U.S. Tax Treaties: What Is A Permanent Establishment? What Activities Are Generally Not A Permanent Establishment?

The Tax Risk Of Permanent Establishment

Recent  developments, such as the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) and the OECD’s Base Erosion and Profits Shifting (BEPS) initiative, have forced multinational businesses to re-evaluate global strategies and the tax impact of doing business abroad.   Navigating the risk of a permanent establishment remains among the most important international tax risks.

While a nonresident alien or foreign corporation engaged in a trade or business in the United States is generally subject to taxation on its net taxable income that is effectively connected with the conduct of the U.S. trade or business, the rules are different (or at least, can be) when a resident of a treaty country conducts the business.  Where a tax treaty is applicable, the concept of a permanent establishment—and whether income is attributable to that permanent establishment—replaces the concept of effectively connected income as the governing standard.

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