CONVENTION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT
颁布时间:1998-01-15
ARTICLE 8
Shipping and Air Transport
1. Profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State from the
operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be
taxable only in that State.
2. For the purposes of this Article, the term "profits from the
operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic" includes
profits derived from the rental of ships or aircraft on a full (time or
voyage) basis. It also includes profits from the rental of ships or
aircraft on a bareboat basis by an enterprise engaged in the operation
of ships or aircraft in international traffic, if such rental
activities are incidental to the activities described in paragraph 1.
Profits derived by an enterprise from the inland transport of property
or passengers within either Contracting State are treated as profits
from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic if
such transport is undertaken as part of international traffic by the
enterprise.
3. Profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State engaged in the
operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic from the use,
maintenance, or rental of containers (including trailers, barges, and
related equipment for the transport of containers) used in international
traffic shall be taxable only in that State.
4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 shall also apply to profits
from the participation in a pool, a joint business, or an international
operating agency.
ARTICLE 9
Associated Enterprises
1. 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.
2. 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. 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.
3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not limit any provisions of
the law of either Contracting State which permit the distribution,
apportionment, or allocation of income, deductions, credits, or
allowances between persons, whether or not residents of a Contracting
State, owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the same interests
when necessary in order to prevent evasion of taxes or clearly to
reflect the income of any such of persons.
ARTICLE 10
Dividends
1. Dividends paid by a resident of a Contracting State and
beneficially owned by a resident of the other Contracting State may be
taxed in that other State.
2. However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting
State of which the payor 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) 5 percent of the gross amount of the dividends if the beneficial
owner is a company which holds directly at least 10 percent of the
voting shares of the company paying the dividends;
b) 15 percent of the gross amount of the dividends in all other
cases.
Subparagraph a) shall not apply in the case of dividends paid by a
United States person that is a Regulated Investment Company or a Real
Estate Investment Trust.
Subparagraph b) shall apply in the case of dividends paid by a
Regulated Investment Company. In the case of dividends paid by a United
States person that is a Real Estate Investment Trust, subparagraph b)
shall apply only if the dividend is beneficially owned by an individual
holding a less than 10 percent interest in the Real Estate Investment
Trust; otherwise, the rate of withholding applicable under domestic law
shall apply.
This paragraph shall not affect the taxation of the company in
respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid.
3. 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 term "dividends" also includes income from arrangements,
including debt obligations, carrying the right to participate in
profits, to the extent so characterized under the law of the
Contracting State in which the income arises.
4. The provisions of paragraph 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 payor
is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or
performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed
base situated therein, and the dividends are attributable to such
permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of
Article 7 (Business Profits) or Article 14 (Independent Personal
Services), as the case may be, shall apply.
5. A company that is a resident of one of the Contracting States
and that has a permanent establishment that is subject to tax on its
business profits in the other Contracting State or that is subject to
tax in the other State on a net basis on its income that may be taxed
in the other State under Article 6 (Income from Immovable (Real)
Property) or under paragraph 1 of Article 13 (Capital Gains) may be
subject in that other State to a tax in addition to the tax on profits.
Such tax, however, may not exceed 5 percent of the portion of the
profits of the company subject to tax in the other State that
represents the dividend equivalent amount of such profits.
6. Where 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 that resident, 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 forms part of
the business property of a permanent establishment or a fixed base
situated in that other State, even if the dividends paid consist wholly
or partly of profits or income arising in such other State.
ARTICLE 11
Interest
1. Interest arising in a Contracting State and beneficially owned
by a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other
State.
2. However, such interest may also be taxed in the Contracting
State in which it arises and according to the laws of that State, but
if the beneficial owner of the interest is a resident of the other
Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 percent of
the gross amount of the interest.
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2:
a) interest arising in a Contracting State, derived and
beneficially owned by the Government of the other Contracting State,
including political subdivisions and local authorities thereof, the
Central Bank or any financial institution wholly owned by that
Government, or interest derived on loans guaranteed or insured by that
Government, subdivision, authority or institution shall be exempt from
tax in the first-mentioned State;
b) interest arising in a Contracting State shall be exempt from tax
in that State if the beneficial owner of the interest is an enterprise
of the other Contracting State, and the interest is paid with respect
to an indebtedness arising as a consequence of the sale on credit by an
enterprise of that other State, of any merchandise, or industrial,
commercial or scientific equipment to an enterprise of the
first-mentioned State, except where the sale or indebtedness is between
related persons;
c) the United States may tax an excess inclusion with respect to a
residual interest in a Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit in
accordance with its domestic law; and
d) interest paid by a resident of a Contracting State and that is
determined with reference to receipts, sales, income, profits or other
cash flow of the debtor or a related person, to any change in the value
of any property of the debtor or a related person or to any dividend,
partnership distribution or similar payment made by the debtor to a
related person also may be taxed in that State, and according to its
laws, but if the beneficial owner is a resident of the other
Contracting State, the gross amount of the interest may be taxed at a
rate not exceeding the rate prescribed in subparagraph b) of paragraph
2 of Article 10 (Dividends).
4. The term "interest" as used in this Convention means income from
debt-claims of every kind, whether or not secured by mortgage and,
subject to paragraph 4 of Article 10 (Dividends), 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 or prizes attaching to such securities,
bonds or debentures, as well as all other income that is treated as
interest by the taxation law of the Contracting State in which the
income arises. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded
as interest for the purpose of this Article.
5. The provisions of paragraphs 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 State independent personal services from a fixed
base situated therein, and the interest is attributable to such
permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of
Article 7 (Business Profits) or Article 14 (Independent Personal
Services), as the case may be, shall apply.
6. Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when
the payor is a resident of that 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 State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base
is situated.
7. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payor 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 payor
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 the Convention.
8. A resident of a Contracting State may be subject to tax in the
other Contracting State in respect of interest expenses allocable to
its profits attributable to a permanent establishment in the other
Contracting State or subject to tax in the other Contracting State
under Article 6 (Income from Immovable (Real) Property) or paragraph 1
of Article 13 (Capital Gains) over the interest paid by or from that
permanent establishment or trade or business. In this case, the
allocable interest expense in excess of interest paid shall be deemed
to be interest arising in the other Contracting State and be
beneficially owned by a resident of the first-mentioned Contracting
State.
ARTICLE 12
Royalties
1. Royalties arising in a Contracting State and beneficially owned
by a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other
State.
2. However, such royalties may also be taxed in the Contracting
State in which they arise and according to the laws of that State, but
if the beneficial owner of the royalties is a resident of the other
Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed:
a) 5 percent of the gross amount of the royalties paid for the use
of industrial, commercial or scientific equipment;
b) 10 percent of the gross amount of the royalties in all other
cases.
3. The term "royalties" as used in this Convention 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
computer software, cinematographic films and films or tapes and other
means of image or sound reproduction for radio or television
broadcasting, any patent, trademark, design or model, plan, secret
formula or process, or other like right or property, 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 term "royalties" also includes payments derived from
the disposition of any such right or property which are contingent on
the productivity, use or further disposition thereof.
4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 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 State independent personal services from a fixed
base situated therein, and the royalties are attributable to such
permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of
Article 7 (Business Profits) or Article 14 (Independent Personal
Services), as the case may be, shall apply.
5. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payor 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 payor 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 the
Convention.
6. For purposes of this Article:
a) Royalties shall be treated as arising in a Contracting State
when the payor is a resident of that 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
State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.
b) Where subparagraph a) does not operate to treat royalties as
arising in a Contracting State, and the royalties are for the use of,
or the right to use, in a Contracting State any property or right
described in paragraph 3, then such royalties shall be deemed to arise
in that State and not in the State of which the payor is resident.
c) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this paragraph,
payments received as consideration for the use of containers (including
trailers, barges, and related equipment for the transport of
containers) used in transportation of passengers or property (other
than transportation solely between places in a Contracting State), not
dealt with in Article 8 (Shipping and Air Transport) shall be deemed to
arise in neither Contracting State.
ARTICLE 13
Capital Gains
1. Gains or income derived by a resident of a Contracting State
from the alienation of immovable (real) property situated in the other
Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
2. For the purposes of this Article, the term "immovable (real)
property situated in the other Contracting State" includes immovable
(real) property referred to in Article 6 (Income from Immovable (Real)
Property) which is situated in that other State. It also includes
shares of stock of a company the property of which consists at least 50
percent of immovable (real) property situated in that other State, and
an interest in a partnership, trust or estate to the extent that its
assets consist of immovable (real) property situated in that other
State. In the United States the term includes a "United States real
property interest."
3. 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 which is 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
with the whole enterprise) or fixed base, may be taxed in that other
State.
4. Gains derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State operating
ships or aircraft in international traffic from the alienation of
ships, aircraft or containers operated or used in international traffic
or movable property pertaining to the operation or use of such ships,
aircraft or containers shall be taxable only in that State.
5. Payments described in paragraph 3 of Article 12 (Royalties)
shall be taxable only in accordance with the provisions of Article 12.
6. Gains from the alienation of any property other than property
referred to in paragraphs 1 through 5 shall be taxable only in the
Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident.
ARTICLE 14
Independent Personal Services
1. Income derived by an individual who is a resident of a
Contracting State in respect of professional services or other
activities of an independent character shall be taxable only in that
State unless such services are performed in the other Contracting State
and he has a fixed base regularly available to him in the other
Contracting State for the purpose of performing his activities. In such
case, the income may be taxed in the other State, but only so much of
it as is attributable to that fixed base. For this purpose, where an
individual who is a resident of a Contracting State stays in the other
Contracting State for a period or periods exceeding in the aggregate
183 days in any twelve-month period commencing or ending in the taxable
year concerned, he shall be deemed to have a fixed base regularly
available to him in that other State and the income that is derived
from his activities referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph
shall be attributable to that fixed base.
2. For the purposes of paragraph 1, the income that is taxable in
the other Contracting State shall be determined in the same way as
income of a resident of that other State derived in respect of
professional services or other activities of an independent character.
However, nothing in this paragraph shall 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 that it grants to
its own residents.
3. 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 15
Dependent Personal Services
1. Subject to the provisions of Articles 17 (Directors' Fees), 18
(Pensions, Social Security, Annuities, Alimony, and Child Support), 19
(Government Service) and 20 (Students, Trainees and Researchers),
salaries, wages and other 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. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is
derived therefrom may be taxed in that other State.
2. 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 taxable 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 or a
fixed base which the employer has in the other State.
3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article,
remuneration in respect of an employment as a member of the regular
complement of a ship or aircraft operated by an enterprise of a
Contracting State in international traffic may be taxed in that
Contracting State.
ARTICLE 16
Directors' Fees
Directors' fees and other compensation derived by a resident of a
Contracting State in his capacity as a member of the board of directors
or any similar organ of a company that is a resident of the other
Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.