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Help Tackle Law in Double Taxation Conventions (stipulated by Italy)

A Double Taxation Convention (DTC), also known as a tax treaty, is a formal bilateral agreement between two countries to resolve issues involving the taxation of the same income and assets. The primary purpose of a DTC is to prevent double taxation by allocating taxing rights between the two signatory states. By providing clear rules and reducing tax barriers, these treaties are designed to encourage and facilitate cross-border trade, investment, and the movement of people, while also including provisions to prevent tax evasion.

The main purpose of Italy’s tax treaties is twofold. Primarily, they aim to eliminate or mitigate the effects of double taxation on the income of individuals and companies who are residents of Italy or its treaty partner country. This provides certainty and encourages cross-border economic activity. A second, equally important purpose is the prevention of tax evasion and avoidance. The treaties establish a framework for cooperation and the exchange of tax information between Italian tax authorities and their foreign counterparts.

Eligibility to benefit from a tax treaty with Italy is primarily based on tax residency. To claim treaty benefits, such as reduced withholding tax rates, an individual or a company must qualify as a “resident” of either Italy or the other contracting state, according to the specific definition of residency outlined in that particular treaty. Individuals who are residents of a third country are generally not entitled to the benefits of a tax treaty concluded between Italy and another jurisdiction.

A tax treaty typically determines that the business profits of an enterprise residing in one country are taxable only in that country. However, there is a key exception: if the enterprise carries on business in the other country through a “permanent establishment,” such as a fixed office, factory, or branch located there, then the second country is also permitted to tax the profits that are directly attributable to that permanent establishment. This principle prevents double taxation on the main profits while allowing taxation on local business activities.