Utvalgte hurtiglenker

    Direct and indirect taxes

    Agreement Norway - Malawi

    Dato: 15.03.2011 | Finansdepartementet

    Agreement between the Kingdom of Norway and the Republic of Malawi for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income

     

    The Government of the Kingdom of Norway and the Government of the Republic of Malawi, desiring to conclude an Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income,

    have agreed as follows:

     

    Article 1

    Persons Covered

    This Agreement shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.

    Article 2

    Taxes Covered

    1. This Agreement shall apply to taxes on income imposed on behalf of a Contracting State or of its political subdivisions, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.

    2. There shall be regarded as taxes on income all taxes imposed on total income, or on elements of income, including taxes on gains from the alienation of movable or immovable property.

    3. The existing taxes to which the Agreement shall apply are in particular:

      1. in the case of Malawi:

        1. the income tax;

        2. the fringe benefits tax;

          (hereinafter referred to as «Malawi tax»); and

      2. in the case of Norway:

        1. the tax on income;

        2. the tax on remuneration to non-resident artistes etc.;

          (hereinafter referred to as «Norwegian tax»).

    4. The Agreement shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed by either Contracting State after the date of signature of the Agreement in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of any significant changes which have been made in their respective taxation laws.

    Article 3

    General Definitions

    1. For the purpose of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:

      1. the term «Malawi» means the Republic of Malawi and includes all the territory comprising of Malawi in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi; and

      2. the term «Norway» means the Kingdom of Norway, and includes the land territory, internal waters and the territorial sea; the term does not comprise Svalbard, Jan Mayen and the Norwegian dependencies («biland»);

      3. the terms «a Contracting State» and «the other Contracting State» mean Malawi or Norway, as the context requires;

      4. the term «company» means any body corporate or any entity which is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;

      5. the term «competent authority» means:

        1. in Malawi, the Commissioner General of the Malawi Revenue Authority or his authorized representative; and

        2. in Norway, the Minister of Finance or the Minister»s authorised representative;

      6. the term «enterprise» applies to carrying on of any business;

      7. the terms «enterprise of a Contracting State» and «enterprise of the other Contracting State» mean respectively an enterprise carried on by a resident of a Contracting State and an enterprise carried on by a resident of the other Contracting State;

      8. the term «international traffic» means any transport by a ship, aircraft or rail or road transport vehicle operated by an enterprise of a Contracting State, except when the ship, aircraft or rail or road transport vehicle is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State;

      9. the term «national», in relation to a Contracting State, means:

        1. (i) any individual possessing the nationality of a Contracting State;

        2. (ii) any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in that Contracting State; and

      10. the term «person» includes an individual, an estate, a trust, a company and any other body of persons which is treated as an entity for tax purposes;

      11. the term «business» includes the performance of professional services and of other activities of an independent character.

    2. As regards the application of the provisions of the Agreement at any time by a Contracting State, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning which it has at that time under the law of that State for the purposes of the taxes to which the Agreement applies, any meaning under the applicable tax laws of that State prevailing over a meaning given to the term under other laws of that State.

    Article 4

    Resident

    1. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term «resident of a Contracting State» means any person who, under the laws of that State, is liable to tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature, and also includes that State and any political subdivision or local authority thereof. This term, however, does not include any person who is liable to tax in that State in respect only of income from sources in that State.

    2. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then his status shall be determined as follows:

      1. he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has a permanent home available to him; if he has a permanent home available to him in both States, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (center of vital interests);

      2. if the State in which he has his center of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he has not a permanent home available to him in either state, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has an habitual abode;

      3. if he has an habitual abode in both States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State of which he is a national;

      4. if he is a national of both States or of neither of them, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement.

    3. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 a person other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement.

    Article 5

    Permanent Establishment

    1. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term «permanent establishment» means a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.

    2. The term «permanent establishment» includes especially:

      1. a place of management;

      2. a branch;

      3. an office;

      4. a factory;

      5. a workshop;

      6. a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction or exploitation of natural resources; and

      7. an installation or structure used for the exploration of natural resources.

    3. The term «permanent establishment» also encompasses a building site, a construction, assembly or installation project or any supervisory or consultancy activity in connection with such site or project, but only where such site, project or activity lasts for a period of more than six months.

    4. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, where an enterprise of a Contracting State performs services in the other Contracting State

      1. through an individual who is present in that other State during a period or periods exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve month period, and more than 50 per cent of the gross revenues attributable to active business activities of the enterprise during this period or periods are derived from services in that other State through an individual, or

      2. during a period or periods exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve month period, and these services are performed for the same project or connected projects through one or more individuals who are performing services in that State or are present in that State for the purpose of performing such services,

        these services shall be deemed to be performed through a permanent establishment that the enterprise has in that other State, unless these activities are limited to those mentioned in paragraph 5 which, if performed through a fixed place of business, would not make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment under the provisions of that paragraph.

    5. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, the term «permanent establishment» shall be deemed not to include:

      1. the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage or display of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise;

      2. the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise;

      3. the maintenance of stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage or display;

      4. the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise, or for collecting information, for the enterprise;

      5. the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of carrying on, for the enterprise, any other activity of a preparatory or auxiliary character; and

      6. the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of activities mentioned in subparagraphs (a) to (e), provided that the overall activity of the fixed place of business resulting from this combination is of a preparatory or auxiliary character.

    6. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, where a person - other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 7 applies - is acting on behalf of an enterprise and has, and habitually exercises, in a Contracting State an authority to conclude contracts in the name of the enterprise, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in that State in respect of any activities which that person undertakes for the enterprise, unless the activities of such person are limited to those mentioned in paragraph 5 which, if exercised through a fixed place of business, would not make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment under the provisions of that paragraph.

    7. An enterprise of a Contracting State shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State merely because it carries on business in that other State through a broker, general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status, provided that such persons are acting in the ordinary course of their business.

    8. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, an insurance enterprise of a Contracting State shall, except in regard to reinsurance, be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State if it collects premiums in the territory of that State of insures risks situated therein through an employee or through a person other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 7 applies.

    9. The fact that a accompany which is a resident of a Contracting State controls or is controlled by a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State, or which carries on business in that other State (whether through a permanent establishment of otherwise), shall not of itself constitute either company a permanent establishment of the other.

    Article 6

    Income from Immovable Property

    1. Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from immovable property, including income from agriculture or forestry, situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

    2. The term «immovable property» shall have the meaning which it has under the law of the Contracting State in which the property in question is situated. The term shall in any case include property accessory to immovable property, livestock and equipment used in agriculture and forestry, rights to which the provisions of general law respecting landed property apply, usufruct of immovable property and rights to variable or fixed payments as consideration for the working of, or the right to work, mineral deposits, sources and other natural resources. Ships, boats and aircraft shall not be regarded as immovable property.

    3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply to income derived from the direct use, letting or use in any other form of immovable property.

    4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 shall also apply to the income from immovable property of an enterprise.

    Article 7

    Business Profits

    1. The profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State unless the enterprise carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein. If the enterprise carries on business as aforesaid, the profits of the enterprise may be taxed in the other state but only so much of them as is attributed to that permanent establishment.

    2. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 3, where an enterprise of a Contracting State carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, there shall in each Contracting State be attributed to that permanent establishment the profits which it might be expected to make if it were a distinct and separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities under the same or similar conditions and dealing wholly independently with the enterprise of which it is a permanent establishment.

    3. In the determination of the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed as deductions expenses which are incurred for the purpose of the business of the permanent establishment including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred, whether in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere.

    4. No profits shall be attributed to a permanent establishment by reason of the mere purchase by that permanent establishment of goods or merchandise for the enterprise.

    5. For the purposes of the preceding paragraphs, the profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year unless there is a good and sufficient reason to the contrary.

    6. Where profits include in terms of income which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Agreement, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article.

    Article 8

    International Transport

    1. Profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State from the operation of ships, aircraft or rail or road transport vehicles in international traffic shall be taxable only in that state.

    2. For the purposes of this Article, profits from the operation of ships, aircraft or rail or road transport vehicles in international traffic shall include:

      1. in the case of ships or aircraft, profits derived from the rental on a bare boat basis of ships or aircraft used in international traffic; and

      2. in the case of rail or road transport vehicles, profits derived from the rental of rail or road transport vehicles used in international traffic,

        if such profits are incidental to the profits to which the provisions of paragraph 1 apply.

    3. Profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State from the use or rental of containers (including trailers, barges, and related equipment for the transport of containers) used for the transport in international traffic of goods or merchandise shall be taxable only in that state.

    4. The provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall also apply to profits from the participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating agency.

    5. The provisions of paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 shall apply to profits derived by the joint Norwegian, Danish and Swedish air transport consortium Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), but only insofar as profits derived by SAS Norge AS, the Norwegian partner of the Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), are in proportion to its share in that organisation.

    Article 9

    Associated Enterprises

    1. Where:

      1. an enterprise of a Contracting State participates directly or indirectly in the management, control of capital of an enterprise of the other Contracting State; or

      2. 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 may make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein on those profits, if that State considers the adjustment justified. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Agreement and the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall if necessary consult each other.

    Article 10

    Dividends

    1. Dividends arising in a Contracting State and paid to 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 company paying the dividends 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:

      1. 5 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends if the beneficial owner is a company (other than a partnership) which holds directly at least 10 per cent of the capital of the company paying the dividends;

      2. 15 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends in all other cases.

        This paragraph shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid.

    3. Where dividends are derived and beneficially owned by the Government of a Contracting State, such dividends shall be taxable only in that State. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term «Government of a Contracting State» shall include:

      1. in the case of Norway:

        1. the Central Bank of Norway;

        2. the Government Pension Fund;

        3. the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund); and

        4. a statutory body or any institution wholly or mainly owned by the Government of Norway as may be agreed from time to time between the competent authorities of the Contracting States;

      2. in the case of Malawi :

        1. the Reserve Bank of Malawi;

        2. a statutory body or any institution wholly or mainly owned by the Government of Malawi as may be agreed from time to time between the competent authorities of the Contracting States.

    4. The term «dividends» as used in this Article means income from shares or other rights participating in profits (not being debt-claims), 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 Contracting State of which the company making the distribution is a resident , and income from arrangements carrying the right to participate in profits to the extent so characterised under the laws of the Contracting State in which the income arises.

    5. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 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 company paying the dividends is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

    6. Where a company which is 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 the company, except insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment situated in that other State, nor subject the company»s undistributed profits to a tax on undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in such other State.

    Article 11

    Interest

    1. Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

    2. However, such interest may also be taxed in the State in which it arises and according to the laws of that State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the interest, tax so charged shall not exceed 10 percent of the gross amount of the interest.

    3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, interest arising in a Contracting State shall be exempt from tax in that State if it is derived and beneficially owned by the Government of a Contracting State. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term Government of a Contracting State shall include:

      1. in the case of Norway:

        1. the Central Bank of Norway;

        2. the Government Pension Fund;

        3. the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund);

        4. the Norwegian Guarantee Institute for Export Credits and Eksportfinans AS, but only insofar as the loan or interest is guaranteed or insured by the Government of Norway or its political subdivisions or local authorities; and

        5. a statutory body or any institution wholly or mainly owned by the Government of Norway as may be agreed from time to time between the competent authorities of the Contracting States;

      2. in the case of Malawi :

        1. the Reserve Bank of Malawi;

        2. a statutory body or any institution wholly or mainly owned by the Government of Malawi as may be agreed from time to time between the competent authorities of the Contracting States.

    4. The term «interest» as used in this Article means income from debt-claims of every kind, whether or not secured by mortgage, and in particular, income from government securities and income from bonds or debentures, including premiums and prizes attaching to such securities, bonds or debentures. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purpose of this Article.

    5. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 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, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

    6. Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer 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 in connection with which the indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, such interest shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated.

    7. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer 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 payer 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 this Agreement.

    Article 12

    Royalties

    1. Royalties arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other State may be taxed in that 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 recipient who is a resident of the other State beneficially owns the royalties, the tax so charged shall not exceed 5 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties.

    3. The term «royalties» as used in this Article 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 cinematography films and films, tapes or discs for radio or television broadcasting), any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience.

    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, and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

    5. Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer 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 with which the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected, and such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment, then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated.

    6. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer 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 payer 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 this Agreement.

    Article 13

    Capital Gains

    1. Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of immovable property referred to in Article 6 and situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

    2. 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 including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise), may be taxed in that other State.

    3. Gains of an enterprise of a Contracting State from the alienation of ships, aircraft or rail or road transport vehicles operated in international traffic or movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships, aircraft or rail or road transport vehicles, shall be taxable only in that State.

    4. Gains derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the alienation of containers (including trailers, barges, and related equipment for the transport of containers) used for the transport in international traffic of goods or merchandise shall be taxable only in that State.

    5. Gains from the alienation of any property other than that referred to in the preceding paragraphs shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident.

    Article 14

    Income from Employment

    1. Subject to the provisions of Articles 15, 17 and 18, salaries, wages and other similar 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:

      1. 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 fiscal year concerned; and

      2. the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is a resident of the first-mentioned State and whose activity does not consist of the hiring out of labour; and

      3. the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment which the employer has in the other State.

    3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship, aircraft or rail or road transport vehicle operated in international traffic by an enterprise of a Contracting State may be taxed in that State.

    Article 15

    Directors' Fees

    1. Directors' fees and other similar payments derived by a resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as a member of the board of directors or of a similar organ of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in the other State.

    2. Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as an official in a top level managerial position of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

    Article 16

    Entertainers and Sportspersons

    1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7 and 14, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer such as a theatre, motion picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as a sportsperson, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.

    2. Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsperson in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or sportsperson himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7 and 14 be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsperson are exercised.

    3. Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from activities exercised in the other Contracting State as envisaged in paragraphs 1 and 2, shall be exempt from tax in that other State if the visit to that other State is supported wholly or mainly by public funds of the first-mentioned Contracting State, a political subdivision or a local authority thereof.

    Article 17

    Pensions, Annuities, Payments under a Social Security System and Alimony

    1. Pensions, including social security payments, and annuities arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in the first-mentioned State.

    2. The term «annuity» means a stated sum payable periodically at stated times during life or during a specified or ascertainable period of time under an obligation to make the payments in return for adequate and full consideration in money or money»s worth.

    3. Alimony and other maintenance payments paid to a resident of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State. However, any alimony or other maintenance payment paid by a resident of one of the Contracting States to a resident of the other Contracting State, shall, to the extent it is not allowable as a relief to the payer, be taxable only in the first-mentioned State.

    Article 18

    Government Service

      1. Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, other than pensions, paid by 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 shall be taxable only in that State.

      2. However, such salaries, wages and other similar remuneration 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:

        1. is a national of that State; or

        2. did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the services.

    2. The provisions of Articles 14, 15 and 16 shall apply to salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, other than pensions, in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof.

    Article 19

    Students, Apprentices and Business Trainees

    Payments which a student or business trainee or apprentice who is or was immediately before visiting a Contracting State a resident of the other Contracting State and who is present in the first-mentioned State solely for the purpose of his education or training receives for the purpose of his maintenance, education or training shall not be taxed in that State, provided that such payments arise from sources outside that State.

    Article 20

    Other Income

    1. Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Agreement shall be taxable only in that State.

    2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income, other than income from immovable property as defined in paragraph 2 of Article 6, if the recipient of such income, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

    3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, items of income of a resident of a Contracting State not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of the Agreement and arising in the other Contracting State may also be taxed in that other State.

    Article 21

    Elimination of Double Taxation

    1. In Malawi double taxation shall be eliminated as follows:

      tax paid by residents of Malawi in respect of income taxable in Norway in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, shall be deducted from the taxes due according to Malawi fiscal law. Such deduction shall not, however, exceed that part of the Malawi tax, as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable to the income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, may be taxed in Norway;

    2. Subject to the provisions of the laws of Norway regarding the allowance as a credit against Norwegian tax of tax payable in a territory outside Norway (which shall not affect the general principle hereof) -

      1. Where a resident of Norway derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, may be taxed in Malawi, Norway shall allow as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident, an amount equal to the income tax paid in Malawi on that income.

        Such deduction shall not, however, exceed that part of the income tax, as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable to the income which may be taxed in Malawi.

      2. Where in accordance with any provision of the Agreement income derived by a resident of Norway is exempt from tax in Norway, Norway may nevertheless include such income in the tax base, but shall allow as a deduction from the Norwegian tax on income that part of the income tax which is attributable to the income derived from Malawi.

    Article 22

    Non-discrimination

    1. Nationals of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in the other Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of that other State in the same circumstances, in particular with respect to residence, are or may be subjected. This provision shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 1, also apply to persons who are not residents of one or both of the Contracting States.

    2. Stateless persons who are residents of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in either Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith, which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of the State concerned in the same circumstances, in particular with respect to residence, are or may be subjected.

    3. The taxation on a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State shall not be less favourably levied in that other State than the taxation levied on enterprises of that other State carrying on the same activities. This provision shall not 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 which it grants to its own residents.

    4. Enterprises of a Contracting State, the capital of which is wholly or partly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by one or more residents of the other Contracting State, shall not be subjected in the first-mentioned State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which other similar enterprises of that first-mentioned State are or may be subjected.

    5. Except where the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 9, paragraph 7 of Article 11 or paragraph 6 of Article 12 apply, interest, royalties and other disbursements paid by an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable profits of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been paid to a resident of the first-mentioned State.

    6. The provisions of this Article shall not be construed as preventing a Contracting State from imposing on the profits attributable to a permanent establishment in that Contracting State of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State, a tax at a rate which does not exceed the rate of income tax or normal tax on companies, as the case may be, by more than 5 percentage points.

    7. The provisions of this Article shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 2, apply to taxes of every kind and description.

    Article 23

    Mutual Agreement Procedure

    1. Where a person considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with this Agreement, he may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the domestic law of those States, present his case to the competent authority of the Contracting State of which he is a resident or, if his case comes under paragraph 1 of Article 22, to that of the Contracting State of which he is a national. The case must be presented within three years from the first notification of the action resulting in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement.

    2. The competent authority shall endeavour, if the objection appears to it to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at a satisfactory solution, to resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other Contracting State, with a view to the avoidance of taxation which is not in accordance with the Agreement. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting States.

    3. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of the Agreement. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in the Agreement.

    4. The competent authorities of the Contracting States may communicate with each other directly, including through a joint commission consisting of themselves or their representatives, for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs.

    Article 24

    Exchange of Information

    1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is forseeably relevant for carrying out the provisions of this Agreement or to the administration or enforcement of the domestic laws concerning taxes of every kind and description imposed on behalf of the Contracting States, or of their political subdivisions or local authorities, insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Agreement. The exchange of information is not restricted by Article 1 and 2.

    2. Any information received under paragraph 1 by a Contracting State shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic laws of that State and shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) concerned with the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, the determination of appeals in relation to the taxes referred to in paragraph 1, or the oversight of the above. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes. They may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, information received by a Contracting State may be used for other purposes when such information may be used for such other purposes under the laws of both States and the competent authority of the supplying State authorises such use.

    3. In no case shall the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation:

      1. to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws or the administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;

      2. to supply information which is not obtainable under the laws or in the normal course of the administration of that or of the other Contracting State;

      3. to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process, or information, the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy (ordre public).

    4. If information is requested by a Contracting State in accordance with this Article, the other Contracting State shall use its information gathering measures to obtain the requested information even though that other State may not need such information for its own tax purposes. The obligation contained in the preceding sentence is subject to the limitations of paragraph 3, but in no case shall such limitations be construed to permit a Contracting State to decline to supply information solely because it has no domestic interest in such information.

    5. In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 3 be construed to permit a Contracting State to decline to supply information solely because the information is held by a bank, other financial institution, nominee or person acting in an agency or a fiduciary capacity or because it relates to ownership interests in a person.

    Article 25

    Assistance in the Collection of Taxes

    1. The Contracting States shall lend assistance to each other in the collection of revenue claims. This assistance is not restricted by Articles 1 and 2. The competent authorities of the Contracting States may by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this Article.

    2. The term «revenue claim» as used in this Article means an amount owed in respect of taxes of every kind and description imposed on behalf of the Contracting States, or of their political subdivisions or local authorities, insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to this Agreement or any other instrument to which the Contracting States are parties, as well as interest, administrative penalties and costs of collection or conservancy related to such amount.

    3. When a revenue claim of a Contracting State is enforceable under the laws of that State and is owed by a person who, at that time, cannot, under the laws of that State, prevent its collection, that revenue claim shall, at the request of the competent authority of that State, be accepted for purposes of collection by the competent authority of the other Contracting State. That revenue claim shall be collected by that other State in accordance with the provisions of its laws applicable to the enforcement and collection of its own taxes as if the revenue claim were a revenue claim of that other State that met the conditions allowing that other State to make a request under this paragraph.

    4. When a revenue claim of a Contracting State is a claim in respect of which that State may, under its law, take measures of conservancy with a view to ensure its collection, that revenue claim shall, at the request of the competent authority of that State, be accepted for purposes of taking measures of conservancy by the competent authority of the other Contracting State. That other State shall take measures of conservancy in respect of that revenue claim in accordance with the provisions of its laws as if the revenue claim were a revenue claim of that other State even if, at the time when such measures are applied, the revenue claim is not enforceable in the first-mentioned State or is owed by a person who has a right to prevent its collection.

    5. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 3 and 4, a revenue claim accepted by a Contracting State for purposes of paragraph 3 or 4 shall not, in that State, be subject to the time limits or accorded any priority applicable to a revenue claim under the laws of that State by reason of its nature as such. In addition, a revenue claim accepted by a Contracting State for the purposes of paragraph 3 or 4 shall not, in that State, have any priority applicable to that revenue claim under the laws of the other Contracting State.

    6. Proceedings with respect to the existence, validity or the amount of a revenue claim of a Contracting State shall not be brought before the courts or administrative bodies of the other Contracting State.

    7. Where, at any time after a request has been made by a Contracting State under paragraph 3 or 4 and before the other Contracting State has collected and remitted the relevant revenue claim to the first-mentioned State, the relevant revenue claim ceases to be

      1. in the case of a request under paragraph 3, a revenue claim of the first-mentioned State that is enforceable under the laws of that State and is owed by a person who, at that time, cannot, under the laws of that State, prevent its collection, or

      2. in the case of a request under paragraph 4, a revenue claim of the first-mentioned State in respect of which that State may, under its laws, take measures of conservancy with a view to ensure its collection

        the competent authority of the first-mentioned State shall promptly notify the competent authority of the other State of that fact and, at the option of the other State, the first-mentioned State shall either suspend or withdraw its request.

    8. In no case shall the provisions of this Article be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation:

      1. to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;

      2. to carry out measures which would be contrary to public policy (ordre public);

      3. to provide assistance if the other Contracting State has not pursued all reasonable measures of collection or conservancy, as the case may be, available under its laws or administrative practice;

      4. to provide assistance in those cases where the administrative burden for that State is clearly disproportionate to the benefit to be derived by the other Contracting State.

    Article 26

    Members of Diplomatic Missions and Consular Posts

    1. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the fiscal privileges of members of diplomatic missions or consular posts under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements.

    2. Insofar as, due to fiscal privileges granted to members of diplomatic missions and consular posts under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special international agreements, income is not subject to tax in the receiving State, the right to tax shall be reserved to the sending State.

    Article 27

    Entry into Force

    1. Each of the Contracting States shall notify in writing through diplomatic channels to the other the completion of the procedures required by its law for the bringing into force of this Agreement. The Agreement shall enter into force on the date of receipt of the later of these notifications.

    2. The Agreement shall thereupon have effect:

      1. in Malawi:

        in respect of taxes on income relating to the fiscal year (including accounting periods beginning in any such year) next following that in which the Agreement enters into force and subsequent years; and

      2. in Norway:

        in respect of taxes on income relating to the calendar year (including accounting periods beginning in any such year) next following that in which the Agreement enters into force and subsequent years.

    3. The Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with respect to taxes on income made between the Government of the Kingdom of Norway and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, signed at London on 2nd May 1951, extended with certain modifications to Malawi by an Exchange of Notes dated 13th December 1963 and confirmed by an Exchange of Notes of 21st December 1963 shall cease to have effect from the dates on which this Agreement becomes effective in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article.

    Article 28

    Termination

    1. This Agreement shall remain in force indefinitely, but either of the Contracting States may terminate the Agreement through diplomatic channels, by giving to the other Contracting State written notice of termination not later than 30th June of any calendar year starting five years after the year in which the Agreement entered into force.

    2. In such event the Agreement shall cease to apply:-

      1. in Malawi:

        in respect of taxes on income relating to the fiscal year (including accounting periods beginning in such year) next following that in which the notice is given; and

      2. in Norway:

        in respect of taxes on income relating to the calendar year (including accounting periods beginning in such year) next following that in which the notice is given.

     

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Agreement.

     

    DONE at Lilongwe in duplicate, this 8th day of December 2009 in the English language.

     

    For the Government of For the Government of
    the Kingdom of Norway the Republic of Malawi
    Bjørn Johannessen Ken Edward Kandodo
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