A High Level delegation led by the
Revenue Secretary Mr Shaktikanta Das had a meeting with the State
Secretary Mr. Johannes Geismann and other senior officers of the Federal
Ministry of Finance, Germany in Berlin on 17th August, 2015. During the
meeting issues relating to exchange of tax related information, BEPS
Project, DTAA negotiations etc. were discussed.
Three important outcomes of the visit of the delegation as agreed between the two sides are as follows:
(i) It was agreed that India and Germany will continue to exchange tax
related information spontaneously on the basis of the existing
agreements. It was also agreed to explore other possibilities of
enhancing exchange of information.
(ii) As signatories to the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement
regarding automatic exchange of information on financial accounts,
Germany and India will begin negotiations as soon as possible towards a
memorandum of understanding laying out the technical details of
automatic information exchanges on financial accounts.
(iii) India and Germany agreed to resume negotiations on partial
revision of the DTAA between the two countries with a view to bring the
provisions relating to exchange of information to international
standards. It was also agreed that both sides would meet in New Delhi in
September, 2015 and strive to agree on a final version to ensure that
it is signed soon. (It may be noted that an amending Protocol to the
existing DTAA was last discussed by the Competent Authorities of the two
countries in New Delhi in April, 2011, but further progress in the
matter could not be made.)
This meeting between the Indian and German authorities was in
furtherance of Government's policy of proactive engagement with other
countries for Exchange of Information to counter the menace of tax
evasion and stashing of black money abroad. The outcome of the visit of
this delegation represents an important landmark in enhancing
cooperation and mutual assistance in tax matters between India and
Germany.
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