DTC Agreement Between Mauritius and Singapore

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AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS FOR THE

AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME

Date of Conclusion: 19 August 1995. Entry into Force: 7 June 1996. Effective Date: 1 January 1997 (Singapore); 1 July 1997 (Mauritius).* * Year of assessment beginning on or after 1 January 1998 (Singapore).

The Government of the Republic of Singapore and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius, 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 PERSONAL SCOPE 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 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 personal or real property. 3. The existing taxes to which this Agreement shall apply are in particular: (a) in Mauritius: the income tax; (hereinafter referred to as "Mauritius tax"); (b) in Singapore: the income tax; (hereinafter referred to as "Singapore tax").

4. This Agreement shall also apply to any other taxes of a substantially similar character which are imposed by either Contracting State after the date of signature of this Agreement in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. 5. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of any substantial changes which have been made in their respective taxation laws, and if it seems desirable to amend any Article of this Agreement, without affecting the general principles thereof, the necessary amendments may be made by mutual consent by means of an Exchange of Notes. ARTICLE 3 - GENERAL DEFINITIONS 1. In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) the term "Mauritius" means the Republic of Mauritius and includes: (i) (ii) (iii) all the territories and islands which, in accordance with the laws of Mauritius, constitute the State of Mauritius; the territorial sea of Mauritius; and any area adjacent to the territorial sea of Mauritius which in accordance with international law has been or may hereafter be designated, under the laws of Mauritius, as an area, including the Continental Shelf, within which the rights of Mauritius with respect to the natural resources of sea, the sea-bed and sub-soil may be exercised;

(b) (c) (d) (e)

the term "Singapore" means the Republic of Singapore; the terms "a Contracting State" and "the other Contracting State" mean Mauritius or Singapore as the context requires; the term "company" means any body corporate or any entity which is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes; the term "competent authority" means: (i) (ii) in Mauritius, the Minister of Finance or his authorised representative; and in Singapore, the Minister for Finance or his authorised representative;

(f)

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; the term "international traffic" means any transport by a ship or aircraft operated by an enterprise which has its place of effective management in a Contracting State, except when the ship or aircraft is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State;

(g)

(h)

the term "national" means any individual having the citizenship or nationality of a Contracting State and any legal person, partnership, association or other entity deriving its status as such from the laws in force in a Contracting State; the term "person" includes an individual, a company, a trust and any other body of persons which is treated as an entity for tax purposes; and the term "tax" means Mauritius tax or Singapore tax as the context requires.

(i) (j)

2. In the application of the provisions of this Agreement by a Contracting State, any term not otherwise defined shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning which it has under the laws of that State relating to the taxes which are the subject of this Agreement. ARTICLE 4 - RESIDENT 1. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "resident of a Contracting State": (a) in the case of Mauritius, means any person who, under the laws of Mauritius, is liable to tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature. This term does not include any person who is liable to tax in Mauritius in respect only of income from sources in Mauritius; and in the case of Singapore, means any person who is a resident of Singapore in accordance with the taxation laws of Singapore.

(b)

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 in accordance with the following rules: (a) he shall be deemed to be a resident 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 of the State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests); if the State in which he has his centre of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he does not have a permanent home available to him in either State, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the State in which he has an habitual abode; if he has an habitual abode in both States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the State of which he is a national; 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.

(b)

(c) (d)

3. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 a person other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then it shall be deemed to be a resident of the State in which its place of effective management is situated. If its place of effective management cannot be determined, 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 the enterprise is wholly or partly carried on. 2. The term "permanent establishment" shall include: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) a place of management; a branch; an office; a factory; a workshop; a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction of natural resources; and an installation or structure used for the exploration of natural resources but only if so used for a period of more than 9 months.

3. The term "permanent establishment" likewise encompasses a building site or a construction, installation or assembly project, or supervisory activities in connection therewith only if the site, project or activity lasts more than 9 months. 4. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, the term "permanent establishment" shall be deemed not to include: (a) (b) (c) (d) the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise; the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery; the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise; the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise, or for collecting information, for the enterprise; the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of advertising, for the supply of information, for scientific research or for similar activities which have a preparatory or auxiliary character, for the enterprise; and the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of activities mentioned in sub-paragraphs (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.

(e)

(f)

5. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, where a person -- other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 6 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 4 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. 6. An enterprise shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in a Contracting State merely because it carries on business in that 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. 7. The fact that a company 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 or 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, is taxable in the Contracting State in which such property is situated. 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 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 and to income from immovable property used for the performance of independent personal services. 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 attributable to that permanent establishment. 2. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 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 5

separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar conditions and dealing wholly independently with the enterprise of which it is a permanent establishment. 3. In determining the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed as deductions expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the permanent establishment including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred, insofar as they are reasonably allowable to the permanent establishment, whether in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere. 4. Insofar as it has been customary in a Contracting State to determine the profits to be attributed to a permanent establishment on the basis of an apportionment of the total profits of the enterprise to its various parts, nothing in paragraph 2 shall preclude that contracting State from determining the profits to be taxed by such an apportionment as may be customary. The method of apportionment adopted shall, however, be such that the result shall be in accordance with the principles contained in this Article. 5. 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. 6. 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 good and sufficient reason to the contrary. 7. Where profits include items 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 - SHIPPING AND AIR TRANSPORT 1. Profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State derived from the other Contracting State from the operation of aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in that State. 2. Profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State derived from the other Contracting State from the operation of ships in international traffic may be taxed in that State. However, such profits derived from sources within the other State may also be taxed in that other State provided that the tax so charged in that other State shall be reduced by fifty per cent. 3. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall also apply to profits from the participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating agency engaged in the operation of ships or aircraft. 4. Interest on funds connected with the operation of aircraft in international traffic shall be regarded as profits derived from the operation of such aircraft, and the provisions of Article 11 shall not apply in relation to such interest. 5. For the purposes of this Article, profits from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall mean profits derived from the transportation by sea or air of passengers, mail, livestock or goods carried on by the owners or lessees or charterers of the ships or aircraft, including: (a) profits from the sale of tickets for such transportation on behalf of other enterprises;

(b)

income from the lease of ships or aircraft and the use, maintenance or rental of containers (including trailers and related equipment for the transport of containers), where such lease or such use, maintenance or rental, as the case may be, is incidental to the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic.

ARTICLE 9 - ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES 1. Where: (a) an enterprise of a Contracting State participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of the other Contracting State, or 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,

(b)

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 where the competent authorities of the Contracting States agree, upon consultation, that all or part of the profits so included are profits which would have accrued to the enterprise of the first-mentioned State if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those which would have been made between independent enterprises, then that other State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein on those profits. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Agreement. ARTICLE 10 - DIVIDENDS 1. Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the dividends, be taxable only in the other State. 2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid. 3. The term "dividends" as used in this Article means income from shares, "jouissance" shares or "jouissance" rights, mining shares, founders' shares or other rights, not being debtclaims, participating in profits, as well as income from other corporate rights which is subjected to the same taxation treatment as income from shares by the laws of the State of which the company making the distribution is a resident. 4. The provisions of paragraph 1 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, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed 7

base situated therein, and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply. 5. 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 such dividends are paid to a resident of that other State or insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base situated in that other State, nor subject the company's undistributed profits to a tax on the company's undistributed profits even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits on 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 shall, if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the interest, be taxable only in the other State. 2. The term "interest" as used in this Article means income from debt-claims of every kind, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in the debtor's profits, and in particular, income from government securities and income from bonds or debentures, including premiums and prizes attaching to such securities, bonds or debentures. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purposes of this Article. 3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the interest, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the interest arises, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such a case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply. 4. Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, a political subdivision, a local authority, a statutory body or a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the interest, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, and such interest is borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such interest shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated. 5. 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 a 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 Contracting State shall, if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the royalties, be taxable only in the other State. 2. 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 cinematograph films and films, tapes or discs for radio or television broadcasting), any patent, trade mark, design or model, computer programme, plan, secret formula or process, or for the use of, or the right to use industrial, commercial or scientific equipment or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience. 3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the royalties arise, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such a case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply. 4. Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, a political subdivision, a local authority, a statutory body or a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the royalties, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base 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 or fixed base, then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated. 5. 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 paid, 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 a 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 or of movable property pertaining to a fixed base available to a resident of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing independent personal services, including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or together with the whole enterprise) or of such fixed base, may be taxed in that other State.

3. Gains from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in international traffic or movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircraft shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated. 4. Gains from the alienation of any property other than that mentioned in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident. ARTICLE 14 - INDEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES 1. Income derived by an individual who is a resident of a Contracting State in respect of professional services or other activities of an independent character shall be taxable only in that State unless he has a fixed base regularly available to him in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing his activities. If he has such a fixed base, the income may be taxed in the other State but only so much of it as is attributable to that fixed base. 2. The term "professional services" includes especially independent scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teaching activities as well as the independent activities of physicians, lawyers, engineers, architects, dentists and accountants. ARTICLE 15 - DEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES 1. Subject to the provisions of Articles 16, 18, 19 and 20, 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: (a) (b) (c) the recipient is present in the other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in the calendar year concerned; and the remuneration is paid by or on behalf of an employer who is not a resident of the other State; and the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment or a fixed base which the employer has in the other State.

3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated. ARTICLE 16 - DIRECTORS' FEES 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 of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

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ARTICLE 17 - ENTERTAINERS AND SPORTSMEN 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 14 and 15, 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 sportsman, from his personal activities as such, may be taxed in the Contracting State in which these activities are exercised. 2. Where income in respect of or in connection with personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsman accrues not to the entertainer or sportsman himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7, 14 and 15, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsman are exercised. 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, income derived from activities, referred to in paragraph 1, performed under a cultural or sports exchange programme agreed to by both Contracting States shall be exempt from tax in the Contracting State in which the activities are exercised if the visit to that State is wholly or substantially supported by funds of either Contracting State, a local authority or statutory body thereof. ARTICLE 18 - PENSIONS 1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 19, pensions and similar payments arising in a Contracting State and paid in consideration of past employment to a resident of the other Contracting State, shall be taxable only in that other State. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, pensions paid and other payments made under a public scheme which is part of the social security system of a Contracting State or a political subdivision, a local authority or a statutory body thereof shall be taxable only in that State. ARTICLE 19 - GOVERNMENT SERVICE 1. (a) Remuneration, other than a pension, paid by, or out of funds created by, one of the Contracting States or a political subdivision, local authority or statutory body thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision, authority or body in the discharge of governmental functions shall be taxable only in that State. However, such remuneration shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the services are rendered in that other State and the individual is a resident of that other State who: (i) (ii) 2. (a) Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a political subdivision, local authority or statutory body thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision, authority or body in the discharge of governmental functions shall be taxable only in that State. is a national of that other State; or did not become a resident solely for the purpose of rendering the services.

(b)

11

(b)

However, such pension shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the individual is a resident and a national of that other State.

3. The provisions of Articles 15, 16 and 18 shall apply to remuneration and pensions in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State, or a political subdivision, local authority or statutory body thereof. ARTICLE 20 - TEACHERS AND RESEARCHERS 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 15, an individual who makes a temporary visit to one of the Contracting States for a period not exceeding two years for the purpose of teaching or carrying out research at a university, college, school or other educational institution in that State and who is, or immediately before such visit was, a resident of the other Contracting State shall, in respect of remuneration for such teaching or research, be exempt from tax in the first-mentioned State. 2. The provisions of this Article shall not apply to income from research if such research is undertaken not in the public interest but wholly or mainly for the private benefit of a specific person or persons. ARTICLE 21 - STUDENTS AND TRAINEES A student, business apprentice or trainee who is present in a Contracting State solely for the purpose of his education or training and who is, or immediately before being so present was, a resident of the other Contracting State, shall be exempt from tax in the firstmentioned State on payments received from outside that first-mentioned State for the purpose of his maintenance, education or training. ARTICLE 22 - OTHER INCOME Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Agreement and arising in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State. ARTICLE 23 - ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION Double taxation shall be eliminated as follows: 1. In the case of Mauritius: (a) where a resident of Mauritius derives income from Singapore the amount of tax on that income payable in Singapore in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement may be credited against the Mauritius tax imposed on that resident; where a company which is a resident of Singapore pays a dividend to a company which is a resident of Mauritius and which controls, directly or indirectly, at least 10 per cent of the capital of the company paying the dividend, the credit shall take into account (in addition to any Singapore tax for which credit may be allowed under sub-paragraph (a)) the Singapore tax

(b)

12

payable by the first-mentioned company in respect of the profits out of which such dividend is paid. Provided that any credit allowed under sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) shall not exceed the Mauritius tax (as computed before allowing any such credit), which is appropriate to the profits or income derived from sources within Singapore. 2. In the case of Singapore: (a) where a resident of Singapore derives income from Mauritius which, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, may be taxed in Mauritius, Singapore shall, subject to its laws regarding the allowance as a credit against Singapore tax of tax payable in any country other than Singapore, allow the Mauritius tax paid, whether directly or by deduction, as a credit against the Singapore tax payable on the income of that resident; where such income is a dividend paid by a company which is a resident of Mauritius to a resident of Singapore which is a company owning directly or indirectly not less than 10 per cent of the share capital of the first-mentioned company, the credit shall take into account the Mauritius tax paid by that company on the portion of its profits out of which the dividend is paid.

(b)

3. For the purposes of allowing as a credit in paragraph 1, the tax payable in Singapore shall be deemed to include any tax which would have been payable as Singapore tax for any year but for any reduction or exemption of Singapore tax granted as tax incentives for the promotion of economic development insofar as they were in force on, and have not been modified since, the date of signature of this Agreement, or have been modified only in minor respects so as not to affect their general character, or for any other provisions which may subsequently be introduced, granting a reduction of tax which is agreed by the competent authorities of the Contracting States to be of a substantially similar character, if it has not been modified thereafter, or has been modified only in minor respects so as not to affect its general character. 4. For the purposes of paragraph 2, "Mauritius tax paid" shall be deemed to include: (a) any amount which would have been payable as Mauritius tax for any year but for a reduction or exemption of Mauritius tax granted as tax incentives for the promotion of economic development insofar as they were in force on, and have not been modified since, the date of signature of this Agreement, or have been modified only in minor respects so as not to affect their general character, or for any other provisions which may subsequently be introduced, granting a reduction of tax which is agreed by the competent authorities of the Contracting States to be of a substantially similar character, if it has not been modified thereafter, or has been modified only in minor respects so as not to affect its general character; in the case of income derived from Mauritius under Article 10, 11 or 12, a tax of 10 per cent of the gross income.

(b)

5. The provisions of paragraphs 3 and 4 shall apply for the first 10 years for which the Agreement is effective but the competent authorities of the Contracting States may consult each other to determine whether this period shall be extended.

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ARTICLE 24 - NON-DISCRIMINATION 1. The 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 are or may be subjected. This provisions shall notwithstanding the provisions of Article 1, also apply to persons who are not residents of one or both of the Contracting States. However, this provision shall not be construed as obliging Singapore to grant to nationals of Mauritius those personal allowances, reliefs and reductions for taxation purposes which are available only to nationals of Singapore by law on the date of signature of this Agreement or which have been modified (including minor addition) thereafter only in minor respects so as not to affect their general character. The Governments of the Contracting States may agree to include any other personal allowances, reliefs or reductions for taxation purposes which may be introduced in the future in Singapore and which the two Governments consider as being consistent with the principles contained in this paragraph. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. Nothing in this Article shall be construed as obliging a Contracting State to grant to residents of the other Contracting State any personal allowances, reliefs and reductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family responsibilities which it grants to its own residents. 5. Where a Contracting State grants tax incentives to its nationals designed to promote economic development in accordance with its national policy and criteria, it shall not be construed as discrimination under this Article. 6. In this Article the term "taxation" means taxes which are the subject of this Agreement. ARTICLE 25 - 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 24, 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 this 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 an appropriate 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.

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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 this Agreement. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in this Agreement. 4. The competent authorities of the Contracting States may communicate with each other directly for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs. When it seems advisable in order to reach agreement to have an oral exchange of opinions, such exchange may take place through a commission consisting of representatives of the competent authorities of the Contracting States. ARTICLE 26 - EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION 1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Agreement or of the domestic laws of the Contracting States concerning taxes covered by this Agreement insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Agreement, in particular for the prevention of fraud or evasion of such taxes. Any information so exchanged shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic law of that State and shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts or administrative bodies) involved in the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to, the taxes covered by this Agreement. 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. 2. In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 1 be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation: (a) (b) (c) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws or the administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State; 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; 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).

ARTICLE 27 - DIPLOMATIC AGENTS AND CONSULAR OFFICERS Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the fiscal privileges of diplomatic agents or consular officers under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements. ARTICLE 28 - ENTRY INTO FORCE 1. Each of the Contracting States shall notify to the other the completion of the procedures required by its law for the entering into force of this Agreement. The Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the later of these notifications. 2. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply:

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(a)

in Mauritius, in respect of Mauritius tax for any year of assessment beginning on or after 1 July in the second calendar year following that in which the Agreement enters into force; and in Singapore, in respect of Singapore tax for any year of assessment beginning on or after 1 January in the second calendar year following that in which the Agreement enters into force.

(b)

ARTICLE 29 - 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 30 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 have effect: (a) in Mauritius, in respect of Mauritius tax, for any year of assessment beginning on or after 1 July in the second calendar year following that in which the notice of termination is given; and in Singapore, in respect of Singapore tax, for any year of assessment beginning on or after 1 January in the second calendar year following that in which the notice of termination is given.

(b)

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Agreement. DONE at Singapore in duplicate on the nineteenth day of August of the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety-five.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE DR RICHARD HU MINISTER FOR FINANCE

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS RAMAKRISHNA SITHANEN MINISTER OF FINANCE

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PROTOCOL (1995) At the moment of signing the Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, this day concluded between the Government of the Republic of Singapore and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius, the undersigned have agreed that the following provisions shall form an integral part of the Agreement. 1. With reference to paragraph 1 of Article 10, dividends paid by a company which is a resident of Singapore to a resident of Mauritius are not subjected to a tax on dividends in addition to the tax on the profits or income of the company, as under the current laws of Singapore, there is no income tax which is chargeable on dividends in addition to the tax on the profits or income of a company. 2. The exemption or reduction in tax as provided under Articles 10, 11 and 12 shall not apply to persons incorporated under the International Companies Act whose income or profits are not taxed at the normal corporate income tax in Mauritius or any income tax comparable thereto. 3. It is further understood that where this Agreement provides (with or without other conditions) that income from sources in Mauritius shall be exempt from tax, or taxed at a reduced rate, in Mauritius and under the laws in force in Singapore the same income is subject to tax by reference to the amount thereof which is remitted to or received in Singapore and not by reference to the full amount thereof, then the exemption or reduction of tax to be allowed under this Agreement in Mauritius shall apply only to so much of the income as is remitted to or received in Singapore. However, this limitation does not apply to income derived by the Government of Singapore or any person approved by the competent authority of Singapore for the purpose of this paragraph. The term "the Government of Singapore" shall include its agencies and statutory bodies.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Protocol. DONE at Singapore in duplicate on the nineteenth day of August of the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety-five.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE DR RICHARD HU MINISTER FOR FINANCE

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS RAMAKRISHNA SITHANEN MINISTER OF FINANCE

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