "
means the avoidance of double taxation by allowing a credit for taxes
imposed on items of income arising in Germany, as determined under
applicable United States source rules, as modified by the Convention.
While the details and limitations of the credit pursuant to this paragraph
may change as provisions of United States law change, any such changes
must preserve a credit for German taxes paid or accrued with respect to
items of German source income.
21. With reference to Article 23 (Relief from Double Taxation) and
Article 25 (Mutual Agreement Procedure)
The Federal Republic of Germany shall avoid double taxation by a tax
credit as provided for in paragraph 2 b) of Article 23, and not by a tax
exemption under paragraph 2 a) of Article 23,
a) if in the Contracting States income or capital is placed under
differing provisions of the Convention or attributed to different persons
(other than under Article 9 (Associated Enterprises)) and this conflict
cannot be settled by a procedure pursuant to Article 25 and
aa) if as a result of such placement or attribution the relevant
income or capital would be subject to double taxation; or
bb) if as a result of such placement or attribution the relevant
income or capital would remain untaxed or be subject only to
inappropriately reduced taxation in the United States and would (but for
the application of this paragraph) remain exempt from tax in the Federal
Republic of Germany; or
b) if the Federal Republic of Germany has, after due consultation and
subject to the limitations of its internal law, notified the United States
through diplomatic channels of other items of income to which it intends
to apply this paragraph in order to prevent the exemption of income from
taxation in both Contracting States or other arrangements for the improper
use of the Convention.
In the case of a notification under subparagraph b), the United States
may, subject to notification through diplomatic channels, characterize
such income under the Convention consistently with the characterization of
that income by the Federal Republic of Germany. A notification made under
this paragraph shall have effect only from the first day of the calendar
year following the year in which it was transmitted and any legal
prerequisites under the domestic law of the notifying State for giving it
effect have been fulfilled.
22. With reference to paragraph 1 of Article 24 (Nondiscrimination)
Paragraph 1 of Article 24 does not obligate the United States to subject
an individual who is a German national not resident in the United States
to the same taxing regime as that applied to a citizen of the United
States not resident in the United States.
23. With reference to Article 25 (Mutual Agreement Procedure)
Nothing in this Article shall be construed to obligate a Contracting State
to disregard a person's waiver of rights under this Article.
24. With reference to paragraph 5 of Article 25 (Mutual Agreement
Procedure) The decision of the arbitration board in a particular case
shall be binding on both Contracting States with respect to that case.
25. With reference to paragraph 5 of Article 25 (Mutual Agreement
Procedure) and Article 26 (Exchange of Information and Administrative
Assistance) The Contracting States may release to the arbitration board
such information as is necessary for carrying out the arbitration
procedure, provided that the members of the arbitration board shall be
subject to the limitations on disclosure described in Article 26.
26. With reference to Article 26 (Exchange of Information and
Administrative Assistance) The Federal Republic of Germany shall under
this Article exchange information with or without request to the extent
provided for in the law of 19 December, 1985 (EG-Amtshilfegesetz) as
amended from time to time without changing the general principles thereof.
27. With reference to Article 27 (Exempt Organizations)
The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall develop
procedures for implementing this Article.
28. With reference to paragraph 1 f) of Article 28 (Limitation on
Benefits) The not-for-profit organizations described in paragraph 1 f) of
Article 28 include, but are not limited to, pension funds, pension trusts,
private foundations, trade unions, trade associations, and similar
organizations. In all events, a pension fund, pension trust, or
similar entity organized for purposes of providing retirement, disability,
or other employment benefits that is organized under the laws of a
Contracting State shall be entitled to the benefits of the Convention if
the organization sponsoring such fund, trust, or entity is entitled to the
benefits of the Convention under Article 28.
Done in duplicate at Bonn this 29th day of August, 1989, in the
English and German languages, both texts being equally authentic.
For the United States of America For the Federal Republic of Germany
(s) Vernon A. Walters (s) Dr. Hans Werner Lautenschlager
(s) Theodor Waigel