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 17
Artistes and Sportsmen
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 14 (Independent Personal
Services) and 15 (Dependent Personal Services), income derived by a
resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer, such as a theater,
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, except where the
amount of the gross receipts derived by such entertainer or sportsman,
including expenses reimbursed to him or borne on his behalf, from such
activities does not exceed twenty thousand United States dollars ($20,000)
or its equivalent in Lithuanian litas for the taxable year concerned.
2. Where income in respect of activities exercised by an entertainer
or a sportsman in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or
sportsman but to another person, that income of that other person may,
notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7 (Business Profits), 14
(Independent Personal Services) and 15 (Dependent Personal Services), be
taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer
or sportsman are exercised, unless it is established that neither the
entertainer or sportsman nor persons related thereto participate directly
or indirectly in the profits of that other person in any manner, including
the receipt of deferred remuneration, bonuses, fees, dividends,
partnership distributions, or other distributions.
3. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to income
derived from activities exercised in a Contracting State by a resident of
the other Contracting State as an entertainer or sportsman if the visit to
the first-mentioned State is wholly or mainly supported by public funds
of the other State or a political subdivision or local authority thereof.
In such a case, the income shall be taxable only in the Contracting State
of which the entertainer or sportsman is a resident.
ARTICLE 18
Pensions, Social Security, Annuities, Alimony,
and Child Support
1. Subject to the provisions of Article 19 (Government Service),
pensions and other similar remuneration derived and beneficially owned by
a resident of a Contracting State in consideration of past employment,
whether paid periodically or as a single sum, shall be taxable only in
that State, but the amount of any such pension or remuneration that would
be excluded from taxable income in the other Contracting State if the
recipient were a resident thereof shall be exempt from taxation in the
first-mentioned State.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, payments made by a
Contracting State under the provisions of the social security or similar
legislation of that State to a resident of the other Contracting State or
to a citizen of the United States shall be taxable only in the
firstmentioned State.
3. Annuities derived and beneficially owned by a resident of a
Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State. The term
"annuities" as used in this paragraph means a stated sum (other than a
pension) paid periodically at stated times during a specified number of
years, under an obligation to make the payments in return for adequate and
full consideration (other than services rendered).
4. Alimony paid by a resident of a Contracting State, and deductible
therein, to a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable
only in that other State. The term "alimony" as used in this paragraph
means periodic payments made pursuant to a written separation agreement or
a decree of divorce, separate maintenance, or compulsory support, which
payments are taxable to the recipient under the laws of the State of which
he is a resident.
5. Periodic payments, not dealt with in paragraph 4, for the support
of a minor child made pursuant to a written separation agreement or a
decree of divorce, separate maintenance, or compulsory support, paid by a
resident of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting
State, shall not be taxable in that other State.
ARTICLE 19
Government Service
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 15 (Dependent Personal
Services) and 17 (Artistes and Sportsmen):
a) remuneration, other than a pension, paid by, or out of the public
funds of a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local
authority thereof to an individual in respect of dependent personal
services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority in the
discharge of functions of a governmental nature shall, subject to the
provisions of subparagraph b), be taxable only in that State;
b) such remuneration, however, 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. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 18 (Pensions,
Social Security, Annuities, Alimony, and Child Support):
a) any pension paid by, or out of the public funds of a Contracting
State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an
individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or
authority in the discharge of functions of a governmental nature shall,
subject to the provisions of subparagraph b), be taxable only in that
State;
b) such pension, however, shall be taxable only in the other
Contracting State if the individual is a resident of, and a national of,
that State.
ARTICLE 20
Students, Trainees and Researchers
1. a) An individual who is a resident of a Contracting State at the
beginning of his visit to the other Contracting State and who is
temporarily present in that other Contracting State for the primary
purpose of:
(i) studying at a university or other accredited educational
institution in that other Contracting State; or
(ii) securing training required to qualify him to practice a
profession or professional speciality; or
(iii) studying or doing research as a recipient of a grant, allowance,
or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary,
or educational organization, shall be exempt from tax by that other
Contracting State with respect to the amounts described in subparagraph b)
of this paragraph for a period not exceeding five years from the date of
his arrival in that other Contracting State.
b) The amounts referred to in subparagraph a) of this paragraph are:
(i) payments from abroad, other than compensation for personal
services, for the purpose of his maintenance, education, study, research,
or training;
(ii) the grant, allowance, or award; and
(iii) income from personal services performed in that other
Contracting State in an aggregate amount not in excess of five thousand
United States dollars ($5,000) or its equivalent in Lithuanian litas for
any taxable year.
2. An individual who is a resident of a Contracting State at the
beginning of his visit to the other Contracting State and who is
temporarily present in that other Contracting State as an employee of, or
under contract with, a resident of the first-mentioned Contracting State,
for the primary purpose of:
a) acquiring technical, professional, or business experience from a
person other than that resident of the first-mentioned Contracting State,
or
b) studying at a university or other accredited educational
institution in that other Contracting State, shall be exempt from tax by
that other Contracting State for a period of 12 consecutive months with
respect to his income from personal services in an aggregate amount not in
excess of eight thousand United States dollars ($8,000) or its equivalent
in Lithuanian litas.
3. An individual who is a resident of one of the Contracting States at
the time he becomes temporarily present in the other Contracting State and
who is temporarily present in the other Contracting State for a period not
exceeding one year, as a participant in a program sponsored by the
Government of that other Contracting State, for the primary purpose of
training, research, or study, shall be exempt from tax by that other
Contracting State with respect to his income from personal services in
respect of such training, research, or study performed in that other
Contracting State in an aggregate amount not in excess of ten thousand
United States dollars ($10,000) or its equivalent in Lithuanian litas.
4. This Article shall not apply to income from research if such
research is undertaken not in the public interest but primarily for the
private benefit of a specific person or persons.
ARTICLE 21
Offshore Activities
1. The provisions of this Article shall apply notwithstanding the
provisions of Articles 4 to 20 of this Convention.
2. A person who is a resident of a Contracting State and carries on
activities offshore in the other Contracting State in connection with the
exploration or exploitation of the sea bed and subsoil and their natural
resources situated in that other State shall, subject to paragraphs 3 and
4, be deemed in relation to those activities to be carrying on business in
that other State through a permanent establishment or a fixed base
situated therein.
3. The provisions of paragraph 2 shall not apply, where the activities
are carried on for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 30
days in any twelve-month period. However, for the purposes of this
paragraph:
a) activities carried on by a person who is associated with another
person shall be regarded as carried on by the other person if the
activities in question are substantially the same as those carried on by
the first-mentioned person, except to the extent that those activities are
carried on at the same time as its own activities;
b) a person shall be deemed to be associated with another person if
one is controlled directly or indirectly by the other, or both are
controlled directly or indirectly by a third person or third persons.
4. However, the provisions of this Article shall not apply to:
a) one or any combination of the activities mentioned in paragraph 4
of Article 5 (Permanent Establishment);
b) towing or anchor handling by ships primarily designed for that
purpose and any other activities performed by such ships; or
c) the transport of supplies or personnel by ships or aircraft in
international traffic.
5. a) Subject to subparagraph b) of this paragraph, salaries, wages
and similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in
respect of an employment connected with the exploration or exploitation of
the sea bed and subsoil and their natural resources situated in the other
Contracting State may, to the extent that the duties are performed
offshore in that other State, be taxed in that other State. However, such
remuneration shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if the
employment is carried on offshore for an employer who is not a resident of
the other State and for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate
30 days in any twelve-month period.
b) Salaries, wages and similar remuneration derived by a resident of a
Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or
aircraft engaged in the transportation of supplies or personnel to a
location, or between locations, where activities connected with the
exploration or exploitation of the sea bed and subsoil and their natural
resources are being carried on in a Contracting State, or in respect of an
employment exercised aboard tugboats or other vessels operated auxiliary
to such activities, may be taxed in the Contracting State of which the
employer is a resident.
ARTICLE 22
Other Income
1. Items of income beneficially owned by a resident of a Contracting
State, wherever arising, not dealt within the foregoing Articles of this
Convention shall be taxable only in that State.
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income, other than
income from immovable (real) property as defined in paragraph 2 of Article
6 (Income from Immovable (Real) Property), if the beneficial owner of the
income, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in
the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated
therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services
from a fixed base situated therein, and the income 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.
ARTICLE 23
Limitation of Benefits
1. A resident of a Contracting State shall be entitled to all the
benefits of this Convention only if it is a "qualified resident" as
defined in this Article.
2. A resident of a Contracting State is a qualified resident for a
taxable year only if it is either:
a) an individual;
b) a Contracting State, a political subdivision or a local authority
thereof, or an agency or instrumentality of such State, subdivision or
authority;
c) a company, if:
(i) on at least half the days of the taxable year the beneficial
owners of at least 50 percent of each class of the company's shares are
qualified residents by reason of subparagraphs a), b), e), or f) of this
paragraph, or U.S. citizens, provided that in the case of indirect
ownership, each intermediate owner is a person entitled to benefits of the
Convention under this paragraph; and
(ii) amounts paid or accrued by the company during its taxable year:
A) to persons that are neither qualified residents nor U.S. citizens,
and
B) that are deductible for income tax purposes in the company's
State of residence (but not including arm's length payments in the
ordinary course of business for services or tangible property),
do not exceed 50 percent of the gross income of the company for that year;
d) a trust or estate, if the ownership of its beneficial interests
satisfies the requirement of subparagraph c)(i) and its payments to
persons who are not qualified residents or U.S. citizens satisfy the
requirement of subparagraph c) (ii);
e) a person, if:
(i) beneficial interests representing at least 50 percent of the value
of each class of interests in that person are substantially and regularly
traded on a recognized stock exchange; or
(ii) the direct or indirect owners of at least 50 percent of each
class of interests in that person are persons entitled to benefits under
clause (i), provided that in the case of indirect ownership, each
intermediate owner is a person entitled to benefits of the Convention
under this paragraph;
f) a person described in subparagraph 3 b) of Article 4 (Resident)
provided that more than half of the beneficiaries, members or
participants, if any, in such person are qualified residents; or
g) a United States Regulated Investment Company, or a similar entity
in Lithuania as may be agreed by the competent authorities of the
Contracting States.
3.. a) A resident of a Contracting State that is not a qualified
resident shall be entitled to the benefits of this Convention with respect
to an item of income derived from the other State, if:
(i) the resident is engaged in the active conduct of a trade or
business in the first-mentioned State,
(ii) the income is connected with or incidental to the trade or
business, and
(iii) the trade or business is substantial in relation to the activity
in the other State generating the income.
b) For purposes of this paragraph, the business of making or managing
investments will not be considered an active trade or business unless the
activity is banking, insurance or securities activity conducted by a bank,
insurance company or registered securities dealer.
c) Whether a trade or business is substantial for purposes of this
paragraph will be determined based on all facts and circumstances. In any
case, however, a trade or business will be deemed substantial if, for the
preceding taxable year, or for the average of the three preceding taxable
years, the asset value, the gross income, and the payroll expense that are
related to the trade or business in the first-mentioned State equal at
least 7.5 percent of the resident's (and any related parties')
proportionate share of the asset value, gross income and payroll expense,
respectively, that are related to the activity that generated the income
in the other State, and the average of the three ratios exceeds 10
percent.
d) Income is derived in connection with a trade or business if the
activity in the other State generating the income is a line of business
that forms a part of or is complementary to the trade or business. Income
is incidental to a trade or business if it facilitates the conduct of the
trade or business in the other State.
4. A resident of a Contracting State that is not a qualified resident
pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 2 may, nevertheless, be granted
benefits of the Convention with respect to income arising in the other
Contracting State if the competent authority of that other Contracting
State so determines.
5. For the purposes of this Article, the term "recognized stock
exchange" means:
a) the NASDAQ System owned by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. and any stock exchange registered with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission as a national securities exchange under the U.S.
Securities Exchange Act of 1934;
b) the National Stock Exchange of Lithuania (Nacionaline vertybiniu
popieriu birza); and
c) any other stock exchange agreed upon by the competent authorities
of the Contracting States.
6. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall consult
together with a view to developing a commonly agreed application of the
provisions of this Article, including the publication of public guidance.
The competent authorities shall, in accordance with the provisions of
Article 27 (Exchange of Information and Administrative Assistance),
exchange such information as is necessary for carrying out the provisions
of this Article.