Article 1—Personal scope

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

Article 2—Taxes covered

• 1. This Convention shall apply to taxes on income imposed on behalf of a Contracting State, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.

• 2. There shall be regarded as taxes on income all taxes imposed on total income or on elements of income, including taxes on income or gains from the alienation of personal or real property.

• 3. The existing taxes to which the Convention shall apply are in particular:

  • (a) in the case of New Zealand:

  • the income tax and the excess retention tax, (hereinafter referred to as “New Zealand tax”);

  • (b) in the case of Belgium:

    • (i) the individual income tax (l'impôt des personnes physiques—de personenbelasting);

    • (ii) the corporate income tax (l'impôt des sociétés—de vennootschapsbelasting);

    • (iii) the income tax on legal entities (l'impôt des personnes morales—de rechtspersonenbelasting);

    • (iv) the income tax on non-residents (l'impôt des non-résidents—de belasting der niet-verblijfhouders);

    • (v) the exceptional and temporary solidarity contribution (la participation exceptionnelle et temporaire de solidarité—de uitzonderlijke en tijdelijke solidariteitsbijdrage);

    including the prepayments, the surcharges on these taxes and prepayments, and the supplements to the individual income tax; hereinafter referred to as “Belgian tax”).

• 4. The Convention shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes which 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 which have been made in their respective taxation laws.

• 5. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, the Convention shall not apply:

  • (a) in the case of New Zealand:

    • (i) to the bonus issue tax;

    • (ii) to the property speculation tax;

  • (b) in the case of Belgium, to the corporate income tax to the extent that such tax is payable, in accordance with Belgian law, by a company which is a resident of Belgium in the event of the repurchase by that company of its own shares or in the event of the distribution of its assets.

Article 3—General definitions

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

• 2. In determining for the purposes of Articles 10, 11 or 12, whether dividends, interest or royalties are beneficially owned by a resident of New Zealand, dividends, interest or royalties in respect of which a trustee is subject to tax in New Zealand shall be treated as being beneficially owned by that trustee.

• 3. In the Convention, the terms “New Zealand tax” and “Belgian tax” do not include any charge imposed as a penalty under the law of either Contracting State relating to the taxes to which the Convention applies by virtue of Article 2.

• 4. As regards the application of the Convention by a Contracting State, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning which it has under the laws of that State concerning the taxes to which the Convention applies.

Article 4—Resident

• 1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term “resident of a Contracting State” means any person who, under the law of that Contracting State, is liable to taxation therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature. A company under Belgian law, which is not a company limited by shares, is included in this term notwithstanding that it has elected to have its profits subject to the individual income tax. But this term does not include any person who is liable to tax in that State in respect only of income from sources situated therein.

• 2. 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:

  • (a) he shall be deemed to be a resident 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 of the State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests);

  • (b) if the State in which he has his centre of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he has not a permanent home available to him in either State, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the State in which he has an habitual abode;

  • (c) if he has an habitual abode in both States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the State of which he is a national;

  • (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.

• 3. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 a person other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then it shall be deemed to be a resident of the State in which its place of effective management is situated.

Article 5—Permanent establishment

• 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. The term “permanent establishment” includes especially:

  • (a) a place of management;

  • (b) a branch;

  • (c) an office;

  • (d) a factory;

  • (e) a workshop, and

  • (f) a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction of natural resources.

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

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

  • (a) the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise;

  • (b) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery;

  • (c) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise;

  • (d) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise or of collecting information, for the enterprise;

  • (e) 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;

  • (f) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of activities mentioned in subparagraphs (a) to (e), provided that the overall activity of the fixed place of business resulting from this combination is of a preparatory or auxiliary character.

• 5. An enterprise of a Contracting State shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State if:

  • (a) it carries on supervisory activities in that other State for more than twelve months in connection with a building site or construction or installation project which is being undertaken in that other State; or

  • (b) substantial equipment or machinery is for more than twelve months in that other State being used by, for or under contract with the enterprise.

• 6. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, where a person—other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 7 applies—is acting on behalf of an enterprise and has, and habitually exercises, in a Contracting State an authority to conclude contracts in the name 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 the purchase of goods or merchandise for the enterprise.

• 7. 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.

• 8. 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 real property

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

• 2. The term “real 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 real property, livestock and equipment used in agriculture and forestry, rights to which the provisions of general law respecting landed property apply, usufruct of real 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, boats and aircraft shall not be regarded as real property.

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

• 4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 shall also apply to the income from real property of an enterprise and to income from real property used for the performance of independent personal services.

Article 7—Business profits

• 1. The 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 of the enterprise may be taxed in the other State but only so much of them as is attributable to that permanent establishment.

• 2. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3, where an enterprise of a Contracting State carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, there shall in each Contracting State be attributed to that permanent establishment the profits which it might be expected to make if it were a distinct and separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities under the same or similar conditions and acting wholly independently.

• 3. In determining the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed as deductions expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the permanent establishment, including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred, whether in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere.

• 4. Insofar as it has been customary in a Contracting State to determine the profits to be attributed to a permanent establishment on the basis of an apportionment of the total profits of the enterprise to its various parts, nothing in paragraph 2 shall preclude that Contracting State from determining the profits to be taxed by such an apportionment as may be customary; the method of apportionment adopted shall, however, be such that the result shall be in accordance with the principles contained in this Article.

• 5. No profits shall be attributed to a permanent establishment by reason of the mere purchase by that permanent establishment of goods or merchandise for the enterprise.

• 6. For the purposes of the preceding paragraphs, the profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year unless there is good and sufficient reason to the contrary.

• 7. Where profits include items of income 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. Profits from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.

• 2. If the place of effective management of a shipping enterprise is aboard a ship, then it shall be deemed to be situated in the Contracting State in which the home harbour of the ship is situated, or, if there is no such home harbour, in the Contracting State of which the operator of the ship is a resident.

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

Article 9—Associated enterprises

Where

• (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

• (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.

Article 10—Dividends

• 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. However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident and 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 15 percent of the gross amount of the dividends. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this limitation.

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

• 3. The term “dividends” as used in this Article means income from shares and other income assimilated to income from shares by the taxation law of the Contracting State of which the company making the distribution is a resident. In the case of Belgium, this term means also income—even when paid in the form of interest—which is taxable under the head of income on capital invested by the members of a company, other than a company with share capital, which is a resident of Belgium.

• 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, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

• 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 to a resident of the first-mentioned State, except insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base 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. Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

• 2. However, such interest may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which it arises and 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 10 percent of the gross amount of the interest. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this limitation.

• 3. 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. However, this term does not include income dealt with in Article 10. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purpose of this Article.

• 4. 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, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

• 5. Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, a political subdivision, a local authority or 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 or a fixed base in connection with which the indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, and such interest is borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such interest shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.

• 6. 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, having regard to the debt-claim for which it is paid, exceeds 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. Royalties arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

• 2. However, such royalties may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise and 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 10 percent of the gross amount of the royalties. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this limitation.

• 3. 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, films or video tapes for use in connection with television or tapes for use in connection with radio broadcasting, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for the use of, or the right to use, industrial, commercial, or scientific equipment, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience.

• 4. 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, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

• 5. Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, a political subdivision, a local authority or 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 or a fixed base in connection with which the liability to pay the royalties was incurred, and such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.

• 6. 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, having regard to the use, right or information for which they are paid, exceeds 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—Alienation of property

• 1. Income or gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of real property referred to in Article 6 and situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

• 2. Income or gains from the alienation of personal property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State or of personal property pertaining to a fixed base available to a resident of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing independent personal services, including such income or gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise) or of such fixed base, may be taxed in that other State.

• 3. Income or gains from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in international traffic or personal property pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircraft, shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.

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

Article 14—Independent personal services

• 1. Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of professional services or other activities of an independent character shall be taxable only in that State unless such services are performed in the other Contracting State and

  • (a) the individual is present in the other State for a period or periods exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in the income year concerned, or in the taxable period concerned, as the case may be, for the purpose of performing his activities, or

  • (b) the individual has a fixed base regularly available to him in the other State for the purpose of performing his activities.

  In such cases, the income may be taxed in that other State but only so much of it as is attributable to activities connected with that fixed base or performed during such period or periods.

• 2. The term “professional services” includes, especially, independent scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teaching activities as well as the independent activities of physicians, lawyers, engineers, architects, dentists and accountants.

Article 15—Dependent personal services

• 1. Subject to the provisions of Articles 16, 18, 19, 20 and 21, 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. 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:

  • (a) the recipient is present in the other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in the income year concerned, or in the taxable period concerned, as the case may be, and

  • (b) the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident of the other State, and

  • (c) the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment or a fixed base which the employer has in the other State.

• 3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic, may be taxed in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.

Article 16—Directors' fees

Directors' fees and 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. In relation to the remuneration of a director of a company derived from the company in respect of the discharge of day-to-day functions of a managerial or technical nature, the provisions of Article 15 shall apply as if the remuneration were remuneration of an employee in respect of an employment and as if references to “employer” were references to the company.

Article 17—Artistes and athletes

• 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 14 and 15, 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 an athlete, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.

• 2. Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or an athlete in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or athlete himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7, 14 and 15, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or athlete are exercised.

Article 18—Pensions

Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 19, pensions and other similar remuneration paid to a resident of a Contracting State in consideration of past employment shall be taxable only in that State.

Article 19—Government service

• 3. The provisions of Articles 15, 16 and 18 shall apply to remuneration and pensions in respect of services rendered in connection with any business carried on by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof.

Article 20—Professors and teachers

Remuneration derived by a professor or teacher who is a resident of a Contracting State and is temporarily present in the other Contracting State for the purpose of teaching, during a period not exceeding two years, at a university, college, school or other educational institution in that other Contracting State, shall be exempt from tax in that other State.

Article 21—Students

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 22—Other income

Items of income of resident of a Contracting State which are not expressly mentioned in the foregoing Articles of this Convention shall be taxable only in that State except that, if such income is derived from sources within the other Contracting State, it may also be taxed in that other State.

Article 23

• 1. In the case of New Zealand, double taxation shall be avoided as follows:

  • (a) Subject to any provisions of the law of New Zealand which may from time to time be in force and which relate to the allowance of a credit against New Zealand tax of tax paid in a country outside New Zealand (which shall not affect the general principle hereof), Belgian tax paid under the law of Belgium and consistently with this Convention, whether directly or by deduction, in respect of income derived by a New Zealand resident from sources in Belgium (excluding, in the case of a dividend, tax paid in respect of the profits out of which the dividend is paid) shall be allowed as a credit against New Zealand tax payable in respect of that income.

  • (b) For the purposes of this Article, profits, income or gains of a resident of New Zealand which are taxed in Belgium in accordance with the Convention shall be deemed to arise from sources in Belgium.

• 2. In the case of Belgium, double taxation shall be avoided as follows:

  • (a) Where a resident of Belgium derives income which may be taxed in New Zealand in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, and which is not subject to the provisions of sub-paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) below, Belgium shall exempt such income from tax but may, in calculating the amount of tax on the remaining income of that resident, apply the rate of tax which would have been applicable if such income had not been exempted.

  • (b) Where a resident of Belgium derives:

  	—	dividends dealt with in paragraph 2 of Article 10 and not covered by sub-paragraph (d) below;
  	—	interest dealt with in paragraph 2 or 6 of Article 11;
  	—	royalties dealt with in paragraph 2 or 6 of Article 12;
  	Belgium shall allow as a credit against Belgian tax relating to such income the fixed proportion for which provision is made under Belgian law, under the conditions and at the rate fixed by such law.

  • (c) Where a resident of Belgium derives income which has been taxed in New Zealand in accordance with the provisions of Article 22, the amount of Belgian tax relating to such income shall not exceed the amount which would be charged according to Belgian law if such income were taxed as earned income derived from sources outside Belgium and subject to foreign tax.

  • (d) Where a company which is a resident of Belgium owns shares in a company with share capital which is a resident of New Zealand and is subject to New Zealand tax on its profits, the dividends which are paid to it by the latter company and which may be taxed in New Zealand in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 10, shall be exempt from the corporate income tax in Belgium to the extent that exemption would have been accorded if the two companies had been residents of Belgium.

  • (e) Where, in accordance with Belgian law, losses of an enterprise carried on by a resident of Belgium which are attributable to a permanent establishment situated in New Zealand have been effectively deducted from the profits of that enterprise for its taxation in Belgium, the exemption provided in sub-paragraph (a) shall not apply in Belgium to the profits of other taxable periods attributable to that establishment to the extent that those profits have also been exempted from tax in New Zealand by reason of a deduction for the said losses.

Article 24—Mutual agreement procedure

• 1. Where a resident of a Contracting State 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 the Contracting State of which he is a resident. This case must be presented within three years from the first notification of the action giving rise to taxation not in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.

• 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.

• 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.

• 4. The competent authorities of the Contracting States may communicate with each other directly for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of the Convention.

Article 25—Exchange of information

• 1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Convention or of the domestic laws of the Contracting States concerning taxes covered by the Convention insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Convention, as well as to prevent fiscal evasion. The exchange of information is not restricted by Article 1. Any information received 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) involved in the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to, the taxes covered by the Convention. 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.

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

  • (a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;

  • (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;

  • (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 (ordre public).

Article 26—Diplomatic agents and consular officers

• 1. Nothing in this Convention shall affect the fiscal privileges of diplomatic or consular officials under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special international agreements.

• 2. For the purposes of the Convention, persons who are members of a diplomatic or consular mission of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State or in a third State and who are nationals of the sending State, shall be deemed to be residents of the sending State if they are subjected therein to the same obligations in respect of taxes on income as are residents of that State.

• 3. The Convention shall not apply to international organisations, to organs or officials thereof and to persons who are members of a diplomatic or consular mission of a third State, being present in a Contracting State and who are not liable in either Contracting State to the same obligations in relation to tax on their total world income as are residents of that State.

Article 27—Territorial extension

• 1. This Convention may be extended, either in its entirety or with any necessary modifications, to any territory for whose international relations either Contracting State is responsible, which imposes taxes substantially similar in character to those to which the Convention applies. Any such extension shall take effect from such date and subject to such modifications and conditions (including conditions as to termination) as may be specified and agreed between the Contracting States in notes to be exchanged through diplomatic channels or in any other manner in accordance with their constitutional procedures.

• 2. Unless otherwise agreed by both Contracting States, the termination of the Convention by one of them under Article 29 shall also terminate, in the manner provided for in that Article, the application of the Convention to any territory to which it has been extended under this Article.

• 3. Paragraph 4 of Article 2 shall apply to any taxes imposed by any territory to which the Convention is extended under this Article.

Article 28—Entry into force

• 1. This Convention shall be ratified and the instruments of ratification shall be exchanged at Wellington as soon as possible.

• 2. The Convention shall enter into force on the fifteenth day after the date of the exchange of instruments of ratification and its provisions shall be effective:

  • (a) in New Zealand:

    • in respect of income assessable for any income year beginning on or after 1 April in the calendar year immediately following that in which the Convention enters into force;

  • (b) in Belgium:

    • (i) in respect of all taxes due at source, on income credited or payable on or after 1 January in the calendar year immediately following that in which the Convention enters into force;

    • (ii) in respect of all taxes other than taxes due at source, on income of taxable periods ending on or after 31 December in the calendar year immediately following that in which the Convention enters into force.

• 3. The Arrangement between Belgium and New Zealand concluded by exchange of letters of 23 December 1975 and 20 January 1976, concerning reciprocal tax exemption in respect of the operation of ships in international traffic, shall not have effect for any period for which Article 8 has effect.

Article 29—Termination

This Convention shall remain in force indefinitely but either of the Contracting States may on or before 30 June in any calendar year beginning after the expiration of 5 years from the date of its entry into force, give to the other Contracting State through diplomatic channels written notice of termination and, in that event, the Convention shall cease to be effective:

• (a) in New Zealand:

  • in respect of income assessable for any income year beginning on or after 1 April in the calendar year immediately following that in which the notice of termination is given;

• (b) in Belgium:

  • (i) with respect to all taxes due at source, on income credited or payable on or after 1 January in the calendar year immediately following that in which the notice of termination is given;

  • (ii) with respect to all taxes other than taxes due at source, on income of any taxable period ending on or after 31 December in the calendar year immediately following that in which the notice of termination is given.

“Article 8 Ship and aircraft operations

“Article 9 Associated enterprises

“Article 16 Company managers

“Article 23A Non-discrimination