International treaty

2024 UK-Romania Double Taxation Agreement — not in force

Updated 13 November 2024

Convention between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Romania for the elimination of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and on capital gains and the prevention of tax evasion and avoidance

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Romania,

Desiring to further develop their economic relationship and to enhance their cooperation in tax matters,

Intending to conclude a Convention for the elimination of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and on capital gains without creating opportunities for non-taxation or reduced taxation through tax evasion or avoidance, including through treaty-shopping arrangements aimed at obtaining reliefs provided in this Convention for the indirect benefit of residents of third States,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1 — Persons covered

1. 1. This Convention shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.

2. 2. For the purposes of this Convention, income or gains derived by or through an entity or arrangement that is treated as wholly or partly fiscally transparent under the tax law of either Contracting State shall be considered to be income or gains of a resident of a Contracting State but only to the extent that the income or gain is treated, for purposes of taxation by that State, as the income or gain of a resident of that State.

3. 3. This Convention shall not affect the taxation, by a Contracting State, of its residents except with respect to the benefits granted under paragraph 3 of Article 7, paragraph 2 of Article 9, paragraph 2 of Article 17 and Articles 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 and 26.

Article 2 — Taxes covered

1. 1. This Convention shall apply to taxes on income and on capital gains imposed on behalf of a Contracting State or of its administrative - territorial units, political subdivisions or local authorities, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.

2. 2. There shall be regarded as taxes on income and on capital gains all taxes imposed on total income or on elements of income, including taxes on gains from the alienation of movable or immovable property.

3. 3. The existing taxes to which the Convention shall apply are in particular:
   1. a) in the case of Romania:
      1. (i) the tax on income;
      2. (ii) the tax on profit;
      3. (hereinafter referred to as “Romanian tax”);
   2. b) in the case of the United Kingdom:
      1. (i) the income tax;
      2. (ii) the corporation tax;
      3. (iii) the capital gains tax;
      4. (hereinafter referred to as “United Kingdom tax”).
4. 4. The Convention shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes that are imposed after the date of signature of the Convention in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of any significant changes that have been made in their taxation laws.

Article 3 — General definitions

1. 1. For the purposes of this Convention, unless the context otherwise requires:

   1. a) the terms “a Contracting State” and “the other Contracting State” mean Romania or the United Kingdom, as the context requires;
   2. b) the term “Romania” means the State territory of Romania, including its territorial sea and air space above them, over which Romania exercises sovereignty, as well as the contiguous zone, the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone over which Romania exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with both its legislation and with the rules and principles of international law;
   3. c) the term “United Kingdom” means Great Britain and Northern Ireland but, when used in a geographical sense, means the territory and territorial sea of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the areas beyond that territorial sea over which Great Britain and Northern Ireland exercise sovereign rights or jurisdiction in accordance with both their domestic law and international law;
   4. d) the term “person” includes an individual, a company and any other body of persons;
   5. e) the term “company” means any body corporate or any entity that is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;
   6. f) the term “enterprise” applies to the carrying on of any business;
   7. g) the terms “enterprise of a Contracting State” and “enterprise of the other Contracting State” mean respectively an enterprise carried on by a resident of a Contracting State and an enterprise carried on by a resident of the other Contracting State;
   8. h) the term “national” means:
      1. (i) in the case of Romania, any individual possessing Romanian citizenship in accordance with the laws of Romania and any legal person, body of persons and any other entity set up and deriving its status as such from the laws in force in Romania;
      2. (ii) in the case of the United Kingdom, any British citizen, or any British subject not possessing the citizenship of any other Commonwealth country or territory, provided he has the right of abode in the United Kingdom and any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in the United Kingdom;
   9. i) the term “international traffic” means any transport by a ship or aircraft, except when the ship or aircraft is operated solely between places in a Contracting State and the enterprise that operates the ship or aircraft is not an enterprise of that State;
   10. j) the term “competent authority” means:
       1. (i) in the case of Romania, the Minister of Finance or his authorised representative;
       2. (ii) in the case of the United Kingdom, the Commissioners for His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs or their authorised representative;
   11. k) the term “business” also includes the performance of professional services and of other activities of an independent character;
   12. l) the term “recognised pension fund” of a State means an entity or arrangement established in that State that is treated as a separate person under the taxation laws of that State and:
       1. (i) that is established and operated exclusively or almost exclusively to administer or provide retirement benefits and ancillary or incidental benefits to individuals and that is regulated as such by that State or one of its political subdivisions or local authorities or administrative - territorial units; or
       2. (ii) that is established and operated exclusively or almost exclusively to invest funds for the benefit of entities or arrangements referred to in subdivision (i).
   13. where an arrangement established in a Contracting State would constitute a recognised pension fund under subdivision (i) or (ii) if it were treated as a separate person under taxation law of that State, it shall be considered, for the purposes of this Convention, as a separate person treated as such under the taxation law of that State and all the assets and income to which the arrangement applies shall be treated as assets held and income derived by that separate person and not by another person.

1. 2. As regards the application of the Convention at any time by a Contracting State, 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 State for the purposes of the taxes to which the Convention applies, any meaning under the applicable tax laws of that State prevailing over a meaning given to the term under other laws of that State.

Article 4 — Resident

1. 1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term “resident of a Contracting State” means any person who, under the laws of that State, is liable to tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management, place of registration, place of incorporation or any other criterion of a similar nature, and also includes that State and any administrative-territorial unit, political subdivision or local authority thereof. This term, however, does not include any person who is liable to tax in that State in respect only of income or capital gains from sources in that State.

2. 2. The term “resident of a Contracting State” also includes:

   1. a) a recognised pension fund established in that State; and
   2. b) an organisation that is established and is operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, cultural, or educational purposes (or for more than one of those purposes) and that is a resident of that State according to its laws, notwithstanding that all or part of its income or gains may be exempt from tax under the domestic law of that State.
3. 3. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then his status shall be determined as follows:
   1. a) he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has a permanent home available to him; if he has a permanent home available to him in both States, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests);
   2. b) if the State in which he has his centre of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he does not have a permanent home available to him in either State, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has an habitual abode;
   3. c) if he has an habitual abode in both States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State of which he is a national;
   4. d) if he is a national of both States or of neither of them, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement.
4. 4. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 a person other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to determine by mutual agreement the Contracting State of which such person shall be deemed to be a resident for the purposes of the Convention having regard to its place of effective management, the place where it is incorporated or otherwise constituted and any other relevant factors. In the absence of such agreement, such person shall not be entitled to any relief or exemption from tax provided by this Convention, except to the extent and in such manner as may be agreed upon by the competent authorities of the Contracting States.

Article 5 — Permanent establishment

1. 1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term “permanent establishment” means a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.

2. 2. The term “permanent establishment” includes especially:

   1. a) a place of management;
   2. b) a branch;
   3. c) an office;
   4. d) a factory;
   5. e) a workshop, and
   6. f) a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction of natural resources.

3. 3. A building site or construction or installation project constitutes a permanent establishment only if it lasts more than twelve months.

4. 4. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, the term “permanent establishment” shall be deemed not to include:

   1. a) the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise;
   2. b) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery;
   3. c) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise;
   4. d) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise, which is exhibited at a trade fair or exhibition, and which is sold by the enterprise at the end of such fair or exhibition;
   5. e) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise or of collecting information, for the enterprise;
   6. f) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of carrying on, for the enterprise, any other activity of a preparatory or auxiliary character;
   7. g) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of activities mentioned in subparagraphs a) to f), provided that the overall activity of the fixed place of business resulting from this combination is of a preparatory or auxiliary character.

5. 5. Paragraph 4 shall not apply to a fixed place of business that is used or maintained by an enterprise if the same enterprise or a closely related enterprise carries on business activities at the same place or at another place in the same Contracting State and

   1. a) that place or other place constitutes a permanent establishment for the enterprise or the closely related enterprise under the provisions of this Article, or
   2. b) the overall activity resulting from the combination of the activities carried on by the two enterprises at the same place, or by the same enterprise or closely related enterprises at the two places, is not of a preparatory or auxiliary character, provided that the business activities carried on by the two enterprises at the same place, or by the same enterprise or closely related enterprises at the two places, constitute complementary functions that are part of a cohesive business operation.

6. 6. For the purposes of paragraph 5, an enterprise is closely related to an enterprise if, based on all the relevant facts and circumstances, one has control of the other or both are under the control of the same persons or enterprises. In any case, an enterprise shall be considered to be closely related to an enterprise if one possesses directly or indirectly more than 50 per cent of the beneficial interest in the other (or, in the case of a company, more than 50 per cent of the aggregate vote and value of the company’s shares or of the beneficial equity interest in the company) or if a person or another enterprise possesses directly or indirectly more than 50 per cent of the beneficial interest (or, in the case of a company, more than 50 per cent of the aggregate vote and value of the company’s shares or of the beneficial equity interest in the company) in the two enterprises.

7. 7. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, where a person - other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 8 applies - is acting on behalf of an enterprise and has, and habitually exercises, in a Contracting State an authority to conclude contracts on behalf of the enterprise, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in that State in respect of any activities which that person undertakes for the enterprise, unless the activities of such person are limited to those mentioned in paragraph 4 which, if exercised through a fixed place of business, would not make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment under the provisions of that paragraph.

8. 8. An enterprise shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in a Contracting State merely because it carries on business in that State through a broker, general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status, provided that such persons are acting in the ordinary course of their business.

9. 9. The fact that a company which is a resident of a Contracting State controls or is controlled by a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State, or which carries on business in that other State (whether through a permanent establishment or otherwise), shall not of itself constitute either company a permanent establishment of the other.

Article 6 — Income from immovable property

1. 1. Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from immovable property (including income from agriculture or forestry) situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. 2. The term “immovable property” shall have the meaning which it has under the law of the Contracting State in which the property in question is situated. The term shall in any case include property accessory to immovable property, livestock and equipment used in agriculture and forestry, rights to which the provisions of general law respecting landed property apply, usufruct of immovable property and rights to variable or fixed payments as consideration for the working of, or the right to work, mineral deposits, sources and other natural resources; ships and aircraft shall not be regarded as immovable property.

3. 3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply to income derived from the direct use, letting, or use in any other form of immovable property.

4. 4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 shall also apply to the income from immovable property of an enterprise.

Article 7 — Business profits

1. 1. Profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State unless the enterprise carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein. If the enterprise carries on business as aforesaid, the profits that are attributable to the permanent establishment in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 may be taxed in that other State.

2. 2. For the purposes of this Article and Article 21, the profits that are attributable in each Contracting State to the permanent establishment referred to in paragraph 1 are the profits it might be expected to make, in particular in its dealings with other parts of the enterprise, if it were a separate and independent enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities under the same or similar conditions, taking into account the functions performed, assets used and risks assumed by the enterprise through the permanent establishment and through the other parts of the enterprise.

3. 3. Where, in accordance with paragraph 2, a Contracting State adjusts the profits that are attributable to a permanent establishment of an enterprise of one of the Contracting States and taxes accordingly profits of the enterprise that have been charged to tax in the other State, the other State shall, to the extent necessary to eliminate double taxation on these profits, make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged on those profits. In determining such adjustment, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall if necessary consult each other.

4. 4. Where profits include items of income or capital gains which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Convention, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article.

Article 8 — Shipping and air transport

1. 1. Profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in that State.

2. 2. For the purposes of this Article, profits from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic include:

   1. a) profits from the rental on a bareboat basis of ships or aircraft; and
   2. b) profits from the use, maintenance or rental of containers (including trailers and related equipment for the transport of containers) used for the transport of goods or merchandise;

where such rental or such use, maintenance or rental, as the case may be, is incidental to the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic.

1. 3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall also apply to profits from the participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating agency.

Article 9 — Associated enterprises

1. 1. Where
   1. a) an enterprise of a Contracting State participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of the other Contracting State, or
   2. b) the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of a Contracting State and an enterprise of the other Contracting State,

and in either case conditions are made or imposed between the two enterprises in their commercial or financial relations which differ from those which would be made between independent enterprises, then any profits which would, but for those conditions, have accrued to one of the enterprises, but, by reason of those conditions, have not so accrued, may be included in the profits of that enterprise and taxed accordingly.

1. 2. Where a Contracting State includes in the profits of an enterprise of that State - and taxes accordingly - profits on which an enterprise of the other Contracting State has been charged to tax in that other State and the profits so included are profits which would have accrued to the enterprise of the first-mentioned State if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those which would have been made between independent enterprises, then that other State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein on those profits. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Convention and the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall if necessary consult each other.

Article 10 — Dividends

1. 1. Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. 2. However, dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a Contracting State:

   1. a) may also be taxed in that State according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the dividends is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed:
      1. (i) 5 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends, except as provided in sub-paragraph a) (ii);
      2. (ii) 15 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends where those dividends are paid out of income (including gains) derived directly or indirectly from immovable property within the meaning of Article 6 by an investment vehicle which distributes most of this income annually and whose income from such immovable property is exempted from tax;
   2. b) shall, notwithstanding the provisions of sub-paragraph a), be exempt from tax in that State if the beneficial owner of the dividends is:
      1. (i) a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State and holds, directly or indirectly, at least 10 per cent of the capital of the company paying the dividends (other than where the dividends are paid by an investment vehicle as mentioned in subparagraph a) (ii)), for an uninterrupted period of at least one year; or
      2. (ii) a recognised pension fund which is a resident of the other Contracting State that has held the capital of the company paying the dividends (other than where the dividends are paid by an investment vehicle as mentioned in subparagraph a) (ii)) for an uninterrupted period of at least one year.

This paragraph shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid.

1. 3. The term “dividends” as used in this Article means income from shares, mining shares, founders’ shares or other rights, not being debt-claims, participating in profits, as well as any other item which is treated as income from shares by the taxation laws of the State of which the company making the distribution is a resident.

2. 4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident through a permanent establishment situated therein and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

3. 5. Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State derives profits or income from the other Contracting State, that other State may not impose any tax on the dividends paid by the company, except insofar as such dividends are paid to a resident of that other State or insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment situated in that other State, nor subject the company’s undistributed profits to a tax on the company’s undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in such other State.

Article 11 — Interest

1. 1. Interest arising in a Contracting State and beneficially owned by a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. 2. However, interest arising in a Contracting State may also be taxed in that State according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the interest is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed 3 per cent of the gross amount of the interest.

3. 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, interest arising in a Contracting State and beneficially owned by a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in that other State to the extent that such interest is paid:

   1. a) in respect of indebtedness arising as a consequence of the sale on credit of any equipment, merchandise or services;
   2. b) on any loan of whatever kind granted by a financial institution;
   3. c) to a recognised pension fund;
   4. d) to that other State, to an institution or an agency of that other State, to an administrative – territorial unit, political subdivision or a local authority thereof or to the central bank of that other State; or
   5. e) between companies, where one company holds directly at least 25 per cent of the capital of the other company for at least two years prior to the payment of the interest or where both companies are held by a third company which holds directly at least 25 per cent of the capital of both aforementioned companies for at least two years prior to the payment of the interest.

1. 4. The term “interest” as used in this Article means income from 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. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purpose of this Article. The term shall not include any item which is treated as a dividend under the provisions of Article 10.

2. 5. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the interest, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the interest arises through a permanent establishment situated therein and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

3. 6. Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the interest, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment in connection with which the indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, and such interest is borne by such permanent establishment, then such interest shall be deemed to arise in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated.

4. 7. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the interest paid exceeds, for whatever reason, the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.

Article 12 — Royalties

1. 1. Royalties arising in a Contracting State and beneficially owned by a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. 2. However, royalties arising in a Contracting State may also be taxed in that State according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the royalties is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed 3 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties.

3. 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, royalties arising in a Contracting State and beneficially owned by a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in that other State to the extent that such royalties are paid between companies, where one company holds directly at least 25 per cent of the capital of the other company for at least two years prior to the payment of the royalties or where both companies are held by a third company which holds directly at least 25 per cent of the capital of both aforementioned companies for at least two years prior to the payment of the royalties.

4. 4. The term “royalties” as used in this Article means payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work (including cinematograph films and films or tapes for radio or television broadcasting), any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for information (know-how) concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience.

5. 5. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the royalties arise through a permanent establishment situated therein and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

6. 6. Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the royalties, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment in connection with which the liability to pay the royalties was incurred, and such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment, then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated.

7. 7. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties paid exceeds, for whatever reason, the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.

Article 13 — Capital gains

1. 1. Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of immovable property referred to in Article 6 and situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. 2. Gains from the alienation of movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State, including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise), may be taxed in that other State.

3. 3. Gains that an enterprise of a Contracting State that operates ships or aircraft in international traffic derives from the alienation of such ships or aircraft, or from movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircraft, shall be taxable only in that State.

4. 4. Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of shares or comparable interests, such as interests in a partnership or trust, deriving more than 50 per cent of their value directly or indirectly from immovable property, as defined in Article 6, situated in the other State may be taxed in that other State.

5. 5. Gains from the alienation of any property other than that referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4, shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident.

Article 14 — Income from employment

1. 1. Subject to the provisions of Articles 15, 17 and 18, salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment shall be taxable only in that State unless the employment is exercised in the other Contracting State. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is derived therefrom may be taxed in that other State.

2. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised in the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if:

   1. a) the recipient is present in the other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve month period commencing or ending in the fiscal year concerned; and
   2. b) the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident of the other State; and
   3. c) the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment which the employer has in the other State.

3. 3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment, as a member of the regular complement of a ship or aircraft, that is exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic, other than aboard a ship or aircraft operated solely within the other Contracting State, shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State, provided that the remuneration is subject to tax in the first-mentioned State.

Article 15 — Directors’ fees

Directors’ fees and other similar payments derived by a resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as a member of the board of directors of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

Article 16 — Entertainers and sportspersons

1. 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7 and 14, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer, such as a theatre, motion picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as a sportsperson, from that resident’s personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.

2. 2. Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsperson acting as such accrues not to the entertainer or sportsperson but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7 and 14, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsperson are exercised.

3. 3. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to income derived from activities exercised in a Contracting State by entertainers or sportspersons if the visit to that State is wholly or mainly supported by public funds of one or both of the Contracting States or administrative – territorial units, political subdivisions or local authorities thereof. In such a case, the income is taxable only in the Contracting State in which the entertainer or the sportsperson is a resident.

Article 17 — Pensions

1. 1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 18, pensions and other similar remuneration paid to a resident of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State.

2. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article, payments made under the social security legislation of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State.

Article 18 — Government service

1. 1.
   1. a) Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration paid by a Contracting State or an administrative - territorial unit, a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or unit or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State.
   2. b) However, such salaries, wages and other similar remuneration shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the services are rendered in that State and the individual is a resident of that State who:
      1. (i) is a national of that State; or
      2. (ii) did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the services;
   3. and is subject to tax in that State on such salaries, wages and other similar remuneration.

1. 2.
   1. a) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, pensions and other similar remuneration paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or an administrative - territorial unit, a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or unit or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State.
   2. b) However, such pensions and other similar remuneration shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the individual is a resident of, and a national of, that State.

1. 3. The provisions of Articles 14, 15, 16 and 17 shall apply to salaries, wages, pensions and other similar remuneration in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or an administrative – territorial unit, a political subdivision or a local authority thereof.

Article 19 — Students and business apprentices

Payments which a student or business apprentice who is or was immediately before visiting a Contracting State a resident of the other Contracting State and who is present in the first-mentioned State solely for the purpose of his education or training receives for the purpose of his maintenance, education or training shall not be taxed in that State, provided that such payments arise from sources outside that State.

Article 20 — Other income

1. 1. Items of income beneficially owned by a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Convention shall be taxable only in that State.

2. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, where an amount of income is paid to a resident of a Contracting State out of income received by trustees, fiduciaries or personal representatives administering the estates of deceased persons and those trustees, fiduciaries or personal representatives are residents of the other Contracting State, that amount shall be treated as arising from the same sources, and in the same proportions, as the income received by the trustees, fiduciaries or personal representatives out of which that amount is paid.

Any tax paid by the trustees, fiduciaries or personal representatives in respect of the income paid to the beneficiary shall be treated as if it had been paid by the beneficiary.

1. 3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income, other than income from immovable property as defined in paragraph 2 of Article 6, if the beneficial owner of such income, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

2. 4. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the resident referred to in paragraph 1 and some other person, or between both of them and some third person, the amount of the income referred to in that paragraph exceeds the amount (if any) which would have been agreed upon between them in the absence of such a relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such a case, the excess part of the income shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other applicable provisions of this Convention.

Article 21 — Elimination of double taxation

It is agreed that double taxation shall be avoided as follows:

1. In the case of Romania:

Where a resident of Romania derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, may be taxed in the United Kingdom, Romania shall allow as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident, an amount equal to the tax on the income or capital gains paid in the United Kingdom.

Such deduction shall not, however, exceed that part of the income tax, as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable to the income which may be taxed in the United Kingdom.

2. In the case of the United Kingdom:

1. Subject to the provisions of the law of the United Kingdom regarding the allowance as a credit against United Kingdom tax of tax payable in a territory outside the United Kingdom or, as the case may be, regarding the exemption from United Kingdom tax of a dividend arising in a territory outside the United Kingdom or of the profits of a permanent establishment situated in a territory outside the United Kingdom (which shall not affect the general principle hereof):
   1. a) Romanian tax payable under the laws of Romania and in accordance with this Convention, whether directly or by deduction, on profits, income or chargeable gains from sources within Romania (excluding in the case of a dividend tax payable in respect of the profits out of which the dividend is paid) shall be allowed as a credit against any United Kingdom tax computed by reference to the same profits, income or chargeable gains by reference to which the Romanian tax is computed;
   2. b) a dividend which is paid by a company which is a resident of Romania to a company which is a resident of the United Kingdom shall be exempted from United Kingdom tax when the exemption is applicable and the conditions for exemption under the law of the United Kingdom are met;
   3. c) the profits of a permanent establishment in Romania of a company which is a resident of the United Kingdom shall be exempted from United Kingdom tax when the exemption is applicable and the conditions for exemption under the law of the United Kingdom are met;
   4. d) in the case of a dividend not exempted from tax under sub-paragraph b) above which is paid by a company which is a resident of Romania to a company which is a resident of the United Kingdom and which controls directly or indirectly at least 10 per cent of the voting power in the company paying the dividend, the credit mentioned in sub-paragraph a) above shall also take into account the Romanian tax payable by the company in respect of its profits out of which such dividend is paid.

For the purposes of this paragraph, profits, income and capital gains owned by a resident of the United Kingdom which may be taxed in Romania in accordance with this Convention shall be deemed to arise from sources in Romania.

Article 22 — Non-discrimination

1. 1. Nationals of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in the other Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith, which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of that other State in the same circumstances, in particular with respect to residence, are or may be subjected.

2. 2. The taxation on a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State shall not be less favourably levied in that other State than the taxation levied on enterprises of that other State carrying on the same activities.

3. 3. Except where the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 9, paragraph 7 of Article 11, or paragraph 6 of Article 12, or paragraph 4 of Article 20 apply, interest, royalties and other disbursements paid by an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable profits of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been paid to a resident of the first-mentioned State.

4. 4. Enterprises of a Contracting State, the capital of which is wholly or partly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by one or more residents of the other Contracting State, shall not be subjected in the first-mentioned Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which other similar enterprises of the first-mentioned State are or may be subjected.

5. 5. Nothing contained in this Article shall be construed as obliging either Contracting State to grant to individuals not resident in that State any of the personal allowances, reliefs and reductions for tax purposes which are granted to individuals who are resident in that State or to its nationals.

Article 23 — Mutual agreement procedure

1. 1. Where a person considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, he may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the domestic law of those States, present his case to the competent authority of either Contracting State. The case must be presented within three years from the first notification of the action resulting in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.

2. 2. The competent authority shall endeavour, if the objection appears to it to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at a satisfactory solution, to resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other Contracting State, with a view to the avoidance of taxation which is not in accordance with the Convention. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting States.

3. 3. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of the Convention. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in the Convention.

4. 4. The competent authorities of the Contracting States may communicate with each other directly for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs.

Article 24 — Exchange of information

1. 1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is foreseeably relevant for carrying out the provisions of this Convention or to the administration or enforcement of the domestic laws concerning taxes of every kind and description imposed on behalf of the Contracting States or of their administrative - territorial units, or political subdivisions or local authorities insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Convention. The exchange of information is not restricted by Articles 1 and 2. However, the exchange of information in relation to VAT and custom duties shall be excluded from the scope of this Article.

2. 2. Any information received under paragraph 1 by a Contracting State shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic laws of that State and shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) concerned with the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, the determination of appeals in relation to the taxes referred to in paragraph 1, or the oversight of the above. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes. They may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, information received by a Contracting State may be used for other purposes when such information may be used for such other purposes under the laws of both States and the competent authority of the supplying State authorises such use.

3. 3. In no case shall the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation:

   1. a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;
   2. b) to supply information which is not obtainable under the laws or in the normal course of the administration of that or of the other Contracting State;
   3. c) to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process, or information the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy.

4. 4. If information is requested by a Contracting State in accordance with this Article, the other Contracting State shall use its information gathering measures to obtain the requested information, even though that other State may not need such information for its own tax purposes. The obligation contained in the preceding sentence is subject to the limitations of paragraph 3 but in no case shall such limitations be construed to permit a Contracting State to decline to supply information solely because it has no domestic interest in such information.

5. 5. In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 3 be construed to permit a Contracting State to decline to supply information solely because the information is held by a bank, other financial institution, nominee or person acting in an agency or a fiduciary capacity or because it relates to ownership interests in a person.

Article 25 — Assistance in the collection of taxes

1. 1. The Contracting States shall lend assistance to each other in the collection of revenue claims. This assistance is not restricted by Articles 1 and 2. However, claims related to VAT, customs duties and excise duties shall be excluded from the scope of this Article. The competent authorities of the Contracting States may by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this Article.

2. 2. The term “revenue claim” as used in this Article means an amount owed in respect of taxes of every kind and description imposed on behalf of the Contracting States, or of their administrative - territorial units, or political subdivisions or local authorities insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to this Convention or any other instrument to which the Contracting States are parties, as well as interest, administrative penalties and costs of collection or conservancy related to such amount.

3. 3. When a revenue claim of a Contracting State is enforceable under the laws of that State and is owed by a person who, at that time, cannot, under the laws of that State, prevent its collection, that revenue claim shall, at the request of the competent authority of that State, be accepted for purposes of collection by the competent authority of the other Contracting State. That revenue claim shall be collected by that other State in accordance with the provisions of its laws applicable to the enforcement and collection of its own taxes as if the revenue claim were a revenue claim of that other State.

4. 4. When a revenue claim of a Contracting State is a claim in respect of which that State may, under its law, take measures of conservancy with a view to ensure its collection, that revenue claim shall, at the request of the competent authority of that State, be accepted for purposes of taking measures of conservancy by the competent authority of the other Contracting State. That other State shall take measures of conservancy in respect of that revenue claim in accordance with the provisions of its laws as if the revenue claim were a revenue claim of that other State even if, at the time when such measures are applied, the revenue claim is not enforceable in the first-mentioned State or is owed by a person who has a right to prevent its collection.

5. 5. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 3 and 4, a revenue claim accepted by a Contracting State for purposes of paragraph 3 or 4 shall not, in that State, be subject to the time limits or accorded any priority applicable to a revenue claim under the laws of that State by reason of its nature as such. In addition, a revenue claim accepted by a Contracting State for the purposes of paragraph 3 or 4 shall not, in that State, have any priority applicable to that revenue claim under the laws of the other Contracting State.

6. 6. Proceedings with respect to the existence, validity or the amount of a revenue claim of a Contracting State shall not be brought before the courts or administrative bodies of the other Contracting State.

7. 7. Where, at any time after a request has been made by a Contracting State under paragraph 3 or 4 and before the other Contracting State has collected and remitted the relevant revenue claim to the first-mentioned State, the relevant revenue claim ceases to be:

   1. a) in the case of a request under paragraph 3, a revenue claim of the first-mentioned State that is enforceable under the laws of that State and is owed by a person who, at that time, cannot, under the laws of that State, prevent its collection; or
   2. b) in the case of a request under paragraph 4, a revenue claim of the first-mentioned State in respect of which that State may, under its laws, take measures of conservancy with a view to ensure its collection

the competent authority of the first-mentioned State shall promptly notify the competent authority of the other State of that fact and, at the option of the other State, the first-mentioned State shall either suspend or withdraw its request.

1. 8. In no case shall the provisions of this Article be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation:

   1. a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;
   2. b) to carry out measures which would be contrary to public policy;
   3. c) to provide assistance if the other Contracting State has not pursued all reasonable measures of collection or conservancy, as the case may be, available under its laws or administrative practice;
   4. d) to provide assistance in those cases where the administrative burden for that State is clearly disproportionate to the benefit to be derived by the other Contracting State;
   5. e) to provide assistance if that State considers that the taxes with respect to which assistance is requested are imposed contrary to generally accepted taxation principles.

Article 26 — Members of diplomatic missions and consular posts

Nothing in this Convention shall affect the fiscal privileges of members of diplomatic missions or consular posts under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements.

Article 27 — Entitlement to benefits

Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Convention, a benefit under this Convention shall not be granted in respect of an item of income or a capital gain if it is reasonable to conclude, having regard to all relevant facts and circumstances, that obtaining that benefit was one of the principal purposes of any arrangement or transaction that resulted directly or indirectly in that benefit, unless it is established that granting that benefit in these circumstances would be in accordance with the object and purpose of the relevant provisions of this Convention.

Article 28 — Entry into force

1. 1. Each of the Contracting States shall notify the other, through diplomatic channels, of the completion of the procedures required for the bringing into force of this Convention. This Convention shall enter into force on the date of the later of these notifications and shall thereupon have effect:

   1. a) in Romania, on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next following the year in which the Convention enters into force;
2. and

   1. b) in the United Kingdom:

      1. (i) in respect of income tax and capital gains tax, for any year of assessment beginning on or after the sixth day of April next following the date on which this Convention enters into force;
      2. (ii) in respect of corporation tax, for any financial year beginning on or after the first day of April next following the date on which this Convention enters into force.

3. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, the provisions of Article 23 (Mutual agreement procedure), Article 24 (Exchange of information) and Article 25 (Assistance in the collection of taxes) shall have effect from the date of entry into force of this Convention, without regard to the taxable period to which the matter relates.

4. 3. The Convention between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Romania for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and capital gains, signed at Bucharest on September 18th, 1975 (1975 Convention) shall cease to have effect in respect of any tax with effect from the date upon which this Convention has effect in respect of that tax in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1. The 1975 Convention shall terminate on the first day after the last date on which it has effect in respect of any tax.

5. 4. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3, an individual who is entitled to the benefits of Article 22 (Professors, teachers and research workers) of the 1975 Convention at the time of entry into force of this Convention shall continue to be entitled to such benefits until such time as the individual would have ceased to be entitled to such benefits if the prior Convention had remained in force.

Article 29 — Termination

1. 1. This Convention shall remain in force until terminated by one of the Contracting States. Either Contracting State may terminate this Convention, through diplomatic channels, by giving notice of termination at least six months before the end of any calendar year beginning after the expiry of five years from the date of entry into force of this Convention. In such event, this Convention shall cease to have effect:

   1. a) in Romania, on or after the first day of January next following the year in which the notice of termination is given;

2. and

   1. b) in the United Kingdom:

      1. (i) in respect of income tax and capital gains tax, for any year of assessment beginning on or after the sixth day of April next following the date on which the notice is given;
      2. (ii) in respect of corporation tax, for any financial year beginning on or after the first day of April next following the date on which the notice is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, duly authorised thereto, have signed this Convention.

Done in duplicate at London, this 13th day of November 2024, in the English and Romanian languages, all texts being equally authentic.

For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Giles Portman

For  Romania: Laura Popescu

PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND ROMANIA FOR THE ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME AND ON CAPITAL GAINS AND THE PREVENTION OF TAX EVASION AND AVOIDANCE

At the time of signing the Convention between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Romania for the elimination of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and on capital gains and the prevention of tax evasion and avoidance (the Convention), the two Contracting States have agreed the following provisions which shall form an integral part of the Convention:

1. In relation to the Convention as a whole

It is understood that throughout the Convention, the words “may be taxed in” a Contracting State mean that that State is granted the right to tax the income and capital gains to which the relevant provision applies.

2. In relation to Articles 24 and 25

VAT, customs duties and excise duties are as defined by Article PVAT.3 of the Protocol on administrative cooperation and combating fraud in the field of value added tax on mutual assistance for the recovery of claims relating to taxes and duties and the exchange of information for customs duties is covered by the Protocol on mutual administrative assistance in customs matters, attached to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.

Done in duplicate at London this 13th day of November 2024 , in the English and Romanian languages, all texts being equally authentic.

For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Giles Portman

For Romania: Laura Popescu