Since the declaration of South Africa as the Gateway to Africa in 2010 by National Treasury, various changes have been made to South African legislation to make South Africa more attractive to foreign investors looking to expand their operations into Africa. The headquarter company regime was introduced with the purpose to provide a base from which these investments may be managed. From a tax perspective this regime eliminates or reduces specific taxes or rates of taxes for companies who elect to be classified as headquarter companies, provided that certain requirements are met. These requirements refer specifically to investments in qualifying foreign companies. The reference to foreign companies inevitably requires that the resident definition be considered. In South Africa residence of a person other than a natural person is the place where the company is incorporated, formed or established or the place of effective management which is a term subject to various interpretations. Regardless of the differences, all the interpretations refer to a senior level of management. Foreign incorporated companies with their place of effective management in South Africa are excluded from the definition should they qualify as controlled foreign companies with foreign business establishments subject to a high level of tax if the place of effective management is disregarded. The lack of skills in African countries as a product of shortfalls in the quality of education result in challenges to establish appropriately skilled management teams in these countries. When a centralised management team is set up at the headquarter company in South Africa the African subsidiaries risk being resident in South Africa and therefore the structure would not qualify for the benefits of the headquarter company regime. Further challenges arise when the exclusion to the resident definition is applied as shares held by a headquarter company are disregarded when the controlled foreign company status of the subsidiaries are determined. Therefore it is recommended that the headquarter company legislation be changed to correspond with successful regimes such as the Luxembourg and the Netherlands in that it does not only apply to foreign investment. It is further recommend that the resident definition be changed to exclude from the place of effective management test group structures that would comply with section 9I should the test be disregarded. / MCom (South African and International Tax), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Since the declaration of South Africa as the Gateway to Africa in 2010 by National Treasury, various changes have been made to South African legislation to make South Africa more attractive to foreign investors looking to expand their operations into Africa. The headquarter company regime was introduced with the purpose to provide a base from which these investments may be managed. From a tax perspective this regime eliminates or reduces specific taxes or rates of taxes for companies who elect to be classified as headquarter companies, provided that certain requirements are met. These requirements refer specifically to investments in qualifying foreign companies. The reference to foreign companies inevitably requires that the resident definition be considered. In South Africa residence of a person other than a natural person is the place where the company is incorporated, formed or established or the place of effective management which is a term subject to various interpretations. Regardless of the differences, all the interpretations refer to a senior level of management. Foreign incorporated companies with their place of effective management in South Africa are excluded from the definition should they qualify as controlled foreign companies with foreign business establishments subject to a high level of tax if the place of effective management is disregarded. The lack of skills in African countries as a product of shortfalls in the quality of education result in challenges to establish appropriately skilled management teams in these countries. When a centralised management team is set up at the headquarter company in South Africa the African subsidiaries risk being resident in South Africa and therefore the structure would not qualify for the benefits of the headquarter company regime. Further challenges arise when the exclusion to the resident definition is applied as shares held by a headquarter company are disregarded when the controlled foreign company status of the subsidiaries are determined. Therefore it is recommended that the headquarter company legislation be changed to correspond with successful regimes such as the Luxembourg and the Netherlands in that it does not only apply to foreign investment. It is further recommend that the resident definition be changed to exclude from the place of effective management test group structures that would comply with section 9I should the test be disregarded. / MCom (South African and International Tax), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Double taxation could arise in a situation where resident- resident conflicts occur. Resident–resident conflicts occur in the situation where both countries regard such a person as a “resident” for tax purposes under their domestic legislation. For that reason, all income that is earned by that person, irrespective of the jurisdiction it is earned in, will be subject to tax in both countries. In order to resolve these conflicts, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (“OECD’s”) Model Tax Convention contains a tie breaker clause which states that a non-individual shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which the ‘place of effective management’ is situated. It was found that although there were conflicting views, the expression ‘place of effective management’ was mainly determined with reference to the place where real management actually makes decisions on key business affairs of the company. Based on the following reasons it was concluded that using ‘place of effective management’ as a tie breaker rule was ineffective. • With improved communication technology and increased mobility of top level management, it makes it very difficult to pinpoint a single location where the ‘place of effective management’ is positioned; • Changes to the generic managerial structures seen in the past, makes it increasingly complex to determine where the ‘place of effective management’ is situated; and • There is no universal interpretation of the term ‘place of effective management’ within the international arena. Against the backdrop that each option for determining the ‘place of effective management, analysed in Chapter 4 had its own flaws, it is almost impossible to determine a company’s residency based on a single test. It was therefore, recommended that the tie breaker rule consist of a hierarchy of the following tests. 1. Deemed to be resident of the country in which place of effective management is situated, as defined by SARS’ interpretation. 2. Deemed to be a resident of the country in which its economic nexus is the strongest. 3. Conflict to be resolved by mutual agreement between the two Contracting States. / Thesis (M.Com. (Tax))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Double taxation could arise in a situation where resident- resident conflicts occur. Resident–resident conflicts occur in the situation where both countries regard such a person as a “resident” for tax purposes under their domestic legislation. For that reason, all income that is earned by that person, irrespective of the jurisdiction it is earned in, will be subject to tax in both countries. In order to resolve these conflicts, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (“OECD’s”) Model Tax Convention contains a tie breaker clause which states that a non-individual shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which the ‘place of effective management’ is situated. It was found that although there were conflicting views, the expression ‘place of effective management’ was mainly determined with reference to the place where real management actually makes decisions on key business affairs of the company. Based on the following reasons it was concluded that using ‘place of effective management’ as a tie breaker rule was ineffective. • With improved communication technology and increased mobility of top level management, it makes it very difficult to pinpoint a single location where the ‘place of effective management’ is positioned; • Changes to the generic managerial structures seen in the past, makes it increasingly complex to determine where the ‘place of effective management’ is situated; and • There is no universal interpretation of the term ‘place of effective management’ within the international arena. Against the backdrop that each option for determining the ‘place of effective management, analysed in Chapter 4 had its own flaws, it is almost impossible to determine a company’s residency based on a single test. It was therefore, recommended that the tie breaker rule consist of a hierarchy of the following tests. 1. Deemed to be resident of the country in which place of effective management is situated, as defined by SARS’ interpretation. 2. Deemed to be a resident of the country in which its economic nexus is the strongest. 3. Conflict to be resolved by mutual agreement between the two Contracting States. / Thesis (M.Com. (Tax))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The master's thesis deals with the taxation of incomes of a Slovak tax resident permanent establishment in the Czech Republic. The obligations relating to the permanent establishment are defined based on the analysis of Czech accounting and tax regulations. The data obtained from the analysis serve to determine the approach to accounting management, the transfer of accounting data, the calculation of the tax liability and its optimization.

The master’s thesis focuses on determining of methodology for calculating of tax base in the service permanent establishment of Slovak tax resident in the Czech republic. Based on analysis of Czech accounting, tax regulations and OECD model agreement, data are used to determine the methodological manul and its subsequent application.

This thesis focuses on international taxation of individuals in the Czech Republic and Ireland. The thesis includes an explanation of taxation procedure of personal income from wages earned in Ireland while being tax resident of the Czech Republic. Relevant legislation and basic concepts of taxation are introduced as well.

The diploma thesis deals with international taxation of theater artist’s incomes. The main aim is to create methodical instruction for income taxation of tax non-residents of The Czech Republic. After that the methodical instruction is used for calculation of the tax liability of model tax payers - theater artists. The diploma thesis also evaluates case-law which deals with international taxation and defines possible risks which eventuate from incorrect interpretation.

The Master’s thesis focuses on taxation of employment income of the resident of the Czech Republic who also receives employment income from Canada. The thesis explains elementary principles and concepts related to income taxation of natural persons in the Czech Republic and Canada. The relevant articles of the Convention for the avoidance of double taxation are analysed. Based on the theoretical part of the thesis, a methodology for determination of a model taxpayer’s tax liability is designed with regard to available means of tax optimization.