Resolução

Resolução da Assembleia da República n.º 29/2011

Aprova o Acordo entre a República Portuguesa e o Governo das Ilhas Caimão (conforme autorizado pela Carta de Outorga do Governo do Reino Unido da Grã-Bretanha e da Irlanda do Norte) sobre Troca de Informações em Matéria Fiscal, assinado em George Town em 13 de Maio de 2010

Artigo 1.º

Âmbito de aplicação do Acordo

1 -As autoridades competentes das Partes prestarão assistência através da troca de informações a pedido, em conformidade com o disposto no presente Acordo. As informações solicitadas deverão:
1. a)Ser previsivelmente relevantes para a administração e aplicação das leis internas da Parte Requerente relativas aos impostos contemplados pelo presente Acordo;
2. b)Incluir informações previsivelmente relevantes para a determinação, liquidação e cobrança dos impostos referidos, para a cobrança e execução dos créditos fiscais, ou para a investigação ou prossecução de acções penais fiscais;
3. c)Ser consideradas confidenciais nos termos do presente Acordo.
2 -Os direitos e garantias de que beneficiam as pessoas em virtude das disposições legislativas ou das práticas administrativas da Parte Requerida mantêm-se aplicáveis na medida em que não entravem nem retardem indevidamente a troca efectiva de informações.

Artigo 2.º

Jurisdição

A Parte Requerida não é obrigada a fornecer informações de que não disponham as respectivas autoridades e que não se encontrem na posse ou sob o controlo de pessoas que relevam da sua jurisdição territorial.

Artigo 3.º

Impostos visados

1 -Os impostos exigidos pelas Partes visados pelo presente Acordo são:
1. a)Na República Portuguesa:
  1. i)O imposto sobre o rendimento das pessoas singulares - IRS;
  2. ii)O imposto sobre o rendimento das pessoas colectivas - IRC;
  3. iii)A derrama;
  4. iv)O imposto do selo sobre as transmissões gratuitas; e
2. b)Nas Ilhas Caimão, qualquer imposto exigido pelas Ilhas Caimão substancialmente idêntico aos impostos vigentes em Portugal, a que o presente Acordo se aplica.
2 -O presente Acordo será também aplicável aos impostos de natureza idêntica ou substancialmente similar que entrem em vigor posteriormente à data da assinatura do Acordo e que venham a acrescer aos actuais ou a substituí-los. As autoridades competentes das Partes comunicarão entre si as modificações substanciais introduzidas no sistema fiscal e nas medidas conexas com a recolha de informações visadas no Acordo.

Artigo 4.º

Definições

1 -Para os efeitos do presente Acordo, a não ser que exista definição diferente:
1. a)A expressão «Parte» designa Portugal ou as Ilhas Caimão consoante resulte do contexto;
2. b)A expressão «Portugal» designa o território da República Portuguesa situado no continente europeu, os arquipélagos dos Açores e da Madeira, o mar territorial e águas interiores desse território, assim como a plataforma continental e qualquer outra região em que o Estado Português exerça direitos de soberania ou jurisdição, em conformidade com as normas de direito internacional e as leis da República Portuguesa;
3. c)A expressão «Ilhas Caimão» designa o território das Ilhas Caimão e compreende o mar territorial, as áreas dentro dos limites marítimos das Ilhas Caimão e qualquer região em que os direitos das Ilhas Caimão relativos ao leito do mar e ao subsolo e aos respectivos recursos naturais podem ser exercidos, em conformidade com o direito internacional;
4. d)A expressão «autoridade competente» designa:
  1. i)Em Portugal, o Ministro das Finanças, o director-geral dos Impostos ou os seus representantes legais;
  2. ii)Nas Ilhas Caimão, a Autoridade de Informações Fiscais ou a pessoa ou autoridade por ela designada;
5. e)O termo «pessoa» compreende uma pessoa singular, uma sociedade ou qualquer outro agrupamento de pessoas;
6. f)O termo «sociedade» designa qualquer pessoa colectiva ou qualquer entidade que é tratada como pessoa colectiva para fins fiscais;
7. g)A expressão «sociedade cotada» designa qualquer sociedade cuja principal classe de acções se encontra cotada numa bolsa de valores reconhecida, desde que as acções cotadas possam ser imediatamente adquiridas ou vendidas pelo público. As acções podem ser adquiridas ou vendidas «pelo público» se a aquisição ou a venda de acções não estiver, implícita ou explicitamente, restringida a um grupo limitado de investidores;
8. h)A expressão «principal classe de acções» designa a classe ou as classes de acções representativas de uma maioria de direito de voto e do valor da sociedade;
9. i)A expressão «bolsa de valores reconhecida» designa qualquer bolsa de valores acordada entre as autoridades competentes das Partes;
10. j)A expressão «fundo ou plano de investimento colectivo» designa qualquer veículo de investimento colectivo, independentemente da sua forma jurídica. A expressão «fundo ou plano de investimento público colectivo» designa qualquer fundo ou plano de investimento colectivo, desde que as unidades, as acções ou outras participações no fundo ou plano possam ser imediatamente adquiridas, vendidas ou resgatadas pelo público. As unidades, as acções ou outras participações no fundo ou plano podem ser imediatamente adquiridas, vendidas ou resgatadas «pelo público» se a aquisição, a venda ou o resgate não estiver, implícita ou explicitamente, restringido a um grupo limitado de investidores;
11. k)O termo «imposto» designa qualquer imposto a que o presente Acordo se aplica;
12. l)A expressão «Parte Requerente» designa a Parte que solicita as informações;
13. m)A expressão «Parte Requerida» designa a Parte à qual são solicitadas informações;
14. n)A expressão «medidas de recolha de informações» designa as disposições legislativas e os procedimentos administrativos ou judiciais que permitem a uma Parte obter e fornecer as informações solicitadas;
15. o)A expressão «informação» designa qualquer facto, declaração ou documento, independentemente da sua forma;
16. p)A expressão «matéria criminal tributária» designa qualquer questão fiscal que envolva um comportamento intencional passível de acção penal em virtude da legislação penal da Parte Requerente;
17. q)A expressão «legislação penal» designa qualquer norma penal qualificada como tal no direito interno, independentemente do facto de estar contida na legislação fiscal, na legislação penal ou noutra legislação.
2 -No que se refere à aplicação do presente Acordo, num dado momento, por uma Parte, qualquer expressão aí não definida terá, a não ser que o contexto exija interpretação diferente, o significado que lhe for atribuído nesse momento pela legislação dessa Parte, prevalecendo o significado resultante dessa legislação fiscal sobre o que decorra de outra legislação dessa Parte.

Artigo 5.º

Troca de informações a pedido

1 -A autoridade competente da Parte Requerida prestará informações, mediante pedido, para os fins visados no artigo 1.º As referidas informações devem ser trocadas independentemente de o comportamento objecto de investigação constituir ou não uma infracção penal segundo o direito da Parte Requerida, se tal comportamento ocorresse na Parte Requerida.
2 -Se as informações na posse da autoridade competente da Parte Requerida não forem suficientes de modo a permitir-lhe satisfazer o pedido de informações, a referida Parte tomará todas as medidas adequadas para a recolha de informações necessárias a fim de prestar à Parte Requerente as informações solicitadas, mesmo que a Parte Requerida não necessite dessas informações para os seus próprios fins fiscais.
3 -Mediante pedido específico da autoridade competente de uma Parte Requerente, a autoridade competente da Parte Requerida prestará as informações visadas no presente artigo, na medida em que o seu direito interno o permita, sob a forma de depoimentos de testemunhas e de cópias autenticadas de documentos originais.
4 -Cada Parte providenciará no sentido de que as respectivas autoridades competentes, para os fins visados no artigo 1.º, tenham o direito de obter e de fornecer, a pedido:
1. a)As informações detidas por um banco, por outra instituição financeira, ou por qualquer pessoa que aja na qualidade de mandatário ou de fiduciário, incluindo nominees e trustees;
2. b)As informações relativas à propriedade de sociedades, sociedades de pessoas, trusts, fundações e outras pessoas, incluindo, dentro dos limites do artigo 2.º, informações relativas à titularidade dessas pessoas numa cadeia de títulos de propriedade; no caso de trusts, informações relativas a settlors, a trustees e a beneficiários; e, no caso de fundações, informações relativas a fundadores, membros do conselho da fundação e beneficiários. Todavia, o presente Acordo não impõe às Partes a obrigatoriedade de obterem ou de facultarem informações em matéria de titularidade no que respeita a sociedades cotadas ou a fundos ou planos de investimento público colectivo, salvo se as referidas informações puderem ser obtidas sem gerarem dificuldades desproporcionadas.
5 -A autoridade competente da Parte Requerente prestará as informações seguintes à autoridade competente da Parte Requerida, sempre que apresente um pedido de informações ao abrigo do Acordo, em que demonstre a previsível relevância das informações solicitadas:
1. a)A identidade da pessoa objecto de controlo ou de investigação;
2. b)A indicação das informações pretendidas, designadamente a natureza das mesmas e a forma como a Parte Requerente deseja receber as informações da Parte Requerida;
3. c)A finalidade fiscal com que as informações são solicitadas;
4. d)As razões que levam a supor que as informações solicitadas são detidas na Parte Requerida ou estão na posse ou sob o controlo de uma pessoa sujeita à jurisdição da Parte Requerida;
5. e)Na medida em que sejam conhecidos o nome e morada de qualquer pessoa em relação à qual haja a convicção de estar na posse das informações solicitadas;
6. f)Uma declaração precisando que o pedido está em conformidade com as disposições legislativas e com as práticas administrativas da Parte Requerente, que, se as informações solicitadas relevassem da competência da Parte Requerente, a autoridade competente dessa Parte poderia obter as informações ao abrigo da sua legislação ou no quadro normal da sua prática administrativa e que o pedido está em conformidade com o presente Acordo;
7. g)Uma declaração precisando que a Parte Requerente utilizou para a obtenção das informações todos os meios disponíveis no seu próprio território, salvo aqueles susceptíveis de suscitar dificuldades desproporcionadas.
6 -A autoridade competente da Parte Requerida comunicará tão diligentemente quanto possível à Parte Requerente as informações solicitadas. A fim de assegurar uma resposta expedita, a autoridade competente da Parte Requerida deverá:
1. a)Acusar, por escrito, a recepção do pedido à autoridade competente da Parte Requerente e notificar a autoridade competente da Parte Requerente de quaisquer eventuais lacunas no pedido, no prazo de 60 dias a contar da recepção do pedido;
2. b)Se a autoridade competente da Parte Requerida não tiver conseguido obter e fornecer as informações no prazo de 90 dias a contar da recepção do pedido, incluindo o caso de deparar com obstáculos para a prestação das informações ou se se recusar a prestar as informações, deverá informar imediatamente a Parte Requerente, indicando as razões dessa incapacidade, a natureza dos obstáculos encontrados ou os motivos da recusa.

Artigo 6.º

Controlos fiscais no estrangeiro

1 -Uma Parte pode autorizar representantes da autoridade competente da outra Parte a deslocarem-se ao território da primeira Parte mencionada a fim de entrevistarem indivíduos e examinarem registos, com o consentimento por escrito das pessoas interessadas. A autoridade competente da segunda Parte mencionada notificará a autoridade competente da primeira Parte mencionada sobre a data e o local da reunião com as pessoas em causa.
2 -A pedido da autoridade competente de uma Parte, a autoridade competente da outra Parte pode autorizar representantes da autoridade competente da primeira Parte a assistirem à fase adequada de uma investigação fiscal na Parte mencionada em segundo lugar.
3 -Se o pedido visado no n.º 2 for aceite, a autoridade competente da Parte que realiza o controlo dará conhecimento logo que possível à autoridade competente da outra Parte da data e do local do controlo, da autoridade ou do funcionário designado para a realização do controlo, assim como dos procedimentos e das condições exigidas pela primeira Parte para a realização do controlo. Qualquer decisão relativa à realização do controlo fiscal será tomada pela Parte que realiza o controlo.

Artigo 7.º

Possibilidade de recusar um pedido

1 -A Parte Requerida não fica obrigada a obter ou a prestar informações que a Parte Requerente não pudesse obter ao abrigo da sua própria legislação para fins da execução ou da aplicação da sua própria legislação fiscal. A autoridade competente da Parte Requerida pode recusar a assistência sempre que o pedido não seja formulado em conformidade com o presente Acordo.
2 -O disposto no presente Acordo não obriga uma Parte a prestar informações susceptíveis de revelar um segredo comercial, industrial ou profissional ou um processo comercial. Não obstante o que precede, as informações do tipo visado no artigo 5.º, n.º 4, não serão tratadas como um segredo ou processo comercial pelo simples facto de satisfazerem os critérios previstos nesse número.
3 -O disposto no presente Acordo não obriga uma Parte a obter ou a prestar informações susceptíveis de divulgar comunicações confidenciais entre um cliente e um advogado, um solicitador ou outro membro de profissões jurídicas, quando tais comunicações:
1. a)Têm como fim solicitar ou fornecer um parecer jurídico; ou
2. b)Se destinam a ser utilizadas num processo judicial em curso ou previsto.
4 -A Parte Requerida pode recusar um pedido de informação se a divulgação das informações for contrária à ordem pública.
5 -Um pedido de informações não pode ser recusado com base na impugnação do crédito fiscal objecto do pedido.
6 -A Parte Requerida pode recusar um pedido de informações desde que estas sejam solicitadas pela Parte Requerente com vista à aplicação ou à execução de uma disposição da legislação fiscal da Parte Requerente, ou de qualquer obrigação com ela conexa, que seja discriminatória em relação a um nacional da Parte Requerida face a um nacional da Parte Requerente nas mesmas circunstâncias.

Artigo 8.º

Confidencialidade

1 -Qualquer informação prestada e recebida pelas autoridades competentes das Partes será considerada confidencial.
2 -Essas informações só poderão ser divulgadas às pessoas ou autoridades (incluindo tribunais e órgãos administrativos) interessadas para efeitos dos propósitos especificados no artigo 1.º, e só podem ser usadas essas por pessoas ou autoridades para os fins referidos, incluindo a decisão de um recurso. Para tais fins, essas informações poderão ser reveladas no decurso de audiências públicas de tribunais ou de sentença judicial.
3 -Essas informações não podem ser usadas para outros fins que não sejam os fins previstos no artigo 1.º, sem o expresso consentimento por escrito da autoridade competente da Parte Requerida.
4 -As informações prestadas a uma Parte Requerente ao abrigo do presente Acordo não podem ser divulgadas a qualquer outra jurisdição.
5 -A transmissão de dados pessoais pode ser efectuada na medida necessária à execução das disposições do presente Acordo e com ressalva da legislação da Parte Requerida.
6 -As Partes asseguram a protecção dos dados pessoais a um nível equivalente ao da Directiva n.º 95/46/CE, do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho, de 24 de Outubro, e obrigam-se a respeitar os princípios contidos na Resolução n.º 45/95, de 14 de Dezembro de 1990, da Assembleia Geral das Nações Unidas.

Artigo 9.º

Custos

A incidência dos custos suportados em conexão com a assistência prestada será definida de comum acordo entre as Partes.

Artigo 10.º

Disposições legislativas

As Partes aprovarão toda a legislação necessária a fim de darem cumprimento ao presente Acordo e à execução do mesmo.

Artigo 11.º

Línguas

Os pedidos de assistência assim como as respostas a esses pedidos serão redigidos em inglês ou em qualquer outra língua acordada bilateralmente entre as autoridades competentes das Partes nos termos do artigo 12.º

Artigo 12.º

Procedimento amigável

1 -No caso de se suscitarem dificuldades ou dúvidas entre as Partes em matéria de aplicação ou de interpretação do Acordo, as respectivas autoridades competentes esforçar-se-ão por resolver a questão através de procedimento amigável.
2 -Para além do procedimento referido no n.º 1, as autoridades competentes das Partes podem definir de comum acordo os procedimentos a seguir nos termos dos artigos 5.º e 6.º
3 -As autoridades competentes das Partes podem comunicar entre si directamente a fim de chegarem a acordo nos termos do presente artigo.

Artigo 13.º

Entrada em vigor

1 -O presente Acordo entra em vigor 30 dias após a data da notificação por ambas as Partes de que foram cumpridos os respectivos requisitos relativos à entrada em vigor do presente Acordo. A data relevante será o dia da recepção da última notificação.
2 -Na data da entrada em vigor, o presente Acordo produz efeitos:
1. a)Nessa data, relativamente às acções penais fiscais; e
2. b)Relativamente a todos os outros casos previstos no artigo 1.º, nessa data, mas apenas em relação aos exercícios fiscais com início nessa data ou depois dessa data, ou, na ausência de exercício fiscal, relativamente a qualquer obrigação tributária que surja nessa data ou depois dessa data.

Artigo 14.º

Vigência e denúncia

1 -O presente Acordo permanecerá em vigor por um período de tempo ilimitado.
2 -Qualquer das Partes poderá, a qualquer momento, denunciar o presente acordo mediante notificação prévia, por escrito e por via diplomática.
3 -O presente Acordo cessa a sua vigência seis meses após a data da recepção da respectiva notificação.
4 -Não obstante a denúncia, as Partes continuarão vinculadas ao disposto no artigo 8.º do presente Acordo.
Em fé do que, os signatários, devidamente autorizados para o efeito pelas respectivas Partes, assinaram o presente Acordo.
Feito em George Town, em 13 de Maio de 2010, em dois originais, nas línguas portuguesa e inglesa, fazendo todos os textos igualmente fé.
Pela República Portuguesa:
(ver documento original)
Pelo Governo das Ilhas Caimão:
(ver documento original)
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS (AS AUTHORISED BY LETTER OF ENTRUSTMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND) CONCERNING EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON TAX MATTERS.
The Portuguese Republic and the Government of the Cayman Islands, hereinafter referred to as «Parties»:
Desiring to facilitate the exchange of information with respect to taxes;
have agreed as follows:
Article 1
Scope of the agreement
1 -The competent authorities of the Parties shall provide assistance through exchange of information upon request as set forth in this Agreement. Such information shall:
1. a)Be foreseeably relevant to the administration and enforcement of the domestic laws of the requesting Parties concerning taxes covered by this Agreement;
2. b)Include information that is foreseeably relevant to the determination, assessment and collection of such taxes, the recovery and enforcement of tax claims, or the investigation or prosecution of criminal tax matters; and
3. c)Be treated as confidential as set forth in this Agreement.
2 -The rights and safeguards secured to persons by the laws or administrative practice of the Requested Party remain applicable to the extent that they do not unduly prevent or delay effective exchange of information.
Article 2
Jurisdiction
A Requested Party is not obligated to provide information which is neither held by its authorities nor in the possession or control of persons who are within its territorial jurisdiction.
Article 3
Taxes covered
1 -This Agreement shall apply to the following taxes imposed by the Parties:
1. a)In Portugal:
  1. i)Personal income tax (imposto sobre o rendimento das pessoas singulares - IRS);
  2. ii)Corporate income tax (imposto sobre o rendimento das pessoas colectivas - IRC);
  3. iii)Local surtax on corporate income tax (derrama);
  4. iv)Stamp duty on gratuitous transfers (imposto do selo sobre as transmissões gratuitas); and
2. b)In the Cayman Islands, any tax imposed by the Cayman Islands which is substantially similar to existing taxes of Portugal to which this agreement applies.
2 -This Agreement shall also apply to any identical or any substantially similar taxes imposed after the date of signature of the Agreement in addition to or in place of the existing taxes. The competent authorities of the Parties shall notify each other of any substantial changes to the taxation and related information gathering measures covered by the Agreement.
Article 4
Definitions
1 -For the purposes of this Agreement, unless otherwise defined:
1. a)The term «Party» means Portugal or the Cayman Islands as the context requires;
2. b)The term «Portugal» means territory of the Portuguese Republic situated in the European continent, the archipelagos of Azores and Madeira, the territorial sea and inland waters thereof as well as the continental shelf and any other area wherein the Portuguese State exercises sovereign rights or jurisdiction in accordance with the rules of international law and the laws of the Portuguese Republic;
3. c)The term «the Cayman Islands» means the territory of the Cayman Islands and includes the territorial sea, areas within the maritime boundaries of the Cayman Islands and any area within which in accordance with international law the rights of the Cayman Islands with respect to the seabed and sub-soil and their natural resources may be exercised;
4. d)The term «competent authority» means:
  1. i)In Portugal, the Minister of Finance, the director general of Taxation (director-geral dos Impostos) or their authorized representative;
  2. ii)In the Cayman Islands, the Tax Information Authority or a person or authority designated by it;
5. e)The term «person» includes an individual, a company and any other body of persons;
6. f)The term «company» means any body corporate or any entity that is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;
7. g)The term «publicly traded company» means any company whose principal class of shares is listed on a recognised stock exchange provided its listed shares can be readily purchased or sold by the public. Shares can be purchased or sold «by the public» if the purchase or sale of shares is not implicitly or explicitly restricted to a limited group of investors;
8. h)The term «principal class of shares» means the class or classes of shares representing a majority of the voting power and value of the company;
9. i)The term «recognised stock exchange» means any stock exchange agreed upon by the competent authorities of the Parties;
10. j)The term «collective investment fund or scheme» means any pooled investment vehicle, irrespective of legal form. The term «public collective investment fund or scheme» means any collective investment fund or scheme provided the units, shares or other interests in the fund or scheme can be readily purchased, sold or redeemed by the public. Units, shares or other interests in the fund or scheme can be readily purchased, sold or redeemed «by the public» if the purchase, sale or redemption is not implicitly or explicitly restricted to a limited group of investors;
11. k)The term «tax» means any tax to which the Agreement applies;
12. l)The term «Applicant Party» means the Party requesting information;
13. m)The term «Requested Party» means the Party requested to provide information;
14. n)The term «information gathering measures» means laws and administrative or judicial procedures that enable a Party to obtain and provide the requested information;
15. o)The term «information» means any fact, statement or record in any form whatever;
16. p)The term «criminal tax matters» means tax matters involving intentional conduct which is liable to prosecution under the criminal laws of the applicant party;
17. q)The term «criminal laws» means all criminal laws designated as such under domestic law irrespective of whether contained in the tax laws, the criminal code or other statutes.
2 -As regards the application of this Agreement at any time by a Party, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning that it has at that time under the law of that Party, any meaning under the applicable tax laws of that Party prevailing over a meaning given to the term under other laws of that Party.
Article 5
Exchange of information upon request
1 -The competent authority of the Requested Party shall provide upon request information for the purposes referred to in article 1. Such information shall be exchanged without regard to whether the conduct being investigated would constitute a crime under the laws of the Requested Party if such conduct occurred in the Requested Party.
2 -If the information in the possession of the competent authority of the Requested Party is not sufficient to enable it to comply with the request for information, that Party shall use all relevant information gathering measures to provide the Applicant Party with the information requested, notwithstanding that the Requested Party may not need such information for its own tax purposes.
3 -If specifically requested by the competent authority of an Applicant Party, the competent authority of the Requested Party shall provide information under this article, to the extent allowable under its domestic laws, in the form of depositions of witnesses and authenticated copies of original records.
4 -Each Party shall ensure that its competent authorities for the purposes specified in article 1 of the Agreement, have the authority to obtain and provide upon request:
1. a)Information held by banks, other financial institutions, and any person acting in an agency or fiduciary capacity including nominees and trustees; and
2. b)Information regarding the ownership of companies, partnerships, trusts, foundations, and other persons, including, within the constraints of article 2, ownership information on all such persons in an ownership chain; in the case of trusts, information on settlors, trustees and beneficiaries; and in the case of foundations, information on founders, members of the foundation council and beneficiaries. Further, this Agreement does not create an obligation on the Parties to obtain or provide ownership information with respect to publicly traded companies or public collective investment funds or schemes unless such information can be obtained without giving rise to disproportionate difficulties.
5 -The competent authority of the Applicant Party shall provide the following information to the competent authority of the Requested Party when making a request for information under the Agreement to demonstrate the foreseeable relevance of the information to the request:
1. a)The identity of the person under examination or investigation;
2. b)A statement of the information sought including its nature and the form in which the Applicant Party wishes to receive the information from the Requested Party;
3. c)The tax purpose for which the information is sought;
4. d)Grounds for believing that the information requested is held in the Requested Party or is in the possession or control of a person within the jurisdiction of the Requested Party;
5. e)To the extent known, the name and address of any person believed to be in possession of the requested information;
6. f)A statement that the request is in conformity with the law and administrative practices of the Applicant Party, that if the requested information was within the jurisdiction of the Applicant Party then the competent authority of the Applicant Party would be able to obtain the information under the laws of the Applicant Party or in the normal course of administrative practice and that it is in conformity with this Agreement;
7. g)A statement that the Applicant Party has pursued all means available in its own territory to obtain the information, except those that would give rise to disproportionate difficulties.
6 -The competent authority of the Requested Party shall forward the requested information as promptly as possible to the Applicant Party. To ensure a prompt response, the competent authority of the Requested Party shall:
1. a)Confirm receipt of a request in writing to the competent authority of the Applicant Party and shall notify the competent authority of the Applicant Party of deficiencies in the request, if any, within 60 days of the receipt of the request;
2. b)If the competent authority of the Requested Party has been unable to obtain and provide the information within 90 days of receipt of the request, including if it encounters obstacles in furnishing the information or it refuses to furnish the information, it shall immediately inform the Applicant Party, explaining the reason for its inability, the nature of the obstacles or the reasons for its refusal.
  Article 6
  Tax examinations abroad
1 -A Party may allow representatives of the competent authority of the other Party to enter the territory of the first-mentioned Party to interview individuals and examine records with the written consent of the persons concerned. The competent authority of the second-mentioned Party shall notify the competent authority of the firstmentioned Party of the time and place of the meeting with the individuals concerned.
2 -At the request of the competent authority of one Party, the competent authority of the other Party may allow representatives of the competent authority of the first-mentioned Party to be present at the appropriate part of a tax examination in the second-mentioned Party.
3 -If the request referred to in paragraph 2 is acceded to, the competent authority of the Party conducting the examination shall, as soon as possible, notify the competent authority of the other Party about the time and place of the examination, the authority or official designated to carry out the examination and the procedures and conditions required by the firstmentioned Party for the conduct of the examination. All decisions with respect to the conduct of the tax examination shall be made by the Party conducting the examination.
Article 7
Possibility of declining a request
1 -The Requested Party shall not be required to obtain or provide information that the Applicant Party would not be able to obtain under its own laws for purposes of the administration or enforcement of its own tax laws. The competent authority of the Requested Party may decline to assist where the request is not made in conformity with this Agreement.
2 -The provisions of this Agreement shall not impose on a Party the obligation to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process. Notwithstanding the foregoing, information of the type referred to in article 5, paragraph 4, shall not be treated as such a secret or trade process merely because it meets the criteria in that paragraph.
3 -The provisions of this Agreement shall not impose on a Party the obligation to obtain or provide information, which would reveal confidential communications between a client and an attorney, solicitor or other admitted legal representative where such communications are:
1. a)Produced for the purposes of seeking or providing legal advice; or
2. b)Produced for the purposes of use in existing or contemplated legal proceedings.
4 -The Requested Party may decline a request for information if the disclosure of the information would be contrary to public policy.
5 -A request for information shall not be refused on the ground that the tax claim giving rise to the request is disputed.
6 -The Requested Party may decline a request for information if the information is requested by the Applicant Party to administer or enforce a provision of the tax law of the Applicant Party, or any requirement connected therewith, which discriminates against a national of the Requested Party as compared with a national of the Applicant Party in the same circumstances.
Article 8
Confidentiality
1 -All information provided and received by the competent authorities of the Parties shall be kept confidential.
2 -Such information shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) concerned with the purposes specified in article 1, and used by such persons or authorities only for such purposes, including the determination of any appeal. For these purposes, information may be disclosed in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions.
3 -Such information may not be used for any purpose other than for the purposes stated in article 1 without the expressed written consent of the competent authority of the Requested Party.
4 -Information provided to a requesting Party under this Agreement may not be disclosed to any other jurisdiction.
5 -Personal data may be transmitted to the extent necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and subject to the law of the Requested Party.
6 -The Parties shall ensure the protection of personal data at a level that is equivalent to that of Directive no. 95/46/EC, of The European Parliament and of the Council, of 24 October, and shall comply with the guidelines established by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution no. 45/95, adopted on the 14th December 1990.
Article 9
Costs
Incidence of costs incurred in providing assistance shall be agreed by the Parties.
Article 10
Implementation legislation
The Parties shall enact any legislation necessary to comply with, and give effect to, the terms of this Agreement.
Article 11
Language
Requests for assistance and answers thereto shall be drawn up in English or any other language agreed bilaterally between the competent authorities of the Parties under article 12.
Article 12
Mutual agreement procedure
1 -Where difficulties or doubts arise between the Parties regarding the implementation or interpretation of this Agreement, the respective competent authorities shall endeavour to resolve the matter by mutual agreement.
2 -In addition to the agreements referred to in paragraph 1, the competent authorities of the Parties may mutually agree on the procedures to be used under articles 5 and 6.
3 -The competent authorities of the Parties may communicate with each other directly for purposes of reaching agreement under this article.
Article 13
Entry into force
1 -This Agreement shall enter into force thirty days from the date on which the Parties have notified each other that their respective requirements for the entry into force of this Agreement have been fulfilled. The relevant date shall be the day on which the last notification is received.
2 -Upon the date of entry into force, this Agreement shall have effect:
1. a)For criminal tax matters on that date; and
2. b)For all other matters covered in article 1 on that date, but only in respect of taxable periods beginning on or after that date or, where there is no taxable period, all charges to tax arising on or after that date.
  Article 14
  Duration and termination
1 -The present Agreement shall remain in force for an unlimited period of time.
2 -Either Party may, at any time, terminate the present Agreement upon a prior notification in writing through diplomatic channels.
3 -The present Agreement shall terminate six months after the receipt of such notification.
4 -Notwithstanding the termination, the Parties shall remain bound to the provisions of article 8 of the present Agreement.
In witness whereof the undersigned being duly authorised in that behalf by the respective Parties, have signed the Agreement.
Done at George Town on the 13th May 2010, in duplicate in the portuguese and english languages, both texts being equally authentic.
For the Portuguese Republic:
(ver documento original)
For the Government of the Cayman Islands:
(ver documento original)

Artigo 14.º

Vigência e denúncia

1 -O presente Acordo permanecerá em vigor por um período de tempo ilimitado.
2 -Qualquer das Partes poderá, a qualquer momento, denunciar o presente acordo mediante notificação prévia, por escrito e por via diplomática.
3 -O presente Acordo cessa a sua vigência seis meses após a data da recepção da respectiva notificação.
4 -Não obstante a denúncia, as Partes continuarão vinculadas ao disposto no artigo 8.º do presente Acordo.
Em fé do que, os signatários, devidamente autorizados para o efeito pelas respectivas Partes, assinaram o presente Acordo.
Feito em George Town, em 13 de Maio de 2010, em dois originais, nas línguas portuguesa e inglesa, fazendo todos os textos igualmente fé.
Pela República Portuguesa:
(ver documento original)
Pelo Governo das Ilhas Caimão:
(ver documento original)
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS (AS AUTHORISED BY LETTER OF ENTRUSTMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND) CONCERNING EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON TAX MATTERS.
The Portuguese Republic and the Government of the Cayman Islands, hereinafter referred to as «Parties»:
Desiring to facilitate the exchange of information with respect to taxes;
have agreed as follows:
Article 1
Scope of the agreement
1 -The competent authorities of the Parties shall provide assistance through exchange of information upon request as set forth in this Agreement. Such information shall:
1. a)Be foreseeably relevant to the administration and enforcement of the domestic laws of the requesting Parties concerning taxes covered by this Agreement;
2. b)Include information that is foreseeably relevant to the determination, assessment and collection of such taxes, the recovery and enforcement of tax claims, or the investigation or prosecution of criminal tax matters; and
3. c)Be treated as confidential as set forth in this Agreement.
2 -The rights and safeguards secured to persons by the laws or administrative practice of the Requested Party remain applicable to the extent that they do not unduly prevent or delay effective exchange of information.
Article 2
Jurisdiction
A Requested Party is not obligated to provide information which is neither held by its authorities nor in the possession or control of persons who are within its territorial jurisdiction.
Article 3
Taxes covered
1 -This Agreement shall apply to the following taxes imposed by the Parties:
1. a)In Portugal:
  1. i)Personal income tax (imposto sobre o rendimento das pessoas singulares - IRS);
  2. ii)Corporate income tax (imposto sobre o rendimento das pessoas colectivas - IRC);
  3. iii)Local surtax on corporate income tax (derrama);
  4. iv)Stamp duty on gratuitous transfers (imposto do selo sobre as transmissões gratuitas); and
2. b)In the Cayman Islands, any tax imposed by the Cayman Islands which is substantially similar to existing taxes of Portugal to which this agreement applies.
2 -This Agreement shall also apply to any identical or any substantially similar taxes imposed after the date of signature of the Agreement in addition to or in place of the existing taxes. The competent authorities of the Parties shall notify each other of any substantial changes to the taxation and related information gathering measures covered by the Agreement.
Article 4
Definitions
1 -For the purposes of this Agreement, unless otherwise defined:
1. a)The term «Party» means Portugal or the Cayman Islands as the context requires;
2. b)The term «Portugal» means territory of the Portuguese Republic situated in the European continent, the archipelagos of Azores and Madeira, the territorial sea and inland waters thereof as well as the continental shelf and any other area wherein the Portuguese State exercises sovereign rights or jurisdiction in accordance with the rules of international law and the laws of the Portuguese Republic;
3. c)The term «the Cayman Islands» means the territory of the Cayman Islands and includes the territorial sea, areas within the maritime boundaries of the Cayman Islands and any area within which in accordance with international law the rights of the Cayman Islands with respect to the seabed and sub-soil and their natural resources may be exercised;
4. d)The term «competent authority» means:
  1. i)In Portugal, the Minister of Finance, the director general of Taxation (director-geral dos Impostos) or their authorized representative;
  2. ii)In the Cayman Islands, the Tax Information Authority or a person or authority designated by it;
5. e)The term «person» includes an individual, a company and any other body of persons;
6. f)The term «company» means any body corporate or any entity that is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;
7. g)The term «publicly traded company» means any company whose principal class of shares is listed on a recognised stock exchange provided its listed shares can be readily purchased or sold by the public. Shares can be purchased or sold «by the public» if the purchase or sale of shares is not implicitly or explicitly restricted to a limited group of investors;
8. h)The term «principal class of shares» means the class or classes of shares representing a majority of the voting power and value of the company;
9. i)The term «recognised stock exchange» means any stock exchange agreed upon by the competent authorities of the Parties;
10. j)The term «collective investment fund or scheme» means any pooled investment vehicle, irrespective of legal form. The term «public collective investment fund or scheme» means any collective investment fund or scheme provided the units, shares or other interests in the fund or scheme can be readily purchased, sold or redeemed by the public. Units, shares or other interests in the fund or scheme can be readily purchased, sold or redeemed «by the public» if the purchase, sale or redemption is not implicitly or explicitly restricted to a limited group of investors;
11. k)The term «tax» means any tax to which the Agreement applies;
12. l)The term «Applicant Party» means the Party requesting information;
13. m)The term «Requested Party» means the Party requested to provide information;
14. n)The term «information gathering measures» means laws and administrative or judicial procedures that enable a Party to obtain and provide the requested information;
15. o)The term «information» means any fact, statement or record in any form whatever;
16. p)The term «criminal tax matters» means tax matters involving intentional conduct which is liable to prosecution under the criminal laws of the applicant party;
17. q)The term «criminal laws» means all criminal laws designated as such under domestic law irrespective of whether contained in the tax laws, the criminal code or other statutes.
2 -As regards the application of this Agreement at any time by a Party, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning that it has at that time under the law of that Party, any meaning under the applicable tax laws of that Party prevailing over a meaning given to the term under other laws of that Party.
Article 5
Exchange of information upon request
1 -The competent authority of the Requested Party shall provide upon request information for the purposes referred to in article 1. Such information shall be exchanged without regard to whether the conduct being investigated would constitute a crime under the laws of the Requested Party if such conduct occurred in the Requested Party.
2 -If the information in the possession of the competent authority of the Requested Party is not sufficient to enable it to comply with the request for information, that Party shall use all relevant information gathering measures to provide the Applicant Party with the information requested, notwithstanding that the Requested Party may not need such information for its own tax purposes.
3 -If specifically requested by the competent authority of an Applicant Party, the competent authority of the Requested Party shall provide information under this article, to the extent allowable under its domestic laws, in the form of depositions of witnesses and authenticated copies of original records.
4 -Each Party shall ensure that its competent authorities for the purposes specified in article 1 of the Agreement, have the authority to obtain and provide upon request:
1. a)Information held by banks, other financial institutions, and any person acting in an agency or fiduciary capacity including nominees and trustees; and
2. b)Information regarding the ownership of companies, partnerships, trusts, foundations, and other persons, including, within the constraints of article 2, ownership information on all such persons in an ownership chain; in the case of trusts, information on settlors, trustees and beneficiaries; and in the case of foundations, information on founders, members of the foundation council and beneficiaries. Further, this Agreement does not create an obligation on the Parties to obtain or provide ownership information with respect to publicly traded companies or public collective investment funds or schemes unless such information can be obtained without giving rise to disproportionate difficulties.
5 -The competent authority of the Applicant Party shall provide the following information to the competent authority of the Requested Party when making a request for information under the Agreement to demonstrate the foreseeable relevance of the information to the request:
1. a)The identity of the person under examination or investigation;
2. b)A statement of the information sought including its nature and the form in which the Applicant Party wishes to receive the information from the Requested Party;
3. c)The tax purpose for which the information is sought;
4. d)Grounds for believing that the information requested is held in the Requested Party or is in the possession or control of a person within the jurisdiction of the Requested Party;
5. e)To the extent known, the name and address of any person believed to be in possession of the requested information;
6. f)A statement that the request is in conformity with the law and administrative practices of the Applicant Party, that if the requested information was within the jurisdiction of the Applicant Party then the competent authority of the Applicant Party would be able to obtain the information under the laws of the Applicant Party or in the normal course of administrative practice and that it is in conformity with this Agreement;
7. g)A statement that the Applicant Party has pursued all means available in its own territory to obtain the information, except those that would give rise to disproportionate difficulties.
6 -The competent authority of the Requested Party shall forward the requested information as promptly as possible to the Applicant Party. To ensure a prompt response, the competent authority of the Requested Party shall:
1. a)Confirm receipt of a request in writing to the competent authority of the Applicant Party and shall notify the competent authority of the Applicant Party of deficiencies in the request, if any, within 60 days of the receipt of the request;
2. b)If the competent authority of the Requested Party has been unable to obtain and provide the information within 90 days of receipt of the request, including if it encounters obstacles in furnishing the information or it refuses to furnish the information, it shall immediately inform the Applicant Party, explaining the reason for its inability, the nature of the obstacles or the reasons for its refusal.
  Article 6
  Tax examinations abroad
1 -A Party may allow representatives of the competent authority of the other Party to enter the territory of the first-mentioned Party to interview individuals and examine records with the written consent of the persons concerned. The competent authority of the second-mentioned Party shall notify the competent authority of the firstmentioned Party of the time and place of the meeting with the individuals concerned.
2 -At the request of the competent authority of one Party, the competent authority of the other Party may allow representatives of the competent authority of the first-mentioned Party to be present at the appropriate part of a tax examination in the second-mentioned Party.
3 -If the request referred to in paragraph 2 is acceded to, the competent authority of the Party conducting the examination shall, as soon as possible, notify the competent authority of the other Party about the time and place of the examination, the authority or official designated to carry out the examination and the procedures and conditions required by the firstmentioned Party for the conduct of the examination. All decisions with respect to the conduct of the tax examination shall be made by the Party conducting the examination.
Article 7
Possibility of declining a request
1 -The Requested Party shall not be required to obtain or provide information that the Applicant Party would not be able to obtain under its own laws for purposes of the administration or enforcement of its own tax laws. The competent authority of the Requested Party may decline to assist where the request is not made in conformity with this Agreement.
2 -The provisions of this Agreement shall not impose on a Party the obligation to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process. Notwithstanding the foregoing, information of the type referred to in article 5, paragraph 4, shall not be treated as such a secret or trade process merely because it meets the criteria in that paragraph.
3 -The provisions of this Agreement shall not impose on a Party the obligation to obtain or provide information, which would reveal confidential communications between a client and an attorney, solicitor or other admitted legal representative where such communications are:
1. a)Produced for the purposes of seeking or providing legal advice; or
2. b)Produced for the purposes of use in existing or contemplated legal proceedings.
4 -The Requested Party may decline a request for information if the disclosure of the information would be contrary to public policy.
5 -A request for information shall not be refused on the ground that the tax claim giving rise to the request is disputed.
6 -The Requested Party may decline a request for information if the information is requested by the Applicant Party to administer or enforce a provision of the tax law of the Applicant Party, or any requirement connected therewith, which discriminates against a national of the Requested Party as compared with a national of the Applicant Party in the same circumstances.
Article 8
Confidentiality
1 -All information provided and received by the competent authorities of the Parties shall be kept confidential.
2 -Such information shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) concerned with the purposes specified in article 1, and used by such persons or authorities only for such purposes, including the determination of any appeal. For these purposes, information may be disclosed in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions.
3 -Such information may not be used for any purpose other than for the purposes stated in article 1 without the expressed written consent of the competent authority of the Requested Party.
4 -Information provided to a requesting Party under this Agreement may not be disclosed to any other jurisdiction.
5 -Personal data may be transmitted to the extent necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and subject to the law of the Requested Party.
6 -The Parties shall ensure the protection of personal data at a level that is equivalent to that of Directive no. 95/46/EC, of The European Parliament and of the Council, of 24 October, and shall comply with the guidelines established by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution no. 45/95, adopted on the 14th December 1990.
Article 9
Costs
Incidence of costs incurred in providing assistance shall be agreed by the Parties.
Article 10
Implementation legislation
The Parties shall enact any legislation necessary to comply with, and give effect to, the terms of this Agreement.
Article 11
Language
Requests for assistance and answers thereto shall be drawn up in English or any other language agreed bilaterally between the competent authorities of the Parties under article 12.
Article 12
Mutual agreement procedure
1 -Where difficulties or doubts arise between the Parties regarding the implementation or interpretation of this Agreement, the respective competent authorities shall endeavour to resolve the matter by mutual agreement.
2 -In addition to the agreements referred to in paragraph 1, the competent authorities of the Parties may mutually agree on the procedures to be used under articles 5 and 6.
3 -The competent authorities of the Parties may communicate with each other directly for purposes of reaching agreement under this article.
Article 13
Entry into force
1 -This Agreement shall enter into force thirty days from the date on which the Parties have notified each other that their respective requirements for the entry into force of this Agreement have been fulfilled. The relevant date shall be the day on which the last notification is received.
2 -Upon the date of entry into force, this Agreement shall have effect:
1. a)For criminal tax matters on that date; and
2. b)For all other matters covered in article 1 on that date, but only in respect of taxable periods beginning on or after that date or, where there is no taxable period, all charges to tax arising on or after that date.
  Article 14
  Duration and termination
1 -The present Agreement shall remain in force for an unlimited period of time.
2 -Either Party may, at any time, terminate the present Agreement upon a prior notification in writing through diplomatic channels.
3 -The present Agreement shall terminate six months after the receipt of such notification.
4 -Notwithstanding the termination, the Parties shall remain bound to the provisions of article 8 of the present Agreement.
In witness whereof the undersigned being duly authorised in that behalf by the respective Parties, have signed the Agreement.
Done at George Town on the 13th May 2010, in duplicate in the portuguese and english languages, both texts being equally authentic.
For the Portuguese Republic:
(ver documento original)
For the Government of the Cayman Islands:
(ver documento original)