Article 11 Interest

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.

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 of this Convention.

The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article 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 debtclaim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 of this Convention shall apply.

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 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.

No relief shall be available under this Article if it was the main purpose or one of the main purposes of any person concerned with the assignment of the interest, or with the creation or assignment of the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid, or with the establishment, acquisition or maintenance of the company that is the beneficial owner of the interest and the conduct of its operations, to take advantage of this Article. In any case where a Contracting State intends to apply this paragraph, its competent authority shall in advance consult with the competent authority of the other Contracting State.