New Tax Regulation between the Netherlands and Sint Maarten to enter into force soon

The KPMG tax lawyers announced that on March 1, 2016 a new bilateral regulation for the avoidance of double taxation between the Netherlands – including its Caribbean territories – and Sint Maarten (“BRNS”) will enter into force.  The  BRNS will generally  be  applicable  as  from January 1, 2017 and replace the Tax Regulation for the Kingdom of the Netherlands (“BRK”) in the relationship between the two countries. The new Regulation will bring the system into  line with current international standards and the constitutional reform  of October  10, 2010. The BRNS contains significant changes in relation to the BRK, with transitional arrangements for some elements, and closely resembles the tax regulation between the Netherlands and Curacao dated June 2014 (BRNC).
Below we deal with the most important changes.

Corporate tie-breaker

In the case of entities with dual residence, the state of residence for the purpose of the BRNS will be determined in mutual agreement between the two countries. If no agreement can be reached, the BRNS will not apply, with the exception of a few provisions. For existing situations, where facts and circumstances remain unchanged, the state of residence will not change from what it was for the purposes of the BRK.

Dividends: maximum taxation in the source state

A rate of 0% applies to a shareholding of at least 10% by the entity receiving the dividend:

• whose shares are traded on a recognized stock exchange (direct stock exchange test);
• whose shares are at least 50% held directly by residents of one of the countries and whose shares are traded on a recognized stock exchange (indirect stock exchange test for residents);
• whose shares are at least 50% held by non-residents of one of the countries and whose shares are traded on a recognized stock exchange and these non-residents would also have been entitled to 0% on the basis of a treaty or a multilateral agreement with  the country of the entity distributing the dividend (indirect stock exchange  test for non-residents);
• that complies with the headquarters test of a multinational group;
• that has sufficient ties with the state of residence, e. at least three full-time active employees who are residents of the state in which the entity is resident and who manage the assets of that entity at a “fundamental level” (“sufficient ties test”);
• if it carries on a business in the state of residence and the dividend of the other country derives from the carrying on of that business (activities test);
• if at least 50% of the shares are held directly or indirectly by individuals who are residents of one or both countrie

In the case of non-compliance with the above criteria but compliance with the 10% shareholding criterion, a request  can be made on the basis of the catch all provision. This request will be granted if it is clear that obtaining a tax exemption is not the main purpose or one of the main purposes of incorporating, acquiring or maintaining the entity receiving the dividend. Based on the Explanatory Memorandum, the fiction is that this is deemed to apply if the entity receiving the dividend meets the Dutch nexus requirements for holding entities and the shares in the entity receiving the dividend form part of its business assets.

For the rest, full exemption also applies if the shareholder is a government body or a pension fund. The rate of 8,3% in relation to Sint Maarten will be canceled. The 5% yield tax with regard to BES entities in the Caribbean territory of the Netherlands will not be reduced by the BRNS.

A maximum rate of 15% applies in all other cases, although there are two exceptions to this:

• If a reduced  exemption to 3%  was applied under the BRK, but was not reduced to 0% under the BRNS, a rate of 5% applies as a transitional measure in the case of a shareholding of at least 25%. This rate applies until the end of 2019, with a commitment being made that the Netherlands will not tax on the basis of the anti-abuse rules for a technical substantial interest.
• The national rate will apply to dividends from a substantial interest for a period of ten years after the emigration of the holder of the substantial interest to the extent that an amount is still outstanding (on a protective assessment) from the capital gain calculated upon emigration. Where income tax is concerned, this means tax of 75% for Sint Maarten and 25% for the Netherlands. A transitional arrangement will apply for existing cases, however, so that taxation in the source state will be limited to a maximum of 15%.

Profits on substantial interest

Besides source state taxation on dividends from a substantial interest for a period of ten years after emigration (see above), during this period the source state will also have the right to tax capital gains on shares, profit-sharing certificates, call options, usufruct and certain receivables. By contrast, the new state of residence of the holder of the substantial interest must provide a step-up to prevent double taxation in the case of actual disposal.

Pensions

The source state may in future levy a maximum of 15% tax on the gross amount of regular private pension and life insurance benefits. This tax is in principle deductible in the state of residence. This does not apply to Dutch nationals already receiving a pension and who are resident on Sint Maarten: they will only be subject to tax in the state of residence. Capping does not apply in the case of surrender.

Anti-abuse

The general anti-abuse provision in the existing BRK is included in the BRNS, so the doctrine of fraus legis and specific anti- abuse provisions included in the tax legislation can be applied. These provisions, however, also state that in the case of entitlement to apply a withholding tax exemption on participation dividends, the Netherlands will not levy corporate income tax on the basis of a technical substantial interest.

Gift and inheritance tax

The BRNS contains just one provision on gift and inheritance  tax.  The  Netherlands, as the former state of residence of the testator or benefactor, may levy  taxes during the first five years after emigration, whereby the gift and inheritance tax of Sint Maarten is offset.

Hybrid entities

If an entity is considered to be transparent for tax purposes by a country and non- transparent by the other country and this leads to double taxation or taxation that is inconsistent with the provisions of the BRNC, the countries will enter into mutual consultation in order to prevent this double taxation or taxation that is inconsistent with the BRNS and simultaneously to avoid income components being subject to taxation, in whole or in part, simply as a result of the application of the BRNS. In addition, the way in which the BRNS will be applied in a number of specific situations has been established, so that consultation is no longer necessary in such cases.

The main changes discussed in this memorandum may be reason for you to quickly seek advice about any steps you need to take. Our tax advisers would be pleased to help you with this.

 

Contact details for KPMG:

Should you have any further questions after reading our tax alert, please contact us at any time.

Meijburg&Co Caribbean – SintMaarten
VanGoghstraat4,Unit1
P.O.Box505
Philipsburg
SintMaarten
T:+17215423087