Global standard of transparency and exchange of information.


Global Forum on Tax Transparency. Berlin, October 2014.

With 123 members on equal footing, The Global Forum works towards the implementation of the internationally agreed standards of transparency and exchange of information in the tax area. The G20 has endorsed the global standard for automatic exchange of tax information.

During The Global Forum’s annual meeting in Berlin, on 29 October 2014, 51 jurisdictions signed a Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement to automatically exchange information.

Single global standard for automatic exchange of financial account information

Jurisdictions will obtain information from their financial institutions and automatically exchange that information with other jurisdictions on an annual basis.

  1. The financial information to be reported: all types of investment income (including interest, dividends, income from certain insurance contracts and other similar types of income) and account balances and sales proceeds from financial assets.
  2. The financial institutions required to report under the CRS: banks, custodians, brokers, certain collective investment vehicles and certain insurance companies.
  3. Accounts held by individuals and entities (including trusts and foundations), as well as individuals who ultimately control these entities.

“The ability of rich tax evaders to swindle authorities, while ordinary citizens pay their fair share has contributed to the historically low levels of trust in government and public institutions that we are seeing across the world. The 2014 results of the global Edelman Trust reveal that almost 6 in 10 citizens do not trust their governments. The work that you are doing will help to restore this trust. When citizens see tax justice working to their benefit, confidence returns and the drive for more far-reaching reform becomes even stronger.”

- Ángel Gurría. OECD Secretary-General. Speech to the Global Forum. Berlin, 29 October 2014




Spain-Canada's new Double Taxation Agreement


Canada’s Ambassador to Spain, Jon Allen, and Spain’s Finance Minister, Cristóbal Montoro have signed the Protocol which, when ratified by both countries Parliaments, will substitute the original Double Taxation Agreement (Ottawa 1976) in force since 1980.

The new agreement stimulates trade between the two countries, eliminating tax barriers while promoting job, business and investment opportunities.

It adapts the provisions of the current agreement to the economic relationship between our two countries, adapting its text to the latest OECD Model Tax Convention.

Highlights:

1. Dividends

While the withholding tax rate on payments of dividends and interest by the source country is 15 % of the gross amount of the dividend, where the beneficial owner is a company that holds directly at least 10 % of the capital of the company paying the dividend income, the rate will now be reduced to 5%.

Dividend income paid to certain pension plans will now be exempt from withholding tax.

2. Repatriated profits from the permanent establishment can be taxed by the source country at maximum rate of 5 %.

3. Interest’s withholding tax will not exceed 10% of the gross amount of the interest.

4. The revised agreement also includes new provisions on:




Non residents taxation on pensions and annuities


Pensions are periodic payments made after retirement in consideration of past employment or by way of compensation for injuries received in connection with past employment. Annuities are 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.

Most double tax agreements establish that pensions will be taxable where the pensioner is resident. Social security pensions are generally assimilated to private pensions and covered under “other pensions” section. Public pensions are normally taxed in the payment country.

Exemptions:

DTA Brazil

Pensions and similar remunerations < US$ 3.000 / calendar year: taxable where the pensioner is resident. Excess shall be taxed in both countries.

DTA Canada

Pensions and annuities can be taxed where the pensioner is resident.

DTA USA

DTA Luxembourg

Pensions and social security payments: shared taxation.

DTA Sweden

Social security payments and life insurance pensions: taxable in paying country provided the beneficial owner is a national.