DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY TECHNICAL EXPLANATION OF THE
CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND
THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCA
颁布时间:1998-01-15
Trusts or Estates - Subparagraph 2(d)
Trusts and estates may be entitled to benefits under this provision if
they are treated as residents under Article 4 (Residence) and they satisfy
the requirements of subparagraph 2(c). For purposes of the application of
subparagraph 2(c)(i) to trusts, the beneficial interests in a trust or
estate will be considered to be owned by its beneficiaries in proportion
to each beneficiary's actuarial interest in the trust or estate. The
interest of a remainder beneficiary will be equal to 100 percent less the
aggregate percentages held by income beneficiaries. A beneficiary's
interest in a trust or estate will not be considered to be owned by a
person entitled to benefits under the other provisions of paragraph 2 if
it is not possible to determine the beneficiary's actuarial interest.
Consequently, if it is not possible to determine the actuarial interest of
any beneficiaries in a trust or estate, the ownership test under clause
(i) cannot be satisfied, unless all beneficiaries are persons entitled to
benefits under the other subparagraphs of paragraph 2.
For purposes of the application of subparagraph 2(c)(ii) to trusts and
estates, distributions would be considered deductible payments to the
extent they are deductible from the taxable base.
Publicly Traded Persons -- Subparagraph 2(e)
Subparagraph (e) applies to two categories of persons: publicly-traded
persons and subsidiaries of publicly-traded persons. Clause (i) of
subparagraph 2(e) provides that a person will be entitled to all the
benefits of the Convention if all the beneficial interests representing at
least 50 percent of the value of each class of interests in the person are
regularly traded on a "recognized stock exchange." The term "recognized
stock exchange" is defined in paragraph 5. If the person is a corporation
"shares" would be considered to be the equivalent of "interests".
If a person has only one class of interests, it is only necessary to
consider whether the interests of that class are regularly traded on a
recognized stock exchange. If the person has more than one class of
interests, it is necessary to make this determination for each class.
The term "substantially and regularly traded" is not defined in the
Convention. Interests are considered to be "substantially and regularly
traded" if two requirements are met: trades in the class of interests are
made in more than de minimis quantities on at least 60 days during the
taxable year, and the aggregate number of interests in the class traded
during the year is at least 6 percent of the average number of interests
outstanding during the year. Authorized but unissued interests are not
considered for purposes of this test.
The regular trading requirement can be met by trading on any
recognized exchange or exchanges located in either State, or, if the
competent authorities so agree, in a third State. Trading on one or more
recognized stock exchanges may be aggregated for purposes of this
requirement. Thus, a U.S. person could satisfy the regularly traded
requirement through trading, in whole or in part, on a recognized stock
exchange located in Lithuania.
Tax Exempt Organizations and Pension Funds -- Subparagraph 2(f)
Subparagraph 2(f) provides that the tax exempt organizations and
pension funds described in subparagraph 3(b) of Article 4 (Resident) will
be entitled to all the benefits of the Convention as long as more than
half of the beneficiaries, members or participants of the organization, if
any, are qualified residents of either Contracting. Tax exempt entities
described in subparagraph 3(b) of Article 4 are entities that generally
are exempt from tax in their State of residence because they
are organized and operated exclusively to fulfill religious, educational,
scientific and other charitable purposes. Pension funds are tax-exempt
entities that provide pension and other benefits to employees pursuant to
a plan. For purposes of this provision, the term "beneficiaries" should be
understood to refer to the persons receiving benefits from the organization.
Regulated Investment Companies-- Subparagraph 2(g)
Subparagraph (g) provides that Regulated Investment Companies, or
similar entities in Lithuania as may be agreed by the competent
authorities of the Contracting States, will be entitled to all benefits of
the Convention.
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3 sets forth a test under which a resident of a Contracting
State that is not generally entitled to benefits of the Convention under
paragraph 2 may receive treaty benefits with respect to certain items of
income that are connected to an active trade or business conducted in
its State of residence.
Subparagraph 3(a) sets forth a three-pronged test that must be
satisfied in order for a resident of a Contracting State to be entitled to
the benefits of the Convention with respect to a particular item of
income. First, the resident must be engaged in the active conduct of a
trade or business in its State of residence. Second, the income derived
from the other State must be derived in connection with, or be incidental
to, that trade or business. Third, if there is common ownership of the
activities in both States, the trade or business must be substantial in
relation to the activity in the other State that generated the item of
income. These determinations are made separately for each item of income
derived from the other State. It therefore is possible that a person would
be entitled to the benefits of the Convention with respect to one item of
income but not with respect to another. If a resident of a Contracting
State is entitled to treaty benefits with respect to a particular item of
income under paragraph 3, the resident is entitled to all benefits of
the Convention insofar as they affect the taxation of that item of income
in the other State. Set forth below is a discussion of each of the three
prongs of the test under paragraph 3.
Trade or Business -- Subparagraphs 3(a)(i) and (b)
The term "trade or business" is not defined in the Convention.
Pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article 3 (General Definitions), when
determining whether a resident of the other State is entitled to the
benefits of the Convention under paragraph 3 with respect to income
derived from U.S. sources, the United States will ascribe to this term the
meaning that it has under the law of the United States. Accordingly, the
United States competent authority will refer to the regulations issued
under section 367(a) for the definition of the term "trade or business."
In general, therefore, a trade or business will be considered to be a
specific unified group of activities that constitute or could constitute
an independent economic enterprise carried on for profit. Furthermore, a
corporation generally will be considered to carry on a trade or business
only if the officers and employees of the corporation conduct substantial
managerial and operational activities. See Code section 367(a)(3) and the
regulations thereunder.
Notwithstanding this general definition of trade or business,
subparagraph 3(b) provides that the business of making or managing
investments, will be considered to be a trade or business only when part
of banking, insurance or securities activities conducted by a bank,
insurance company, or registered securities dealer. Conversely, such
activities conducted by a person other than a bank, insurance company or
registered securities dealer will not be considered to be the conduct of
an active trade or business, nor would they be considered to be the
conduct of an active trade or business if conducted by a bank, insurance
company, or registered securities dealer, but not as part of the company's
banking, insurance or dealer business.
Because a headquarters operation is in the business of managing
investments, a company that functions solely as a headquarter company will
not be considered to be engaged in an active trade or business for
purposes of paragraph 3.
Derived in Connection With Requirement - Subparagraphs 3(a)(ii) and
(d)
Subparagraph 3(d) provides that income is derived in connection with a
trade or business if the income-producing activity in the other State is a
line of business that forms a part of or is complementary to the trade or
business conducted in the State of residence by the income recipient.
Although no definition of the terms "forms a part of" or "complementary"
is set forth in the Convention, it is intended that a business activity
generally will be considered to "form a part of" a business activity
conducted in the other State if the two activities involve the design,
manufacture or sale of the same products or type of products, or the
provision of similar services. In order for two activities to be
considered to be "complementary," the activities need not relate to the
same types of products or services, but they should be part of the same
overall industry and be related in the sense that the success or failure
of one activity will tend to result in success or failure for the other.
In cases in which more than one trade or business is conducted in the
other State and only one of the trades or businesses forms a part of or is
complementary to a trade or business conducted in the State of residence,
it is necessary to identify the trade or business to which an item of
income is attributable. Royalties generally will be considered to be
derived in connection with the trade or business to which the underlying
intangible property is attributable. Dividends will be deemed to be
derived first out of earnings and profits of the treaty-benefited trade or
business, and then out of other earnings and profits. Interest income may
be allocated under any reasonable method consistently applied. A method
that conforms to U.S. principles for expense allocation will be considered
a reasonable method. The following examples illustrate the application of
subparagraph 3(d).
Example 1. USCo is a corporation resident in the United States. USCo
is engaged in an active manufacturing business in the United States. USCo
owns 100 percent of the shares of Litco, a corporation resident in
Lithuania. Litco distributes USCo products in Lithuania. Since the
business activities conducted by the two corporations involve the same
products, Litco's distribution business is considered to form a part of
USCo's manufacturing business within the meaning of subparagraph 3(d).
Example 2. The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that USCo
does not manufacture. Rather, USCo operates a large research and
development facility in the United States that licenses intellectual
property to affiliates worldwide, including Litco. Litco and other USCo
affiliates then manufacture and market the USCo-designed products in their
respective markets. Since the activities conducted by Litco and USCo
involve the same product lines, these activities are considered to form a
part of the same trade or business.
Example 3. Americair is a corporation resident in the United States
that operates an international airline. LitSub is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Americair resident in Lithuania. LitSub operates a chain of
hotels in Lithuania that are located near airports served by Americair
flights. Americair frequently sells tour packages that include air travel
to Lithuania and lodging at LitSub hotels. Although both companies are
engaged in the active conduct of a trade or business, the businesses of
operating a chain of hotels and operating an airline are distinct trades
or businesses. Therefore LitSub's business does not form a part of
Americair's business. However, LitSub's business is considered to be
complementary to Americair's business because they are part of the same
overall industry (travel) and the links between their operations tend to
make them interdependent.
Example 4. The facts are the same as in Example 3, except that LitSub
owns an office building in Lithuania instead of a hotel chain. No part of
Americair's business is conducted through the office building. LitSub's
business is not considered to form a part of or to be complementary to
Americair's business. They are engaged in distinct trades or businesses in
separate industries, and there is no economic dependence between the two
operations.
Example 5. USFlower is a corporation resident in the United States.
USFlower produces and sells flowers in the United States and other
countries. USFlower owns all the shares of LitHolding, a corporation
resident in Lithuania. LitHolding is a holding company that is not engaged
in a trade or business. LitHolding owns all the shares of three
corporations that are resident in Lithuania: LitFlower, LitLawn, and
LitFish. LitFlower distributes USFlower flowers under the USFlower
trademark in the other State. LitLawn markets a line of lawn care products
in the other State under the USFlower trademark. In addition to being sold
under the same trademark, LitLawn and LitFlower products are sold in the
same stores and sales of each company's products tend to generate
increased sales of the other's products. LitFish imports fish from the
United States and distributes it to fish wholesalers in Lithuania. For
purposes of paragraph 3, the business of LitFlower forms a part of the
business of USFlower, the business of LitLawn is complementary to the
business of USFlower, and the business of LitFish is neither part of nor
complementary to that of USFlower.
Finally, a resident in one of the States also will be entitled to the
benefits of the Convention with respect to income derived from the other
State if the income is "incidental" to the trade or business conducted in
the recipient's State of residence. Subparagraph 3(d) provides that income
derived from a State will be incidental to a trade or business conducted
in the other State if the production of such income facilitates the
conduct of the trade or business in the other State.An example of
incidental income is the temporary investment of working capital derived
from a trade or business.
Substantiality -- Subparagraphs 3(a)(iii) and (c)
As indicated above, subparagraph 3(a)(iii) provides that income that a
resident of a State derives from the other State will be entitled to the
benefits of the Convention under paragraph 3 only if the income is derived
in connection with a trade or business conducted in the recipient's State
of residence and that trade or business is "substantial" in relation to
the income-producing activity in the other State. Subparagraph 3(c)
provides that whether the trade or business of the income recipient is
substantial will be determined based on all the facts and circumstances.
These circumstances generally would include the relative scale of the
activities conducted in the two States and the relative contributions made
to the conduct of the trade or businesses in the two States.
In addition to this subjective rule, subparagraph 3(c) provides a safe
harbor under which the trade or business of the income recipient may be
deemed to be substantial based on three ratios that compare the size of
the recipient's activities to those conducted in the other State. The
three ratios compare:
(i) the value of the assets in the recipient's State to the assets
used in the other State;
(ii) the gross income derived in the recipient's State to the gross
income derived in the other State; and
(iii) the payroll expense in the recipient's State to the payroll
expense in the other State.
The average of the three ratios with respect to the preceding taxable
year must exceed 10 percent, and each individual ratio must exceed 7.5
percent. If any individual ratio does not exceed 7.5 percent for the
preceding taxable year, the average for the three preceding taxable years
may be used instead. Thus, if the taxable year is 2002, the preceding year
is 2001. If one of the ratios for 2001 is not greater than 7.5 percent,
the average ratio for 1999, 2000, and 2001 with respect to that item may
be used.
The term "value" also is not defined in the Convention. Therefore,
this term also will be defined under U.S. law for purposes of determining
whether a person deriving income from United States sources is entitled to
the benefits of the Convention. In such cases, "value" generally will be
defined using the method used by the taxpayer in keeping its books for
purposes of financial reporting in its country of residence. See Treas.
Reg. 1.884-5(e)(3)(ii)(A).
Only items actually located or incurred in the two Contracting States
are included in the computation of the ratios. If the person from whom the
income in the other State is derived is not wholly-owned by the recipient
(and parties related thereto) then the items included in the computation
with respect to such person must be reduced by a percentage equal to the
percentage control held by persons not related to the recipient. For
instance, if a United States corporation derives income from a corporation
in Lithuania in which it holds 80 percent of the shares, and unrelated
parties hold the remaining shares, for purposes of subparagraph 3(c) only
80 percent of the assets, payroll and gross income of the company in
Lithuania would be taken into account.
Consequently, if neither the recipient nor a person related to the
recipient has an ownership interest in the person from whom the income is
derived, the substantiality test always will be satisfied (the denominator
in the computation of each ratio will be zero and the numerator will be a
positive number). Of course, the other two prongs of the test under
paragraph 3 would have to be satisfied in order for the recipient of the
item of income to receive treaty benefits with respect to that income. For
example, assume that a resident of Lithuania is in the business of banking
in Lithuania. The bank loans money to unrelated residents of the United
States. The bank would satisfy the substantiality requirement of this
subparagraph with respect to interest paid on the loans because it has no
ownership interest in the payors.
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4 provides that a resident of one of the States that is not
otherwise entitled to the benefits of the Convention may be granted
benefits with respect to income arising in the other Contracting State
under the Convention if the competent authority of the State from which
benefits are claimed so determines. This discretionary provision is
included in recognition of the fact that, with the increasing scope and
diversity of international economic relations, there may be cases where
significant participation by third country residents in an enterprise of a
Contracting State is warranted by sound business practice or long-standing
business structures and does not necessarily indicate a motive of
attempting to derive unintended Convention benefits.
The competent authority of a State will base a determination under
this paragraph on whether the establishment, acquisition, or maintenance
of the person seeking benefits under the Convention, or the conduct of
such person's operations, has or had as one of its principal purposes
the obtaining of benefits under the Convention. Thus, persons that
establish operations in one of the States with the principal purpose of
obtaining the benefits of the Convention ordinarily will not be granted
relief under paragraph 4.
The competent authority may determine to grant all benefits of the
Convention, or it may determine to grant only certain benefits. For
instance, it may determine to grant benefits only with respect to a
particular item of income in a manner similar to paragraph 3. Further, the
competent authority may set time limits on the duration of any relief
granted.
It is assumed that, for purposes of implementing paragraph 4, a
taxpayer will not be required to wait until the tax authorities of one of
the States have determined that benefits are denied before he will be
permitted to seek a determination under this paragraph. In these
circumstances, it is also expected that if the competent authority
determines that benefits are to be allowed, they will be allowed
retroactively to the time of entry into force of the relevant treaty
provision or the establishment of the structure in question, whichever is
later.