CONVENTION 

BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG 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 AND ON CAPITAL

 

The Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius. 

Desiring to conclude a Convention for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital;]

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

(1) The existing taxes to which this Convention shall apply are:

(a) in Mauritius:

the income tax;

(hereafter referred to as “Mauritius tax”)

(b) in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg:

(i) the income tax on individuals (l’impôt sur le revenu des personnes physiques);

(ii) the corporation tax (l’impôt sur le revenu des collectivités);

(iii) the capital tax (l’impôt sur la fortune);

(iv) the communal trade tax (l’impôt commercial communal);

(hereafter referred to as “Luxembourg tax”).

(2) This Convention shall also apply to any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed by either Contracting State after the date of signature of this Convention in in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes.

(3) 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

(1) For the purposes of this Convention, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) the term “Mauritius” means all the territories, including all the islands, which, in accordance with the laws of Mauritius, constitute the State of Mauritius and includes:

(i) the territorial sea of Mauritius; and

(ii) 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 “Luxembourg” means the territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg;

(c) the term “national” means:

(i) any individual possessing the nationality or citizenship of a Contracting State;

(ii) any legal person, partnership, association and any other entity deriving its status as such from the laws in force in a Contracting State;

(d)the terms “a Contracting State” and “the other Contracting State” mean Mauritius or Luxembourg as the context requires;

(e) the term “person” includes an individual, a trust, a company and any other body of persons;

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

1. g) 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;

(h)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;

(i) the term “competent authority” means, in the case of Mauritius, the Minister of Finance or his authorized representative, and in the case of Luxembourg, the Minister of Finance or his authorized representative;

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

(2) 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, subject to the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3), 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. 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 or capital situated therein. The terms “resident of Mauritius” and “resident of Luxembourg” shall be construed accordingly.

(2) Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph (1) an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, his status shall be determined in accordance with the following rules:

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

(b) if the Contracting State in which he has his centre of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he has not a permanent home available to him in either Contracting State, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State in which he has an habitual abode;

(c) if he has an habitual abode in both Contracting States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State of which he is a national;

(d) if he is a national of both Contracting 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 of the Contracting State in which its place of effective management is situated.

 

Article 5

Permanent establishment

(1) For the purposes of this Convention, 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 especially:

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

(h) an installation or structure used for the exploration of natural resources;

(i) a farm or plantation.

(3) A building site or construction or assembly project, or supervisory activities in connection therewith, constitutes a permanent establishment only if the site, project or activity lasts more than six months.

(4) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions, 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 purpose 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 of 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;

(f) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of activities mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e), subject to the overall activity of the fixed  place of business resulting from this combination being 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 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 of a Contracting State shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State merely because it carries on business in that other State through a broker, a general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status, where such persons are acting in the ordinary course of their business. An agent shall not be regarded as of an independent status if the agent acts exclusively or almost exclusively for the enterprise.

(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) situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

(2) (a) The term “immovable property” shall, subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (b), be defined in accordance with the law of the Contracting State in which the property in question is situated;

(b) the term “immovable property” 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.

 

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 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 at arm’s length 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 all expenses of the enterprise which are incurred for the purposes of the permanent establishment, including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred, whether in the Contracting 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 money lent to the permanent establishment. Likewise no account shall be taken, in determining the profits of 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 monies lent to the head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices.

(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 a good and sufficient reason to the contrary.

(7) Where profits include items of income which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Convention, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article.

 

Article 8

Shipping and air transport

(1) Profits from 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 then it shall be deemed to be situated in the Contracting State in which the home harbour of the ship is situated, or, if there is no such home harbour, in the Contracting State of where the operator of the ship 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 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

(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 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 accordance with the provisions of paragraph (1), in the profits of an enterprise of that Contracting State – and taxes accordingly – profits on which an enterprise of the other Contracting State has been charged to tax in that other Contracting 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 Contracting State if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those which would have been made between independent enterprises, then that other Contracting State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein on those agreed profits. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Convention.

 

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 may be taxed in that other State.

(2) However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident and according to the laws of that State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the dividends, the tax so charged shall not exceed:

(a) 5 percent of the gross amount of the dividends if the beneficial owner is a company which holds directly at least 10 percent of the capital of the company paying the dividends;

(b) 10 percent of the gross amount of the dividends in all other cases. This paragraph shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid.

(3) 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 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.

(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 States.

 

Article 11

Interest

(1) Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in that other State if such resident is the beneficial owner of the interest.

(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 purpose 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 a permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

(4) 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

(1) Royalties arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in that other State if such resident is the beneficial owner of the royalties.

(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, any patent, trade mark, design or model, 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 establishments or fixed bases. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

(4) 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 in the absence of such a 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

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 otherContracting 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 ofsuch a permanent establishment (alone or together with the whole enterprise) or of such a fixed base, may be taxed in that other State.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (2), gains from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in international traffic and 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 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 Contracting 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.

(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 or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days within any period of 12 months; 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 is in another State.

(3) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft in international traffic may be taxed 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.

 

Article 17

Artistes 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 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 sportsmen are exercised.

(3) The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to income derived as aforesaid if the activities of the entertainer or sportsman in the Contracting State are supported wholly or substantially from public funds of the other Contracting State, a political subdivision, local authority or a public body thereof.

 

Article 18

Pensions

(1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 19, pensions and other similar remuneration paid in consideration of past employment to a resident of a Contracting State and any annuity paid to such a resident shall be taxable only in that Contracting State.

(2) The term “annuity” as used in paragraph (1) means a stated sum payable periodically atstated times during life or during a specified or ascertainable period of time under an obligation to effect payment of that stated sum in return for adequate and full consideration.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), pensions paid and other payments made under a public scheme which is governed by the social security legislation of a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof shall be taxable only in that State.

Article 19

Governmental functions

(1) 

(a) Remuneration, other than a pension, paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a political subdivision, a local authority or a public body thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision, authority or public body shall be taxable only in that State.

(b) 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 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.

(2) 

(a) Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a political subdivision, a local authority or a public body thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision, authority or public 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, and a national, of that 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, a local authority or a public body thereof.

 

Article 20

Students

An individual who, immediately before visiting a Contracting State, was a resident of the other Contracting State and whose visit to the first-mentioned Contracting State is solely for the purpose of:

(a) studying at a university or other recognized educational institution; or

(b) securing training to qualify him to practice a profession or trade; or

(c) studying or carrying out research as a recipient of a grant, allowance or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary or educational organization, shall be exempt from tax in the first-mentioned State on

(i) remittance from abroad for the purpose of his maintenance, education, study, research or training;

(ii) the grant, allowance or award; and

(iii) income from personal services rendered in that State provided the income constitutes earnings reasonably necessary for his maintenance and education.

Article 21

Professors and teachers

(1) An individual who is a resident of a Contracting State at the time he becomes temporarily present in the other Contracting State, at the invitation of that other State or of a university, college, school or other recognized educational institution in the other State, for the primary purpose of teaching or engaging in research, or both, at a university, college, school or other recognized educational institution shall be exempt from tax by that other State on his income from personal services for teaching or research at such university, college, school or educational institution, for a period not exceeding two years from the date of his arrival in that other State.

(2) This article shall not apply to income from research if such research is undertaken not in the public interest but primarily for the private benefit of a specific person or persons.

 

Article 22

Income not expressly mentioned

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

(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) shall not apply to income, other than income from immovable property as defined in paragraph (2) of Article 6, if the recipient of such income, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, 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 income 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.

 

Article 23

Capital

(1) Capital represented by immovable property referred to in Article 6, owned by a resident of a Contracting State and situated in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that another State.

(2) Capital represented by 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 by 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, may be taxed in that other State.

(3) Capital represented by ships and aircraft operated in international traffic and by movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships and aircraft shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.

(4) All other elements of capital of a resident of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State.

 

Article 24

Elimination of double taxation

(1) Double taxation shall be avoided in accordance with the following paragraphs.

(2) In the case of Mauritius:

(a) Subject to the other sub-paragraphs of this paragraph and to the provisions of the laws of Mauritius regarding the allowance as a credit against Mauritius tax of tax payable in a territory outside Mauritius (which shall not affect the general principle hereof), where a resident of Mauritius derives profits, income or gains from sources within Luxembourg and which, under the laws of Luxembourg and in accordance with this Convention are taxable or may be taxed in Luxembourg, whether directly or by deduction, Mauritius shall allow as a credit against any Mauritius tax computed by reference to the same profits, income or gains the Luxembourg tax paid and computed by reference to those profits, income or gains.

(b) In the case of dividends, the credit referred to in sub- paragraph (a) shall only take into account such tax in respect thereof as is additional to any tax payable in Luxembourg by the company on the profits out of which the dividends are paid and are ultimately borne by the recipient of the dividends without any reference to any tax so payable.

(c) Where a company which is a resident of Luxembourg pays dividends to a company which is a resident of Mauritius and which holds directly at least 10 per cent of the capital of the company paying the dividends, the credit shall take into account (in addition to any Luxembourg tax for which credit may be allowed under the provisions of sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of this paragraph) the Luxembourg tax payable by the first-mentioned company in respect of the profits out of which such dividends are paid.

(3) In the case of Luxembourg:

(a) Where a resident of Luxembourg derives income or owns capital which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, may be taxed in Mauritius,Luxembourg shall, subject to the provisions of sub-paragraphs (b) to (d), exempt such income or capital from tax, but may, in order to calculate the amount of tax on the remaining income or capital of the resident, apply the same rates of tax as if the income or capital had not been exempted.

(b) Where a resident of Luxembourg derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of Article 10 may be taxed in Mauritius, Luxembourg shall allow as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident an amount equal to the tax paid in Mauritius. Such deduction shall not, however, exceed that part of the tax, as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable to such items of income derived from Mauritius.

(c) The provisions of sub-paragraph (a) shall not apply to the income attributable to a permanent establishment in Mauritius of a Luxembourg enterprise, which is subject in Mauritius to tax at a rate equivalent to less than 15 per cent calculated on a basis computed in accordance with the Luxembourg income tax law. In such case, Luxembourg shall allow as a deduction from the tax on the income of that enterprise an amount equal to the tax paid in Mauritius. Such deduction shall not however exceed that part of the tax, as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable to such income derived from Mauritius.

(d) Where a company which is a resident of Luxembourg derives dividends from Mauritius sources, Luxembourg shall exempt such dividends from tax, provided that the company which is a resident of Luxembourg holds since the beginning of its accounting year directly at least 10 percent of the capital of the company paying the dividends and that the last mentioned company is subjected in Mauritius to tax at a rate equivalent to at least 15 per cent calculated on a basis computed in accordance with the Luxembourg income tax law. The shares in the Mauritius company are, under the same conditions, exempt from the Luxembourg capital tax.

(4) For the purposes of paragraphs (2) and (3) of this Article, profits, income and gains owned by a resident of a Contracting State which is taxable or 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.

 

Article 25

Non-discrimination

(1) Nationals of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in the other Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith, which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of that other States in the same circumstances 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 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 Contracting 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 considered 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 individuals so resident.

(5) Except where the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 9, paragraph (4) of Article 11, or paragraph (4) of Article 12 apply, interest, royalties and other disbursements paid by an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable profits of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been paid to a resident of the first-mentioned State. Similarly, any debts of an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable capital of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been contracted to a resident of the first-mentioned State.

(6) In this Article the term “taxation” means taxes of every kind and description.

 

Article 26 

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 or, if his case comes under paragraph (1) of Article 25, to that of the Contracting State of which he is a national.]

The case must be presented within three years from the first notification of the action resulting in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of the 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.

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

(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.

(5) Where,

(a) under paragraph 1, a person has presented a case to the competent authority of a Contracting State on the basis that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States have resulted for that person in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, and 

(b)the competent authorities are unable to reach an agreement to resolve that case pursuant to paragraph 2 within two years from the presentation of the case to the competent authority of the other Contracting State, any unresolved issues arising from the case shall be submitted to arbitration if the person so requests. These unresolved issues shall not, however, be submitted to arbitration if a decision on these issues has already been rendered by a court or administrative tribunal of either State. Unless a person directly affected by the case does not accept the mutual agreement that implements the arbitration decision, that decision shall be binding on both Contracting States and shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic laws of these States. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this paragraph.] 

 

Article 27

Exchange of information

(1) The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is foreseeably relevant for carrying out the provisions of this Convention or to the administration or enforcement of the domestic laws concerning taxes of every kind and description imposed on behalf of the Contracting States, or of their political subdivisions or local authorities, insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Convention. 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 laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;

(b)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;

(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 (order 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 upon request 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 28

Diplomats

(1) Nothing in this Convention 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.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 4, an individual who is a member of the diplomatic, consular or permanent mission of a Contracting State or any third State which is situated in the other Contracting State and who is subjected to tax in that other State only if he derives income from sources therein, shall not be deemed to be a resident of that other State.

 

Article 29

Entry into force

(1) This Convention shall be ratified and the instruments of ratification shall be exchanged as soon as possible.

(2) This Convention shall enter into force on the date of the exchange of the instruments of ratification and its provisions shall have effect:

(a) in Mauritius:

in respect of income tax for any year of assessment beginning on or after 1 July next following the date on which the Convention enters into force;

(b) in Luxembourg:

(i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, to income derived on or after 1 January of the calendar year during which the Convention enters into force;

(ii) in respect of other taxes on income, and taxes on capital, to taxes chargeable for any taxable year beginning on or after 1 January of the calendar year during which the Convention enters into force.

 

Article 30

Termination

This Convention shall remain in force until terminated by one of the Contracting States. Either Contracting State may terminate the Convention, through the diplomatic channels, by giving notice of termination at least six months before the end of any calendar year after a period of five years from the date on which the Convention enters into force. In such event, the Convention shall cease to have effect:

(a) in Mauritius: 

– in respect of income tax for any year of assessment beginning on or after 1 July of the calendar year next following that in which the notice is given;

(b) in Luxembourg:

(i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, to income derived on or after 1 January of the calendar year next following that in which the notice is given;

(ii) in respect of other taxes on income, and taxes on capital, to taxes chargeable for any taxable year beginning on or after 1 January of the calendar year next following that in which the notice is given.