Business Tax (Double Taxation Agreement) Regulations, 2005

Statutory Instrument 25 of 2005

Citation: Statutory Instrument 25 of 2005
Primary work: Business Tax Act, 2009
Date: 8 November 2017
Language: English
Type: Statutory Instrument

Seychelles

Business Tax Act, 2009

Business Tax (Double Taxation Agreement) Regulations, 2005

Statutory Instrument 25 of 2005

Commenced on 22 June 2005
[This is the version of this document at 8 November 2017.]

[SI 25 of 2005; 15 of 2012]

1.CitationThese Regulations may be cited as the Business Tax (Double Taxation Agreement) Regulations, 2005.

2.Declaration and effect of AgreementIt is hereby declared that the Government of the Republic of Seychelles and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius have entered into the Agreement specified in the Schedule for the purpose of avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and that the Agreement shall have effect in relation to the tax imposed under this Act.

Schedule

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Seychelles 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

The Government of the Republic of Seychelles and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius, desiring to conclude an Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation 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 each 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.

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 Seychelles—

(i)the Business Tax

(ii)the Petroleum Income tax

(hereinafter referred to as “Seychelles tax”).

4.This agreement shall also apply to any identical or substantially similar taxes, 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 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)all the territories and islands which, in accordance with the laws of Mauritius, constitute the State of Mauritius;(ii)the territorial sea of Mauritius; and(iii)any area outside 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 sea, the sea-bed and sub-soil and their natural resources may be exercised;

(b)the term “Seychelles” means the territory of the Republic of Seychelles including its exclusive economic zone and Continental Shelf where Seychelles exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction in conformity with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

(c)the term “a Contracting State” and “the other Contracting State” mean Mauritius or Seychelles as the context requires;

(d)the term “company” means any body corporate or any entity which is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;

(e)the term “competent authority” means—(i)in Mauritius, the Commissioner of Income Tax or his authorized representative; and(ii)in Seychelles, the Minister of Finance or his authorized 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;

(g)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;

(h)the term “national” means—(i)any individual possessing the nationality or citizenship of a Contracting State;(ii)any legal person, partnership (societe) or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in a Contracting State;

(i)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

(j)the term “tax” means Mauritius Tax or Seychelles Tax as the context requires.

2.As regards the application of the Agreement at any time by a Contracting State, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning that 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 the 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 in accordance with the following rules—

(a)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 of the State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (center of vital interests);

(b)if the State in which he has his center 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 only of the State in which he has an habitual abode;

(c)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;

(d)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, then it shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which its place of effective management is situated.

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” shall include—

(a)a place of management;

(b)a branch;

(c)an office;

(d)a factory;

(e)a workshop;

(f)a warehouse, in relation to a person providing storage facilities for others;

(g)a farm or plantation;

(h)a drilling rig or any installation or structure used for the exploration of natural resources and

(i)a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction of natural resources.

3.The term “permanent establishment” likewise encompasses—

(a)a building site or construction, installation or assembly project, or supervisory activities in connection therewith only if the site, project or activity lasts more than 12 months.

(b)the furnishing of services including consultancy services by an enterprise of a Contracting State through employees or other personnel engaged in the other Contracting State, provided that such activities continue for the same or a connected project for a period or periods aggregating to more than 6 months within any 12 month period.

4.Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, the term “permanent establishment” shall be deemed not to include—

(a)the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise;

(b)the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purposes of storage, display or delivery;

(c)the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise;

(d)the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise, or for collecting information, for the enterprise;

(e)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

(f)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.

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 in a Contracting State on behalf of an enterprise of the other Contracting State, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the first mentioned State in respect of any activities which that person undertakes for the enterprise, if such person—

(a)has and habitually exercises in that State an authority to conclude contracts in the name of 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; or

(b)has no such authority, but habitually maintains in the first mentioned State a stock of goods or merchandise from which he regularly delivers goods or merchandise on behalf of the enterprise.

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 agricultural 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, 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 and to income from immovable property used for the performance of independent personal services.

5.For the purposes of this Article, the term ‘agriculture‘ includes fish farming, processing and breeding, and raising of aquatic species including prawns, crayfish, oysters and shellfish.

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 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 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, whether in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere. However, no such deduction shall be allowed in respect of amounts, if any, paid (otherwise than towards reimbursement of actual expenses) by the permanent establishment to the head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices, by way of royalties, fees or other similar payments in return for the use of patents or other rights, or by way of commission, for specific services performed or for management, or, except in the case of a banking enterprise, by way of interest on moneys lent to the permanent establishment. Likewise, no account shall be taken, in determining the profits of a permanent establishment, of amounts charged (otherwise than towards reimbursement of actual expenses), by the permanent establishment to the head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices, by way of royalties, fees or other similar payments in return for the use of patents or other rights, or by way of commission for specific services performed or for management, or, except in the case of a banking enterprise, by way of interest on moneys lent to the head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices.

4.In so far 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 from the operation or rental of ships or aircraft in international traffic and the rental of containers and related equipment which is incidental to the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.

2.If the place of effective management of a shipping enterprise is aboard a ship or boat, then it shall be deemed to be situated in the Contracting State in which the home harbor of the ship or boat is situated, or, if there is no such home harbor, in the Contracting State of which the operator of the ship or boat is a resident.

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

Article 9 – Associated enterprise

1.Where—

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

(b)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 profit 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 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 and the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall if necessary consult each other.

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 that other State.

2.The term “dividends” as used in this Article means income from shares or other rights, not being debt claims, 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 Contracting State of which the company making the distribution is a resident.

3.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 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 a case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

4.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 in so far as such dividends are paid to a resident of that other State or in so far 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 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 shall, if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the interest, be taxable only in that 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 form 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. The term “interest” shall not include any item which is treated as a dividend under the provisions of Article 10 of this Agreement.

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 perform 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 a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the interest, whether he is 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 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 that 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 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 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 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 referred to 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 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 its 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)the recipient is present in the other State for a period of periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any 12 month period commencing or ending in the fiscal year concerned; and

(b)the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of an employer who is not a resident of the other State; and

(c)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 derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic may be taxed in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.

Article 16 – Director's fees

Director's 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.

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 theater, motion picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as a sportsman, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.

2.Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsman in his capacity as such 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 agreement or arrangement between the 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 public institution thereof.

Article 18 – Pensions

1.Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 19, pensions and other 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 or a local authority thereof shall be taxable only in that State.

Article 19 – Government service

(a)Salaries, wages, and other similar remuneration, other than a pension, paid 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 shall be taxable only in that State.

(b)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—

(i)is a national of that State; or

(ii)did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the services.

(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 shall be taxable only in that State.

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

3.The provisions of Articles 15, 16, 17 and 18 shall apply to salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, and to 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 – Professors and teachers

1.Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 15, a professor or teacher 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, provided that such remuneration is derived by him from outside that 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 business apprentices

A student or business apprentice 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 first-mentioned State for the purposes of his maintenance, education or training.

Article 22 – Other income

1.Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article, 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 through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in the other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and a right or property in respect of which the income 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.

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 Seychelles the amount of tax on that income payable in Seychelles in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement may be credited against the Mauritius tax imposed on that resident.

(b)Where a company which is a resident of Seychelles pays a dividend to a resident of Mauritius who controls, directly or indirectly, at least 5% of the capital of the company paying the dividend, the credit shall take into account (in addition to any Seychelles tax for which credit may be allowed under the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this paragraph) the Seychelles tax payable by the first mentioned company in respect of the profits out of which such dividend is paid.

Provided that any credit allowed under subparagraphs (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 Seychelles.

2.In the case of Seychelles, where a resident of Seychelles derives income from Mauritius the amount of tax on that income payable in Mauritius in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement may be credited against the Seychelles tax imposed on that resident provided that a credit allowed shall not exceed the Seychelles tax, as computed before allowing any such credit, which is appropriate to the profits or income derived from source within Mauritius.

3.For the purposes of allowance as a credit, the tax payable in Mauritius or Seychelles as the context requires, shall be deemed to include the tax which would have been payable in either of the two Contracting States but which has been reduced or waived by either State in order to promote its economic development.

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 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.The taxation on a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State shall not be less favorably 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 contained in this Article shall be construed as obliging either Contracting State to grant to individuals not resident in that State any of the personal allowances, reliefs and reductions for tax purposes which are granted to its own residents.

5.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 the provisions of 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 endeavor, 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. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting State.

3.The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavor 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, 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 26 – 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, in so far as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to this Agreement. The exchange of information is not restricted by Articles 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.

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

(a)to carry out administrative measures at variance with the law and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;

(b)to supply information which is not obtainable under the law or in the normal course of the administration of that or of the other Contracting State;

(c)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 26 repealed and substituted by article 1 of SI 15 of 2012 w.e.f. 9 April 2012]

Article 27 – Diplomatic agents and consular officers

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

Article 28 – Entry into force

1.Each of the Contracting Parties 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 notification.

2.The provisions of this Agreement shall apply—

(a)in Mauritius, on income for any income year beginning on or after the first day of July next following the date upon which this Agreement enters into force; and

(b)in Seychelles—

(i)in respect of tax withheld at source, on income derived on or after the first day of January next following the date upon which this Agreement enters into force; and

(ii)in respect of other taxes, on income for taxable years beginning on or after the first day of January next following the date upon which this Agreement enters into force.

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^th June of any calendar year starting five years after the year in which the Agreement entered into force.In such event the Agreement shall cease to have effect—

(a)in Mauritius, on income for any income year beginning on or after the first day of July next following the calendar year in which such notice is given; and

(b)in Seychelles—

(i)in respect of tax withheld at source, on income derived on or after the first day of January next following the calendar year in which such notice is given;

(ii)in respect of other taxes, on income for taxable years beginning on or after the first day of January next following the calendar year in which such notice is given.

In witness whereof the undersigned being duly authorized thereto, have signed this Agreement.Done at Port Louis in duplicate, this 11^th day of March of the year two thousand and five.

Hon. Patrick PillayMinister of Foreign AffairsFor the Government of the Republic of Seychelles

Hon. Pravin Kumar JUGNAUTHDeputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economic DevelopmentFor the Government of the Republic of Mauritius

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History of this document

08 November 2017 this version

Consolidation

22 June 2005

Commenced