Dtaa india and france

TDS 557 views 9 replies

Dear All

We are a Pharmaceutical Exporting company and our client is asking to ship the consignment through one French logistic company. The consignment has to go by Sea and we have to make the payment to France. Now that French company has no establishment in India and cannot provide PAN number or claim TDS but our CA is asking to deduct 30% TDS on the payment to be made. I have checked online and its says that as per DTAA which is as follows:

Article 9

SHIPPING

  1. Profits derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the operation of ships in international traffic shall be taxable only in that Contracting State.
  2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, such profits may be taxed in the other Contracting State from which they are derived provided that the tax so charged shall not exceed:
    1. during the first five fiscal years after the entry into force of this Convention, 50 per cent., and
    2. during the subsequent five fiscal years, 25 per cent.,of the tax otherwise imposed by the internal law of that Contracting State. Subsequently, only the provisions of paragraph 1 shall be applicable.
  3. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall also apply to profits from the participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating agency engaged in the operation of ships.
  4. For the purposes of this article interest arising on funds connected with the operation of ships in international traffic shall be regarded as profits derived from the operation of such ships, and the provisions of Article 12 shall not apply in relation to such interest.

There is no need to deduct TDS. They have obtained RESIDENCY CERTIFICATE and can also provide letter stating they don't have PE. Can anyone help me as how can I convince CA or inform if he is right to deduct 30% tax?

Replies (9)
The french company is giving logistic services or only shipping of your goods? Please see the details given in form 15cb by that ca your doubt would be cleared i suppose.

Thanks for your reply.

 

Well the company will take the consignment from India to Mali (African country). We have to prepay the services which will include the freight part only.

We have not processed for payment as party will not accept 30% less payment as they cannot claim it.

30% TDS what the logic here. Ask him, foreign companies are taxed at 40% in india not 30%. Please provide more information on the services received from french company.

It is a Logistic company with the name CENTRIMEX. We are paying just for taking our consignment from India to Africa. They do not have any establishment or agent in India.

Has the CA given form 15 cb? It is clearly not taxable as per dtaa. Only france can tax such income. Any how can you please mention the descripttion why 30% is geting deducted? In the cA 's certificate? If the nature of payment is indeed taxable @ 30% then u have to bear tax. Please reply to queries.

Thanks for reply Mr. Kulkarni.

 

CA is saying that this is a foreign payment made to a company which has no permanent establishment so as per rule of income tax he has to deduct 30% TDS. Yesterday we have shown him DTAA rules and now he is saying that he has to deduct 10% or 15% TDS. Can you help me by making me understand the above Article 9 SHIPPING from DTAA which in 1st point says that the tax has to be deducted in France but then in 2nd the statement contradicts? I don't know why they can't make rules which can be easily understood.
 We have not obtained 15CB as after CA said that the TDS to be deducted then we dropped the idea of making payment this time. But now we have another order and this shipping line is costing much less than what we pay through India agents.

See first point says that shipping profits are to be taxed only in contracting state of shipping company and point to says for the first 10 years the dtaa has come to effect where this article is mentioned then the other country can also tax subject to limits specified there in. And after the 10 years point 2 is null and void and point 1 should be considered. The points are so made to maintain international relations as well as to collect as much revenue as possible. So on careful reading it can be concluded that shipping profits are not taxable in india after first 10 years of introduction of the said article in dtaa.
I think the above ca has grossly mis guided you regarding said payments. Kindly take help of an expert ca. Where are you situated? If you require i can give mail id of most experienced ca in bangalore. If so then you need to furnish your details first send it to me and i will eventually make you comtact the said ca. If not pls go and ask for second opinion in your area itself.

Dear Mr. Kulkarni

Thanks for your above reply and support. I am in Chandigarh (North India) so CA in Bengalore won't be feasible. I will try to get some expert in my area.

Anyways many thanks for your expert advice.


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