This feed is published daily with selected new or updated
content from across the Lowtax Network. For a list of Lowtax Network
sites, many of which feature daily news, see
below.
Providing essential tax news and information
for globally mobile artists, contractors, entrepreneurs, professionals,
small businesses, sportspersons and entertainers.
Lowtax Portal:
'Low-tax' business and investment in the top 50 jurisdictions covered in
exceptional detail.
Tax News: Global
tax news, continuously updated through the day.
Investors Offshore:
The independent offshore and alternative investment guide for expatriates
and the globally aware investor.
Law & Tax
News: Daily news and background data on tax and legal developments
for international business.
Offshore-e-com:
A topical guide to offshore e-commerce focused on tax and regulation.
Lowtax Library:
One of the web's largest and most authoritative business and investment
information sources.
US Tax Network:
The resource for free online US taxation information, covering: corporate
tax, individual tax, international tax, expatriates, sales and e-commerce
tax, investment tax.
NEW! Personal
Business Tax Guide: Providing essential tax news and information
on business for contractors, entrepreneurs, professionals, small businesses,
artists, sportspersons and entertainers.
The new profits tax law which came into force in 2002 significantly
changed the withholding tax regime applying to Russian
source income paid to foreign companies without a
permanent establishment in Russia. The new withholding
tax regime is now much closer to OECD principles and
the previously extremely bureaucratic procedure for
obtaining advance treaty clearances has been much
simplified.
Tax treaties to which the former USSR was party are honored by Russia,
unless the other party to the treaty has renounced
it or it has been replaced by a new treaty. In the
last few years Russia has entered into many new treaties
based on the OECD Model Convention.
A foreign company claiming an exemption from Russian withholding
tax based on a treaty must obtain and provide to the
Russian payor a confirmation from the foreign tax
authority that the company is tax resident in the
relevant treaty country. The tax authorities have
clarified the information, which is necessary to confirm
the eligibility of the foreign company to the treaty
exemption in such a certificate.
Table Of Treaty Rates
These rates
apply to withholding taxes on Russian source income.
Numbers in parentheses refer to notes below the table.
Country
Dividends
Interest
Royalties
Year Of Application
Albania
10
10
10
1998
Algeria
5/15
0/15
15
2009
Armenia
5/10
0
0
1999
Austria
5/15 (1)
0
0
2003
Australia
5/15
10
10
2004
Azerbaijan
10
10
10
1999
Belgium
10
0/10
0
2001
Belarus
15
10
10
1999
Bulgaria
15
15
15
1996
Canada
10/15 (2)
10
0/10
1998
China
10
10
10
1998
Croatia
5/10
10
10
1998
Cyprus
5/10 (3)
0
0
2000
Czech Republic
10
0
10
1998
Denmark
10
0
0
1998
Egypt
10
15
15
2001
Finland
5/12 (4)
0
0
2003
France
5/10/15 (5)
0
0
2000
Germany
5/15 (6)
0
0
1997
Greece
5/10
7
7
2008
Hungary
10
0
0
1998
Iceland
5/15
0
0
2004
India
10
10
10
1999
Indonesia
15
15
15
2003
Iran
5/10
7.5
5
2003
Ireland
10
0
0
1996
Israel
10
10
10
2001
Italy
5/10 (7)
10
0
1999
Japan
15/10
10
0/10 (8)
1987
Khazakhstan
10
10
10
1998
Korea
5/10 (9)
0
5
2001
Kyrgyz Republic
10
10
10
2001
Kuwait
5
0
10
2004
Lebanon
10
5
5
2001
Lithuania
5/10
10
5/10
2006
Luxembourg
10/15 (10)
0
0
1998
Macedonia
10
10
10
2001
Malaysia
15
15
10/15
1989
Mali
10/15
15
0
2000
Mexico
10
10
10
2009
Morocco
5/10
10
10
2000
Moldova
10
0
10
1998
Mongolia
10
10
0
1998
Namibia
5/10
10
5
2001
Netherlands
5/15 (11)
0
0
1999
New Zealand
15
10
10
2004
North Korea
10
0
0
2001
Norway
10
0/10 (12)
0
2003
Poland
10
10
10
1994
Portugal
10/15 (13)
10
10
2003
Philippines
15
15
15
2003
Qatar
5
5
5
2001
Romania
15
15
10
1996
Serbia & Montenegro
5/15
10
10
1998
Singapore
5/10
0/7.5
7.5
2009
Slovak Republic
10
0
10
1998
Slovenia
10
10
10
1998
South Africa
10/15
10
0
2001
Spain
5/10/15 (14)
0/5 (15)
5
2001
Sri Lanka
10/15
10
10
2003
Sweden
5/15 (16)
0
0
1996
Switzerland
5/15 (17)
5/10 (18)
0
1998
Syria
15
10
4.5/13.5/18
2004
Tajikistan
5/10
10
0
2004
Thailand
15
0/10
15
2009
Turkey
10
10
10
2000
Turkmenistan
10
5
5
2000
Ukraine
5/15 (19)
10
10
2000
UK
10
0
0
1999
USA
5/10 (20)
0
0
1994
Uzbekhistan
10
0/10
0
1996
Vietnam
10/15
10
15
1997
Notes:
(1)
5% for 10% shareholders, otherwise 15%
(2) 10% for 10% shareholders, otherwise 15%
(3) 5% if initial investment greater than US$100,000,
otherwise 10%
(4) 5% for 30% shareholders, otherwise 12%
(5) 5% if investment not less than FFr 500,000 and
if the recipient pays tax; 10% if either is untrue;
otherwise 15%
(6) 5% for 10% shareholders, otherwise 15%
(7)
5% for10% shareholders, otherwise 10%
(8) 0% for royalties in respect of literary, artistic
or scientific works including films and tapes; 10%
for royalties in respect of any patent, trade mark,
design or model, plan, secret formula or process,
or industrial,
commercial or scientific equipment, or information
concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience.
(9) 5% for 30% shareholders, otherwise 10%
(10) 10% for 30% shareholders, otherwise 15%
(11) 5% for 25% shareholders, otherwise 15%
(12) 0% for commercial loans in connection with a
delay of payment for goods, equipment and services;
otherwise 10%
(13) 10% for 25% shareholders, otherwise 15%
(14) 5% for participation of at least ECU100,000 and
if the dividends are exempt from tax in; 10% if either
condition is met; otherwise 15%
(15) 0% if the actual recipient of interest is the
government of the other contracting state, or for
long-term bank loans (exceeding 7 years); otherwise
5%
(16)
5% for 100% participation or 30% participation in
a joint venture; otherwise 15%
(17) 5% for 20% shareholders, otherwise 15%
(18) 5% for bank loans, otherwise 10%
(19) 5% for participation of at least US$50,000; otherwise
15%
As well as 3,000 pages
of updated, free content on our five sites, Lowtax offers
visitors a number of authoritative special reports for
immediate download at attractive prices.
A world-wide network of contributors
Buy on-line and download your exclusive reports
Keen pricing - pay by credit card
5 years as the world's top on-line tax resource
Our 25 special reports
cover every important aspect of 'offshore' and international
tax-planning, including banking secrecy, the 'unfair
tax competition' saga, offshore funds, e-commerce, offshore
gaming, and a host of other topical subjects.
With over 50,000 qualified readers every month our web-sites
offer a number of cost effective, targeted advertising,
sponsorship and marketing opportunities:
Display advertising - from 'skyscrapers' to 'buttons'
Content/article submission and sponsorship
Opt-in email marketing
On-line Services Directory listings
Could your corporate web-site or newsletter benefit
from incorporating regularly updated news and content
tailored to serve your clients' interests? We can provide
a variety of maintenance-free news and content solutions
that can be seamlessly integrated and dynamically delivered:
IMPORTANT NOTICE: THE LOWTAX NETWORK has
taken reasonable care in sourcing and presenting the information contained on
this site, but accepts no responsibility for any financial or other loss or damage
that may result from its use. In particular, users of the site are advised to
take appropriate professional advice before committing themselves to involvement
in offshore jurisdictions, offshore trusts or offshore investments. All materials
on this site copyright THE LOWTAX NETWORK 1999 to 2010. Contact
us for further information.
LOWTAX.NET
Table Of Treaty Rates
A world-wide network of contributors 