Resolução

Resolução da Assembleia da República n.º 27/2006

Aprova o Acordo entre a República Portuguesa e o Território Dependente da Coroa Britânica das Ilhas Turcas e Caicos, por troca de cartas, respectivamente de 29 de Dezembro de 2004 e de 17 de Abril de 2005, Relativo à Tributação dos Rendimentos da Poupança

Artigo 1.º

Retenção do imposto pelos agentes pagadores

Os pagamentos de juros, definidos no artigo 8.º do presente Acordo, efectuados por um agente pagador estabelecido nas Ilhas Turcas e Caicos a beneficiários efectivos, na acepção do artigo 5.º do presente Acordo, que sejam residentes de Portugal ficam, sem prejuízo do disposto no artigo 3.º do presente Acordo, sujeitos a uma retenção em relação ao montante dos juros pagos durante o período de transição referido no artigo 14.º do presente Acordo a partir da data referida no artigo 15.º do presente Acordo. A taxa do imposto de retenção deve ser de 15% durante os primeiros três anos do período de transição, de 20% durante os três anos subsequentes e de 35% após este último período.

Artigo 2.º

Comunicação de informações por parte dos agentes pagadores

1 -Sempre que sejam efectuados pagamentos de juros, definidos no artigo 8.º do presente Acordo, por um agente pagador estabelecido em Portugal a beneficiários efectivos, como definidos no artigo 5.º do presente Acordo, que sejam residentes das Ilhas Turcas e Caicos, ou sempre que se aplique o disposto na alínea a) do n.º 1 do artigo 3.º do presente Acordo, o agente pagador deve comunicar à respectiva autoridade competente:
1. a)A identidade e residência do beneficiário efectivo, determinadas em conformidade com o artigo 6.º do presente Acordo;
2. b)O nome ou denominação e endereço do agente pagador;
3. c)O número de conta do beneficiário efectivo ou, na sua falta, identificação do crédito gerador dos juros;
4. d)Informação a respeito dos pagamentos de juros especificados no n.º 1 do artigo 4.º do presente Acordo.
  Todavia, as Partes Contratantes podem limitar o conteúdo mínimo das informações que o agente pagador deve comunicar no que se refere ao pagamento de juros, ao montante total dos juros ou dos rendimentos e ao montante total do produto da cessão, do resgate ou do reembolso e Portugal deve observar o n.º 2 do presente artigo.
2 -Nos seis meses subsequentes ao termo do seu exercício fiscal, a autoridade competente de Portugal deve comunicar à autoridade competente das Ilhas Turcas e Caicos, automaticamente, a informação referida nas alíneas a) a d) do n.º 1 do presente artigo, em relação a todos os pagamentos de juros efectuados durante esse ano.

Artigo 3.º

Excepções ao sistema de imposto de retenção

1 -Ao aplicarem o imposto de retenção em conformidade com o artigo 1.º do presente Acordo, as Ilhas Turcas e Caicos devem estabelecer um, ou ambos, dos procedimentos seguintes para que os beneficiários efectivos possam solicitar a não aplicação dessa retenção:
1. a)Um procedimento que permita que o beneficiário efectivo, com a definição que lhe é dada pelo artigo 5.º do presente Acordo, evite o imposto de retenção especificado no artigo 1.º do presente Acordo, autorizando expressamente o seu agente pagador a comunicar as informações relativas aos pagamentos de juros à autoridade competente da Parte Contratante de estabelecimento do agente pagador. Essa autorização abrangerá todos os pagamentos de juros efectuados ao beneficiário efectivo por esse agente pagador;
2. b)Um procedimento que garanta que o imposto de retenção não será aplicado quando o beneficiário efectivo apresentar ao seu agente pagador um certificado emitido em seu nome pela autoridade competente da Parte Contratante de residência fiscal nos termos do n.º 2 do presente artigo.
2 -A pedido do beneficiário efectivo, a autoridade competente da Parte Contratante do país de residência fiscal deve emitir um certificado que indique:
1. i)O nome ou denominação, endereço e número de identificação fiscal, ou outro, ou, na falta destes, data e lugar de nascimento do beneficiário efectivo;
  1. ii)O nome ou denominação e endereço do agente pagador;
  2. iii)O número de conta do beneficiário efectivo ou, na sua falta, identificação do título de crédito.
    Esse certificado será válido por um período não superior a três anos. Deve ser passado a qualquer beneficiário efectivo que o solicite no prazo de dois meses a contar da apresentação desse pedido.
3 -Quando se aplique a alínea a) do n.º 1 do presente artigo, a autoridade competente das Ilhas Turcas e Caicos de estabelecimento do agente pagador deve comunicar a informação a que se refere o n.º 1 do artigo 2.º do presente Acordo à autoridade competente de Portugal enquanto país de residência do beneficiário efectivo. Essa comunicação será automática e terá lugar pelo menos uma vez por ano, nos seis meses subsequentes ao termo do exercício fiscal definido na legislação da Parte Contratante, em relação a todos os pagamentos de juros efectuados durante esse ano.

Artigo 4.º

Base de incidência da retenção na fonte

1 -Um agente pagador estabelecido nas Ilhas Turcas e Caicos deve aplicar o imposto de retenção de harmonia com o artigo 1.º do presente Acordo da seguinte forma:
1. a)No caso de um pagamento de juros na acepção da alínea a) do n.º 1 do artigo 8.º do presente Acordo, sobre o montante bruto de juros pagos ou levados a crédito;
2. b)No caso de um pagamento de juros na acepção das alíneas b) ou d) do n.º 1 do artigo 8.º do presente Acordo, sobre o montante dos juros ou dos rendimentos referidos nas alíneas b) ou d) desse parágrafo ou através de uma imposição de efeito equivalente a cargo do destinatário sobre o montante total do produto da cessão, do reembolso ou do resgate;
3. c)No caso de um pagamento de juros na acepção da alínea c) do n.º 1 do artigo 8.º do presente Acordo, sobre o montante dos juros referidos nessa disposição;
4. d)No caso de um pagamento de juros na acepção do n.º 4 do artigo 8.º do presente Acordo, sobre o montante dos juros imputáveis a cada um dos membros da entidade referida no n.º 2 do artigo 7.º do presente Acordo que reúnam as condições do n.º 1 do artigo 5.º do presente Acordo;
5. e)Sempre que as Ilhas Turcas e Caicos recorram à possibilidade prevista no n.º 5 do artigo 8.º do presente Acordo, sobre o montante dos juros anualizados.
2 -Para os efeitos das alíneas a) e b) do n.º 1 do presente artigo, o imposto de retenção será deduzido numa base proporcional relativamente ao período durante o qual o beneficiário efectivo detém um crédito. Caso o agente pagador não possa determinar o período de detenção com base nas informações ao seu dispor, o agente pagador presumirá que o beneficiário efectivo se manteve na posse do crédito durante a totalidade do período da sua existência, salvo se este último fornecer provas relativas à data em que o adquiriu.
3 -A aplicação do imposto de retenção pelas Ilhas Turcas e Caicos não impede a outra Parte Contratante de residência fiscal do beneficiário efectivo de tributar o rendimento em conformidade com o seu direito interno.
4 -Durante o período de transição, as Ilhas Turcas e Caicos podem prever que um operador económico que pague juros, ou atribua o pagamento de juros, a uma entidade referida no n.º 2 do artigo 7.º do presente Acordo na outra Parte Contratante seja considerado como o agente pagador em lugar da entidade e aplique o imposto de retenção sobre esses juros, a menos que a entidade tenha formalmente aceite que o seu nome ou denominação e endereço, bem como o montante total dos juros que lhe são pagos ou atribuídos, sejam comunicados de harmonia com o último parágrafo do n.º 2 do artigo 7.º do presente Acordo.

Artigo 5.º

Definição de beneficiário efectivo

1 -Para efeitos do presente Acordo, por «beneficiário efectivo» entende-se qualquer pessoa singular que recebe um pagamento de juros ou qualquer pessoa singular a quem é atribuído um pagamento de juros, a menos que faça prova de que os juros não lhe foram pagos nem atribuídos em seu proveito. Presume-se que uma pessoa singular não é beneficiário efectivo sempre que:
1. a)Actue na qualidade de agente pagador na acepção do n.º 1 do artigo 7.º do presente Acordo;
2. b)Actue por conta de uma pessoa colectiva, de uma entidade com lucros tributados no quadro de disposições de direito comum sobre a tributação das empresas, um OICVM autorizado de harmonia com o disposto na Directiva do Conselho n.º 85/611/CEE ou um organismo de investimento colectivo equivalente estabelecido nas Ilhas Turcas e Caicos, ou uma das entidades a que se refere o n.º 2 do artigo 7.º do presente Acordo e, neste último caso, revele o nome ou denominação e o endereço dessa entidade ao operador económico responsável pelo pagamento de juros, e este último comunique em seguida essas informações à autoridade competente da sua Parte Contratante de estabelecimento;
3. c)Actue por conta de outra pessoa singular que seja o beneficiário efectivo e que comunique ao agente pagador a identidade do beneficiário efectivo.
2 -Caso possua informações que sugiram que a pessoa singular que recebeu um pagamento de juros ou a quem foi atribuído um pagamento de juros pode não ser o beneficiário efectivo e caso não se aplique a alínea a) nem a alínea b) do n.º 1 do presente artigo, o agente pagador deve tomar as medidas razoáveis para determinar a identidade do beneficiário efectivo. Se não puder identificar o beneficiário efectivo, o agente pagador deve considerar a pessoa singular em causa como o beneficiário efectivo.

Artigo 6.º

Identificação e determinação do lugar de residência dos beneficiários efectivos

1 -Cada uma das Partes deve adoptar e garantir a aplicação, no seu território, dos procedimentos necessários para permitir ao agente pagador identificar os beneficiários efectivos e o respectivo lugar de residência para efeitos do presente Acordo. Esses procedimentos devem respeitar as normas mínimas estabelecidas nos n.os 2 e 3.
2 -O agente pagador deve determinar a identidade do beneficiário efectivo de acordo com normas mínimas que variam em função da data de início das relações entre o agente pagador e o receptor do pagamento de juros, a saber:
1. a)Para as relações contratuais estabelecidas antes de 1 de Janeiro de 2004, o agente pagador deve determinar a identidade do beneficiário efectivo, expressa pelo seu nome ou denominação e endereço, com base nas informações de que dispõe, nomeadamente em aplicação da regulamentação em vigor no seu Estado de estabelecimento e da Directiva do Conselho n.º 91/308/CEE, de 10 de Junho, no caso de Portugal ou, no caso das Ilhas Turcas e Caicos, em aplicação das disposições relevantes da respectiva legislação e regulamentação relativa à prevenção da utilização do sistema financeiro para efeitos de branqueamento de capitais;
2. b)Para as relações contratuais estabelecidas, ou para as transacções efectuadas na falta de relações contratuais, a partir de 1 de Janeiro de 2004, o agente pagador deve determinar a identidade do beneficiário efectivo, expressa pelo seu nome ou denominação, endereço e, caso exista, número de identificação fiscal atribuído pelo Estado membro de residência para efeitos fiscais. Esses elementos devem ser determinados com base no passaporte ou no bilhete de identidade oficial apresentado pelo beneficiário efectivo. Se não constar do passaporte nem do bilhete de identidade oficial, o endereço é determinado com base em qualquer outro documento comprovativo apresentado pelo beneficiário efectivo. Se o número de identificação fiscal não constar do passaporte, do bilhete de identidade oficial nem de qualquer outro documento comprovativo, incluindo, eventualmente, o atestado de residência fiscal, apresentado pelo beneficiário efectivo, a identidade será completada pela menção da data e do lugar de nascimento do beneficiário efectivo, determinada com base no seu passaporte ou bilhete de identidade oficial.
3 -O agente pagador deve determinar a residência do beneficiário efectivo de acordo com normas mínimas que variam em função da data de início das relações entre o agente pagador e o receptor do pagamento de juros. Sob reserva do exposto infra, considera-se que a residência se situa no país em que o beneficiário efectivo tem o seu domicílio permanente:
1. a)Para as relações contratuais estabelecidas antes de 1 de Janeiro de 2004, o agente pagador deve determinar a residência do beneficiário efectivo com base nas informações de que dispõe, nomeadamente em aplicação da regulamentação em vigor no seu Estado de estabelecimento e da Directiva do Conselho n.º 91/308/CEE no caso de Portugal ou, no caso das Ilhas Turcas e Caicos, em aplicação das disposições relevantes da respectiva legislação e regulamentação relativa à prevenção da utilização do sistema financeiro para efeitos de branqueamento de capitais;
2. b)Para as relações contratuais estabelecidas, ou para as transacções efectuadas na falta de relações contratuais, a partir de 1 de Janeiro de 2004, os agentes pagadores devem determinar a residência do beneficiário efectivo com base no endereço mencionado no seu passaporte ou bilhete de identidade oficial ou, se necessário, em qualquer outro documento comprovativo apresentado pelo beneficiário efectivo, de acordo com o seguinte procedimento: para as pessoas singulares que apresentem um passaporte ou um bilhete de identidade oficial emitido por um Estado membro e declarem ser residentes num país terceiro, a residência deve ser determinada com base num atestado de residência fiscal emitido pela autoridade competente do país terceiro em que a pessoa singular declare residir. Na falta de apresentação desse atestado, considera-se que a residência se situa no Estado membro que emitiu o passaporte ou qualquer outro documento de identidade oficial.

Artigo 7.º

Definição de agente pagador

1 -Para efeitos do presente Acordo, por «agente pagador» entende-se qualquer operador económico que pague juros ou atribua o pagamento de juros em proveito imediato do beneficiário efectivo, independentemente de esse operador ser o devedor do crédito gerador dos juros ou o operador encarregado pelo devedor ou pelo beneficiário efectivo de pagar ou atribuir o pagamento dos juros.
2 -Qualquer entidade estabelecida numa Parte Contratante à qual sejam pagos juros ou atribuído o pagamento de juros em proveito do beneficiário efectivo deve também ser considerada como agente pagador na altura desse pagamento ou da atribuição do mesmo. A presente disposição não se aplica se o operador económico tiver motivos para crer, com base em elementos comprovativos oficiais apresentados pela entidade, que:
1. a)Se trata de uma pessoa colectiva, com excepção das pessoas colectivas referidas no n.º 5 do presente artigo; ou
2. b)Os seus lucros são tributados em aplicação de disposições de direito comum em matéria de tributação das empresas; ou
3. c)Se trata de um OICVM autorizado de harmonia com o disposto na Directiva n.º 85/611/CEE, do Conselho, ou de um organismo de investimento colectivo equivalente estabelecido nas Ilhas Turcas e Caicos.
  Um operador económico que pague ou atribua o pagamento de juros a uma entidade desse tipo estabelecida na outra Parte Contratante que seja considerado como agente pagador nos termos do presente número deve comunicar o nome e o endereço da entidade, bem como o montante total de juros pagos ou atribuídos à entidade, à autoridade competente da sua Parte Contratante de estabelecimento, que comunicará em seguida esta informação à autoridade competente da Parte Contratante de estabelecimento da referida entidade.
3 -A entidade referida no n.º 2 do presente artigo deve, todavia, ter a possibilidade de ser tratada para efeitos do presente Acordo como um OICVM ou organismo equivalente referidos na alínea c) do n.º 2. O recurso a essa possibilidade será objecto de um certificado emitido pela Parte Contratante de estabelecimento da entidade e entregue por essa entidade ao operador económico. A Parte Contratante deve fixar as regras específicas relativas a essa possibilidade para as entidades estabelecidas no seu território.
4 -Caso o operador económico e a entidade referida no n.º 2 do presente artigo estejam estabelecidos na mesma Parte Contratante, esta última deve tomar as medidas necessárias para assegurar que a entidade respeite as disposições do presente Acordo quando agir na qualidade de agente pagador.
5 -As pessoas colectivas excluídas da aplicação da alínea a) do n.º 2 do presente artigo são:
1. a)Na Finlândia: avoin ythio (Ay) e kommandiittiyhtio (Ky)/oppet bolag e kommanditbolag;
2. b)Na Suécia: handelsbolag (HB) e kommanditbolag (KB).

Artigo 8.º

Definição de pagamento de juros

1 -Para efeitos do presente Acordo, «pagamento de juros» significa:
1. a)Os juros pagos ou creditados em conta referentes a créditos de qualquer natureza, com ou sem garantia hipotecária e com direito ou não a participar nos lucros do devedor, e, nomeadamente, os rendimentos da dívida pública e de obrigações de empréstimos, incluindo prémios atinentes a esses títulos, mas excluindo os juros de empréstimos entre particulares que não actuem no quadro da respectiva actividade. As penalidades por mora no pagamento não são consideradas como pagamento de juros;
2. b)Os juros vencidos ou capitalizados realizados na altura da cessão, do reembolso ou do resgate dos créditos referidos na alínea a);
3. c)Os rendimentos provenientes de pagamentos de juros, quer estes sejam efectuados directamente, quer por intermédio de uma entidade referida no n.º 2 do artigo 7.º do presente Acordo, distribuídos por:
  1. i)Um OICVM autorizado de harmonia com o disposto na Directiva n.º 85/611/CEE, do Conselho;
  2. ii)Um organismo de investimento colectivo equivalente estabelecido nas Ilhas Turcas e Caicos;
  3. iii)Entidades que beneficiem da possibilidade prevista no n.º 3 do artigo 7.º do presente Acordo;
  4. iv)Organismos de investimento colectivo estabelecidos fora do território a que se aplica o Tratado que institui a Comunidade Europeia por força do seu artigo 299.º e fora das Ilhas Turcas e Caicos; e
4. d)Rendimentos realizados na altura da cessão, do reembolso ou do resgate de partes ou unidades de participação nos organismos e entidades seguintes, caso tenham investido, directa ou indirectamente, por intermédio de outros organismos de investimento colectivo ou autoridades abaixo referidas, mais de 40% do seu activo em créditos referidos na alínea a):
  1. i)Um OICVM autorizado de harmonia com o disposto na Directiva n.º 85/611/CEE, do Conselho;
  2. ii)Um organismo de investimento colectivo equivalente estabelecido nas Ilhas Turcas e Caicos;
  3. iii)Entidades que beneficiem da possibilidade prevista no n.º 3 do artigo 7.º do presente Acordo;
  4. iv)Organismos de investimento colectivo estabelecidos fora do território a que se aplica o Tratado que institui a Comunidade Europeia por força do seu artigo 299.º e fora das Ilhas Turcas e Caicos.
    Todavia, as Partes Contratantes podem limitar a inclusão dos rendimentos referidos na alínea d) do n.º 1 do presente artigo na definição de juros apenas na proporção em que esses rendimentos correspondam a rendimentos que, directa ou indirectamente, provenham de um pagamento de juros na acepção das alíneas a) e b) do n.º 1 do presente artigo.
2 -No que se refere às alíneas c) e d) do n.º 1 do presente artigo, caso um agente pagador não disponha de qualquer informação relativa à parte dos rendimentos proveniente de pagamentos de juros, o montante total dos rendimentos deve ser considerado como pagamento de juros.
3 -No que se refere à alínea d) do n.º 1 do presente artigo, caso um agente pagador não tenha qualquer informação relativa à percentagem do activo investido em créditos ou em partes ou unidades de participação tal como definidas nessa alínea, deve considerar-se que essa percentagem é superior a 40%. Quando não possa determinar o montante do rendimento realizado pelo beneficiário efectivo, considera-se que o rendimento é o produto da cessão, do reembolso ou do resgate das partes ou unidades de participação.
4 -Quando forem pagos ou creditados na conta de uma entidade referida no n.º 2 do artigo 7.º do presente Acordo juros, tal como definidos no n.º 1 do presente artigo, e essa entidade não beneficie da possibilidade prevista no n.º 3 do artigo 7.º do presente Acordo, esses juros devem ser considerados como um pagamento de juros efectuado por essa entidade.
5 -No que se refere às alíneas b) e d) do n.º 1 do presente artigo, as Partes Contratantes podem exigir aos agentes pagadores situados no seu território a anualização dos juros em relação a um período que não pode exceder um ano e tratar esses juros anualizados como um pagamento de juros mesmo que não se tenha verificado qualquer cessão, reembolso ou resgate durante esse período.
6 -Em derrogação ao disposto nas alíneas c) e d) do n.º 1 do presente artigo, as Partes Contratantes podem excluir da definição de pagamento de juros qualquer rendimento referido nessas disposições proveniente de organismos ou entidades estabelecidos no seu território sempre que os investimentos dessas entidades nos créditos referidos na alínea a) do n.º 1 do presente artigo não excedam 15% do seu activo. Do mesmo modo, em derrogação ao disposto no n.º 4 do presente artigo, as Partes Contratantes podem decidir excluir da definição de pagamento de juros constante do n.º 1 do presente artigo os juros pagos ou creditados numa conta de uma entidade referida no n.º 2 do artigo 7.º do presente Acordo que não beneficie da possibilidade prevista no n.º 3 do artigo 7.º do presente Acordo e esteja estabelecida no seu território, sempre que os investimentos dessas entidades nos créditos referidos na alínea a) do n.º 1 do presente artigo não excedam 15% do seu activo.
A utilização desta opção por uma Parte Contratante torna-a vinculativa para a outra Parte Contratante.
7 -A partir de 1 de Janeiro de 2011, a percentagem referida na alínea d) do n.º 1 e no n.º 3 do presente artigo passará a ser de 25%.
8 -As percentagens referidas na alínea d) do n.º 1 do presente artigo e no n.º 6 do presente artigo devem ser determinadas em função da política de investimento tal como definida no regulamento do fundo ou nos documentos constitutivos dos organismos ou entidades em causa ou, na sua falta, em função da composição efectiva dos activos desses organismos ou entidades.

Artigo 9.º

Repartição das receitas do imposto de retenção

1 -As Ilhas Turcas e Caicos devem reter 25% do imposto de retenção deduzido ao abrigo do presente Acordo e transferir os restantes 75% dessas receitas para Portugal.
2 -Ao aplicarem um imposto de retenção de harmonia com o n.º 4 do artigo 4.º do presente Acordo, as Ilhas Turcas e Caicos devem conservar 25% das suas receitas e transferir 75% dessas receitas para Portugal na proporção das transferências efectuadas nos termos do n.º 1 do presente artigo.
3 -Essas transferências devem ser realizadas anualmente, numa única prestação, o mais tardar no prazo de seis meses subsequentes ao termo do exercício fiscal definido na legislação das Ilhas Turcas e Caicos.
4 -Ao aplicarem um imposto de retenção, as Ilhas Turcas e Caicos devem adoptar as medidas necessárias para garantir o funcionamento adequado do sistema de repartição das receitas.

Artigo 10.º

Eliminação da dupla tributação

1 -A Parte Contratante de residência fiscal do beneficiário efectivo deve garantir a eliminação de qualquer dupla tributação eventualmente resultante da imposição pelas Ilhas Turcas e Caicos do imposto de retenção a que se refere o presente Acordo de harmonia com as seguintes disposições:
1. i)Se os juros recebidos por um beneficiário efectivo tiverem sido sujeitos a imposto de retenção nas Ilhas Turcas e Caicos, Portugal deverá conceder-lhe um crédito de imposto igual ao montante da retenção em conformidade com o seu direito interno. No caso de o montante desta exceder o montante do imposto devido em conformidade com o seu direito interno, Portugal deverá reembolsar ao beneficiário efectivo o montante da retenção na fonte pago em excesso;
  1. ii)Se, a acrescer ao imposto de retenção referido no artigo 4.º do presente Acordo, os juros recebidos por um beneficiário efectivo tiverem sido sujeitos a qualquer outro tipo de retenção na fonte/imposto de retenção e a Parte Contratante de residência fiscal conceder um crédito de imposto por essa retenção na fonte/imposto de retenção em conformidade com o seu direito interno ou convenções sobre dupla tributação, essa outra retenção na fonte/imposto de retenção deve ser creditada antes de ser aplicado o procedimento previsto na alínea i) do presente artigo.
2 -A Parte Contratante da residência fiscal do beneficiário efectivo pode substituir o mecanismo de crédito de imposto previsto no n.º 1 do presente artigo mediante um reembolso do imposto de retenção a que se refere o artigo 1.º do presente Acordo.

Artigo 11.º

Disposições transitórias para os títulos de dívida negociáveis

1 -Durante o período de transição referido no artigo 14.º do presente Acordo, mas até 31 de Dezembro de 2010 o mais tardar, as obrigações nacionais e internacionais e outros títulos de dívida negociáveis cuja emissão inicial seja anterior a 1 de Março de 2001 ou cujos prospectos iniciais tenham sido visados antes dessa data pelas autoridades competentes na acepção da Directiva n.º 80/390/CEE, do Conselho, ou pelas autoridades responsáveis de países terceiros não devem ser consideradas créditos na acepção da alínea a) do n.º 1 do artigo 8.º do presente Acordo, desde que não se realize qualquer nova emissão desses títulos de dívida negociáveis a partir de 1 de Março de 2002. Todavia, caso o período de transição continue a vigorar após 31 de Dezembro de 2010, as disposições do presente artigo só continuarão a aplicar-se aos títulos de dívida negociáveis:
1. a)Que incluam cláusulas «de totalidade» e de reembolso antecipado; e
2. b)Nos casos em que o agente pagador esteja estabelecido numa Parte Contratante que aplique o imposto de retenção e em que esse agente pagador pague juros ou atribua o pagamento de juros em proveito imediato de um beneficiário efectivo residente na outra Parte Contratante.
  Se, a partir de 1 de Março de 2002, se realizar nova emissão de um dos títulos de crédito negociáveis acima referidos emitidos por uma administração pública ou entidade afim, actuando na qualidade de autoridade pública, ou cuja função seja reconhecida num tratado internacional, tal como definido no anexo ao presente Acordo, todas as emissões desse título, isto é, a emissão inicial e qualquer emissão adicional, devem ser consideradas como uma emissão de um título de crédito na acepção da alínea a) do n.º 1 do artigo 8.º do presente Acordo.
  Se, a partir de 1 de Março de 2002, se realizar nova emissão de um dos títulos de crédito negociáveis acima referidos emitidos por qualquer entidade não abrangida pelo segundo parágrafo, essa nova emissão deve ser considerada uma emissão de um título de crédito na acepção da alínea a) do n.º 1 do artigo 8.º do presente Acordo.
2 -Nenhuma disposição do presente artigo impede as Partes Contratantes de tributarem os rendimentos dos títulos de dívida negociáveis referidos no n.º 1 de harmonia com o respectivo direito interno.

Artigo 12.º

Procedimento de acordo mútuo

Sempre que sobrevenham entre as Partes dificuldades ou dúvidas a respeito da aplicação ou interpretação do presente Acordo, as Partes Contratantes diligenciarão no sentido de solucionar a questão por mútuo acordo.

Artigo 13.º

Confidencialidade

1 -Deve ser preservada a confidencialidade de toda a informação prestada e recebida pela autoridade competente de uma Parte Contratante. O princípio da confidencialidade é essencial para efeitos da aplicação e continuidade do presente Acordo.
2 -A informação prestada à autoridade competente de uma Parte Contratante não pode ser utilizada para qualquer efeito que não para os efeitos da tributação directa sem consentimento prévio por escrito da outra Parte Contratante.
3 -A informação prestada apenas deve ser divulgada a pessoas ou autoridades interessadas para efeitos de tributação directa e utilizada por essas pessoas ou autoridades apenas para esses efeitos ou para efeitos de supervisão, que podem incluir a instauração de um eventual recurso. Para esse efeito, a informação pode ser divulgada em audiência pública ou em decisão judicial.
4 -Quando a autoridade competente de uma Parte Contratante considere que as informações que recebeu da autoridade competente da outra Parte Contratante podem ser úteis à autoridade competente de um outro Estado membro, pode transmitir-lhe tais informações com o acordo da autoridade competente que forneceu as informações.

Artigo 14.º

Período de transição

No final do período de transição definido no n.º 2 do artigo 10.º da directiva, as Ilhas Turcas e Caicos devem deixar de aplicar o imposto de retenção e a repartição das receitas previstos no presente Acordo e devem aplicar relativamente a Portugal as disposições em matéria de troca automática de informações nos moldes previstos no capítulo II da directiva. Se, durante o período de transição, as Ilhas Turcas e Caicos optarem por aplicar as disposições em matéria de troca automática de informações nos moldes previstos no capítulo II da directiva, deixarão de aplicar a retenção na fonte/imposto de retenção e a repartição das receitas prevista no artigo 9.º do presente Acordo.

Artigo 15.º

Entrada em vigor

1 -O presente Acordo entra em vigor no 30.º dia após a última das datas em que os Governos respectivos notifiquem um ao outro, por escrito, que as respectivas formalidades constitucionalmente exigidas foram satisfeitas, e as suas disposições produzem efeito a partir da data em que a directiva seja aplicável nos termos do disposto nos n.os 2 e 3 do artigo 17.º da directiva.
2 -O artigo 2.º do presente Acordo não produz efeitos em Portugal na ausência de tributação directa nas Ilhas Turcas e Caicos.

Artigo 16.º

Denúncia

1 -O presente Acordo manter-se-á em vigor até ser denunciado por uma Parte Contratante.
2 -Qualquer das Partes Contratantes pode denunciar o presente Acordo mediante aviso por escrito à outra Parte Contratante, numa notificação que especifique as circunstâncias que conduziram a essa mesma notificação. Nesse caso, o presente Acordo deixa de produzir efeitos 12 meses após a notificação.

Artigo 17.º

Aplicação e suspensão da aplicação

1 -A aplicação do presente Acordo fica condicionada à adopção e aplicação por todos os Estados membros da União Europeia, pelos Estados Unidos da América, Suíça, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Mónaco e São Marino, e por todos os territórios dependentes e associados relevantes dos Estados membros da Comunidade Europeia, respectivamente, de medidas que se conformem ou sejam equivalentes às contidas na directiva ou no presente Acordo, e prevejam as mesmas datas de aplicação.
2 -Sob reserva do procedimento de acordo mútuo previsto no artigo 12.º do presente Acordo, a aplicação do presente Acordo ou de partes do Acordo pode ser suspensa por qualquer das Partes Contratantes com efeitos imediatos mediante notificação à outra que especifique as circunstâncias que levaram a essa notificação, no caso de a directiva deixar de ser aplicável, a título temporário ou permanente, em conformidade com o direito comunitário ou no caso de um Estado membro suspender a aplicação da sua legislação de transposição. A aplicação do Acordo será retomada logo que deixem de verificar-se as circunstâncias que conduziram à suspensão.
3 -Sob reserva do procedimento de acordo mútuo previsto no artigo 12.º do presente Acordo, qualquer das Partes Contratantes pode suspender a aplicação do presente Acordo mediante notificação à outra que especifique as circunstâncias que levaram a essa notificação no caso de um dos territórios ou países terceiros referidos no n.º 1 deixar posteriormente de aplicar as medidas referidas nesse número. A suspensão da aplicação não poderá ocorrer menos de dois meses após a notificação. A aplicação do Acordo será retomada logo que as medidas forem repostas pelo país terceiro ou território em causa.
Feito nas línguas portuguesa e inglesa, fazendo ambos os textos igualmente fé.
ANEXO
Lista das entidades afins
Para efeitos do disposto no artigo 11.º do presente Acordo, serão consideradas como «entidade afim, actuando na qualidade de autoridade pública, ou cuja função seja reconhecida num tratado internacional», as seguintes entidades:
Entidades da união europeia:
Bélgica:
Vlaams Gewest (Região Flamenga);
Région wallonne (Região Valã);
Région bruxelloise/Brussels Gewest (Região de Bruxelas);
Communauté française (Comunidade Francesa);
Vlaamse Gemeenschap (Comunidade Flamenga);
Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft (Comunidade Germanófona);
Espanha:
Xunta de Galicia (Junta da Galiza);
Junta de Andalucía (Junta da Andaluzia);
Junta de Extremadura (Junta da Estremadura);
Junta de Castilla-La Mancha (Junta de Castela-Mancha);
Junta de Castilla-León (Junta de Castela-Leão);
Gobierno Foral de Navarra (Governo Regional de Navarra);
Govern de les Illes Balears (Governo das Ilhas Baleares);
Generalitat de Catalunya (Governo Autónomo da Catalunha);
Generalitat de Valencia (Governo Autónomo de Valência);
Diputación General de Aragón (Conselho Regional de Aragão);
Gobierno de las Islas Canarias (Governo das Ilhas Canárias);
Gobierno de Murcia (Governo de Múrcia);
Gobierno de Madrid (Governo de Madrid);
Gobierno de la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco/Euzkadi (Governo da Comunidade Autónoma do País Basco);
Diputación Foral de Guipúzcoa (Conselho Provincial de Guipuzcoa);
Diputación Foral de Vizcaya/Bizkaia (Conselho Provincial de Biscaia);
Diputación Foral de Alava (Conselho Provincial de Alava);
Ayuntamiento de Madrid (município de Madrid);
Ayuntamiento de Barcelona (município de Barcelona);
Cabildo Insular de Gran Canaria (Conselho Insular da Grã Canária);
Cabildo Insular de Tenerife (Conselho Insular de Tenerife);
Instituto de Crédito Oficial (Instituto de Crédito Oficial);
Instituto Catalán de Finanzas (Instituto Catalão de Finanças);
Instituto Valenciano de Finanzas (Instituto Valenciano de Finanças);
Grécia:
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Organismo das Telecomunicações da Grécia);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Organismo dos Caminhos de Ferro da Grécia);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Empresa Pública de Electricidade);
França:
La Caisse d'amortissement de la dette sociale (CADES) (Caixa de Amortização da Dívida Social);
L'Agence française de développement (AFD) (Agência Francesa de Desenvolvimento);
Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) (Rede dos Caminhos de Ferro de França);
Caisse Nationale des Autoroutes (CNA) (Caixa Nacional de Auto-Estradas);
Assistance publique Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP) (Assistência Pública Hospitais de Paris);
Charbonnages de France (CDF) (Minas de Carvão de França);
Entreprise minière et chimique (EMC)(Empresa Mineira e Química);
Itália:
Regiões;
Províncias;
Municípios;
Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (Caixa de Depósitos e Empréstimos);
Letónia:
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Governos locais);
Polónia:
Gminy (comuna);
Powiaty (distritos);
Województwa (províncias);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (associações de comunas);
Powiatów (associação de distritos);
Województw (associação de províncias);
Miasto stoleczne Warszawa (capital de Varsóvia);
Agencja Restrukturyzacji i Modernizacji Rolnictwa (Agência para a Reestruturação e Modernização da Agricultura);
Agencja Nieruchomosci Rolnych (Agência de Propriedade Agrícola);
Portugal:
Região Autónoma da Madeira;
Região Autónoma dos Açores;
Municípios;
Eslováquia:
Mestá a obce (municípios);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Companhia dos Caminhos de Ferro da Eslováquia);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Fundo Estatal de Gestão Viária);
Slovenské elektrárne (Companhias Eléctricas da Eslováquia);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Water Economy Building Company);
Entidades internacionais:
Banco Europeu para a Reconstrução e o Desenvolvimento;
Banco Europeu de Investimento;
Banco Asiático de Desenvolvimento;
Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento;
Banco Mundial/BIRD/FMI;
Sociedade Financeira Internacional;
Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento;
Fundo de Desenvolvimento Social do Conselho da Europa;
EURATOM;
Comunidade Europeia;
Corporação Andina de Fomento (CAF);
Eurofima;
Comunidade Europeia do Carvão e do Aço;
Banco Nórdico de Investimento;
Banco de Desenvolvimento das Caraíbas.
O disposto no artigo 11.º não prejudica quaisquer obrigações que as Partes Contratantes possam ter assumido relativamente às entidades internacionais acima referidas.
Entidades em países terceiros. - As entidades que preencham os seguintes critérios:
1) A entidade ser claramente considerada uma entidade pública de acordo com os critérios nacionais;
2) Uma entidade pública desse tipo ser um produtor não mercantil que administra e financia um grupo de actividades, que consistem essencialmente em fornecer bens e serviços não mercantis destinados à colectividade, e que são efectivamente controlados pelas administrações públicas;
3) Uma entidade pública desse tipo emitir títulos de dívida regularmente e em grande quantidade;
4) O Estado em causa estar em condições de garantir que essa entidade pública não procederá ao reembolso antecipado no caso de existirem cláusulas de ressarcimento (gross-up).
AGREEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS ON THE TAXATION OF SAVINGS INCOME
A - Letter from the Portuguese Republic
Sir:
I refer to the text of the proposed model agreement on the taxation of savings income between the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Portuguese Republic that was approved by the High Level Working Party (Taxation of Savings) of the Council of Ministers of the European Union on the 22nd June 2004.
In view of the above mentioned text, I have the honour:
To propose to you the agreement on the taxation of savings income at appendix 1 to this letter;
To propose that the said arrangements may come into effect on the date of application of Council Directive no. 2003/48/EC, of the 3rd June 2003, on taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments, which date shall be subject to the conditions set out in article 17, 2, of the directive, subject to the notification to each other that the internal constitutional formalities for the coming into effect of these arrangements are completed;
To propose our mutual commitment to comply at the earliest date with our said internal constitutional formalities and to notify each other without delay through the formal channels when such formalities are completed.
I have the honour to propose that, if the above is acceptable to your Government, this letter together with its appendix 1 and your confirmation shall together constitute our mutual acceptance and making of the arrangements between Portugal and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Please accept, Sir, the assurance of our highest consideration.
For the Government of the Portuguese Republic:
António José de Castro Bagão Félix, Minister of Finance and Public Administration.
Done at Lisbon, on the 29th December 2004, in the English and Portuguese languages, in three copies.
B - Proposed reply from the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Sir:
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 29th December 2004, which reads as follows:
Sir:
I refer to the text of the proposed model agreement on the taxation of savings income between the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Portuguese Republic that was approved by the High Level Working Party (Taxation of Savings) of the Council of Ministers of the European Union on the 22nd June 2004.
In view of the above mentioned text, I have the honour:
To propose to you the agreement on the taxation of savings income at appendix 1 to this letter;
To propose that the said arrangements may come into effect on the date of application of Council Directive no. 2003/48/EC, of the 3rd June 2003, on taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments, which date shall be subject to the conditions set out in article 17, 2, of the directive, subject to the notification to each other that the internal constitutional formalities for the coming into effect of these arrangements are completed;
To propose our mutual commitment to comply at the earliest date with our said internal constitutional formalities and to notify each other without delay through the formal channels when such formalities are completed.
I have the honour to propose that, if the above is acceptable to your Government, this letter together with its appendix 1 and your confirmation shall together constitute our mutual acceptance and making of the arrangements between Portugal and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Please accept, Sir, the assurance of our highest consideration.
I am able to confirm that the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands is in agreement with the contents of your letter dated on the 29th December 2004.
Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.
James, Posten, CBE, Governor.
Done at Grand Turk, on 12th April 2005, in the English and Portuguese languages, in three copies.
APPENDIX 1
AGREEMENT ON THE TAXATION OF SAVINGS INCOME BETWEEN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC.
Whereas:
1 -Article 17 of Directive no. 2003/48/EC («the directive»), of the Council of the European Union («the Council»), on taxation of savings income provides that before the 1st January 2004, member States shall adopt and publish the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this directive which provisions shall be applied from the 1st January 2005 provided that:
1. i)The Swiss Confederation, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Republic of San Marino, the Principality of Monaco and the Principality of Andorra apply from that same date measures equivalent to those contained in this directive, in accordance with agreements entered into by them with the European Community, following unanimous decisions of the Council;
  ii)All agreements or other arrangements are in place, which provide that all the relevant dependent or associated territories apply from that same date automatic exchange of information in the same manner as is provided for in chapter II of this directive (or, during the transitional period defined in article 10, apply a retention tax on the same terms as are contained in articles 11 and 12).
2 -The Turks and Caicos Islands notes that in accordance with the ECOFIN Council conclusions of the 3rd June 2003, during the transitional period referred to in article 10 of the directive, the Council calls on the Commission to enter into discussions with other important financial centres with a view to providing the adoption by those jurisdictions of measures equivalent to those in the directive.
3 -The relationship of the Turks and Caicos Islands with the EU is determined by part 4 of the Treaty establishing the European Community. The Turks and Caicos Islands is not within the EU fiscal territory.
4 -The Turks and Caicos Islands notes that, while it is the ultimate aim of the EU member States to bring about effective taxation of interest payments in the beneficial owner's member State of residence for tax purposes through the exchange of information concerning interest payments between themselves, three member States, namely Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg, during a transitional period, shall not be required to exchange information but shall apply a withholding tax to the savings income covered by the directive.
5 -The «withholding tax» referred to in the directive will be referred to as the «retention tax» in the Turks and Caicos Islands' domestic legislation. For the purposes of this Agreement the two terms therefore are to be read coterminously as «withholding/retention tax» and shall have the same meaning.
6 -The Turks and Caicos Islands has agreed to apply a retention tax pursuant to agreements entered into with member States with effect from the 1st January 2005 provided the member States have adopted the laws, regulations, and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the directive, and the requirements of article 17 of the directive.
7 -The Turks and Caicos Islands has agreed to apply automatic exchange of information pursuant to agreements entered into with member States in the same manner as is provided for in chapter II of the directive from the end of the transitional period as defined in article 10, 2, of the directive.
8 -The Turks and Caicos Islands has legislation relating to undertakings for collective investment that is deemed to be equivalent in its effect to the EC legislation referred to in articles 2 and 6 of the directive.
The Turks and Caicos Islands and the Portuguese Republic, hereinafter referred to as a Contracting Party or the Contracting Parties unless the context otherwise requires, have agreed to conclude the following agreement which contains obligations on the part of the Contracting Parties only and provides for:
1. a)The automatic exchange of information by the competent authority of Portugal to the competent authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the same manner as to the competent authority of a member State;
2. b)The application by the Turks and Caicos Islands, during the transitional period defined in article 10 of the directive, of a retention tax from the same date and on the same terms as are contained in articles 11 and 12 of that directive;
3. c)The automatic exchange of information by the competent authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands to the competent authority of Portugal in accordance with article 13 of the directive;
4. d)The transfer by the competent authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands to the competent authority of Portugal of 75% of the revenue of the retention tax;
in respect of interest payments made by a paying agent established in a Contracting Party to an individual resident in the other Contracting Party.
For the purposes of this Agreement the term «competent authority» when applied to the Contracting Parties means the Minister of Finance or an authorised representative in respect to Portugal and the Financial Services Commission in respect to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Article 1
Retention of tax by paying agents
Interest payments as defined in article 8 of this Agreement which are made by a paying agent established in the Turks and Caicos Islands to beneficial owners within the meaning of article 5 of this Agreement who are residents of Portugal shall, subject to article 3 of this Agreement, be subject to a retention tax from the amount of interest payment during the transitional period referred to in article 14 of this Agreement starting at the date referred to in article 15 of this Agreement. The rate of retention tax shall be 15% during the first three years of the transitional period, 20% for the subsequent three years and 35% thereafter.
Article 2
Reporting of information by paying agents
1 -Where interest payments, as defined in article 8 of this Agreement, are made by a paying agent established in Portugal to beneficial owners, as defined in article 5 of this Agreement, who are residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands, or where the provisions of article 3, 1, a), of this Agreement apply, the paying agent shall report to its competent authority:
1. a)The identity and residence of the beneficial owner established in accordance with article 6 of this Agreement;
2. b)The name and address of the paying agent;
3. c)The account number of the beneficial owner or, where there is none, identification of the debt claim giving rise to the interests;
4. d)Information concerning the interest payment specified in article 4, 1, of this Agreement.
  However, each Contracting Party may restrict the minimum amount of information concerning interest payment to be reported by the paying agent to the total amount of interest or income and to the total amount of the proceeds from sale, redemption or refund and Portugal will comply with paragraph 2 of this article.
2 -Within six months following the end of their tax year, the competent authority of Portugal shall communicate to the competent authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands, automatically, the information referred to in paragraph 1, a)-d), of this article, for all interest payments made during that year.
Article 3
Exceptions to the retention tax procedure
1 -The Turks and Caicos Islands when levying a retention tax in accordance with article 1 of this Agreement shall provide for one or both of the following procedures in order to ensure that the beneficial owners may request that no tax be retained:
1. a)A procedure which allows the beneficial owner as defined in article 5 of this Agreement to avoid the retention tax specified in article 1 of this Agreement by expressly authorising his paying agent to report the interest payments to the competent authority of the Contracting Party in which the paying agent is established. Such authorisation shall cover all interest payments made to the beneficial owner by that paying agent;
2. b)A procedure which ensures that retention tax shall not be levied where the beneficial owner presents to his paying agent a certificate drawn up in his name by the competent authority of the Contracting Party of residence for tax purposes in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article.
2 -At the request of the beneficial owner, the competent authority of the Contracting Party of the country of residence for tax purposes shall issue a certificate indicating:
1. i)The name, address and tax or other identification number or, failing such, the date and place of birth of the beneficial owner;
  1. ii)The name and address of the paying agent;
  2. iii)The account number of the beneficial owner or, where there is none, the identification of the security.
    Such certificate shall be valid for a period not exceeding three years. It shall be issued to any beneficial owner who requests it, within two months following such request.
3 -Where paragraph 1, a), of this article applies, the competent authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands in which the paying agent is established shall communicate the information referred to in article 2, 1, of this Agreement to the competent authority of Portugal as the country of residence of the beneficial owner. Such communications shall be automatic and shall take place at least once a year, within six months following the end of the tax year established by the laws of a Contracting Party, for all interest payments made during that year.
Article 4
Basis of assessment for retention tax
1 -A paying agent established in the Turks and Caicos Islands shall levy retention tax in accordance with article 1 of this Agreement as follows:
1. a)In the case of an interest payment within the meaning of article 8, 1, a), of this Agreement, on the gross amount of interest paid or credited;
2. b)In the case of an interest payment within the meaning of article 8, 1, b) or d), of this Agreement, on the amount of interest or income referred to in b) or d) of that sub-paragraph or by a levy of equivalent effect to be borne by the recipient on the full amount of the proceeds of the sale, redemption or refund;
3. c)In the case of an interest payment within the meaning of article 8, 1, c), of this Agreement, on the amount of interest referred to in that sub-paragraph;
4. d)In the case of an interest payment within the meaning of article 8, 4, of this Agreement, on the amount of interest attributable to each of the members of the entity referred to in article 7, 2, of this Agreement, who meet the conditions of article 5, 1, of this Agreement;
5. e)Where the Turks and Caicos Islands exercises the option under article 8, 5, of this Agreement, on the amount of annualised interest.
2 -For the purposes of sub-paragraphs a) and b) of paragraph 1 of this article, the retention tax shall be deducted on a pro rata basis to the period during which the beneficial owner held the debt-claim. If the paying agent is unable to determine the period of holding on the basis of the information made available to him, the paying agent shall treat the beneficial owner as having been in possession of the debt-claim for the entire period of its existence, unless the latter provides evidence of the date of the acquisition.
3 -The imposition of retention tax by the Turks and Caicos Islands shall not preclude the other Contracting Party of residence for tax purposes of the beneficial owner from taxing income in accordance with its national law.
4 -During the transitional period, the Turks and Caicos Islands may provide that an economic operator paying interest to, or securing interest for, an entity referred to in article 7, 2, of this Agreement in the other Contracting Party shall be considered the paying agent in place of the entity and shall levy the retention tax on that interest, unless the entity has formally agreed to its name, address and the total amount of the interest paid to it or secured for it being communicated in accordance with the last paragraph of article 7, 2, of this Agreement.
Article 5
Definition of beneficial owner
1 -For the purposes of this Agreement, «beneficial owner» shall mean any individual who receives an interest payment or any individual for whom an interest payment is secured, unless such individual can provide evidence that the interest payment was not received or secured for his own benefit. An individual is not deemed to be the beneficial owner when he:
1. a)Acts as a paying agent within the meaning of article 7, 1, of this Agreement;
2. b)Acts on behalf of a legal person, an entity which is taxed on its profits under the general arrangements for business taxation, an UCITS authorised in accordance with Directive no. 85/611/EC or an equivalent undertaking for collective investment established in the Turks and Caicos Islands, or an entity referred to in article 7, 2, of this Agreement and, in the last mentioned case, discloses the name and address of that entity to the economic operator making the interest payment and the latter communicates such information to the competent authority of its Contracting Party of establishment;
3. c)Acts on behalf of another individual who is the beneficial owner and discloses to the paying agent the identity of that beneficial owner.
2 -Where a paying agent has information suggesting that the individual who receives an interest payment or for whom an interest payment is secured may not be the beneficial owner, and where neither paragraph 1, a), nor 1, b), of this article applies, it shall take reasonable steps to establish the identity of the beneficial owner. If the paying agent is unable to identify the beneficial owner, it shall treat the individual in question as the beneficial owner.
Article 6
Identity and residence of beneficial owners
1 -Each Party shall, within its territory, adopt and ensure the application of the procedures necessary to allow the paying agent to identify the beneficial owners and their residence for the purposes of this Agreement. Such procedures shall comply with the minimum standards established in paragraphs 2) and 3).
2 -The paying agent shall establish the identity of the beneficial owner on the basis of minimum standards which vary according to when relations between the paying agent and the recipient of the interest are entered into, as follows:
1. a)For contractual relations entered into before the 1st January 2004, the paying agent shall establish the identity of the beneficial owner, consisting of his name and address, by using the information at its disposal, in particular pursuant to the regulations in force in its country of establishment and to Council Directive no. 91/308/EC, of the 10th June 1991, in the case of Portugal or in the case of the Turks and Caicos Islands pursuant to the relevant provisions of Turks and Caicos Islands' laws and regulations on prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering;
2. b)Or contractual relations entered into, or transactions carried out in the absence of contractual relations, on or after the 1st January 2004, the paying agent shall establish the identity of the beneficial owner, consisting of the name, address and, if there is one, the tax identification number allocated by the member State of residence for tax purposes. These details should be established on the basis of the passport or of the official identity card presented by the beneficial owner. If it does not appear on that passport or official identity card, the address shall be established on the basis of any other documentary proof of identity presented by the beneficial owner. If the tax identification number is not mentioned on the passport, on the official identity card or any other documentary proof of identity, including, possibly the certificate of residence for tax purposes, presented by the beneficial owner, the identity shall be supplemented by a reference to the latter's date and place of birth established on the basis of his passport or official identification card.
3 -The paying agent shall establish the residence of the beneficial owner on the basis of minimum standards which vary according to when relations between the paying agent and the recipient of the interest are entered into. Subject to the conditions set out below, residence shall be considered to be situated in the country where the beneficial owner has his permanent address:
1. a)For contractual relations entered into before the 1st January 2004, the paying agent shall establish the residence of the beneficial owner by using the information at its disposal, in particular pursuant to the regulations in force in its country of establishment and to Directive no. 91/308/EC in the case of Portugal or in the case of the Turks and Caicos Islands pursuant to the relevant provisions of Turks and Caicos Islands' laws and regulations on prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering;
2. b)For contractual relations entered into, or transactions carried out in the absence of contractual relations, on or after the 1st January 2004, the paying agents shall establish the residence of the beneficial owner on the basis of the address mentioned on the passport, on the official identity card or, if necessary, on the basis of any documentary proof of identity presented by the beneficial owner and according to the following procedure: for individuals presenting a passport or official identity card issued by a member State who declare themselves to be resident in a third country, residence shall be established by means of a tax residence certificate issued by the competent authority of the third country in which the individual claims to be resident. Failing the presentation of such a certificate, the member State which issued the passport or other official identity document shall be considered to be the country of residence.
  Article 7
  Definition of paying agent
1 -For the purposes of this Agreement, «paying agent» means any economic operator who pays interest to or secures the payment of interest for the immediate benefit of the beneficial owner, whether the operator is the debtor of the debt claim which produces the interest or the operator charged by the debtor or the beneficial owner with paying interest or securing the payment of interest.
2 -Any entity established in a Contracting Party to which interest is paid or for which interest is secured for the benefit of the beneficial owner shall also be considered a paying agent upon such payment or securing of such payment. This provision shall not apply if the economic operator has reason to believe, on the basis of official evidence produced by that entity that:
1. a)It is a legal person with the exception of those legal persons referred to in paragraph 5 of this article; or
2. b)Its profits are taxed under the general arrangements for business taxation; or
3. c)It is an UCITS recognised in accordance with Directive no. 85/611/EC, of the Council, or an equivalent undertaking for collective investment established in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
  An economic operator paying interest to, or securing interest for, such an entity established in the other Contracting Party which is considered a paying agent under this paragraph shall communicate the name and address of the entity and the total amount of interest paid to, or secured for, the entity to the competent authority of its Contracting Party of establishment, which shall pass this information on to the competent authority of the Contracting Party where the entity is established.
3 -The entity referred to in paragraph 2 of this article shall, however, have the option of being treated for the purposes of this Agreement as an UCITS or equivalent undertaking as referred to in sub-paragraph c) of paragraph 2. The exercise of this option shall require a certificate to be issued by the Contracting Party in which the entity is established and presented to the economic operator by that entity. A Contracting Party shall lay down the detailed rules for this option for entities established in their territory.
4 -Where the economic operator and the entity referred to in paragraph 2 of this article are established in the same Contracting Party, that Contracting Party shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the entity complies with the provisions of this Agreement when it acts as a paying agent.
5 -The legal persons exempted from sub-paragraph a) of paragraph 2 of this article are:
1. a)In Finland: avoin yhtio (Ay) and kommandiittiyhtio (Ky)/oppet bolag and kommanditbolag;
2. b)in Sweden: handelsbolag (HB) and kommanditbolag (KB).
  Article 8
  Definition of interest payment
1 -For the purposes of this Agreement «interest payment» shall mean:
1. a)Interest paid, or credited to an account, relating to debt claims of every kind, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in the debtor's 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, but excluding interest from loans between private individuals not acting in the course of their business. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest payment;
2. b)Interest accrued or capitalised at the sale, refund or redemption of the debt claims referred to in a);
3. c)Income deriving from interest payments either directly or through an entity referred to in article 7, 2, of this Agreement, distributed by:
  1. i)An UCITS authorised in accordance with EC Directive no. 85/611/EC, of the Council;
  2. ii)An equivalent undertaking for collective investment established in the Turks and Caicos Islands;
  3. iii)Entities which qualify for the option under article 7, 3, of this Agreement; or
  4. iv)Undertakings for collective investment established outside the territory to which the Treaty establishing the European Community applies by virtue of article 299 thereof and outside the Turks and Caicos Islands;
4. d)Income realised upon the sale, refund or redemption of shares or units in the following undertakings and entities, if they invest directly or indirectly, via other undertakings for collective investment or entities referred to below, more than 40% of their assets in debt claims as referred to in a):
  1. i)An UCITS authorised in accordance with Directive no. 85/611/EC;
  2. ii)An equivalent undertaking for collective investment established in the Turks and Caicos Islands;
  3. iii)Entities which qualify for the option under article 7, 3, of this Agreement; or
  4. iv)Undertakings for collective investment established outside the territory to which the Treaty establishing the European Community applies by virtue of article 299 thereof and outside the Turks and Caicos Islands.
    However, the Contracting Parties shall have the option of including income mentioned under paragraph 1, d), of this article in the definition of interest only to the extent that such income corresponds to gains directly or indirectly deriving from interest payments within the meaning of paragraphs 1, a) and b), of this article.
2 -As regards paragraphs 1, c) and d), of this article, when a paying agent has no information concerning the proportion of the income which derives from interest payments, the total amount of the income shall be considered an interest payment.
3 -As regards paragraph 1, d), of this article, when a paying agent has no information concerning the percentage of the assets invested in debt claims or in shares or units as defined in that paragraph, that percentage shall be considered to be above 40%. Where he cannot determine the amount of income realised by the beneficial owner, the income shall be deemed to correspond to the proceeds of the sale, refund or redemption of the shares or units.
4 -When interest, as defined in paragraph 1 of this article, is paid to or credited to an account held by an entity referred to in article 7, 2, of this Agreement, such entity not having qualified for the option under article 7, 3, of this Agreement, such interest shall be considered an interest payment by such entity.
5 -As regards paragraphs 1, b) and d), of this article, a Contracting Party shall have the option of requiring paying agents in its territory to annualise the interest over a period of time which may not exceed one year, and treating such annualised interest as an interest payment even if no sale, redemption or refund occurs during that period.
6 -By way of derogation from paragraphs 1, c) and d), of this article, a Contracting Party shall have the option of excluding from the definition of interest payment any income referred to in those provisions from undertakings or entities established within its territory where the investment in debt claims referred to in paragraph 1, a), of this article of such entities has not exceeded 15% of their assets. Likewise, by way of derogation from paragraph 4 of this article, a Contracting Party shall have the option of excluding from the definition of interest payment in paragraph 1 of this article interest paid or credited to an account of an entity referred to in article 7, 2, of this Agreement which has not qualified for the option under article 7, 3, of this Agreement and is established within its territory, where the investment of such an entity in debt claims referred to in paragraph 1, a), of this article has not exceeded 15% of its assets.
The exercise of such option by one Contracting Party shall be binding on the other Contracting Party.
7 -The percentage referred to in paragraph 1, d), of this article and paragraph 3 of this article shall, from the 1st January 2011, be 25%.
8 -The percentages referred to in paragraph 1, d), of this article and in paragraph 6 of this article shall be determined by reference to the investment policy as laid down in the fund rules or instruments of incorporation of the undertakings or entities concerned or, failing which, by reference to the actual composition of the assets of the undertakings or entities concerned.
Article 9
Retention tax revenue sharing
1 -The Turks and Caicos Islands shall retain 25% of the retention tax deducted under this Agreement and transfer the remaining 75% of the revenue to Portugal.
2 -The Turks and Caicos Islands levying retention tax in accordance with article 4, 4, of this Agreement shall retain 25% of the revenue and transfer 75% to Portugal proportionate to the transfers carried out pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article.
3 -Such transfers shall take place for each year in one instalment at the latest within a period of six months following the end of the tax year established by the laws of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
4 -The Turks and Caicos Islands levying retention tax shall take the necessary measures to ensure the proper functioning of the revenue sharing system.
Article 10
Elimination of double taxation
1 -A Contracting Party in which the beneficial owner is resident for tax purposes shall ensure the elimination of any double taxation which might result from the imposition by the Turks and Caicos Islands of the retention tax to which this Agreement refers in accordance with the following provisions:
1. i)If interest received by a beneficial owner has been subject to retention tax in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Portugal shall grant a tax credit equal to the amount of the tax retained in accordance with its national law. Where this amount exceeds the amount of tax due in accordance with its national law, Portugal shall repay the excess amount of tax retained to the beneficial owner;
  1. ii)If, in addition to the retention tax referred to in article 4 of this Agreement, interest received by a beneficial owner has been subject to any other type of withholding/retention tax and the Contracting Party of residence for tax purposes grants a tax credit for such withholding/retention tax in accordance with its national law or double taxation conventions, such other withholding/retention tax shall be credited before the procedure in sub-paragraph i) of this article is applied.
2 -The Contracting Party which is the country of residence for tax purposes of the beneficial owner may replace the tax credit mechanism referred to in paragraph 1 of this article by a refund of the retention tax referred to in article 1 of this Agreement.
Article 11
Transitional provisions for negotiable debt securities
1 -During the transitional period referred to in article 14 of this Agreement, but until 31 December 2010 at the latest, domestic and international bonds and other negotiable debt securities which have been first issued before the 1st March 2001 or for which the original issuing prospectuses have been approved before that date by the competent authorities within the meaning of Council Directive no. 80/390/EC or by the responsible authorities in third countries shall not be considered as debt claims within the meaning of article 8, 1, a), of this Agreement, provided that no further issues of such negotiable debt securities are made on or after the 1st March 2002. However, should the transitional period continue beyond the 31st December 2010, the provisions of this article shall only continue to apply in respect of such negotiable debt securities:
1. a)Which contain gross up and early redemption clauses; and
2. b)Where the paying agent is established in a Contracting Party applying retention tax and that paying agent pays interest to, or secures the payment of interest for the immediate benefit of a beneficial owner resident in the other Contracting Party.
  If a further issue is made on or after the 1st March 2002 of an aforementioned negotiable debt security issued by a Government or a related entity acting as a public authority or whose role is recognised by an international treaty, as defined in the annex to this Agreement, the entire issue of such security, consisting of the original issue and any further issue, shall be considered a debt claim within the meaning of article 8, 1, a), of this Agreement.
  If a further issue is made on or after the 1st March 2002 of an aforementioned negotiable debt security issued by any other issuer not covered by the second sub-paragraph, such further issue shall be considered a debt claim within the meaning of article 8, 1, a), of this Agreement.
2 -Nothing in this article shall prevent the Contracting Parties from taxing the income from the negotiable debt securities referred to in paragraph 1 in accordance with their national laws.
Article 12
Mutual agreement procedure
Where difficulties or doubts arise between the parties regarding the implementation or interpretation of this Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall use their best endeavours to resolve the matter by mutual agreement.
Article 13
Confidentiality
1 -All information provided and received by the competent authority of a Contracting Party shall be kept confidential. The principle of confidentiality is essential to the proper implementation and permanence of this Agreement.
2 -Information provided to the competent authority of a Contracting Party may not be used for any purpose other than for the purposes of direct taxation without the prior written consent of the other Contracting Party.
3 -Information provided shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities concerned with the purposes of direct taxation, and used by such persons or authorities only for such purposes or for oversight purposes, including the determination of any appeal. For these purposes, information may be disclosed in public court proceedings or in judicial proceedings.
4 -Where a competent authority of a Contracting Party considers that information which it has received from the competent authority of the other Contracting Party is likely to be useful to the competent authority of another member State, it may transmit it to the latter competent authority with the agreement of the competent authority which supplied the information.
Article 14
Transitional period
At the end of the transitional period as defined in article 10, 2, of the directive, the Turks and Caicos Islands shall cease to apply the retention tax and revenue sharing provided for in this Agreement and shall apply in respect of Portugal the automatic exchange of information provisions in the same manner as is provided for in chapter II of the directive. If during the transitional period the Turks and Caicos Islands elects to apply the automatic exchange of information provisions in the same manner as is provided for in chapter II of the directive, it shall no longer apply the withholding/retention tax and the revenue sharing provided for in article 9 of this Agreement.
Article 15
Entry into force
1 -This Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the latter of the dates on which the respective Governments have notified each other in writing that the formalities constitutionally required have been complied with, and its provisions shall have effect from the date from which the directive is applicable according to paragraphs 2 and 3 of article 17 of the directive.
2 -Article 2 of this Agreement shall not have effect in Portugal in the absence of direct taxation in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Article 16
Termination
1 -This Agreement shall remain in force until terminated by either Contracting Party.
2 -Either Contracting Party may terminate this Agreement by giving notice of termination in writing to the other Contracting Party, such notice to specify the circumstances leading to the giving of such notice. In such a case, this Agreement shall cease to have effect 12 months after the serving of notice.
Article 17
Application and suspension of application
1 -The application of this Agreement shall be conditional on the adoption and implementation by all the member States of the European Union, by the United States of America, Switzerland, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco and San Marino, and by all the relevant dependent and associated territories of the member States of the European Community, respectively, of measures which conform with or are equivalent to those contained in the directive or in this Agreement, and providing for the same dates of implementation.
2 -Subject to the mutual agreement procedure provided for in article 12 of this Agreement, the application of this Agreement or parts thereof may be suspended by either Contracting Party with immediate effect through notification to the other specifying the circumstances leading to such notification should the directive cease to be applicable either temporarily or permanently in accordance with European Community law or in the event that a member State should suspend the application of its implementing legislation. Application of the Agreement shall resume as soon as the circumstances leading to the suspension no longer apply.
3 -Subject to the mutual agreement procedure provided for in article 12 of this Agreement, either Contracting Party may suspend the application of this Agreement through notification to the other specifying the circumstances leading to such notification in the event that one of the third countries or territories referred to in paragraph 1 should subsequently cease to apply the measures referred to in that paragraph. Suspension of application shall take place no earlier than two months after notification. Application of the Agreement shall resume as soon as the measures are reinstated by the third country or territory in question.
Done in the Portuguese and English languages all texts being equally authentic.
ANNEX
List of related entities
For the purposes of article 11 of this Agreement, the following entities will be considered to be a «related entity acting as a public authority or whose role is recognised by an international treaty»:
Entities within the European Union:
Belgium:
Vlaams Gewest (Flemish Region);
Région wallonne (Walloon Region);
Région bruxelloise/Brussels Gewest (Brussels Region);
Communauté française (French Community);
Vlaamse Gemeenschap (Flemish Community);
Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft (German-speaking Community);
Spain:
Xunta de Galicia (Regional Executive of Galicia);
Junta de Andalucía (Regional Executive of Andalusia);
Junta de Extremadura (Regional Executive of Extremadura);
Junta de Castilla-La Mancha (Regional Executive of Castilla-La Mancha);
Junta de Castilla-León (Regional Executive of Castilla-León);
Gobierno Foral de Navarra (Regional Government of Navarre);
Govern de les Illes Balears (Government of the Balearic Islands);
Generalitat de Catalunya (Autonomous Government of Catalonia);
Generalitat de Valencia (Autonomous Government of Valencia);
Diputación General de Aragón (Regional Council of Aragon);
Gobierno de las Islas Canarias (Government of the Canary Islands);
Gobierno de Murcia (Government of Murcia);
Gobierno de Madrid (Government of Madrid);
Gobierno de la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco/Euzkadi (Government of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country);
Diputación Foral de Guipúzcoa (Regional Council of Guipúzcoa);
Diputación Foral de Vizcaya/Bizkaia (Regional Council of Vizcaya);
Diputación Foral de Alava (Regional Council of Alava);
Ayuntamiento de Madrid (City Council of Madrid);
Ayuntamiento de Barcelona (City Council of Barcelona);
Cabildo Insular de Gran Canaria (Island Council of Gran Canaria);
Cabildo Insular de Tenerife (Island Council of Tenerife);
Instituto de Crédito Oficial (Public Credit Institution);
Instituto Catalán de Finanzas (Finance Institution of Catalonia);
Instituto Valenciano de Finanzas (Finance Institution of Valencia);
Greece:
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (National Telecommunications Organisation);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (National Railways Organisation);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Public Electricity Company);
France:
La Caisse d'amortissement de la dette sociale (CADES) (Social Debt Redemption Fund);
L'Agence française de développement (AFD) (French Development Agency);
Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) (French Rail Network);
Caisse Nationale des Autoroutes (CNA) (National Motorways Fund);
Assistance publique Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP) (Paris Hospitals Public Assistance);
Charbonnages de France (CDF) (French Coal Board);
Entreprise minière et chimique (EMC) (Mining and Chemicals Company);
Italy:
Regions;
Provinces;
Municipalities;
Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (Deposits and Loans Fund);
Latvia:
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Local governments);
Poland:
Gminy (communes);
Powiaty (districts);
Województwa (provinces);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (associations of communes);
Powiatów (associations of districts);
Województw (association of provinces);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (capital city of Warsaw);
Agencja Restrukturyzacji i Modernizacji Rolnictwa (Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Agricultural Property Agency);
Portugal:
Região Autónoma da Madeira (Autonomous Region of Madeira);
Região Autónoma dos Açores (Autonomous Region of Azores);
Municipalities;
Slovakia:
Mestá a obce (municipalities);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Slovak Railway Company);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (State Road Management Fund);
Slovenské elektrárne (Slovak Power Plants);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Water Economy Building Company);
International entities:
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development;
European Investment Bank;
Asian Development Bank;
African Development Bank;
World Bank/IBRD/IMF;
International Finance Corporation;
Inter-American Development Bank;
Council of Europe Social Development Fund;
EURATOM;
European Community;
Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF) (Andean Development Corporation);
Eurofima;
European Coal & Steel Community;
Nordic Investment Bank;
Caribbean Development Bank;
The provisions of article 11 are without prejudice to any international obligations that the Contracting Parties may have entered into with respect to the above mentioned international entities.
Entities in third countries. - The entities that meet the following criteria:
1) The entity is clearly considered to be a public entity according to the national criteria;
2) Such public entity is a non-market producer which administers and finances a group of activities, principally providing non-market goods and services, intended for the benefit of the community and which are effectively controlled by general government;
3) Such public entity is a large and regular issuer of debt;
4) The State concerned is able to guarantee that such public entity will not exercise early redemption in the event of gross-up clauses.

Artigo 17.º

Aplicação e suspensão da aplicação

1 -A aplicação do presente Acordo fica condicionada à adopção e aplicação por todos os Estados membros da União Europeia, pelos Estados Unidos da América, Suíça, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Mónaco e São Marino, e por todos os territórios dependentes e associados relevantes dos Estados membros da Comunidade Europeia, respectivamente, de medidas que se conformem ou sejam equivalentes às contidas na directiva ou no presente Acordo, e prevejam as mesmas datas de aplicação.
2 -Sob reserva do procedimento de acordo mútuo previsto no artigo 12.º do presente Acordo, a aplicação do presente Acordo ou de partes do Acordo pode ser suspensa por qualquer das Partes Contratantes com efeitos imediatos mediante notificação à outra que especifique as circunstâncias que levaram a essa notificação, no caso de a directiva deixar de ser aplicável, a título temporário ou permanente, em conformidade com o direito comunitário ou no caso de um Estado membro suspender a aplicação da sua legislação de transposição. A aplicação do Acordo será retomada logo que deixem de verificar-se as circunstâncias que conduziram à suspensão.
3 -Sob reserva do procedimento de acordo mútuo previsto no artigo 12.º do presente Acordo, qualquer das Partes Contratantes pode suspender a aplicação do presente Acordo mediante notificação à outra que especifique as circunstâncias que levaram a essa notificação no caso de um dos territórios ou países terceiros referidos no n.º 1 deixar posteriormente de aplicar as medidas referidas nesse número. A suspensão da aplicação não poderá ocorrer menos de dois meses após a notificação. A aplicação do Acordo será retomada logo que as medidas forem repostas pelo país terceiro ou território em causa.
Feito nas línguas portuguesa e inglesa, fazendo ambos os textos igualmente fé.
ANEXO
Lista das entidades afins
Para efeitos do disposto no artigo 11.º do presente Acordo, serão consideradas como «entidade afim, actuando na qualidade de autoridade pública, ou cuja função seja reconhecida num tratado internacional», as seguintes entidades:
Entidades da união europeia:
Bélgica:
Vlaams Gewest (Região Flamenga);
Région wallonne (Região Valã);
Région bruxelloise/Brussels Gewest (Região de Bruxelas);
Communauté française (Comunidade Francesa);
Vlaamse Gemeenschap (Comunidade Flamenga);
Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft (Comunidade Germanófona);
Espanha:
Xunta de Galicia (Junta da Galiza);
Junta de Andalucía (Junta da Andaluzia);
Junta de Extremadura (Junta da Estremadura);
Junta de Castilla-La Mancha (Junta de Castela-Mancha);
Junta de Castilla-León (Junta de Castela-Leão);
Gobierno Foral de Navarra (Governo Regional de Navarra);
Govern de les Illes Balears (Governo das Ilhas Baleares);
Generalitat de Catalunya (Governo Autónomo da Catalunha);
Generalitat de Valencia (Governo Autónomo de Valência);
Diputación General de Aragón (Conselho Regional de Aragão);
Gobierno de las Islas Canarias (Governo das Ilhas Canárias);
Gobierno de Murcia (Governo de Múrcia);
Gobierno de Madrid (Governo de Madrid);
Gobierno de la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco/Euzkadi (Governo da Comunidade Autónoma do País Basco);
Diputación Foral de Guipúzcoa (Conselho Provincial de Guipuzcoa);
Diputación Foral de Vizcaya/Bizkaia (Conselho Provincial de Biscaia);
Diputación Foral de Alava (Conselho Provincial de Alava);
Ayuntamiento de Madrid (município de Madrid);
Ayuntamiento de Barcelona (município de Barcelona);
Cabildo Insular de Gran Canaria (Conselho Insular da Grã Canária);
Cabildo Insular de Tenerife (Conselho Insular de Tenerife);
Instituto de Crédito Oficial (Instituto de Crédito Oficial);
Instituto Catalán de Finanzas (Instituto Catalão de Finanças);
Instituto Valenciano de Finanzas (Instituto Valenciano de Finanças);
Grécia:
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Organismo das Telecomunicações da Grécia);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Organismo dos Caminhos de Ferro da Grécia);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Empresa Pública de Electricidade);
França:
La Caisse d'amortissement de la dette sociale (CADES) (Caixa de Amortização da Dívida Social);
L'Agence française de développement (AFD) (Agência Francesa de Desenvolvimento);
Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) (Rede dos Caminhos de Ferro de França);
Caisse Nationale des Autoroutes (CNA) (Caixa Nacional de Auto-Estradas);
Assistance publique Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP) (Assistência Pública Hospitais de Paris);
Charbonnages de France (CDF) (Minas de Carvão de França);
Entreprise minière et chimique (EMC)(Empresa Mineira e Química);
Itália:
Regiões;
Províncias;
Municípios;
Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (Caixa de Depósitos e Empréstimos);
Letónia:
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Governos locais);
Polónia:
Gminy (comuna);
Powiaty (distritos);
Województwa (províncias);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (associações de comunas);
Powiatów (associação de distritos);
Województw (associação de províncias);
Miasto stoleczne Warszawa (capital de Varsóvia);
Agencja Restrukturyzacji i Modernizacji Rolnictwa (Agência para a Reestruturação e Modernização da Agricultura);
Agencja Nieruchomosci Rolnych (Agência de Propriedade Agrícola);
Portugal:
Região Autónoma da Madeira;
Região Autónoma dos Açores;
Municípios;
Eslováquia:
Mestá a obce (municípios);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Companhia dos Caminhos de Ferro da Eslováquia);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Fundo Estatal de Gestão Viária);
Slovenské elektrárne (Companhias Eléctricas da Eslováquia);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Water Economy Building Company);
Entidades internacionais:
Banco Europeu para a Reconstrução e o Desenvolvimento;
Banco Europeu de Investimento;
Banco Asiático de Desenvolvimento;
Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento;
Banco Mundial/BIRD/FMI;
Sociedade Financeira Internacional;
Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento;
Fundo de Desenvolvimento Social do Conselho da Europa;
EURATOM;
Comunidade Europeia;
Corporação Andina de Fomento (CAF);
Eurofima;
Comunidade Europeia do Carvão e do Aço;
Banco Nórdico de Investimento;
Banco de Desenvolvimento das Caraíbas.
O disposto no artigo 11.º não prejudica quaisquer obrigações que as Partes Contratantes possam ter assumido relativamente às entidades internacionais acima referidas.
Entidades em países terceiros. - As entidades que preencham os seguintes critérios:
1) A entidade ser claramente considerada uma entidade pública de acordo com os critérios nacionais;
2) Uma entidade pública desse tipo ser um produtor não mercantil que administra e financia um grupo de actividades, que consistem essencialmente em fornecer bens e serviços não mercantis destinados à colectividade, e que são efectivamente controlados pelas administrações públicas;
3) Uma entidade pública desse tipo emitir títulos de dívida regularmente e em grande quantidade;
4) O Estado em causa estar em condições de garantir que essa entidade pública não procederá ao reembolso antecipado no caso de existirem cláusulas de ressarcimento (gross-up).
AGREEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS ON THE TAXATION OF SAVINGS INCOME
A - Letter from the Portuguese Republic
Sir:
I refer to the text of the proposed model agreement on the taxation of savings income between the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Portuguese Republic that was approved by the High Level Working Party (Taxation of Savings) of the Council of Ministers of the European Union on the 22nd June 2004.
In view of the above mentioned text, I have the honour:
To propose to you the agreement on the taxation of savings income at appendix 1 to this letter;
To propose that the said arrangements may come into effect on the date of application of Council Directive no. 2003/48/EC, of the 3rd June 2003, on taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments, which date shall be subject to the conditions set out in article 17, 2, of the directive, subject to the notification to each other that the internal constitutional formalities for the coming into effect of these arrangements are completed;
To propose our mutual commitment to comply at the earliest date with our said internal constitutional formalities and to notify each other without delay through the formal channels when such formalities are completed.
I have the honour to propose that, if the above is acceptable to your Government, this letter together with its appendix 1 and your confirmation shall together constitute our mutual acceptance and making of the arrangements between Portugal and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Please accept, Sir, the assurance of our highest consideration.
For the Government of the Portuguese Republic:
António José de Castro Bagão Félix, Minister of Finance and Public Administration.
Done at Lisbon, on the 29th December 2004, in the English and Portuguese languages, in three copies.
B - Proposed reply from the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Sir:
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 29th December 2004, which reads as follows:
Sir:
I refer to the text of the proposed model agreement on the taxation of savings income between the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Portuguese Republic that was approved by the High Level Working Party (Taxation of Savings) of the Council of Ministers of the European Union on the 22nd June 2004.
In view of the above mentioned text, I have the honour:
To propose to you the agreement on the taxation of savings income at appendix 1 to this letter;
To propose that the said arrangements may come into effect on the date of application of Council Directive no. 2003/48/EC, of the 3rd June 2003, on taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments, which date shall be subject to the conditions set out in article 17, 2, of the directive, subject to the notification to each other that the internal constitutional formalities for the coming into effect of these arrangements are completed;
To propose our mutual commitment to comply at the earliest date with our said internal constitutional formalities and to notify each other without delay through the formal channels when such formalities are completed.
I have the honour to propose that, if the above is acceptable to your Government, this letter together with its appendix 1 and your confirmation shall together constitute our mutual acceptance and making of the arrangements between Portugal and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Please accept, Sir, the assurance of our highest consideration.
I am able to confirm that the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands is in agreement with the contents of your letter dated on the 29th December 2004.
Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.
James, Posten, CBE, Governor.
Done at Grand Turk, on 12th April 2005, in the English and Portuguese languages, in three copies.
APPENDIX 1
AGREEMENT ON THE TAXATION OF SAVINGS INCOME BETWEEN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC.
Whereas:
1 -Article 17 of Directive no. 2003/48/EC («the directive»), of the Council of the European Union («the Council»), on taxation of savings income provides that before the 1st January 2004, member States shall adopt and publish the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this directive which provisions shall be applied from the 1st January 2005 provided that:
1. i)The Swiss Confederation, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Republic of San Marino, the Principality of Monaco and the Principality of Andorra apply from that same date measures equivalent to those contained in this directive, in accordance with agreements entered into by them with the European Community, following unanimous decisions of the Council;
  ii)All agreements or other arrangements are in place, which provide that all the relevant dependent or associated territories apply from that same date automatic exchange of information in the same manner as is provided for in chapter II of this directive (or, during the transitional period defined in article 10, apply a retention tax on the same terms as are contained in articles 11 and 12).
2 -The Turks and Caicos Islands notes that in accordance with the ECOFIN Council conclusions of the 3rd June 2003, during the transitional period referred to in article 10 of the directive, the Council calls on the Commission to enter into discussions with other important financial centres with a view to providing the adoption by those jurisdictions of measures equivalent to those in the directive.
3 -The relationship of the Turks and Caicos Islands with the EU is determined by part 4 of the Treaty establishing the European Community. The Turks and Caicos Islands is not within the EU fiscal territory.
4 -The Turks and Caicos Islands notes that, while it is the ultimate aim of the EU member States to bring about effective taxation of interest payments in the beneficial owner's member State of residence for tax purposes through the exchange of information concerning interest payments between themselves, three member States, namely Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg, during a transitional period, shall not be required to exchange information but shall apply a withholding tax to the savings income covered by the directive.
5 -The «withholding tax» referred to in the directive will be referred to as the «retention tax» in the Turks and Caicos Islands' domestic legislation. For the purposes of this Agreement the two terms therefore are to be read coterminously as «withholding/retention tax» and shall have the same meaning.
6 -The Turks and Caicos Islands has agreed to apply a retention tax pursuant to agreements entered into with member States with effect from the 1st January 2005 provided the member States have adopted the laws, regulations, and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the directive, and the requirements of article 17 of the directive.
7 -The Turks and Caicos Islands has agreed to apply automatic exchange of information pursuant to agreements entered into with member States in the same manner as is provided for in chapter II of the directive from the end of the transitional period as defined in article 10, 2, of the directive.
8 -The Turks and Caicos Islands has legislation relating to undertakings for collective investment that is deemed to be equivalent in its effect to the EC legislation referred to in articles 2 and 6 of the directive.
The Turks and Caicos Islands and the Portuguese Republic, hereinafter referred to as a Contracting Party or the Contracting Parties unless the context otherwise requires, have agreed to conclude the following agreement which contains obligations on the part of the Contracting Parties only and provides for:
1. a)The automatic exchange of information by the competent authority of Portugal to the competent authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the same manner as to the competent authority of a member State;
2. b)The application by the Turks and Caicos Islands, during the transitional period defined in article 10 of the directive, of a retention tax from the same date and on the same terms as are contained in articles 11 and 12 of that directive;
3. c)The automatic exchange of information by the competent authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands to the competent authority of Portugal in accordance with article 13 of the directive;
4. d)The transfer by the competent authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands to the competent authority of Portugal of 75% of the revenue of the retention tax;
in respect of interest payments made by a paying agent established in a Contracting Party to an individual resident in the other Contracting Party.
For the purposes of this Agreement the term «competent authority» when applied to the Contracting Parties means the Minister of Finance or an authorised representative in respect to Portugal and the Financial Services Commission in respect to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Article 1
Retention of tax by paying agents
Interest payments as defined in article 8 of this Agreement which are made by a paying agent established in the Turks and Caicos Islands to beneficial owners within the meaning of article 5 of this Agreement who are residents of Portugal shall, subject to article 3 of this Agreement, be subject to a retention tax from the amount of interest payment during the transitional period referred to in article 14 of this Agreement starting at the date referred to in article 15 of this Agreement. The rate of retention tax shall be 15% during the first three years of the transitional period, 20% for the subsequent three years and 35% thereafter.
Article 2
Reporting of information by paying agents
1 -Where interest payments, as defined in article 8 of this Agreement, are made by a paying agent established in Portugal to beneficial owners, as defined in article 5 of this Agreement, who are residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands, or where the provisions of article 3, 1, a), of this Agreement apply, the paying agent shall report to its competent authority:
1. a)The identity and residence of the beneficial owner established in accordance with article 6 of this Agreement;
2. b)The name and address of the paying agent;
3. c)The account number of the beneficial owner or, where there is none, identification of the debt claim giving rise to the interests;
4. d)Information concerning the interest payment specified in article 4, 1, of this Agreement.
  However, each Contracting Party may restrict the minimum amount of information concerning interest payment to be reported by the paying agent to the total amount of interest or income and to the total amount of the proceeds from sale, redemption or refund and Portugal will comply with paragraph 2 of this article.
2 -Within six months following the end of their tax year, the competent authority of Portugal shall communicate to the competent authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands, automatically, the information referred to in paragraph 1, a)-d), of this article, for all interest payments made during that year.
Article 3
Exceptions to the retention tax procedure
1 -The Turks and Caicos Islands when levying a retention tax in accordance with article 1 of this Agreement shall provide for one or both of the following procedures in order to ensure that the beneficial owners may request that no tax be retained:
1. a)A procedure which allows the beneficial owner as defined in article 5 of this Agreement to avoid the retention tax specified in article 1 of this Agreement by expressly authorising his paying agent to report the interest payments to the competent authority of the Contracting Party in which the paying agent is established. Such authorisation shall cover all interest payments made to the beneficial owner by that paying agent;
2. b)A procedure which ensures that retention tax shall not be levied where the beneficial owner presents to his paying agent a certificate drawn up in his name by the competent authority of the Contracting Party of residence for tax purposes in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article.
2 -At the request of the beneficial owner, the competent authority of the Contracting Party of the country of residence for tax purposes shall issue a certificate indicating:
1. i)The name, address and tax or other identification number or, failing such, the date and place of birth of the beneficial owner;
  1. ii)The name and address of the paying agent;
  2. iii)The account number of the beneficial owner or, where there is none, the identification of the security.
    Such certificate shall be valid for a period not exceeding three years. It shall be issued to any beneficial owner who requests it, within two months following such request.
3 -Where paragraph 1, a), of this article applies, the competent authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands in which the paying agent is established shall communicate the information referred to in article 2, 1, of this Agreement to the competent authority of Portugal as the country of residence of the beneficial owner. Such communications shall be automatic and shall take place at least once a year, within six months following the end of the tax year established by the laws of a Contracting Party, for all interest payments made during that year.
Article 4
Basis of assessment for retention tax
1 -A paying agent established in the Turks and Caicos Islands shall levy retention tax in accordance with article 1 of this Agreement as follows:
1. a)In the case of an interest payment within the meaning of article 8, 1, a), of this Agreement, on the gross amount of interest paid or credited;
2. b)In the case of an interest payment within the meaning of article 8, 1, b) or d), of this Agreement, on the amount of interest or income referred to in b) or d) of that sub-paragraph or by a levy of equivalent effect to be borne by the recipient on the full amount of the proceeds of the sale, redemption or refund;
3. c)In the case of an interest payment within the meaning of article 8, 1, c), of this Agreement, on the amount of interest referred to in that sub-paragraph;
4. d)In the case of an interest payment within the meaning of article 8, 4, of this Agreement, on the amount of interest attributable to each of the members of the entity referred to in article 7, 2, of this Agreement, who meet the conditions of article 5, 1, of this Agreement;
5. e)Where the Turks and Caicos Islands exercises the option under article 8, 5, of this Agreement, on the amount of annualised interest.
2 -For the purposes of sub-paragraphs a) and b) of paragraph 1 of this article, the retention tax shall be deducted on a pro rata basis to the period during which the beneficial owner held the debt-claim. If the paying agent is unable to determine the period of holding on the basis of the information made available to him, the paying agent shall treat the beneficial owner as having been in possession of the debt-claim for the entire period of its existence, unless the latter provides evidence of the date of the acquisition.
3 -The imposition of retention tax by the Turks and Caicos Islands shall not preclude the other Contracting Party of residence for tax purposes of the beneficial owner from taxing income in accordance with its national law.
4 -During the transitional period, the Turks and Caicos Islands may provide that an economic operator paying interest to, or securing interest for, an entity referred to in article 7, 2, of this Agreement in the other Contracting Party shall be considered the paying agent in place of the entity and shall levy the retention tax on that interest, unless the entity has formally agreed to its name, address and the total amount of the interest paid to it or secured for it being communicated in accordance with the last paragraph of article 7, 2, of this Agreement.
Article 5
Definition of beneficial owner
1 -For the purposes of this Agreement, «beneficial owner» shall mean any individual who receives an interest payment or any individual for whom an interest payment is secured, unless such individual can provide evidence that the interest payment was not received or secured for his own benefit. An individual is not deemed to be the beneficial owner when he:
1. a)Acts as a paying agent within the meaning of article 7, 1, of this Agreement;
2. b)Acts on behalf of a legal person, an entity which is taxed on its profits under the general arrangements for business taxation, an UCITS authorised in accordance with Directive no. 85/611/EC or an equivalent undertaking for collective investment established in the Turks and Caicos Islands, or an entity referred to in article 7, 2, of this Agreement and, in the last mentioned case, discloses the name and address of that entity to the economic operator making the interest payment and the latter communicates such information to the competent authority of its Contracting Party of establishment;
3. c)Acts on behalf of another individual who is the beneficial owner and discloses to the paying agent the identity of that beneficial owner.
2 -Where a paying agent has information suggesting that the individual who receives an interest payment or for whom an interest payment is secured may not be the beneficial owner, and where neither paragraph 1, a), nor 1, b), of this article applies, it shall take reasonable steps to establish the identity of the beneficial owner. If the paying agent is unable to identify the beneficial owner, it shall treat the individual in question as the beneficial owner.
Article 6
Identity and residence of beneficial owners
1 -Each Party shall, within its territory, adopt and ensure the application of the procedures necessary to allow the paying agent to identify the beneficial owners and their residence for the purposes of this Agreement. Such procedures shall comply with the minimum standards established in paragraphs 2) and 3).
2 -The paying agent shall establish the identity of the beneficial owner on the basis of minimum standards which vary according to when relations between the paying agent and the recipient of the interest are entered into, as follows:
1. a)For contractual relations entered into before the 1st January 2004, the paying agent shall establish the identity of the beneficial owner, consisting of his name and address, by using the information at its disposal, in particular pursuant to the regulations in force in its country of establishment and to Council Directive no. 91/308/EC, of the 10th June 1991, in the case of Portugal or in the case of the Turks and Caicos Islands pursuant to the relevant provisions of Turks and Caicos Islands' laws and regulations on prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering;
2. b)Or contractual relations entered into, or transactions carried out in the absence of contractual relations, on or after the 1st January 2004, the paying agent shall establish the identity of the beneficial owner, consisting of the name, address and, if there is one, the tax identification number allocated by the member State of residence for tax purposes. These details should be established on the basis of the passport or of the official identity card presented by the beneficial owner. If it does not appear on that passport or official identity card, the address shall be established on the basis of any other documentary proof of identity presented by the beneficial owner. If the tax identification number is not mentioned on the passport, on the official identity card or any other documentary proof of identity, including, possibly the certificate of residence for tax purposes, presented by the beneficial owner, the identity shall be supplemented by a reference to the latter's date and place of birth established on the basis of his passport or official identification card.
3 -The paying agent shall establish the residence of the beneficial owner on the basis of minimum standards which vary according to when relations between the paying agent and the recipient of the interest are entered into. Subject to the conditions set out below, residence shall be considered to be situated in the country where the beneficial owner has his permanent address:
1. a)For contractual relations entered into before the 1st January 2004, the paying agent shall establish the residence of the beneficial owner by using the information at its disposal, in particular pursuant to the regulations in force in its country of establishment and to Directive no. 91/308/EC in the case of Portugal or in the case of the Turks and Caicos Islands pursuant to the relevant provisions of Turks and Caicos Islands' laws and regulations on prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering;
2. b)For contractual relations entered into, or transactions carried out in the absence of contractual relations, on or after the 1st January 2004, the paying agents shall establish the residence of the beneficial owner on the basis of the address mentioned on the passport, on the official identity card or, if necessary, on the basis of any documentary proof of identity presented by the beneficial owner and according to the following procedure: for individuals presenting a passport or official identity card issued by a member State who declare themselves to be resident in a third country, residence shall be established by means of a tax residence certificate issued by the competent authority of the third country in which the individual claims to be resident. Failing the presentation of such a certificate, the member State which issued the passport or other official identity document shall be considered to be the country of residence.
  Article 7
  Definition of paying agent
1 -For the purposes of this Agreement, «paying agent» means any economic operator who pays interest to or secures the payment of interest for the immediate benefit of the beneficial owner, whether the operator is the debtor of the debt claim which produces the interest or the operator charged by the debtor or the beneficial owner with paying interest or securing the payment of interest.
2 -Any entity established in a Contracting Party to which interest is paid or for which interest is secured for the benefit of the beneficial owner shall also be considered a paying agent upon such payment or securing of such payment. This provision shall not apply if the economic operator has reason to believe, on the basis of official evidence produced by that entity that:
1. a)It is a legal person with the exception of those legal persons referred to in paragraph 5 of this article; or
2. b)Its profits are taxed under the general arrangements for business taxation; or
3. c)It is an UCITS recognised in accordance with Directive no. 85/611/EC, of the Council, or an equivalent undertaking for collective investment established in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
  An economic operator paying interest to, or securing interest for, such an entity established in the other Contracting Party which is considered a paying agent under this paragraph shall communicate the name and address of the entity and the total amount of interest paid to, or secured for, the entity to the competent authority of its Contracting Party of establishment, which shall pass this information on to the competent authority of the Contracting Party where the entity is established.
3 -The entity referred to in paragraph 2 of this article shall, however, have the option of being treated for the purposes of this Agreement as an UCITS or equivalent undertaking as referred to in sub-paragraph c) of paragraph 2. The exercise of this option shall require a certificate to be issued by the Contracting Party in which the entity is established and presented to the economic operator by that entity. A Contracting Party shall lay down the detailed rules for this option for entities established in their territory.
4 -Where the economic operator and the entity referred to in paragraph 2 of this article are established in the same Contracting Party, that Contracting Party shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the entity complies with the provisions of this Agreement when it acts as a paying agent.
5 -The legal persons exempted from sub-paragraph a) of paragraph 2 of this article are:
1. a)In Finland: avoin yhtio (Ay) and kommandiittiyhtio (Ky)/oppet bolag and kommanditbolag;
2. b)in Sweden: handelsbolag (HB) and kommanditbolag (KB).
  Article 8
  Definition of interest payment
1 -For the purposes of this Agreement «interest payment» shall mean:
1. a)Interest paid, or credited to an account, relating to debt claims of every kind, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in the debtor's 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, but excluding interest from loans between private individuals not acting in the course of their business. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest payment;
2. b)Interest accrued or capitalised at the sale, refund or redemption of the debt claims referred to in a);
3. c)Income deriving from interest payments either directly or through an entity referred to in article 7, 2, of this Agreement, distributed by:
  1. i)An UCITS authorised in accordance with EC Directive no. 85/611/EC, of the Council;
  2. ii)An equivalent undertaking for collective investment established in the Turks and Caicos Islands;
  3. iii)Entities which qualify for the option under article 7, 3, of this Agreement; or
  4. iv)Undertakings for collective investment established outside the territory to which the Treaty establishing the European Community applies by virtue of article 299 thereof and outside the Turks and Caicos Islands;
4. d)Income realised upon the sale, refund or redemption of shares or units in the following undertakings and entities, if they invest directly or indirectly, via other undertakings for collective investment or entities referred to below, more than 40% of their assets in debt claims as referred to in a):
  1. i)An UCITS authorised in accordance with Directive no. 85/611/EC;
  2. ii)An equivalent undertaking for collective investment established in the Turks and Caicos Islands;
  3. iii)Entities which qualify for the option under article 7, 3, of this Agreement; or
  4. iv)Undertakings for collective investment established outside the territory to which the Treaty establishing the European Community applies by virtue of article 299 thereof and outside the Turks and Caicos Islands.
    However, the Contracting Parties shall have the option of including income mentioned under paragraph 1, d), of this article in the definition of interest only to the extent that such income corresponds to gains directly or indirectly deriving from interest payments within the meaning of paragraphs 1, a) and b), of this article.
2 -As regards paragraphs 1, c) and d), of this article, when a paying agent has no information concerning the proportion of the income which derives from interest payments, the total amount of the income shall be considered an interest payment.
3 -As regards paragraph 1, d), of this article, when a paying agent has no information concerning the percentage of the assets invested in debt claims or in shares or units as defined in that paragraph, that percentage shall be considered to be above 40%. Where he cannot determine the amount of income realised by the beneficial owner, the income shall be deemed to correspond to the proceeds of the sale, refund or redemption of the shares or units.
4 -When interest, as defined in paragraph 1 of this article, is paid to or credited to an account held by an entity referred to in article 7, 2, of this Agreement, such entity not having qualified for the option under article 7, 3, of this Agreement, such interest shall be considered an interest payment by such entity.
5 -As regards paragraphs 1, b) and d), of this article, a Contracting Party shall have the option of requiring paying agents in its territory to annualise the interest over a period of time which may not exceed one year, and treating such annualised interest as an interest payment even if no sale, redemption or refund occurs during that period.
6 -By way of derogation from paragraphs 1, c) and d), of this article, a Contracting Party shall have the option of excluding from the definition of interest payment any income referred to in those provisions from undertakings or entities established within its territory where the investment in debt claims referred to in paragraph 1, a), of this article of such entities has not exceeded 15% of their assets. Likewise, by way of derogation from paragraph 4 of this article, a Contracting Party shall have the option of excluding from the definition of interest payment in paragraph 1 of this article interest paid or credited to an account of an entity referred to in article 7, 2, of this Agreement which has not qualified for the option under article 7, 3, of this Agreement and is established within its territory, where the investment of such an entity in debt claims referred to in paragraph 1, a), of this article has not exceeded 15% of its assets.
The exercise of such option by one Contracting Party shall be binding on the other Contracting Party.
7 -The percentage referred to in paragraph 1, d), of this article and paragraph 3 of this article shall, from the 1st January 2011, be 25%.
8 -The percentages referred to in paragraph 1, d), of this article and in paragraph 6 of this article shall be determined by reference to the investment policy as laid down in the fund rules or instruments of incorporation of the undertakings or entities concerned or, failing which, by reference to the actual composition of the assets of the undertakings or entities concerned.
Article 9
Retention tax revenue sharing
1 -The Turks and Caicos Islands shall retain 25% of the retention tax deducted under this Agreement and transfer the remaining 75% of the revenue to Portugal.
2 -The Turks and Caicos Islands levying retention tax in accordance with article 4, 4, of this Agreement shall retain 25% of the revenue and transfer 75% to Portugal proportionate to the transfers carried out pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article.
3 -Such transfers shall take place for each year in one instalment at the latest within a period of six months following the end of the tax year established by the laws of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
4 -The Turks and Caicos Islands levying retention tax shall take the necessary measures to ensure the proper functioning of the revenue sharing system.
Article 10
Elimination of double taxation
1 -A Contracting Party in which the beneficial owner is resident for tax purposes shall ensure the elimination of any double taxation which might result from the imposition by the Turks and Caicos Islands of the retention tax to which this Agreement refers in accordance with the following provisions:
1. i)If interest received by a beneficial owner has been subject to retention tax in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Portugal shall grant a tax credit equal to the amount of the tax retained in accordance with its national law. Where this amount exceeds the amount of tax due in accordance with its national law, Portugal shall repay the excess amount of tax retained to the beneficial owner;
  1. ii)If, in addition to the retention tax referred to in article 4 of this Agreement, interest received by a beneficial owner has been subject to any other type of withholding/retention tax and the Contracting Party of residence for tax purposes grants a tax credit for such withholding/retention tax in accordance with its national law or double taxation conventions, such other withholding/retention tax shall be credited before the procedure in sub-paragraph i) of this article is applied.
2 -The Contracting Party which is the country of residence for tax purposes of the beneficial owner may replace the tax credit mechanism referred to in paragraph 1 of this article by a refund of the retention tax referred to in article 1 of this Agreement.
Article 11
Transitional provisions for negotiable debt securities
1 -During the transitional period referred to in article 14 of this Agreement, but until 31 December 2010 at the latest, domestic and international bonds and other negotiable debt securities which have been first issued before the 1st March 2001 or for which the original issuing prospectuses have been approved before that date by the competent authorities within the meaning of Council Directive no. 80/390/EC or by the responsible authorities in third countries shall not be considered as debt claims within the meaning of article 8, 1, a), of this Agreement, provided that no further issues of such negotiable debt securities are made on or after the 1st March 2002. However, should the transitional period continue beyond the 31st December 2010, the provisions of this article shall only continue to apply in respect of such negotiable debt securities:
1. a)Which contain gross up and early redemption clauses; and
2. b)Where the paying agent is established in a Contracting Party applying retention tax and that paying agent pays interest to, or secures the payment of interest for the immediate benefit of a beneficial owner resident in the other Contracting Party.
  If a further issue is made on or after the 1st March 2002 of an aforementioned negotiable debt security issued by a Government or a related entity acting as a public authority or whose role is recognised by an international treaty, as defined in the annex to this Agreement, the entire issue of such security, consisting of the original issue and any further issue, shall be considered a debt claim within the meaning of article 8, 1, a), of this Agreement.
  If a further issue is made on or after the 1st March 2002 of an aforementioned negotiable debt security issued by any other issuer not covered by the second sub-paragraph, such further issue shall be considered a debt claim within the meaning of article 8, 1, a), of this Agreement.
2 -Nothing in this article shall prevent the Contracting Parties from taxing the income from the negotiable debt securities referred to in paragraph 1 in accordance with their national laws.
Article 12
Mutual agreement procedure
Where difficulties or doubts arise between the parties regarding the implementation or interpretation of this Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall use their best endeavours to resolve the matter by mutual agreement.
Article 13
Confidentiality
1 -All information provided and received by the competent authority of a Contracting Party shall be kept confidential. The principle of confidentiality is essential to the proper implementation and permanence of this Agreement.
2 -Information provided to the competent authority of a Contracting Party may not be used for any purpose other than for the purposes of direct taxation without the prior written consent of the other Contracting Party.
3 -Information provided shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities concerned with the purposes of direct taxation, and used by such persons or authorities only for such purposes or for oversight purposes, including the determination of any appeal. For these purposes, information may be disclosed in public court proceedings or in judicial proceedings.
4 -Where a competent authority of a Contracting Party considers that information which it has received from the competent authority of the other Contracting Party is likely to be useful to the competent authority of another member State, it may transmit it to the latter competent authority with the agreement of the competent authority which supplied the information.
Article 14
Transitional period
At the end of the transitional period as defined in article 10, 2, of the directive, the Turks and Caicos Islands shall cease to apply the retention tax and revenue sharing provided for in this Agreement and shall apply in respect of Portugal the automatic exchange of information provisions in the same manner as is provided for in chapter II of the directive. If during the transitional period the Turks and Caicos Islands elects to apply the automatic exchange of information provisions in the same manner as is provided for in chapter II of the directive, it shall no longer apply the withholding/retention tax and the revenue sharing provided for in article 9 of this Agreement.
Article 15
Entry into force
1 -This Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the latter of the dates on which the respective Governments have notified each other in writing that the formalities constitutionally required have been complied with, and its provisions shall have effect from the date from which the directive is applicable according to paragraphs 2 and 3 of article 17 of the directive.
2 -Article 2 of this Agreement shall not have effect in Portugal in the absence of direct taxation in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Article 16
Termination
1 -This Agreement shall remain in force until terminated by either Contracting Party.
2 -Either Contracting Party may terminate this Agreement by giving notice of termination in writing to the other Contracting Party, such notice to specify the circumstances leading to the giving of such notice. In such a case, this Agreement shall cease to have effect 12 months after the serving of notice.
Article 17
Application and suspension of application
1 -The application of this Agreement shall be conditional on the adoption and implementation by all the member States of the European Union, by the United States of America, Switzerland, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco and San Marino, and by all the relevant dependent and associated territories of the member States of the European Community, respectively, of measures which conform with or are equivalent to those contained in the directive or in this Agreement, and providing for the same dates of implementation.
2 -Subject to the mutual agreement procedure provided for in article 12 of this Agreement, the application of this Agreement or parts thereof may be suspended by either Contracting Party with immediate effect through notification to the other specifying the circumstances leading to such notification should the directive cease to be applicable either temporarily or permanently in accordance with European Community law or in the event that a member State should suspend the application of its implementing legislation. Application of the Agreement shall resume as soon as the circumstances leading to the suspension no longer apply.
3 -Subject to the mutual agreement procedure provided for in article 12 of this Agreement, either Contracting Party may suspend the application of this Agreement through notification to the other specifying the circumstances leading to such notification in the event that one of the third countries or territories referred to in paragraph 1 should subsequently cease to apply the measures referred to in that paragraph. Suspension of application shall take place no earlier than two months after notification. Application of the Agreement shall resume as soon as the measures are reinstated by the third country or territory in question.
Done in the Portuguese and English languages all texts being equally authentic.
ANNEX
List of related entities
For the purposes of article 11 of this Agreement, the following entities will be considered to be a «related entity acting as a public authority or whose role is recognised by an international treaty»:
Entities within the European Union:
Belgium:
Vlaams Gewest (Flemish Region);
Région wallonne (Walloon Region);
Région bruxelloise/Brussels Gewest (Brussels Region);
Communauté française (French Community);
Vlaamse Gemeenschap (Flemish Community);
Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft (German-speaking Community);
Spain:
Xunta de Galicia (Regional Executive of Galicia);
Junta de Andalucía (Regional Executive of Andalusia);
Junta de Extremadura (Regional Executive of Extremadura);
Junta de Castilla-La Mancha (Regional Executive of Castilla-La Mancha);
Junta de Castilla-León (Regional Executive of Castilla-León);
Gobierno Foral de Navarra (Regional Government of Navarre);
Govern de les Illes Balears (Government of the Balearic Islands);
Generalitat de Catalunya (Autonomous Government of Catalonia);
Generalitat de Valencia (Autonomous Government of Valencia);
Diputación General de Aragón (Regional Council of Aragon);
Gobierno de las Islas Canarias (Government of the Canary Islands);
Gobierno de Murcia (Government of Murcia);
Gobierno de Madrid (Government of Madrid);
Gobierno de la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco/Euzkadi (Government of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country);
Diputación Foral de Guipúzcoa (Regional Council of Guipúzcoa);
Diputación Foral de Vizcaya/Bizkaia (Regional Council of Vizcaya);
Diputación Foral de Alava (Regional Council of Alava);
Ayuntamiento de Madrid (City Council of Madrid);
Ayuntamiento de Barcelona (City Council of Barcelona);
Cabildo Insular de Gran Canaria (Island Council of Gran Canaria);
Cabildo Insular de Tenerife (Island Council of Tenerife);
Instituto de Crédito Oficial (Public Credit Institution);
Instituto Catalán de Finanzas (Finance Institution of Catalonia);
Instituto Valenciano de Finanzas (Finance Institution of Valencia);
Greece:
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (National Telecommunications Organisation);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (National Railways Organisation);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Public Electricity Company);
France:
La Caisse d'amortissement de la dette sociale (CADES) (Social Debt Redemption Fund);
L'Agence française de développement (AFD) (French Development Agency);
Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) (French Rail Network);
Caisse Nationale des Autoroutes (CNA) (National Motorways Fund);
Assistance publique Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP) (Paris Hospitals Public Assistance);
Charbonnages de France (CDF) (French Coal Board);
Entreprise minière et chimique (EMC) (Mining and Chemicals Company);
Italy:
Regions;
Provinces;
Municipalities;
Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (Deposits and Loans Fund);
Latvia:
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Local governments);
Poland:
Gminy (communes);
Powiaty (districts);
Województwa (provinces);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (associations of communes);
Powiatów (associations of districts);
Województw (association of provinces);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (capital city of Warsaw);
Agencja Restrukturyzacji i Modernizacji Rolnictwa (Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Agricultural Property Agency);
Portugal:
Região Autónoma da Madeira (Autonomous Region of Madeira);
Região Autónoma dos Açores (Autonomous Region of Azores);
Municipalities;
Slovakia:
Mestá a obce (municipalities);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Slovak Railway Company);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (State Road Management Fund);
Slovenské elektrárne (Slovak Power Plants);
(ver texto em língua estrangeira no documento original) (Water Economy Building Company);
International entities:
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development;
European Investment Bank;
Asian Development Bank;
African Development Bank;
World Bank/IBRD/IMF;
International Finance Corporation;
Inter-American Development Bank;
Council of Europe Social Development Fund;
EURATOM;
European Community;
Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF) (Andean Development Corporation);
Eurofima;
European Coal & Steel Community;
Nordic Investment Bank;
Caribbean Development Bank;
The provisions of article 11 are without prejudice to any international obligations that the Contracting Parties may have entered into with respect to the above mentioned international entities.
Entities in third countries. - The entities that meet the following criteria:
1) The entity is clearly considered to be a public entity according to the national criteria;
2) Such public entity is a non-market producer which administers and finances a group of activities, principally providing non-market goods and services, intended for the benefit of the community and which are effectively controlled by general government;
3) Such public entity is a large and regular issuer of debt;
4) The State concerned is able to guarantee that such public entity will not exercise early redemption in the event of gross-up clauses.