Malaysia netherlands tax treaty

THE MULTILATERAL CONVENTION TO IMPLEMENT TAX-TREATY RELATED MEASURES TO PREVENT BASE EROSION AND PROFIT SHIFTING (MLI)

The Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (MLI) is one of the outcomes of the OECD/G20 Project to tackle Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (the "BEPS Project"). It is an agreement negotiated under Action 15 of the BEPS Project. Implementation of the Final BEPS Package will require changes to the bilateral tax treaties. Bilateral updates to the treaty network would be a very burdensome and time-consuming exercise, thus the MLI is seen as the solution as it allows jurisdictions to swiftly amend their double taxation avoidance agreements to implement the tax treaty related BEPS recommendations.

Malaysia was involved in the development of the MLI with more than 100 jurisdictions in the Ad Hoc Group. The negotiation of the MLI text was concluded on 24 November 2016 in Paris. The first signing ceremony was held on the 7th of June 2017.

In line with Malaysia's commitment in meeting the internationally agreed tax standards and the implementation of BEPS Action Plans, Malaysia, represented by the Honourable Deputy Finance Minister I, YB Dato' Wira Othman Aziz signed the MLI at the OECD headquarters in Paris on 24th January 2018 along with Barbados, Cote d'Ivoire, Jamaica, Panama and Tunisia. At the time of signature, a list of expected reservations and notifications pursuant to Articles 28(7) and 29(4) of the MLI was deposited.

The latest list of Signatories and Parties to the MLI may be found here.

The MLI entered into force on 1st July 2018.

The table bellows lists the treaties which will be modified by the MLI based on the countries position as of June 2024:

COUNTRY
1 Albania 2 Australia 3 Austria 4 Bahrain
5 Belgium 6 Bosnia and Herzegovina 7 Canada 8 Chile
9 China 10 Croatia 11 Denmark 12 Egypt
13 Fiji 14 Finland 15 France 16 Hong Kong
17 Hungary 18 India 19 Indonesia 20 Ireland
21 Italy 22 Japan 23 Jordan 24 Kazakhstan
25 Korea Republic 26 Kuwait 27 Luxembourg 28 Malta
29 Mauritius 30 Mongolia 31 Morocco 32 Namibia
33 Netherlands 34 New Zealand 35 Pakistan 36 Papua New Guinea
37 Poland 38 Qatar 39 Romania 40 Russia
41 San Marino 42 Saudi Arabia 43 Seychelles 44 Singapore
45 Slovak Republic 46 South Africa 47 Spain 48 Sweden
49 Thailand 50 Türkiye 51 United Arab Emirates 52 United Kingdom
53 Ukraine 54 Vietnam 55 Senegal

The number of treaties modified by the MLI could change if more of Malaysia's tax treaty partners sign and ratify the MLI and list their treaty with Malaysia.

Synthesised texts (ST) reproduce the text of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTA) including the texts of any amending protocols or similar instruments, and the provisions of the MLI that will modify that DTA. The ST document has consolidated all amending protocols or similar instruments and relevant documents for easy reference.

ST also include information on the entry into effect of the relevant provisions of the MLI. The relevant DTA provisions replaced by MLI is indicated by double strikethrough text. The provisions of the MLI that are applicable with respect to the provisions of the DTA are included in boxes throughout the text of this ST.

A synthesised text does not constitute a source of law. The authentic legal texts of the tax treaty and the MLI take precedence and remain the legal texts applicable.

Based on the current MLI positions or jurisdictions that have not signed the MLI, Malaysia treaties not modified by MLI include:

COUNTRY
1 Bangladesh 2 Brunei 3 Cambodia 4 Czech Republic
5 Germany 6 Iran 7 Kyrgyz Republic 8 Laos
9 Lebanon 10 Myanmar 11 Norway 12 Philippines
13 Sri Lanka 14 Sudan 15 Switzerland 16 Syria
17 Turkmenistan 18 Uzbekistan 19 Venezuela 20 Zimbabwe

The MLI contains both minimum standard and optional provisions. Malaysia's positions are as follows:

    Minimum standard provisions:
      Article 6 (Purpose of a covered tax agreement) - To include a statement of intent in the preamble of the covered tax agreement that tax treaties are not intended to create opportunities for non-taxation or reduced taxation through tax evasion or avoidance, including through treaty-shopping arrangements.;

    The MLI will modify Malaysia's treaties if both treaty partners share the same position on the provisions of the MLI. The extent to which the MLI will modify these treaties will depend on the final positions at the time of ratification of MLI of both countries. Guidance will be issued to assist taxpayers in understanding how the MLI modifies the operation of the particular tax treaty.

    The MLI has been gazetted on 4th August 2020 through P.U. (A) 224. Malaysia has deposited the instrument of ratification on 18 February 2021. The MLI for Malaysia will enter into force on 1 June 2021. Generally, the provisions will take effect after the expiration of a period of six calendar months from the latest dates on which the MLI enters into force for each of the Contracting States.

    Malaysia's positions on the MLI can be found here. Please visit the OECD website for further information on MLI.