International treaty

2010 UK-Singapore protocol 鈥� in force

Updated 20 May 2019

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0.1 Protocol to the UK/Singapore double taxation agreement

Signed on 24 August 2009.

Entered into force 8 January 2011.

Effective in the United Kingdom and Singapore from 8 January 2011.

0.2 Protocol amending the agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Singapore for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital gains signed at Singapore on 12 February 1997.

The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Singapore.

Desiring to amend the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Singapore for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital gains signed at Singapore on 12 February 1997 (hereinafter referred to as 鈥榯he Agreement鈥�).

Have agreed as follows:

1. Article 1

The text of Article 27 of the Agreement is deleted and replaced by the following:

  1. 鈥�1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is foreseeably relevant for carrying out the provisions of this Agreement or to the administration or enforcement of the domestic laws concerning taxes of every kind and description imposed on behalf of the Contracting States, or of their political subdivisions or local authorities, insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Agreement. The exchange of information is not restricted by Articles 1 and 2.
  2. 2. Any information received under paragraph 1 by a Contracting State shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic laws of that State and shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) concerned with the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, the determination of appeals in relation to the taxes referred to in paragraph 1, or the oversight of the above. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes. They may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions.
  3. 3. In no case shall the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation:
    1. (a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;
    2. (b) to supply information which is not obtainable under the laws or in the normal course of the administration of that or of the other Contracting State;
    3. (c) to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process, or information, the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy.
  4. 4. If information is requested by a Contracting State in accordance with the provisions of this Article, the other Contracting State shall use its information gathering measures to obtain the requested information, even though that other State may not need such information for its own tax purposes. The obligation contained in the preceding sentence is subject to the limitations of paragraph 3 of this Article but in no case shall such limitations be construed to permit a Contracting State to decline to supply information solely because it has no domestic interest in such information.
  5. 5. In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 3 be construed to permit a Contracting State to decline to supply information solely because the information is held by a bank, other financial institution, nominee or person acting in an agency or a fiduciary capacity or because it relates to ownership interests in a person.鈥�

2. Article 2

The United Kingdom shall notify Singapore, through diplomatic channels, of the completion of the procedures required by its law for the bringing into force of this Protocol. Upon such notification, when the necessary requirements for entry into force of this Protocol in Singapore have been complied with, Singapore shall notify the United Kingdom through diplomatic channels. The Protocol shall enter into force 30 days after the date of notification made by Singapore to the United Kingdom.

3. Article 3

This Protocol shall form an integral part of the Agreement and shall remain in force as long as the Agreement remains in force.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, duly authorised thereto by their respective governments, have signed this Protocol.

DONE in duplicate at Singapore on this 24th day of August 2009, in the English language.

For the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Stephen Timms

For the Government of the Republic of Singapore: Tharman Shanmugaratnam

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