COURT: |
ITAT Jabalpur |
CORAM: |
C. M. Garg (JM), Pramod Kumar (AM) |
SECTION(S): |
5, 9(1)(vii), Article 12, Article 5 |
GENRE: |
International Tax |
CATCH WORDS: |
Fees for technical services, Installation PE, Permanent Establishment |
COUNSEL: |
D S Damle |
DATE: |
December 24, 2014 (Date of pronouncement) |
DATE: |
December 31, 2014 (Date of publication) |
AY: |
2010-11 & 2011-12 |
FILE: |
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CITATION: |
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Though construction, installation and assembly activities are de facto in the nature of technical services, the consideration thereof will not be assessable under Article 12 but will only be assessable under Article 7 if an “Installation PE” is created under Article 5. As Article 5 is a specific provision for installation etc, it has to prevail over Article 12 |
On the question as to whether the said receipt for installation, commissioning or assembly etc activity can be assessed as “fees for technical services”, it is seen that the DTAA has a general provision in Article 12 for rendering of technical services and a specific provision in Article 5 for rendering of technical services in the nature of construction, installation or project or supervisory services in connection therewith. As there is an overlap between Article 5 and Article 12, the special provision (Article 5) has to prevail over the general provision (Article 12). What is the point of having a PE threshold time limit for construction, installation and assembly projects if such activities, whether cross the threshold time limit or not, are taxable in the source state anyway. If we are to proceed on the basis that the provisions of PE clause as also FTS clause must apply on the same activity, and even when the project fails PE test, the taxability must be held as FTS at least, not only the PE provisions will be rendered meaningless, but for gross versus net basis of taxation, it will also be contrary to the spirit of the UN Model Convention Commentary. Accordingly, though construction, installation and assembly activities are de facto in the nature of technical services, the consideration thereof will not be assessable under Article 12 but will only be assessable under Article 7 if an “Installation PE” is created
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