Schedule number: added, on 25 September 1997, by clause 2(2)(a) of the Double Taxation Relief (Republic of Korea) Amendment Order 1997 (SR 1997/167).
The Government of New Zealand and the Government of the Republic of Korea,
Desiring to conclude a Convention 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 Convention shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.
Article 2
Taxes covered
2. The Convention shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed after the date of signature of the Convention in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes.
The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of substantial changes which have been made in their respective taxation laws.
Article 3
General definitions
2. In determining for the purposes of Articles 10, 11 or 12, whether dividends, interest or royalties are beneficially owned by a resident of a Contracting State, dividends, interest or royalties in respect of which a trustee is subject to tax in that State shall be treated as being beneficially owned by that trustee.
4. As regards the application of the Convention by a Contracting State, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning which it has under the laws of that State concerning the taxes to which the Convention applies.
Article 4
Resident
1. For the purposes of this Convention, 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 head or main office, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature. But this term does not include any person who is liable to tax in that State in respect only of income from sources in that State.
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. In case of doubt the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement.
Article 5
Permanent establishment
6. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, where a person—other than an agent of independent status to whom paragraph 7 applies—is acting on behalf of an enterprise and has, and habitually exercises, in a Contracting State an authority to conclude contracts in the name of the enterprise, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in that State in respect of any activities which that person undertakes for the enterprise, unless the activities of such person are limited to those mentioned in paragraph 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.
7. 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.
8. 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
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.
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.
Article 8
Shipping and air transport
Article 9
Associated enterprises
Where
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 in 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.
Article 10
Dividends
2. However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident and according to the laws of that State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the dividends the tax so charged shall not exceed fifteen percent of the gross amount of the dividends.
This paragraph 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 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 State of which the company making the distribution is a resident.
4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, 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 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 or income arising in such other State.
Article 11
Interest
2. However, such interest may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which it arises and according to the laws of that State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the interest the tax so charged shall not exceed ten percent of the gross amount of the interest.
4. The term “interest” as used in this Article means income from Government securities, bonds or debentures, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in profits, and debt-claims of every kind as well as all other income assimilated to income from money lent by the taxation law of the State in which the income arises. However this term does not include income dealt with in Article 10.
5. The provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 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 case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.
6. Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, a political subdivision, a local authority 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.
7. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the interest, having regard to the debt-claim for which it is paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.
Article 12
Royalties
2. However, such royalties may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise and according to the laws of that State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the royalties the tax so charged shall not exceed ten percent of the gross amount of the royalties.
3. The term “royalties” as used in this Article means payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work including cinematograph films, films or video tapes for use in connection with television or tapes for use in connection with radio broadcasting, any patent, trade mark, design or model, 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.
4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the royalties arise, through a permanent establishment situated therein, 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 case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.
5. Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, a political subdivision, a local authority 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 fixed base in connection with which the obligation to pay the royalties was incurred, 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.
6. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties, having regard to the use, right or information for which they are paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.
Article 13
Income or gains from the alienation of property
2. Income or 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 income or 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.
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 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, 20 and 21, 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.
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 Contracting State.
Article 17
Artistes and athletes
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 an athlete, 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 an athlete in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or athlete 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 athlete are exercised.
3. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall not apply to income derived from activities performed in a Contracting State by an entertainer or an athlete if the visit to that State is substantially supported by the public funds of the other Contracting State, including those of any political subdivision, local authority or statutory body thereof, nor to income derived by a non-profit making organisation in respect of such activities provided no part of its income is payable to, or is otherwise available for the personal benefit of its proprietors, members or shareholders.
Article 18
Pensions and annuities
2. The term “annuity” as used in this Article means a stated sum payable periodically at stated times during life, or during a specified or ascertainable period of time, under an obligation to make the payments in return for adequate and full consideration in money or money's worth.
Article 19
Government service
1. | (a) Remuneration, other than a pension, paid by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State.
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2. | (a) Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State.
(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.
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4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall likewise apply in respect of remuneration or pensions paid by the Bank of Korea, the Export-Import Bank of Korea and the Korea Trade Promotion Corporation and also in respect of remuneration or pensions paid by any other institute of either Contracting State performing functions of a governmental nature as the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall agree.
Article 20
Students and apprentices
1. An individual who is or was immediately before visiting a Contracting State a resident of the other Contracting State and who is present in the first-mentioned State solely as a student at a recognised university, college, school or other similar recognised educational institution in the first-mentioned State or as a business or technical apprentice therein shall be exempt from tax in that first-mentioned State on all remittances from abroad for the purposes of his maintenance, education or training.
2. An individual who was a resident of a Contracting State immediately before visiting the other Contracting State and is temporarily present in that Contracting State solely for the purpose of study, research or training as a recipient of a grant, allowance or award from an arrangement for assistance programme entered into by the Government of a Contracting State shall be exempt from tax in that Contracting State on
Article 21
Professors and teachers
1. A professor or teacher who is or was a resident of a Contracting State immediately before making a visit to the other Contracting State, and who, at the invitation of any university, college, school or other similar educational institution, which is recognised by the competent authority in that other Contracting State, visits that other Contracting State for a period not exceeding two years solely for the purpose of teaching or research or both at such educational institution shall be exempt from tax in that other Contracting State on any remuneration for such teaching or research.
Article 22
Other income
Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State which are not expressly mentioned in the foregoing Articles of this Convention shall be taxable only in that State except that, if such income is derived from sources within the other Contracting State, it may also be taxed in that other State.
Article 23
Relief from double taxation
1. In the case of Korea, double taxation shall be avoided as follows:
Subject to any provisions of the law of Korea which may from time to time be in force and which relate to the allowance of a credit against Korean tax of tax paid in any country outside Korea (which shall not affect the general principle hereof), the New Zealand tax paid under the laws of New Zealand and consistently with this Convention, whether directly or by deduction, in respect of income derived by a Korean resident from sources in New Zealand (excluding, in the case of a dividend, tax paid in respect of the profits out of which the dividend is paid) shall be allowed as a credit against Korean tax payable in respect of that income. The credit shall not, however, exceed that proportion of Korean tax which the income from sources within New Zealand bears to the entire income subject to Korean tax.
3. For the purposes of this Article, profits, income or gains of a resident of a Contracting State which may be taxed in the other Contracting State in accordance with this Convention shall be deemed to arise from sources in that other Contracting State.
4. For the purposes of paragraph 2, and with respect to items of income dealt with in Articles 10, 11 and 12, the term “Korean tax paid” shall, notwithstanding any reduction of tax under the provisions of paragraph 2 of Articles 10, 11 and 12, be deemed to include the amount of Korean tax which would have been payable in accordance with Korean tax laws but for the exemption or reduction of Korean tax in accordance with the Korean laws relating to incentives for the promotion of economic development in Korea which were in force on the date of signature of this Convention or any other provisions which may subsequently be introduced in Korea in modification of, or in addition to, those laws so far as they are agreed by the competent authorities of the Contracting State to be of a substantially similar character.
Article 24
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 Convention, 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. The case must be presented within three years from the first notification of the action resulting in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.
2. The competent authority shall endeavour, if the objection appears to it to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at a satisfactory solution, to resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other Contracting State, with a view to the avoidance of taxation which is not in accordance with the Convention. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting States.
Article 25
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 Convention or of the domestic laws of the Contracting States concerning taxes covered by the Convention insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Convention, as well as to prevent fiscal evasion. The exchange of information is not restricted by Article 1. Any information received 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) 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 the Convention. 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.
Article 26
Diplomatic and consular officers
Nothing in this Convention shall affect the fiscal privileges of diplomatic or consular officers under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements.
Article 27
Territorial extension
1. This Convention may be extended, either in its entirety or with any necessary modifications, to any territory for whose international relations either Contracting State is responsible, which imposes taxes substantially similar in character to those to which the Convention applies. Any such extension shall take effect from such date and subject to such modifications and conditions (including conditions as to termination) as may be specified and agreed between the Contracting States in notes to be exchanged through diplomatic channels or in any other manner in accordance with their constitutional procedures.
2. Unless otherwise agreed by both Contracting States, the termination of the Convention by one of them under Article 29 shall also terminate, in the manner provided for in that Article, the application of the Convention to any territory to which it has been extended under this Article.
Article 28
Entry into force
1. This Convention shall be ratified and the instruments of ratification shall be exchanged at Wellington as soon as possible.
The Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of exchange of the instruments of ratification.
Article 29
Termination
This Convention shall remain in force indefinitely but either of the Contracting States may, on or before the thirtieth day of June in any calendar year beginning after the expiration of a period of five years from the date of signing this Convention, give to the other Contracting State, through diplomatic channels, written notice of termination and, in such event, this Convention shall cease to have effect:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention.
DONE in duplicate at Seoul this 6th day of October of the year one thousand nine hundred and eighty one in the English language.
For the Government of
New Zealand
B E Talboys
For the Government of the
Republic of Korea
Dong-Whie Kim
Protocol
To the Convention between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of the Republic of Korea for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income.
At the moment of signing the Convention between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of the Republic of Korea for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, the undersigned have agreed that the following provisions shall form an integral part of the Convention.
2. In respect of Article 7
It is understood that nothing in Article 7 shall apply to either Contracting State to prevent the operation in the Contracting State of any provisions of its law at any time in force relating to the taxation of any income from the business of any form of insurance. Provided that if the law in force in either Contracting State at the date of signature of this Convention relating to the taxation of that income is varied (otherwise than in minor respects so as not to affect its general character), the Contracting States shall consult each other with a view to agreeing to such amendment of this paragraph as may be appropriate.
3. In respect of Article 8
It is understood that the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 8 shall also apply to profits from the operation of vessels engaged in fishing, dredging or hauling activities on the high seas.
4. In respect of Article 10
It is understood that if in any future double taxation Convention with any other State, New Zealand limits its taxation at source on dividends to a rate lower than the one provided for in that Article, the Government of New Zealand shall without undue delay inform the Government of the Republic of Korea and both Governments shall review that article with a view to amending the Convention to provide the same treatment to the Republic of Korea.
5. In respect of Article 12
It is understood that notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 12, payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, industrial, commercial or scientific equipment shall be deemed to be profits of an enterprise to which the provisions of Article 7 apply except to the extent that such payments are dependent upon production, sales, performance, results or any other similar basis related to the utilisation of that equipment.
6. In respect of Article 13
It is understood that notwithstanding paragraph 4 of Article 13, gains from the alienation of shares, rights or corporate interests in a company, the assets of which consist principally of immovable property situated in Korea, may be taxed in Korea in accordance with Korean taxation laws.
7. Non-discrimination
If, at any time after the date of signature of this Protocol, New Zealand shall include an Article on non-discrimination in any of its double taxation conventions, the Government of New Zealand shall without undue delay inform the Government of the Republic of Korea and shall enter into negotiations with the Government of the Republic of Korea with a view to including such an Article in the present Convention.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have signed this Protocol which shall have the same force and validity as if it were inserted word by word in the Convention.
DONE in duplicate at Seoul this 6th day of October of the year one thousand nine hundred and eighty one in the English language.
For the Government of
New Zealand
B E Talboys
For the Government of the
Republic of Korea
Dong-Whie Kim