The role of Article 3(2) of the OECD Model Tax Convention in the interpretation of international tax treaties on the avoidance of double taxation

Abstract

The provisions of the OECD Model Convention (Model Tax Convention on Income and on Capital) contain a number of definitions of the concepts that the model uses. As the provisions of contracts based on the Model will be applied in different jurisdictions, where the tax terminology of relevant concepts may be different, ideologically identical concepts may have a different scope. The aforementioned definitions are included either in the glossary of terms used in the content of the Model (respectively – in treaties modeled on it), which was included in Art. 3(1) of the Convention Model, or in the regulations on various substantive issues. Article 3(2) of the OECD Model Convention states: “As regards the application of this Convention by a contracting State, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning which it has under its tax law, to which this Convention applies, whereby the meaning under the tax laws of that State shall take precedence over the meaning given to the term by other laws of that State”. The paper is devoted to the analysis of the above-mentioned provision and the practical consequences of its application.