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19 September 2023 Hong Kong and Bangladesh sign comprehensive double taxation arrangement
On 30 August 2023, Hong Kong signed a CDTA with Bangladesh that will become effective in Hong Kong for tax years beginning 1 April 2024 if the ratification procedures can be completed in 2023. A company is a Hong Kong tax resident if it is incorporated in Hong Kong or if incorporated outside Hong Kong and normally managed or controlled in Hong Kong. The "tie-breaker" rule for dual-resident companies considers where the company's place of effective management is situated. In addition to a fixed-place permanent establishment (PE), the CDTA covers other forms of PE, such as Construction PE, Service PE and Agency PE. Certain activities are listed as exempt from creating a PE, such as: using facilities for storage; display or maintenance of stock of the enterprise's own goods; processing, purchasing goods or merchandise; or collecting information, and other preparatory or auxiliary activities. Article 7 of the CDTA restricts deductibility of expenses payable by the PE to a head office in the form of royalties, fees or commissions, among others. The CDTA also contains the exclusion for purchasing activity. Taxation of Dividends (Article 10), Interest (Article 11), Royalties (Article 12), Technical Services Fees (Article 13) and Capital Gains (Article 14) Passive streams of income like dividends, interest, royalties, technical services fees and capital gains are generally taxable in the resident jurisdiction. Such income may also be taxed in the source jurisdiction at the reduced withholding rates summarized below:
The CDTA also provides tax relief for Hong Kong residents deriving profits from international shipping transport in Bangladesh. They will enjoy 50% tax reduction in Bangladesh in respect of the profits subject to tax there. To eliminate double taxation on a person, both jurisdictions allow a foreign tax credit against for jurisdictional taxes paid in the other jurisdiction.4
1 A beneficial owner who is a resident of the other Contracting Party and holds directly at least 10% of the capital of the company paying the dividends would be subject to tax at 10% of the gross amount of the dividends. In all other cases, the person would be subject to tax at 15% of the gross amount of the dividends. 2 Exempt if the interest is paid to the HKSAR Government, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Exchange Fund or any entity wholly or mainly owned by the HKSAR Government as may be agreed from time to time between the competent authorities of the Contracting Parties. It is also exempt if the interest is paid to the Bangladesh Government, the Bangladesh Bank, the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh or any entity wholly owned by the Bangladesh Government as may be agreed from time to time between the competent authorities of the Contracting Parties. 3 Gains derived by a Hong Kong resident from the alienation of shares of a company in Bangladesh deriving more than 50% of its asset value directly or indirectly from immovable property situated in Bangladesh would be subject to tax in Bangladesh. 4 Under Hong Kong's domestic law, the amount of a tax credit is limited to the Hong Kong profits tax payable in respect of the same income. Document ID: 2023-1557 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
