Convention signed at Washington October 8, 1974; 　　Ratification advised by the Senate of the United States of America November 18, 1975; 　　Ratified by the President of the United States of America December 15, 1975; 　　Ratified by the Polish People's Republic June 10, 1976; 　　Proclaimed by the President of the United States of America July 23, 1976; Entered into force July 22, 1976; GENERAL EFFECTIVE DATE UNDER ARTICLE 25: 1 JANUARY 1974 TABLE OF ARTICLES Article 1----------------------------------Scope of Convention Article 2----------------------------------Taxes Covered by the Convention Article 3----------------------------------General Definitions Article 4----------------------------------Fiscal Residence Article 5----------------------------------General Rules of Taxation Article 6----------------------------------Permanent Establishment Article 7----------------------------------Income from Real Property Article 8----------------------------------Business Profits Article 9----------------------------------Shipping and Air Transport Article 10--------------------------------Related Persons Article 11--------------------------------Dividends Article 12--------------------------------Interest Article 13--------------------------------Royalties Article 14--------------------------------Capital Gains Article 15--------------------------------Independent Personal Services Article 16--------------------------------Dependent Personal Services Article 17--------------------------------Teachers Article 18--------------------------------Students and Trainees Article 19--------------------------------Governmental Functions Article 20--------------------------------Relief from Double Taxation Article 21--------------------------------Nondiscrimination Article 22--------------------------------Mutual Agreement Procedure Article 23--------------------------------Exchange of Information Article 24--------------------------------Diplomatic and Consular Officers Article 25--------------------------------Entry into force Article 26--------------------------------Termination Letter of Submittal---------------------of 11 December, 1974 Letter of Transmittal-------------------of 23 January, 1975 Notes of Exchange---------------------of 8 October, 1974 The "Saving Clause"-------------------Paragraph 3 of Article 5 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　MESSAGE 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FROM 　　　　　　　THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 　　　　　　　　　　　　　TRANSMITTING 　　THE CONVENTION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE POLISH PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO INCOME, AND A RELATED EXCHANGE OF NOTES, SIGNED AT WASHINGTON ON OCTOBER 8, 1974 LETTER OF SUBMITTAL DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 11, 1974. 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 Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Polish People's Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Income, and a related exchange of notes, signed at Washington on October 8, 1974. 　　The Convention deals mainly with Federal income taxes in the case of the United States and with substantially similar income taxes specified in Article 2 (2) (a) in the case of Poland. The provision relating to nondiscrimination applies, however, to taxes of every kind imposed at the national, state, or local 1evel. 　　This Convention is similar to other recent tax conventions concluded by this government. It incorporates the same basic principles with respect to the taxation of business income, personal service income and income from investments, and includes provisions for nondiscriminatory tax treatment and for reciprocal administrative cooperation. 　　Pursuant to this Convention profits derived by a business enterprise of one country would be subject to taxation by the other country only to the extent that the profits are attributable to a "permanent establishment"' in that other country. Employees of a firm are not taxable by the host country on their personal service income unless the services are performed there during a stay lasting longer than six months during the taxable year concerned. Withholding taxes imposed on income going from one country to residents of the other country will be limited to 15 percent on portfolio dividends, 5 percent on dividends from a share holding of 10 percent or more, and 10 percent on royalties and film rentals, and interest will be exempt from tax. In the absence of a convention the United States tax rate has been 30 percent of the gross amount, and the Polish tax, although computed at graduated rates, also reaches 30 percent of the gross amount. 　　A technical memorandum explaining in detail the provisions and effect of the Convention is being prepared by the Department of the Treasury and will be submitted to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for consideration in connection with the Convention. 　　Upon entry into force, this Convention will be effective from January 1, 1974, and will remain in force for a minimum period of five years. After the initial five year period it will remain in force indefinitely until terminated by either State. 　　The Department of the Treasury, with the cooperation of the Department of State, was primarily responsible for the negotiation of the Convention. It has the approval of both Departments. Respectfully submitted, ROBERT S. INGERSOLL. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL THE WHITE HOUSE, January 23, 1975. To the Senate of the United States: 　　I transmit herewith, for Senate advise and consent to ratification, the Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Polish People's Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Income as well as a related exchange of notes. 　　I also transmit for the information of the Senate, the report of the Department of State with respect to this Convention. 　　The Convention was signed on October 8, 1974, during the visit to Washington of Polish First Secretary Edward Gierek and is the first income tax convention between the two countries. The Convention is similar to other income tax conventions recently concluded by this Government and it is expected to encourage and support the growing interest in bilateral trade and investment between the two countries. It provides rules of tax jurisdiction, reduces or eliminates tax liability in certain cases, ensures nondiscriminatory tax treatment and provides for administrative cooperation. 　　I recommend that the Senate give this Convention and related exchange of notes early and favorable consideration and give its advice and consent to ratification. GERALD R. FORD. BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION CONSIDERING THAT: 　　The Convention between the United States of America and the Polish People's Republic for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and a related exchange of notes were signed at Washington on October 8, 1974, the texts of which Convention and related notes, are hereto annexed; 　　The Senate of the United States of America by its resolution of November 18, 1975, twothirds of the Senators present concurring therein, gave its advice and consent to ratification of the Convention and related notes; 　　The Convention and related notes were ratified by the President of the United States of America on December 15, 1975, in pursuance of the advice and consent of the Senate, and was duly ratified on the part of the Polish People's Republic on June 10, 1976; 　　It is provided in Article 25 of the Convention that the Convention shall enter into force thirty days after the date of exchange of instruments of ratification, with effectiveness from January 1, 1974, with respect to income; 　　The instruments of ratification of the Convention were exchanged at Warsaw on June 22, 1976; and accordingly the Convention and related notes, enter into force on July 22, 1976, with effectiveness from January 1, 1974, with respect to income; 　　NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States of America, proclaim and make public the Convention and related notes, to the end that they shall be observed and fulfilled with good faith on and after July 22, 1976, by the United States of America and by the citizens of the United States of America and all other persons subject to the jurisdiction thereof. 　　IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have signed this proclamation and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed. 　　DONE at the city of Washington this twenty-third day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred seventy-six and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred first. By the President: GERALD R. FORD Henry A. Kissinger Secretary of State