top of page
15.png

International Tax Quiz (ITQ)

Tax treaty series

Go to GloBE rules series

 

Abbreviations and acronyms

​

* [YEAR]OECD = OECD model double tax treaty
* [YEAR]UN = UN model double tax treaty
* [YEAR]USMODEL = US model double tax treaty
* TPG = OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines
* POEM = Place of effective management
* MLI = BEPS Multilateral Instrument
* PPT = Principal purpose test
* Comm = Commentary
* AOA = Authorised OECD Approach
* POAC = Preparatory or auxiliary character

 

Your comments are very welcome!

 

I believe in continuous improvement! All your comments (positive and negative!) will be gratefully received – I will take these comments into account in future updates. Please send your comments to: contact@stevetowers.tax. Thank you!

Numbering system

There are currently more than 240 ITQs. They are arranged in 2 series:

  • GloBE rules series (ITQ G-001, ITQ G-002, etc.)

  • Tax treaty series (ITQ T-001, ITQ T-002, etc.)

ITQ  T-

116

NEW

Key issues:

  • Art. 5 definition of “permanent establishment”

  • Home office of CEO: a fixed place of business of company (employer)?

  • CEO permanently works from home for personal reasons

  • “facts and circumstances”

More

Date Uploaded:

January 26, 2026

ITQ  T-

114

Key issues:

  • Art. 5 definition of “permanent establishment”

  • Home office of employee: a fixed place of business of employer?

  • “More than 50% of working time” consideration

  • “Commercial reason” consideration

  • “Only, or primary, person” consideration

More

Date Uploaded:

December 8, 2025

ITQ  T-

112

Key issues:

  • 2014OECD

  • Art. 4(1), second sentence

  • Art. 4(3)

  • Change of residence

  • Dividend withholding tax

  • Art. 10(1), (2)

  • Art. 10(5), Art. 21(1)

  • Place of effective management

  • Royal Dutch Shell

More

Date Uploaded:

December 10, 2021

ITQ  T-

110

Key issues:

  • 2014OECD

  • 2011UN

  • Beneficial ownership

  • Treaty shopping

  • Conduit company

  • Contingent on receiving royalties

  • Velcro case

  • Treaty abuse

  • Look-through to beneficial owner

  • Art. 12

  • Art. 1

More

Date Uploaded:

November 26, 2021

ITQ  T-

108

Key issues:

  • 2017OECD

  • Art. 29(9)

  • PPT

  • GAAR

  • Example E

  • Art. 10(2)(a)

  • MAP

  • Art. 25(1)

  • Art. 25(5)

  • Arbitration

More

Date Uploaded:

November 12, 2021

ITQ  T-

106

Key issues:

  • 2017OECD

  • Warehouse owned and operated by logistics company

  • PE

  • Art. 5(4)(a), (b) & (e)

  • POAC (preparatory or auxiliary character)

  • Art. 7 – “profits”

  • Art. 7 – gross-basis taxation vs. net-basis taxation

  • Source country applies final gross-basis withholding tax on logistics services income

  • Art. 24(3)

  • Profits attributable to PE

More

Date Uploaded:

October 22, 2021

ITQ  T-

115

Key issues:

  • Art. 5 definition of “permanent establishment”

  • Home office of employee: a fixed place of business of employer?

  • “More than 50% of working time” consideration

  • “Commercial reason” consideration

  • Employee is medical practitioner, located in a favourable time zone to assist in providing 24/7 medical treatment

More

Date Uploaded:

December 15, 2025

ITQ  T-

113

Key issues:

  • 2017UN

  • PE

  • Art. 5(1)

  • Art. 5(3)(a)

  • Art. 5(3)(b)

  • 3 construction sites, supervisory activities

  • Does Art. 5(3)(a) “cover the field” and therefore exclude Art. 5(3)(b)?

  • Art. 12A

  • Art. 15A(2)

More

Date Uploaded:

December 17, 2021

ITQ  T-

111

Key issues:

  • 2017UN

  • Art. 12A

  • Fees for technical services

  • Triangular

  • PE

  • WeWork co-working space, Art. 5(1)

  • Art. 5(3)(b), counting days, weekends and public holidays

  • Profits attributable to PE, Art. 7

  • Art. 7(3), notional charge from head office at cost

  • Art. 24(3), foreign tax credit for PE

More

Date Uploaded:

December 3, 2021

ITQ  T-

109

Key issues:

  • 2011UN

  • Art. 13(5) vs. Art. 13(6)

  • Interposed company

  • Sanofi

  • GAAR

  • Treaty abuse

  • UN Comm. on Art. 1

  • Substance

More

Date Uploaded:

November 19, 2021

ITQ  T-

107

Key issues:

  • 2014OECD

  • PE status under Art. 5(1)

  • Wind farm

  • Profits attributable to PE

  • Art. 7

  • Functions, assets and risks

  • Significant people functions, SPF

  • Ownership of tangible assets, pragmatic solution

  • 2010 OECD report

More

Date Uploaded:

October 29, 2021

ITQ  T-

105

Key issues:

  • 2017UN

  • Art. 8

  • Art. 12(5)

  • Triangular

  • Bare boat charter fees

  • Definition of “royalties”

More

Date Uploaded:

October 15, 2021

bottom of page