The Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Belarus) Order 2018

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

The Schedule to the Order contains a Convention (“the Arrangements”) between the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Belarus dealing with the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion. The Order brings the Arrangements into effect.

The Arrangements aim to eliminate the double taxation of income and gains arising in one country and paid to residents of the other country. This is done by allocating the taxing rights that each country has under its domestic law over the same income and gains, and/or by providing relief from double taxation. There are also specific measures which combat discriminatory tax treatment and provide for assistance in international tax enforcement.

Article 1 provides for citation.

Article 2 makes a declaration as to the effect and content of the Arrangements.

The Arrangements will enter into force on the date of the later of the notifications by each country of the completion of its legislative procedures.

The Arrangements will take effect as follows:

(a) in respect of Article 25 (Mutual agreement procedure) and Article 26 (Exchange of information) from the date of entry into force of the Arrangements, without regard to the taxable period to which the matter relates,

(b) in respect of taxes withheld at source, for amounts paid or credited on or after the first day of the third month next following the date on which the Arrangements enter into force,

(c) in Belarus, in respect of the other taxes, for taxes chargeable for any tax period beginning on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next following the date on which the Arrangements enter into force,

(d) in the United Kingdom:

(i) subject to paragraphs (a) and (b) above, 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 Arrangements enter into force, and

(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 Arrangements enter into force.

The date of entry into force will, in due course, be published in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes.

A Tax Information and Impact Note has not been produced for the Order as it gives effect to a double tax agreement. Double taxation agreements impose no obligations on taxpayers, rather they seek to eliminate double taxation and fiscal evasion.