Bulgaria – Germany

CONVENTION

BETWEEN  THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA AND GEORGIA FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME AND ON CAPITAL

Prom. SG. 14/18 Feb 2000

Chapter one

Scope of the Convention

Personal Scope

Art. 1

This Convention shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.

Taxes Covered

Art. 2

1. This Convention shall apply to taxes on income and on capital imposed on behalf of a Contracting State or local authorities, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.

2. There shall be regarded as taxes on income and on capital all taxes imposed on total income, on total capital, or on elements of income or of capital, including taxes on gains from the alienation of movable or immovable property and taxes on total amounts of wages and salaries paid by enterprises, as well as taxes on capital appreciation.

3. The existing taxes to which the Convention shall apply are in particular:

1. in Bulgaria:
   1. 1. the personal income tax;
      2. the corporate income tax;
      3. the real property tax;

(hereinafter referred to as "Bulgarian tax");

2. in Georgia:
   1. 1. the companies profit tax;
      2. the property tax;
      3. the personal income tax

(hereinafter referred to as "Georgian taxes").

4. The Convention shall also apply to any 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 any significant changes which have been made in their respective taxation laws.

Chapter two

Definitions

General Definitions

Art. 3

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

1. the terms "a Contracting State" and "the other Contracting State" mean Bulgaria or Georgia as the context requires;
2. the term "Bulgaria" means the Republic of Bulgaria and when used in a geographical sense means the territory over which it exercises its State sovereignty, as well as the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone over which it exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction in conformity with international law;
3. the term "Georgia" means all the territory within the borders of Georgia, including the internal waters, internal and territorial sea, natural resources within their borders, and the air space above them, over which the Georgian sovereignty is spread. Georgia, in accordance with the international law, exercises its sovereign rights and jurisdiction with respect to the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf adjacent to its sea coast.
4. the term "person" includes an individual, a company and any other body of persons;
5. the term "company" means a legal person or any entity which is treated as a legal person for tax purposes;
6. 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;
7. the term "national" means any individual possessing the nationality of a Contracting State;
8. the term "international traffic" means any transport by a ship, aircraft, railway or road transport vehicle operated by an enterprise of a Contracting State, except when such transport is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State;
1. the term "place of effective management" means the place where the real and day to day management of the enterprise is done, and as a result of these managerial activities the enterprise earns income attributable to that place of management;
10. the term "competent authority" means:
    1. 1. in the case of Bulgaria, the Minister of Finance or his authorized representative;

1. 1. 2. in the case of Georgia, the Minister of Finance or his authorized representative.

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 at the time that application under the law of that State for the purposes of the taxes to which the Convention applies. Any meaning under the applicable tax laws of that State will be prevailing over a meaning given to the term under other laws of that State.

Resident

Art. 4

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 management, place of incorporation 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.

2. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then his status shall be determined as follows:

1. he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has a permanent home available to him; if he has a permanent home available to him in both States, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests);
2. if the State in which he has his centre of vital interests cannot be determined, of if he does not have a permanent home available to him in either State, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has an habitual abode;
3. if he has an habitual abode in both States or in 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, it shall be deemed to be a resident of the State under the laws of which its legal head office is situated.

Permanent Establishment

Art. 5

1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term "permanent establishment" means a fixed place of economic activity through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or party carried on.

2. The term "permanent establishment" includes especially:

1. a place of management;
2. a branch;
3. an office;
4. a factory;
5. a workshop;
6. a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction of natural resources.

3. A building site or construction or installation project constitutes a permanent establishment only if it lasts more than 9 months.

4. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Art., the term "permanent establishment" shall be deemed not to include:

1. the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise;
2. the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery;
3. the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise;
4. the maintenance of a fixed place of economic activity solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise, or of collecting information, for the enterprise;
5. the maintenance of a fixed place of economic activity solely for the purpose of carrying on, for the enterprise, any other activity of a preparatory or auxiliary character;
6. the maintenance of a fixed place of economic activity solely for any combination of activities mentioned in subparagraph (a) to (e), provided that the overall activity of the fixed place of economic activity resulting from this combination is of a preparatory or auxiliary character.

5. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, where a person -- other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 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 economic activity, would not make this fixed place of economic activity a permanent establishment under the provisions of that paragraph.

6. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Art., an insurance enterprise of a Contracting State shall, except in regard to re-insurance, be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State if it collects premiums in the territory of that other State or insures risks situated therein through a person other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 7 applies.

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. However, when the activities of such an agent are devoted wholly or almost wholly on behalf of that enterprise, he shall not be considered to be an agent of an independent status within the meaning of this paragraph.

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.

Chapter three

Taxation of Income Income From Immovable Property

Art. 6

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. 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 or 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.

Business Profits

Art. 7

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.

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 Art..

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 purpose of the preceding paragraphs, the profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year unless there is good and sufficient reason to the contrary.

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

International Traffic

Art. 8

1. Profits derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in that State.

2. Profits derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the operation of railway or road transport vehicles in international traffic shall be taxable only in that State where the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.

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

Associated Enterprises

Art. 9

1. Where

1. 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
2. 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 the profits of an enterprise of that State -- and taxes accordingly -- profits on which an enterprise of the other Contracting State has been charged to tax in that other State and the profits so included are profits which would have accrued to the enterprise of the first-mentioned State if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those which would have been made between independent enterprises, then that other State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein on those profits. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Convention and the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall, if necessary, consult each other.

Dividends

Art. 10

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 beneficial owner of dividends is a resident of the other Contracting State the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent 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 Art. 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 Art. 7 or Art. 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.

Interest

Art. 11

1. Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

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 beneficial owner of the interest is a resident of the other Contracting State the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 percent of the gross amount of the interest.

3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to the Government of the other Contracting State or a statutory body thereof, or to the National Bank of that other State, shall be exempt from tax in the first-mentioned Contracting State.

4. The term "interest" as used in this Art. 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 debtors' 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 Art.

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 Art.s 7 or 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

6. Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the interest, whether he is 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 Art. 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.

Royalties

Art. 12

1. Royalties arising in a Contracting State and beneficially owned by a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

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 beneficial owner of the royalties is a resident of the other Contracting State the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties or fees for technical services.

3. The term "royalties" as used in this Art. 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 cinematography films, and films, tapes or other means of image or sound reproduction for radio or television 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, (or fees for technical services) 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 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 Art.s 7 or 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

5. Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the royalties, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the liability 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, 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 Art. 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.

Capital Gains

Art. 13

1. Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of immovable property referred to in Art. 6 and situated in other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. Gains from the alienation of movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State or of movable property pertaining to a fixed base available to a resident of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing independent personal services, including such gains from the alienation of such permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise) or of such fixed base, may be taxed in that other State.

3. Gains from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in international traffic by an enterprise of a Contracting State or of movable property pertaining to the operation of the mentioned means of transport, shall be taxable only in that State.

4. Gains from the alienation of railway or road transport vehicles operated in international traffic by an enterprise of a Contracting State, or of movable property pertaining to the operation of the mentioned means of transport, shall be taxable only in that State where the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.

5. Gains from the alienation of any property other than that referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident.

Income from Independent Professional and Other Personal Art. 14

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 except in the following circumstances, when such income may also be taxed in the other Contracting State:

1. if he has a fixed base regularly available to him in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing his activities; in that case, only so much of the income as is attributable to that fixed base may be taxed in that other State; or
2. if he is present in the other State for a period or periods exceeding in the aggregate 90 days in any twelve month period; in that case, only so much of the income as is derived from his activities performed in that other State may be taxed in that other State.

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.

Income from Employment

Art. 15

1. Subject to the provisions of Art.s 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:

1. the recipient is present in the other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve month period; and
2. the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident of the other State; and
3. the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment or a fixed base which the employer has in the other State.

3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Art., remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic by an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State.

4. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Art., remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised a railway or road transport vehicle operated in international traffic by an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State where the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.

Directors' Fees

Art. 16

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 or any similar organ of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

Artistes and Sportsmen

Art. 17

1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Art.s 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 Art.s 7, 14 and 15, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or the sportsman are exercised.

3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, the income mentioned in this Art. shall be exempt from tax in the Contracting State in which the activity of the entertainer or sportsman is exercised provided that this activity is supported wholly by public funds of either Contracting State or a local authority thereof, or the activity is exercised within the framework of a cultural or sport cooperation agreement between the Contracting States.

Pensions and Annuities

Art. 18

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

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, pensions paid and other similar payments made under a public scheme which is part of the social security system of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State.

3. The term "annuity" 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.

Government Service

Art. 19

1.

1. Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, other than a pension, paid by a Contracting State or a local authority thereof, to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or authority shall be taxable only in that State.
2. However, such salaries, wages and other similar remuneration shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the services are rendered in that State and the individual is a resident of that State who:
   1. 1. is a national of that State; or
      2. did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the services.

2.

1. Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or local authority shall be taxable only in that State.
2. However, such pension shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the individual is a resident of, and a national of, that other State.

3. The provisions of Art.s 15, 16, 17 and 18 shall apply to salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, and pensions, in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or a local authority thereof.

Students

Art. 20

1. Payments which a student or apprentice 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 for the purpose of his maintenance, education or training shall not be taxed in that State, provided that such payments arise from sources outside that State.

2. In respect of grants, scholarships, and remuneration from employment not covered by paragraph 1, a student or apprentice referred to in paragraph 1 shall, in addition, be entitled during such education or training to the same exemptions, reliefs or reductions in respect of taxes available to residents of the Contracting State which he is visiting.

Teachers and Researchers

Art. 21

1. An individual who visits a Contracting State for the purpose of teaching or carrying out research at a university, college, school or other recognized educational institution in that State and who is or was immediately before that visit a resident of the other Contracting State, shall be exempt from tax in the first-mentioned State on any remuneration for such teaching or research for a period not exceeding two years from the date of his first visit to that State for that purpose, provided that such remuneration is derived by him from outside that State.

2. The provision of the foregoing paragraph shall not apply to income from research if such activities are undertaken by the individual not in the public interest but primarily for the private benefit of some person or persons.

Other Income

Art. 22

1. Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State which are not expressly mentioned in the foregoing Art.s of this Convention shall be taxable only in that State, except such income is derived from sources in the other Contracting State, it may also be taxed in that other State.

2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income, other than income from immovable property as defined in paragraph 2 of Art. 6, if the beneficial owner 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 Art. 7 or Art. 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

Chapter four

Taxation of Capital

Capital

Art. 23

1. Capital represented by immovable property referred to in Art. 6, owned by a resident of a Contracting State and situated in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other 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 or aircraft a resident of a Contracting State in international traffic and by movable property pertaining to the operation of such means of transport, shall be taxable only in that State.

4. Capital represented by railway or road transport vehicles a resident of a Contracting State in international traffic and by movable property pertaining to the operation of such means of transport, shall be taxable only in that State where the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.

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

State.

Chapter five

Methods for Elimination of Double Taxation

Elimination of Double Taxation

Art. 24

1. Where a resident of a Contracting State derives income or owns capital which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, may be taxed in the other Contracting State, the first-mentioned State shall allow:

1. as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident, an amount equal to the income tax paid in that other State;
2. as a deduction from the tax on the capital of that resident, an amount equal to the capital tax paid in that other State.

Such deduction in either case shall not, however, exceed that part of the income tax or capital tax, as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable, as the case may be, to the income or the capital which may be taxed in that other State.

2. Where in accordance with any provision of the Convention income derived or capital owned by a resident of a Contracting State is exempt from tax in that State, such State may nevertheless, in calculating the amount of tax on the remaining income or capital of such resident, take into account the exempted income or capital.

Chapter six

Special Provisions

Non-Discrimination

Art. 25

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 State in the same circumstances are or may be subjected.

2. Stateless persons who are residents of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in either 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 the State concerned in the same circumstances are or may be subjected.

3. The taxation on a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State shall not be less favorably levied in that other State than the taxation levied on enterprises of that other State carrying on the same activities. This provision shall not be construed as obliging a Contracting State to grant to residents of the other Contracting State any personal allowances, reliefs and reductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family responsibilities which it grants to its own residents.

4. Except where the provisions of paragraph 1 of Art. 9, paragraph 7 of Art. 11, or paragraph 6 of Art. 12, apply, interest, royalties, fees for technical services 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.

5. Enterprises of a Contracting State, the capital of which is wholly or partly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by one or more residents of the other Contracting State, shall not be subjected in the first-mentioned State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which other similar enterprises of the first-mentioned State are or may be subjected.

Mutual Agreement Procedure

Art. 26

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 Art. 25, to that of the Contracting State of which he is a national. The case must be presented within 3 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 endeavor, 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 State.

3. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavor to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of this 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, including through a joint commission consisting of themselves or their representatives, for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs.

Exchange of Information

Art. 27

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. Any information so 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) concerned with 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.

2. In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 1 be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation:

1. to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;
2. 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;
3. to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process, or information, the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy (ordre public).

Members of Diplomatic Missions and Consular Posts

Art. 28

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

Chapter seven

Final Provisions Entry Into Force

Art. 29

1. This Convention shall be ratified. The Contracting States shall notify each other in writing that their constitutional requirements for entry into force of this Convention have been fulfilled.

2. The Convention shall enter into force on the date of the latter of the notifications referred to in paragraph 1 and its provisions shall apply:

1. in respect of taxes withheld at source, to amounts of income derived on or after 1 of January in the calendar year next following the year in which the Convention enters into force; and
2. in respect of other taxes on income and taxes on capital, to such taxes chargeable for any taxable year beginning on or after 1 January in the calendar year next following the year in which the Convention enters into force.

Termination

Art. 30

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

1. in respect of taxes withheld at source, to amounts of income derived on or after 1 January in the calendar year next following the year in which the notice is given; and
2. in respect of other taxes on income and taxes on capital, to such taxes chargeable for any taxable year beginning on or after 1 January in the calendar year next following the year in which the notice is given.

In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorized thereto, have signed this Convention.

Done in duplicate at ……………… on 26 November 1998 in Bulgarian, Georgian and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence in interpretation the English text shall prevail.