Date: 2016-01-13Category: Extra OrdinaryState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Whereas, a Protocol amending the agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Belarus for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on property
Executive Summary:
This document is a notification regarding a protocol amending the agreement between the Republic of India and the Republic of Belarus for the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion. The protocol, signed on June 3, 2015, in Minsk, Belarus, entered into force on November 19, 2015. The notification gives effect to the provisions of the protocol in the Union of India from November 19, 2015.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Protocol Amendment:**
* Amends the agreement between India and Belarus regarding double taxation and fiscal evasion.
* Signed in Minsk, Belarus on June 3, 2015.
* **Entry into Force:**
* The protocol came into effect on November 19, 2015.
* Provisions are effective forthwith from the date of entry into force.
* **Article 27 (Exchange of Information):**
* Replaces the original Article 27 of the agreement.
* Competent authorities of the contracting states shall exchange information, including documents, relevant for carrying out the agreement or administering/enforcing domestic tax laws.
* Information exchange is not restricted by Articles 1 and 2.
* Information received is to be treated as secret and disclosed only to relevant persons/authorities (courts, administrative bodies, etc.) for specific purposes (assessment, collection, enforcement, etc.).
* Information can be used for other purposes if allowed under the laws of both Contracting States.
* A contracting state is not obligated to:
* Carry out measures at variance with its laws/administrative practices.
* Supply information not obtainable under its laws or in the normal course of administration.
* Disclose trade, business, industrial, commercial, or professional secrets, or information contrary to public policy.
* A contracting state must use its information-gathering measures to obtain requested information, even if it doesn't need the information for its own tax purposes.
* A contracting state cannot decline to supply information solely because it is held by a bank, financial institution, nominee, or person acting in an agency or fiduciary capacity, or because it relates to ownership interests.
Impact Analysis:
* **Government of India:**
* Impact: Responsible for implementing the protocol within the Union of India.
* Action Required: Ensure that all provisions of the protocol are given effect to from November 19, 2015.
* **Government of the Republic of Belarus:**
* Impact: Must adhere to the terms of the amended agreement.
* Action Required: Implement the protocol as per its legal requirements and procedures.
* **Tax Authorities (India and Belarus):**
* Impact: Need to exchange information as per the updated Article 27 for tax administration and enforcement.
* Action Required: Establish procedures for exchanging information and documents with their counterparts in accordance with the protocol.
* **Taxpayers (Residents of India and Belarus):**
* Impact: May benefit from the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion.
* Action Required: Understand the provisions of the amended agreement to ensure compliance and take advantage of available benefits.
Key Entities Referenced
Republic of India: One of the contracting states in the agreement for the avoidance of double taxation.
Republic of Belarus: One of the contracting states in the agreement for the avoidance of double taxation.
Minsk: The city in Belarus where the protocol amending the agreement between India and Belarus was signed.
New Delhi: The city in India where the original agreement between India and Belarus was signed.
Protocol amending the agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Belarus for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on property Capital of the 27th September, 1997: The main subject of the notification, an agreement between India and Belarus regarding double taxation.
Income-tax Act, 1961: The Indian law under which the Central Government is exercising its powers to implement the protocol.
Akhilesh Ranjan: Joint Secretary of the Government of India.
Sergei E. Nalivaiko: Minister of Taxes and Duties of the Republic of Belarus
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EXTRAORDINARY
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PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
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(ररररााााजजजज(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:4)वव व व ििििववववभभभभाााागगगग))))
अअअअििििधधधधससससचचूूचचूू ननननाााा
नई (cid:4)द(cid:6) ली, 13 जनवरी, 2016
ककककाााा.... आआआआ.... 111((((अअअअ))))....————चूं(cid:4)क, आय पर तथा संपि(cid:22) त (पूंजी) पर कर(cid:26) के सबं ंध म(cid:31) दोहरे कराधान के प"रहार तथा िव(cid:22) तीय अपवंचन
को रोकने के िलए भारत गणरा(य क) सरकार तथा बेला*स गणरा( य क) सरकार के बीच 27 िसतंबर, 1997 के करार को
संशोिधत करने वाल े एक ,ोटोकॉल (िजस े इसके बाद उ1 त ,ोटोकॉल कहा गया है), जैसा (cid:4)क इस अिधसूचना के अनुबंध म (cid:31)
(cid:4)दया गया ह,ै पर िम56 क , बेला*स म(cid:31) 3 जून, 2015 को ह6 ता8र (cid:4)कए गए थे;
और जब(cid:4)क, उ1त ,ोटोकॉल के ,व(cid:22)ृ त होन े क) तारीख 19 नवंबर, 2015 ह,ै जो (cid:4)क अनु<छ ेद 2 के पैरा>ाफ 1 के
अनसु ार, उ1त ,ोटोकॉल को लाग ू करन ेके िलए कानूनी ,(cid:4)@याए ंपूरी करन ेवाली अिधसचू नाA म (cid:31) स े बाद क) अिधसूचना क)
तारीख ह।ै
और चूं(cid:4)क किथत ,ोटोकॉल के अनु<छ ेद 2 के पैरा>ाफ 2 म (cid:31),ावधान ह ै(cid:4)क इसके उपबंध इस ,ोटोकॉल के ,वृB होन े
क) तारीख से ,भावी ह(cid:26)ग;े
178 GI/2016 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
इसिलए, अब आयकर अिधिनयम, 1961 (1961 का 43) क) धारा 90 Cारा ,द(cid:22)त शि1 तय(cid:26) का ,योग करते Dए,
के5E ीय सरकार एतFारा अिधसूिचत करती ह ै(cid:4)क इसके साथ संलGन उपयुH1 त ,ोटोकॉल के सभी उपबधं भारत सघं म(cid:31) (cid:4)दनाकं
19 नवंबर, 2015 स ेलागू ह(cid:26)गे।
[अिधसूचना स.ं 2/2016/फा. सं.501/07/1999-एफटीडी-I]
अिखलेश रंजन, संयु1 त सिचव
आआआआयययय पपपपरररर ततततथथथथाााा ससससंपंपंपंपिििि(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)तत तत ((((पपपपजजूंूंजजूंूं ीीीी)))) पपपपरररर ककककरररर(cid:23)(cid:23)(cid:23)(cid:23) ककककेेेे ससससबबंंबबंं धधंंधधंं मममम (cid:27)(cid:27)(cid:27)(cid:27)
ददददोोोोहहहहररररेे ेे ककककररररााााधधधधाााानननन ककककेेेे पपपप ररररहहहहाााारररर ततततथथथथाााा ििििवववव(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)तत तत ीीीीयययय अअअअपपपपववववचचंंचचंं नननन ककककोोोो ररररोोोोककककनननन ेे ेेककककेेेे ििििललललएएएए
भभभभााााररररतततत गगगगणणणणरररराााा$$$$यय यय कककक%%%% ससससररररककककाााारररर ततततथथथथाााा बबबबलललेेलेे ाााा&&&&सससस गगगगणणणणरररराााा$$$$ययय य कककक%%%% ससससररररककककाााारररर ककककेेेे बबबबीीीीचचचच
ककककरररराााारररर ककककाााा 22227777 ििििससससततततबबंंबबंं रररर,,,, 1111999999997777 ककककाााा ससससंशंशंशंशोोोोधधधधककककााााररररीीीी ....ोोोोटटटटोोोोककककोोोोलललल।।।।
भभभभााााररररतततत गगगगणणणणरररराााा$$$$यययय कककक%%%% ससससररररककककाााारररर
ततततथथथथाााा
बबबबललेेललेे ाााा&&&&सससस गगगगणणणणरररराााा$$$$यययय कककक%%%% ससससररररककककाााारररर;;;;
आय पर तथा संपि(cid:22)त (पूंजी) पर कर(cid:26) के संबंध म(cid:31) दोहरे कराधान के प"रहार तथा िव(cid:22) तीय अपवंचन को रोकन े के िलए भारत
गणरा(य क) सरकार तथा बेला*स गणरा(य क) सरकार के बीच करार को संशोिधत करन ेके िलए एक ,ोटोकोल (इसे इसके
बाद ,ोटोकोल कहा जायेगा), िजस पर नई (cid:4)द(cid:6)ली म (cid:31) 27 िसतंबर, 1997 को ह6 ता8र (cid:4)कये गये थ े (इस े इसके बाद ‘करार’
जायेगा) िनLप 5न करन ेक) इ<छा स,े
इस ,कार सहमत Dए ह:M
अअअअनननन33ुु33ुु छछ छछ ेेददेेदद 1111
करार के अन<ु छ ेद 27 को हटाया जाएगा और िनO निलिखत अन<ु छेद स े,ित6थ ािपत (cid:4)कया जाएगा:
“अन<ु छेद 27
सूचना का आदान-,दान
1. संिवदाकारी रा(य(cid:26) के स8म ,ािधकारी ऐसी सूचना (द6तावेज(cid:26) अथवा कर ,ािधका"रय(cid:26)/स8म ,ािधकारी Cारा
द6तावेज(cid:26) क) अिध,मािणत ,ितय(cid:26) सिहत) का आदान-,दान कर(cid:31)गे जो (cid:4)क इस करार के उपबंध(cid:26) को अथवा संिवदाकारी
रा(य(cid:26) अथवा उनके राजनिै तक उप-,भाग(cid:26) अथवा 6 थानीय ,ािधकरण(cid:26) क) ओर से लगाए गए ,(cid:22) येक ,कार एव ं िववरण के
कर(cid:26) के संबंध म (cid:31)घरेल ूकानून(cid:26) के ,शासन अथवा ,व(cid:22)त Hन को (cid:4)@याि5 वत करन ेके िलए अनमु ानत: संगत ह,M जहा ं तक (cid:4)क उनके
अधीन कराधान Sव6था इस करार के ,ितकूल नहT ह।ै सूचना का आदान-,दान अन<ु छेद 1 और 2 से ,ितबंिधत नहT ह।ै
2. सिं वदाकारी रा(य Cारा इस अनु<छ ेद के पैरा>ाफ 1 के अतं गHत ,ाU क) गई कोई सूचना उस रा(य के आंत"रक काननू (cid:26) के
अंतगHत ,ाU सूचना के समान ही गुU समझी जाएगी और उस े केवल उन SिWय(cid:26) अथवा ,ािधका"रय(cid:26) (िजसम (cid:31) 5यायालय,
,शासिनक िनकाय, सीमाशु(cid:6)क , कानून ,वतनH एवं जाचं ,ािधकरण शािमल ह)M को ,कट (cid:4)कया जाएगा जो इस अन<ु छेद के¹Hkkx IIµ[k.M 3(ii)º Hkkjr dk jkti=k % vlk/kj.k 3
पैरा>ाफ 1 म(cid:31) उि(cid:6)ल िखत कर(cid:26) के संबधं म (cid:31) कर(cid:26) का िनधारH ण या उनक) वसलू ी करन,े उनके ,वतHन अथवा अिभयोजन के संबधं
म(cid:31) अथवा अपील(cid:26) का िनधाHरण करने या उपयुHW क) चकू स ेसबं X हो। ऐसे SिW या ,ािधकारी सूचना का उपयोग केवल ऐस े
ही ,योजन के िलए कर(cid:31)गे। व े इस सूचना को सावHजिनक 5यायालय क) कायHवािहय(cid:26) अथवा 5याियक िनणHय(cid:26) म (cid:31) ,कट कर
सक(cid:31)गे।
भले ही पूवYW सूचनाA म(cid:31) कुछ भी कहा गया हो, सिं वदाकारी रा( य Cारा ,ाZ त क) गई सूचनाएं दसू रे ,योजन(cid:26) के
िलए ,योग क) जा सकती ह,M जब ऐसी सूचनाA का ,योग दोन(cid:26) सिं वदाकारी रा(य (cid:26) के कानून(cid:26) के तहत ऐसे अ5 य ,योजन(cid:26) के
िलए (cid:4)कया जा सकता हो।
3. (cid:4)कसी भी ि6थित म(cid:31) पैरा>ाफ 1 और 2 के उपबंध(cid:26) का अथ H(cid:4)कसी संिवदाकारी रा(य पर िन[िलिखत दािय(cid:22)व डालना नहT
होगा:
क) उस अथवा दसू रे सिं वदाकारी रा(य के कानून(cid:26) और ,शासिनक ,था से हटकर ,शासिनक उपाय करना ;
ख) ऐसी सूचनाA क) आप]ू त करना जो उस अथवा दसू रे सिं वदाकारी रा(य के कानून(cid:26) के अंतगHत अथवा ,शासन क)
सामा5य ि6थित म (cid:31),ाZय नहT ह;ै
ग) ऐसी सूचनाA क) आप]ू त करना िजसस े कोई Sापार, कारोबार, औ^ोिगक, वािणि(यक अथवा Sावसाियक, गुU
अथवा Sापार ,(cid:4)@या अथवा सूचना ,कट होती हो, िजसको ,कट करना सावHजिनक नीित के ,ितकूल हो।
4. इस अन<ु छ ेद के अनुसरण म (cid:31) य(cid:4)द (cid:4)कसी संिवदाकारी रा(य Cारा (cid:4)कसी जानकारी को ,ाU करने के िलए अनरु ोध (cid:4)कया
जाता ह ैतो दसू रा संिवदाकारी रा(य अनरु ोध क) गई जानकारी को ,ाU करने के िलए अपनी सचू ना एक_ करने वाले उपाय(cid:26)
का उपयोग करेगा, चाह ेउस दसू रे सिं वदाकारी रा(य को अपन े6वयं के कर ,योजन(cid:26) के िलए ऐसी सूचना क) कोई आव‘यकता
न हो। िपछले वा1य म(cid:31) अ5त]निहत दािय(cid:22)व परै ा>ाफ 3 क) सीमाA के अधीन ह,ै (cid:4)क5त ु (cid:4)कसी भी ि6थित म (cid:31) ऐसी सीमाA का
यह अथ H नहT होगा (cid:4)क संिवदाकारी रा(य केवल इसिलए सूचना क) आप]ू त करने स े मना करते ह M (cid:4)क ऐसी सूचना म (cid:31) उसका
कोई आंत"रक िहत नहT ह।ै
5. (cid:4)कसी भी ि6थित म (cid:31) परै ा>ाफ 3 के उपबंध(cid:26) का अथH केवल इसिलए सूचना क) आप]ू त करने स े मना करन े के िलए (cid:4)कसी
संिवदाकारी रा(य को अनमु ित दने े के िलए नहT लगाया जाएगा (cid:4)क सूचना (cid:4)कसी बकM , अ5य िवBीय सं6थान, (cid:4)कसी एज(cid:31)सी या
(cid:4)कसी 5यासी 8मता म (cid:31)कायरH त नािमती या SिW के पास ह ैया यह (cid:4)कसी SिW के 6वािम(cid:22)व िहत से संबंिधत ह ै”।
अअअअनननन33ुु33ुु छछ छछ ेेददेेदद 2222
1. संिवदाकारी रा(य एक दसू रे को राजनियक माa यम(cid:26) स े अिधसिू चत कर(cid:31)गे (cid:4)क इस नयाचार को लागू करने के िलए
सभी कानूनी अपे8ाए ंएवं (cid:4)@यािविधयां पूरी कर ली गयी ह।M
2. यह नयाचार इस अनु<छ ेद के पैरा>ाफ 1 म(cid:31) उि(cid:6)लिखत अिधसचू नाA क) परवतc तारीख को लाग ू होगा तब तक
लाग ूरहगे ा जब तक यह करार लाग ूरहगे ा तथा इसके ,ावधान इसके बाद ,भावी ह(cid:26)ग।े4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
ििििजजजजससससककककेेेे ससससाााा5555यययय मममम,,(cid:27)(cid:27),,(cid:27)(cid:27) इसके िलए िविधवत *प स े,ािधकृत अधोह6ता8"रय(cid:26) न ेइस ,ोतोकोल पर ह6ता8र कर (cid:4)दए ह।M
dम6क म(cid:31) 3 जून, 2015 तारीख को िह5द ी, बेला*िसयन और अं>ेजी म(cid:31) दो मलू ,ितय(cid:26) म(cid:31) िनL पा(cid:4)दत, सभी पाठ समान *प से
,ामािणक। पाठ(cid:26) म (cid:31)िभfता क) ि6थित म,(cid:31) अं>ेजी पाठ ,भावी माना जाएगा।
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dम6क dम6क
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(Department of Revenue)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 13th January, 2016
S.O. 111(E).—Whereas, a Protocol amending the agreement between the Government of the
Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Belarus for the avoidance of double taxation and the
prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on property (Capital) of the 27th September,
1997 (hereinafter referred to as the said Protocol) as set out in the Annexure to this notification, was signed at
Minsk, Belarus on the 3rd June, 2015;
And whereas, the date of entry into force of the said Protocol is the 19th November, 2015, being the
date of the latter of the notifications of completion of the legal requirement and procedures for giving effect
to the said Protocol in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 2;
And whereas, paragraph 2 of Article 2 of the said Protocol provides that the provisions of the same
shall have effect forthwith from the date of entry into force;
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 90 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of
1961), the Central Government hereby notifies that all the provisions of the said Protocol annexed hereto,
shall be given effect to in the Union of India with effect from the 19th November, 2015.
[Notification No. 2/2016/F.No. 501/07/1999-FTD-I]
AKHILESH RANJAN, Jt. Secy.¹Hkkx IIµ[k.M 3(ii)º Hkkjr dk jkti=k % vlk/kj.k 5
PROTOCOL AMENDING THE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA
AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF
DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES
ON INCOME AND ON PROPERTY (CAPITAL) OF THE 27th OF SEPTEMBER, 1997
The Government of the Republic of India
and
The Government of the Republic of Belarus;
Desiring to conclude a Protocol (hereinafter referred to as “Protocol”) to amend the Agreement between the
Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Belarus for the Avoidance of
Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Property
(Capital), which was signed at New Delhi on 27th September, 1997 (hereinafter referred to as “the
Agreement”),
Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1
Article 27 of the Agreement shall be deleted and replaced by the following Article:
“Article 27
EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION
1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information (including
documents or copies of documents certified by the tax authorities/the competent authority) as is
foreseeably 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 or local authorities, insofar as the taxation
thereunder is not contrary to the Agreement. The exchange of information is not restricted by Articles
1 and 2.
2. Any information received under paragraph 1 of this Article 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, administrative bodies, customs, law-enforcement and investigative
authorities) 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 of this Article, 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.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, information received by a Contracting State may be used for other purposes
when such information may be used for such other purposes under the laws of both Contracting States.
3. In no case shall the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State
the obligation:6 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
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.
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
Contracting 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 2
1. The Contracting States shall notify each other, through diplomatic channels, that all legal requirements and
procedures for giving effect to this Protocol have been satisfied.
2. This Protocol shall enter into force on the date of the latter of these notifications referred to in paragraph 1
of this Article, shall remain in force as long as the Agreement remains in force and its provisions shall have
effect forthwith.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
DONE in duplicate at Minsk on 3 June 2015 in the Hindi, Belarusian, and English languages, all texts being
equally authentic. In case of divergence between the texts the English text shall prevail.
For The Government of For The Government of
The Republic of India The Republic of Belarus
(Manoj Kumar Bharti) (Sergei E. Nalivaiko)
Ambassador of India to Belarus Minister of Taxes and Duties
Minsk of the Republic of Belarus
Minsk
Printed by the Manager, Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.