Convention Between the Government of Canada and the Government of New Zealand

Status of Negotiations

This electronic version of the Canada-New Zealand Income Tax Convention signed on May 13, 1980 is provided for convenience of reference only and has no official sanction.

The Government of Canada and the Government of New Zealand desiring to conclude a Convention for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, have agreed as follows:

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

1. The existing taxes to which this Convention shall apply are:
The income taxes imposed by the Government of Canada;

The income tax and the excess retention tax.

2. The Convention shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed after the date of signature of this Convention in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes by either Contracting State or which are imposed by any territory to which this Convention is extended under Article 25. The Contracting States shall notify each other of changes which have been made in their respective taxation laws.

3. For the purposes of subparagraph (b) of paragraph 1, the income tax does not include the bonus issue tax.

1. In this Convention, unless the context otherwise requires:

2. In determining, for the purposes of Articles 10, 11 or 12, whether dividends, interest or royalties are beneficially owned by a resident of a Contracting State, dividends, interest or royalties in respect of which a trustee is subject to tax in that Contracting State shall be treated as being beneficially owned by that trustee.

3. In this Convention, the terms "Canadian tax" and "New Zealand tax" do not include any amount which represents a penalty or interest imposed under the law of either Contracting State relating to the taxes to which this Convention applies by virtue of Article 2.

4. 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 under the law of that State concerning the taxes to which the Convention applies.

1. For the purposes of this Convention, the terms "resident of Canada" and "resident of New Zealand" mean respectively any person who is resident in Canada for the purposes of Canadian tax and any person who is resident in New Zealand for the purposes of New Zealand tax.

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

3. Where, by reason of paragraph 1, a person other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement endeavour to settle the question having regard to its place of effective management, the place where it is incorporated or other wise constituted and any other relevant factors.

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

2. A permanent establishment shall include especially;
3. The term "permanent establishment" shall be deemed not to include:
4. An enterprise of a Contracting State shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State if:
5. A person acting in a Contracting State on behalf of an enterprise of the other Contracting State -- other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 6 applies -- shall be deemed to be a permanent establishment of that enterprise in the first-mentioned State if

6. An enterprise of a Contracting State shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State merely because it carries on business in that other State through a broker, general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status where any such person is acting in the ordinary course of his business as a broker, a general commission agent or other agent of independent status.

7. 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.

1. Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from real property (including income from agricultural, pastoral or other farming activities and from forestry) situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. a) Subject to subparagraph (b) and (c) of this paragraph the term "real property" as used in this Article

(i) in the case of property situated in Canada, means any property which under the laws of Canada is regarded as real property;

(ii) in the case of property situated in New Zealand, includes every estate or interest in real property or in land and every structure or building erected on, and every improvement to, that land;

3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply to income derived from the direct use of real property or from the letting or subletting of real property or from the bailment of livestock, or from the use in any other form of, or the grant of any right what so ever in respect of real property.

4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 shall also apply to the income from real property of an enterprise and to income from real property used for the performance of independent personal services.

1. Industrial or commercial profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be subject to tax 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 a 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. Where an enterprise of a Contracting State carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, there shall be attributed to that permanent establishment the industrial or commercial profits which it might be expected to make if it were an independent enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities under the same or similar conditions and dealing at arm's length with the enterprise of which it is a permanent establishment; and the profits so attributed shall be deemed to be income derived from sources in that other State and may be taxed accordingly.

3. In determining the industrial or commercial profits attributable to a permanent establishment in a Contracting State, there shall be allowed as deductions all expenses of the enterprise, including executive and general administrative expenses, which would be deductible if the permanent establishment were an independent enterprise and which are reasonably connected with the permanent establishment, whether incurred in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere.

4. If the information available to the competent authority of the State concerned as is inadequate to determine the industrial or commercial profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment, nothing in this Article shall affect the application of the law of that State in relation to the liability of the enterprise to pay tax in respect of the permanent establishment on an amount determined by the exercise of a discretion or the making of an estimate by the competent authority of that State. Provided that the discretion shall be exercised or the estimate shall be made, so far as the information available to the competent authority permits, in accordance with the principle stated in this Article.

5. Industrial or commercial profits shall not be attributed to a permanent establishment by reason of the mere purchase by that permanent establishment of goods or merchandise for the enterprise.

6. Nothing in this Article shall apply to either Contracting State to prevent the operation in the Contracting State of any provisions of its law at any time in force relating to the taxation of any income from the business of any form of insurance. Provided that if the law in force in either Contracting State at the date of signature of this Convention relating to the taxation of that income is varied (otherwise than in minor respects so as not to affect its general character), the Contracting States shall consult with each other with a view to agreeing to such amendment of this paragraph as may be appropriate.

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. To the extent that they are not covered by paragraph 1 profits from any transport by ships or aircraft exclusively between places in a Contracting State may be taxed in that State.

3. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall also apply to profits referred to in those paragraphs derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from its participation in a pool, a joint business or in an international operating agency.

1. Where

2. If the information available to the competent authority of a Contracting State is inadequate to determine, for the purposes of paragraph 1, the profits which might have been expected to accrue to an enterprise, nothing in this Article shall affect the application of any law of that State in relation to the liability of that enterprise to pay tax on an amount determined by the exercise of a discretion or the making of an estimate by the competent authority of that State. Provided that the discretion shall be exercised or the estimate shall be made, so far as the information available to the competent authority permits, in accordance with the principle stated in this Article.

3. 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, subject to the provisions of paragraph 4, make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of 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.

4. The provisions of paragraph 3 relating to an appropriate adjustment are not applicable after the expiration of six (6) years after the end of the income year or the taxation year in respect of which a Contracting State has charged to tax the profits to which the adjustment would relate.

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 there recipient is the beneficial owner of the dividends the amount of tax so charged shall not exceed 15 percent of the gross amount of the dividends. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this limitation.

This paragraph shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid.

3. The limitation on the amount of tax for which paragraph 2 provides 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. Such dividends may be taxed separately or together with industrial or commercial profits according to the laws of the State in which the permanent establishment or the fixed base is situated.

4. 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.

5. A company which is a resident of New Zealand and which has a permanent establishment in Canada shall, in accordance with the provisions of Canadian law, remain subject to the additional tax on companies other than Canadian corporations, but the rate of such tax shall not exceed 15 percent.

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 recipient is the beneficial owner of the interest the amount of tax so charged shall not exceed 15 percent of the gross amount of the interest. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this limitation. Penalty charges for the late payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purpose of this Article.

3. The limitation on the amount of tax for which paragraph 2 provides 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 States in dependent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the indebtedness in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. Such interest may be taxed separately or together with industrial or commercial profits according to the laws of the State in which the permanent establishment or the fixed base is situated.

4. Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, a political subdivision, a local authority or 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 in respect of 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.

5. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner of the interest or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the interest paid, having regard to the indebtedness in respect of which it is paid, exceeds the amount which might have been expected to have been agreed upon in the absence of such relationship, the limitation provided for under paragraph 2 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.

1. Royalties 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 royalties may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise, and according to the laws of that State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the royalties the amount of tax so charged shall not exceed 15 percent of the gross amount of the royalties. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this limitation.

3. The term "royalties" as used in this Article means payments of any kind to the extent to which they are paid as consideration for

4. The limitation on the amount of tax for which paragraph 2 provides 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 royalties arise, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the knowledge, information, assistance, right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment of fixed base. Such royalties may be taxed separately or together with industrial or commercial profits according to the laws of the State in which the permanent establishment of the fixed base is situated.

5. Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, a political subdivision, a local authority or 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 the 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 of the royalties or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties paid, having regard to what they are paid for, exceeds the amount which might have been expected to have been agreed upon in the absence of such relationship, the limitation provided for under paragraph 2 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.

1. Income or gains from

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 a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise) or of such a fixed base may be taxed in that other State.

1. Subject to Articles 15, 17 and 18, remuneration or income derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of personal (including professional) services shall be taxable only in that State unless the services are performed in the other Contracting State. If the services are so performed such remuneration or income as is derived there from in respect thereof may be taxed in that other State.

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, remuneration or income derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of personal (including professional) services performed in the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State, if:

3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration or income in respect of services performed aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic may be taxed in the Contracting State of which the operator is a resident.

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

1. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Convention, 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 an athlete, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.

2. Where the services mentioned in paragraph 1 are provided in a Contracting State by an enterprise of the other Contracting State, then the profits derived from providing those services by such an enterprise may, notwithstanding anything contained in this Convention, be taxed in the first-mentioned State unless the enterprise is substantially supported from the public funds of the other State, including any political subdivision, local authority or statutory body thereof, in connection with the provision of such activities or unless the enterprise is a non-profit organisation no part of the income of which was payable to, or was otherwise available for the personal benefit of, any proprietor, member or shareholder thereof.

1. Pensions and annuities arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, subject to the provisions of paragraph 2, be taxable only in that other State.

2. Pensions and annuities arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may also be taxed in the State in which they arise, and according to the laws of that State in any taxation year or income year where they exceed the sum of 10,000 Canadian dollars in that year; provided that the tax so charged shall not exceed

3. The competent authorities of the Contracting State may, if necessary, agree to modify the sum mentioned in paragraph 2 as a result of monetary or economic developments.

4. In this Article the term "annuities" means stated sums 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 moneys worth.

2. The provisions of Articles 14 and 15 shall apply to remuneration in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or a political subdivision thereof.

Payments which a student or business 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 education or training receives 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.

1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2, items of income of a resident of a Contracting State which are not dealt within the foregoing Articles of this Convention shall be taxable only in that State.

2. However, if such income is derived by a resident of a Contracting State from sources in the other Contracting State, such income may also be taxed in that other State and, subject to paragraph 3, according to the law of that State.

3. Where the income is income derived from an estate or trust resident in Canada by a resident of New Zealand, the Canadian tax on that income shall not exceed 15 per cent of the gross amount of the income if it is subject to tax in New Zealand.

4. Nothing in this Article shall apply to either Contracting State to prevent the operation in the Contracting State of any provisions of its law at any time in force relating to the taxation of any income from the business of any form of insurance.

1. In the case of Canada, double taxation shall be avoided as follows:

2. Subject to any provisions of the law of New Zealand which may from time to time be in force and which relate to the allowance of a credit against New Zealand tax of tax paid in a country outside New Zealand (which shall not affect the general principle hereof), Canadian tax paid under the law of Canada and consistently with this Convention, whether directly or by deduction, in respect of income derived by a New Zealand resident from sources in Canada (excluding, in the case of a dividend, tax paid in respect of the profits out of which the dividend is paid) shall be allowed as a credit against New Zealand tax payable in respect of that income.

3. For the purposes of this Article, profits, income or gains of a resident of a Contracting State which are taxed in the other Contracting State consistently with this Convention shall be deemed to arise from sources in that other State.

1. Where a resident of a Contracting State considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with this Convention, he may, without prejudice to the remedies provided by the national laws of those States, address to the competent authority of the Contracting State of which he is a resident an application in writing stating the ground for claiming the revision of such taxation.

2. The competent authority referred to in paragraph 1 shall endeavour, 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 not in accordance with the Convention.

3. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of the Convention. In particular, the competent authorities of the Contracting States may consult together to endeavour to agree:

4. The competent authorities of the Contracting States may consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in the Convention.

1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is necessary for the carrying out of this Convention or of the domestic laws of the Contracting States concerning taxes covered by this Convention insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to this Convention. The exchange of information is not restricted by Article 1. Any information 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 reviewing authorities) involved in the assessment or collection of, the enforcement in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to, the taxes which are the subject of the Convention. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes. These persons or authorities 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 one of the Contracting States the obligation:

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

2. Notwithstanding Article 4, an individual who is a member of a diplomatic, consular or permanent mission of a Contracting State which is situated in the other Contracting State or in a third State shall be deemed for the purposes of this Convention to be a resident of the sending State if he is liable in the sending State to the same obligations in relation to tax on his total world income as are residents of that sending State.

3. This Convention shall not apply to International Organisations, to organs or officials thereof and to persons who are members of a diplomatic, consular or permanent mission of a third State, being present in a Contracting State and who are not liable in either Contracting State to the same obligations in relation to tax on their total world income as are residents thereof.

1. This convention may be extended, either in its entirety or with modifications to any territory for whose international relations either Contracting State is responsible, and which imposes taxes substantially similar in character to those to which this Convention applies. Any such extension shall take effect from such date and subject to such modifications and conditions (including conditions as to termination) as may be specified and agreed between the Contracting States in Notes to be exchanged through diplomatic channels or in any other manner in accordance with their constitutional procedures.

2. Unless otherwise agreed by both Contracting States, the termination of this Convention by one of them under Article 27 shall also terminate, in the manner provided for in that Article, the application of this Convention to any territory to which it has been extended under this Article.

1. Each of the Contracting States shall notify tot he other the completion of the procedure required by its laws for the bringing into force of this Convention. This Convention shall enter into force on the date of the latter of these notifications and shall thereupon have effect

2. Subject to paragraph 3 the Agreement between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of Canada for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income signed at Ottawa on March 12, 1948 (in this Article referred to as the "1948 Agreement" ) shall cease to have effect in relation to any tax in respect of which this Convention comes into effect in accordance with paragraph 1.

3. Where any provision of the 1947 Agreement would have afforded any greater relief from tax in one of the Contracting States than is afforded by this Convention, any such provision shall continue to have effect in that Contracting State.

4. The 1948 Agreement shall terminate on the last date on which it has effect in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Article.

This Convention shall continue in effect indefinitely, but either Contracting State may, on or before June 30 in any calendar year after the year 1983, give to the other Contracting State written notice of termination and, in that event, this Convention shall cease to be effective

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, duly authorized thereto, have signed this Convention.

DONE at Wellington, in duplicate this thirteenth day of May one thousand, nine hundred and eighty in the English and French languages, each version being equally authentic.

Edward C. Lumley

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA

Hugh Templeton

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZELAND


1. For the purposes of Article 6 and Article 13

2. Should New Zealand at any time after the date of signature include a non-discrimination Article in any of its double tax conventions then discussions will be held between the Contracting States to decide whether a non-discrimination Article should be included in the present Convention.

3. With respect to Article 17, it is understood that pensions paid by, or out of funds created by, the Government of New Zealand, or a political subdivision thereof to any individual in respect of services rendered to the Government of New Zealand or subdivision thereof, shall be taxable only in New Zealand.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, duly authorized thereto, have signed this Protocol.

DONE at Wellington, in duplicate this thirteenth day of May one thousand, nine hundred and eighty in the English and French languages, each version being equally authentic.

Edward C. Lumley

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA

Hugh Templeton

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZELAND

Page details

Date modified: