Source: http://www.swisstaxnetwork.ch/gesetze/swiss-dta/article-16
Timestamp: 2019-09-21 13:04:52
Document Index: 776919030

Matched Legal Cases: ['Art. 16', 'Art. 16', 'Art. 16', 'Art. 16', 'Art. 16', 'Art. 18', 'Art. 16', 'Art. 16', 'Art. 16', 'Art. 16', 'Art. 16', 'Art. 16', 'Art. 16', 'Art. 16', 'Art. 16', 'Art. 16']

Article 16 (Directors fees)
1 Art. 16 OECD Model Tax Convention
2 Switzerland's non-exhaustive list of double taxation treaties based on Article 16 of the OECD Model
8 Article 16 and Commentary of the UN Model Double Taxation Convention between Developed and Developing Countries
9 Commentary on Article 16 of the OECD Model Tax Convention
Art. 16 OECD Model Tax Convention
Switzerland's non-exhaustive list of double taxation treaties based on Article 16 of the OECD Model
Country Corresponding to Art. 16 Deviations (this section is under construction)
Austria Art. 16 (German/French)
China Art. 16 (German/French/English)
France Art. 18 (German/French)
Germany Art. 16 (German/French)
Great Britain Art. 16 (German/French/English)
Hong-Kong Art. 16 (German/French/English)
India Art. 16 (German/French/English)
Italy Art. 16 (German/French/English)
Luxemburg Art. 16 (German/French/English)
Malta Art. 16 (German/French/English)
Netherlands Art. 16 (German/French/English)
Spain Art. 16 (German/French)
USA Art. 16 (German/French/English)
Article 16 and Commentary of the UN Model Double Taxation Convention between Developed and Developing Countries
Article 16 (Directors fee and remuneration of top-level managerial officials)
"A. Commentary on the paragraphs of article 16
1. Article 16, paragraph 1, of the United Nations Model Convention reproduces Article 16 of the OECD Model Convention.
2. Since Article 16, paragraph 1, of the United Nations Model Convention reproduces the whole of Article 16 of the OECD Model Convention, the Commentary on the latter Article, which reads as follows, is relevant:
1. This Article relates to remuneration received by a resident of a Contracting State, whether an individual or a legal person, in the capacity of a member of a board of directors of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State. Since it might sometimes be difficult to ascertain where the services are performed, the provision treats the services as performed in the State of residence of the company.
1.1 Member countries have generally understood the term “fees and other similar payments” to include benefits in kind received by a person in that person’s capacity as a member of the board of directors of a company (e.g. stock-options the use of a residence or automobile, health or life insurance coverage and club memberships).
2. A member of the board of directors of a company often also has other functions with the company, e.g. as ordinary employee, adviser, consultant, etc. It is clear that the Article does not apply to remuneration paid to such a person on account of such other functions. [This position does not apply under the United Nations Model Convention to the extent that paragraph 2 of Article 16 applies.]
3. In some countries organs of companies exist which are similar in function to the board of directors. Contracting States are free to include in bilateral conventions such organs of companies under a provision corresponding to Article 16.
3.1 Many of the issues discussed under paragraphs 12 to 12.15 of the Commentary on Article 15 in relation to stock-options granted to employees will also arise in the case of stock-options granted to members of the board of directors of companies. To the extent that stock-options are granted to a resident of a Contracting State in that person’s capacity as a member of the board of directors of a company which is a resident of the other State, that other State will have the right to tax the part of the stock-option benefit that constitutes director’s fees or a similar payment (see paragraph 1.1 above) even if the tax is levied at a later time when the person is no longer a member of that board. While the Article applies to the benefit derived from a stock-option granted to a member of the board of directors regardless of when that benefit is taxed, there is a need to distinguish that benefit from the capital gain that may be derived from the alienation of shares acquired upon the exercise of the option. This Article, and not Article 13, will apply to any benefit derived from the option itself until it has been exercised, sold or otherwise alienated (e.g. upon cancellation or acquisition by the company or issuer). Once the option is exercised or alienated, however, the benefit taxable under this Article has been realised and any subsequent gain on the acquired shares (i.e. the value of the shares that accrues after exercise) will be derived by the member of the board of directors in his capacity of investor-shareholder and will be covered by Article 13. Indeed, it is at the time of exercise that the option, which is what the director obtained in his capacity as such, disappears and the recipient obtains the status of shareholder (and usually invests money in order to do so).
3. Article 16 of the United Nations Model Convention also includes a second paragraph not in the OECD Model Convention, dealing with remuneration received by top-level managerial officials.
4. The former Group of Experts decided that where a top-level managerial position of a company resident in a Contracting State is occupied by a resident of the other Contracting State, the remuneration paid to that official should be subject to the same principle as directors’ fees.
5. The term “top-level managerial position” refers to a limited group of positions that involve primary responsibility for the general direction of the affairs of the company, apart from the activities of the directors. The term covers a person acting as both a director and a top-level manager."
Commentary on Article 16 of the OECD Model Tax Convention
"1. This Article relates to remuneration received by a resident of a Contracting State, whether an individual or a legal person, in the capacity of a member of a board of directors of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State. Since it might sometimes be difficult to ascertain where the services are performed, the provision treats the services as performed in the State of residence of the company.
1.1 Member countries have generally understood the term “fees and other similar payments” to include benefits in kind received by a person in that person’s capacity as a member of the board of directors of a company (e.g. stock-options, the use of a residence or automobile, health or life insurance coverage and club memberships).
2. A member of the board of directors of a company often also has other functions with the company, e.g. as ordinary employee, adviser, consultant, etc. It is clear that the Article does not apply to remuneration paid to such a person on account of such other functions.
4. Estonia reserves the right to tax under this Article any remuneration of a member of a board of directors or any other similar organ of a resident company.
5. The United States will require that any tax imposed on such fees be limited to the income earned from services performed in the country of source.
6. Belgium reserves the right to state that remuneration that a person dealt with in Article 16 receives in respect of daily activities as well as remuneration that a partner of a company, other than a company with share capital, receives in respect of his personal activities for the company shall be taxable in accordance with the provisions of Article 15.
7. Greece reserves the right to apply Article 16 to remuneration of a partner who acts in the capacity of a manager of a Greek limited liability company or of a Greek partnership."