U.S. Tax Treaties: Planning, Application, and Compliance (Completed)

U.S. tax treaties contain vital information for businesses as they provide an "alternative" version of tax law that often supersedes the Internal Revenue Code in international transactions. Properly advise your management team or clients on how to plan for tax savings and avoid key compliance problems by gaining a complete understanding of how the key provisions contained in most U.S. tax treaties can affect their business.

Topics Covered

• Common treaty provisions
• Determining the country of residence for individuals and entities
• Taxation of business profits attributable to permanent establishments: the various standards
• Exemptions for personal services income
• Reduced withholding rates on dividends, interest and royalties
• Gains on the disposition of property
• The limitation on benefits provisions that are designed to prevent treaty shopping
• The Competent Authorities and their procedures
• Compliance with respect to treaty-based return positions
• Specific disclosure requirements and their waiver
• Using Forms W-8BEN and W-8BEN-E to show entitlement to treaty benefits

Learning Objectives

• Describe the purpose of income tax treaties in the tax regimes of countries
• Identify common provisions in the U.S. Model Treaty
• Define the "tie-breaker" rule when a person qualifies as a resident in more than one country
• Prepare Form 8833 for a taxpayer claiming the benefits of a treaty that conflicts with the Internal Revenue Code

Level
Basic

Instructional Method
Group: Internet-based

NASBA Field of Study
Taxes (2 hours)

Program Prerequisites
None

Advance Preparation
None