Ukraine, Austria sign amendments to double taxation convention

Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko has signed a protocol amending the Convention between the governments of Ukraine and the Republic of Austria on avoiding double taxation and preventing tax evasion; the amendments concern taxes on income and property.

In particular, the protocol amends the convention to bring its provisions into line with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Model Tax Convention on Income and on Capital.

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"The protocol provides, in particular, an increase in the taxation rate of dividends from 10% to 15% and interest from 2% to 5%. The tax rate of royalties paid for the use of any copyright on a scientific work, patent, etc. has also grown from 0% to 5%, as well as for the use of copyright on literary works or works of art from 5% to 10%," according to the finance ministry's press service.

In addition to increasing the rates, new provisions are proposed: "The right to receive benefits," which limits the possibility of applying concessionary provisions of the convention if the main goal is to receive such benefits, and "Exchange of information," which enhances the ability of tax authorities of the contracting states to exchange tax information.

The Ukrainian Finance Ministry and the State Tax Service of Ukraine are subjects of the implementation of the protocol.

As UNIAN reported earlier, in 2016, Ukraine and Austria agreed to increase the tax rate on dividends, interest, and profit on mutual operations as part of the revision of the bilateral convention on avoiding double taxation and preventing tax evasion.