2. pants
neierobežo informācijas apmaiņu.

2. Jebkura informācija, ko saskaņā ar 1.punktu, saņem

Līgumslēdzēja Valsts, ir jāuzskata par tikpat slepenu kā

informācija, kas tiek iegūta saskaņā ar šīs valsts likumdošanas

aktiem un var tikt izpausta tikai tām personām vai varas iestādēm

(ieskaitot tiesas un administratīvās iestādes), kas ir

iesaistītas 1.punktā minēto nodokļu aprēķināšanā vai iekasēšanā,

piespiedu līdzekļu lietošanā vai lietu iztiesāšanā, vai apelāciju

izskatīšanā. Šīs personas vai iestādes šo informāciju izmanto

vienīgi iepriekšminētajos nolūkos. Tās var izpaust šo informāciju

atklātās tiesas sēdēs vai tiesas nolēmumos. Neatkarīgi no

iepriekš minētā, informācija, ko saņem Līgumslēdzēja Valsts, var

tikt izmantota citiem nolūkiem, ja šāda informācija var tikt

izmantota šādiem citiem nolūkiem saskaņā ar abu Valstu

likumdošanas aktiem, un informācijas sniedzējas valsts kompetentā

iestāde atļauj šādu izmantošanu.

3. Nekādā gadījumā 1.un 2.punkta noteikumi nav interpretējami

tādējādi, ka tie uzliktu Līgumslēdzējai Valstij pienākumu:

a) veikt administratīvus pasākumus, kas neatbilst šīs vai

otras Līgumslēdzējas Valsts likumdošanas aktiem un

administratīvajai praksei;

b) sniegt informāciju, kas nav pieejama saskaņā ar šīs vai

otras Līgumslēdzējas Valsts likumdošanas aktiem vai parasti

piemērojamo administratīvo praksi;

c) sniegt informāciju, kas var atklāt jebkuru tirdzniecības,

uzņēmējdarbības, ražošanas, komerciālo vai profesionālo noslēpumu

vai darījuma procesu, vai arī sniegt informāciju, kuras izpaušana

būtu pretrunā ar sabiedrības interesēm (ordre public).

4. Ja Līgumslēdzēja Valsts saskaņā ar šo pantu pieprasa sniegt

informāciju, otra Līgumslēdzēja Valsts pieprasītās informācijas

iegūšanai izmanto savus informācijas iegūšanas līdzekļus, pat ja

pieprasītā informācija otrai valstij nav nepieciešama savām

nodokļu uzlikšanas vajadzībām. Iepriekšējā teikumā ietvertais

pienākums ir pakļauts 3.punktā noteiktajiem ierobežojumiem, bet

nekādā gadījumā šie ierobežojumi nav interpretējami tādējādi, ka

tie atļautu Līgumslēdzējai Valstij atteikties sniegt informāciju

vienīgi tādēļ, ka tai šāda informācija nav nepieciešama savām

nodokļu uzlikšanas vajadzībām.

5. Nekādā gadījumā 3.punkta noteikumi nav interpretējami

tādējādi, ka tie Līgumslēdzējai Valstij atļautu atteikties sniegt

informāciju vienīgi tādēļ, ka informācijas turētāja ir banka,

cita finanšu institūcija, pārstāvis vai persona, kura darbojas uz

pilnvarojuma vai uzticības pamata, vai tāpēc, ka tas saistīts ar

īpašumtiesībām otrā personā."

XIII. PANTS

1. Protokola nosaukums tiek izslēgts un aizstāts ar šādu

Protokola nosaukumu:

"PROTOKOLS

Attiecībā uz starp Latvijas Republikas valdību un Šveices

Federālo Padomi noslēgto konvenciju par nodokļu dubultās

uzlikšanas novēršanu attiecībā uz ienākuma un kapitāla nodokļiem

un ļaunprātīgas izvairīšanās no nodokļu maksāšanas un nodokļu

nemaksāšanas novēršanu, puses ir vienojušās, ka šādi noteikumi ir

Konvencijas neatņemama sastāvdaļa.".

2. Konvencijas Protokols tiek papildināts ar jaunu 2.punktu

šādā redakcijā:

"2. Attiecībā uz 3.panta 1.punkta j) apakšpunktu

Tiek saprasts, ka termins "pensiju fonds" ietver

šādus un jebkurus identiskus vai pēc būtības līdzīgus fondus, kas

ir izveidoti saskaņā ar likumdošanas aktiem, kas ieviesti pēc šī

protokola parakstīšanas datuma:

a) Latvijā, jebkuru pensiju fondu, kas darbojas saskaņā

ar:

(i) 1995.gada 2.novembra likumu "Par valsts

pensijām";

(ii) 1997.gada 5.jūnija likumu "Par privātajiem pensiju

fondiem";

b) Šveicē, jebkuru pensiju fondu, kas darbojas saskaņā ar:

(i) 1946.gada 20.decembra Federālo likumu par vecuma un

apgādnieka zaudējuma apdrošināšanu;

(ii) 1959.gada 19.jūnija Federālo likumu par personu ar

invaliditāti apdrošināšanu;

(iii) 2006.gada 6.oktobra Federālo likumu par papildu pensijām

attiecībā uz vecuma, apgādnieka zaudējuma un personu ar

invaliditāti apdrošināšanu;

(iv) 1952.gada 25.septembra Federālo likumu par ienākumu

kompensācijas pabalstiem obligātā dienesta un maternitātes

gadījumā;

(v) 1982.gada 25.jūnija Federālo likumu par vecuma, apgādnieka

zaudējuma un personu ar invaliditāti apdrošināšanas maksājumiem

attiecībā uz nodarbinātību un pašnodarbinātību, tai skaitā

nereģistrētos pensiju fondus, kas piedāvā nodarbinātības pensiju

plānus un pensiju fondus, kas piedāvā individuālus atzītus

pensiju plānus, kas salīdzināmi ar nodarbinātības pensiju

plāniem.".

3. Konvencijas Protokols tiek papildināts ar jaunu 3.punktu

šādā redakcijā:

"3. Attiecībā uz 4.panta 1.punktu

Attiecībā uz 4.panta 1.punktu tiek saprasts, ka termins

"Līgumslēdzējas Valsts rezidents" īpaši ietver:

a) pensiju fondu, kas izveidots šajā valstī; un

b) organizāciju, kas ir izveidota un darbojas ar mērķi veikt

reliģiskus, labdarības, zinātniskus, kultūras, sporta vai

izglītojošus pasākumus un kas ir šīs valsts rezidents saskaņā ar

tās likumdošanas aktiem, neatkarīgi no tā, vai viss tās ienākums

vai kapitāls vai tā daļa var būt atbrīvota no nodokļa uzlikšanas

saskaņā ar šīs valsts likumdošanas aktiem.".

4. Konvencijas Protokola esošos 2., 3. un 4.punktus pārnumurē

atbilstoši par 4., 5. un 6.punktiem.

5. Konvencijas Protokols tiek papildināts ar jaunu 7.punktu

šādā redakcijā:

"7. Attiecībā uz 10.panta 2. un 3.punktu

Ja minimālā turējuma perioda nosacījums, ko paredz 10.panta

3.punkta a) apakšpunkts, dividenžu izmaksas brīdī netiek

izpildīts, un tāpēc izmaksas brīdī tiek ieturēts 10.panta

2.punktā noteiktais nodoklis, un minimālā turējuma perioda

nosacījums tiek izpildīts pēc tam, tad dividenžu īstenais

īpašnieks ir tiesīgs uz ieturētā nodokļa atmaksu.".

6. Konvencijas Protokola esošais 7.punkts tiek izslēgts.

7. Konvencijas Protokola esošais 5.punkts tiek pārnumurēts par

8.punktu.

8. Konvencijas Protokols tiek papildināts ar jaunu 9.punktu

šādā redakcijā:

"9. Attiecībā uz 11.panta 3.punkta f) apakšpunktu

Tiek saprasts, ka termins "banka" ir banka, kuras

darbību regulē otras Līgumslēdzējas Valsts likumdošanas

akti.".

9. Konvencijas Protokola esošais 6.punkts tiek pārnumurēts par

10.punktu.

10. Konvencijas Protokols tiek papildināts ar jaunu 11.punktu

šādā redakcijā:

"11. Attiecībā uz 18. un 24.pantiem

Kas attiecas uz 18.pantu un 24.pantu, uz iemaksām

Līgumslēdzējas Valsts pensiju fondā, ko veic fiziskā persona, kas

sniedz pakalpojumus otrajā Līgumslēdzējā Valstī vai ko veic

fiziskās personas labā, lai noteiktu fiziskās personas maksājamo

nodokli un uzņēmuma peļņu, kam var uzlikt nodokļus šajā otrā

Valstī, attiecas tie paši noteikumi un tās ir pakļautas tādiem

pašiem nosacījumiem un ierobežojumiem kā iemaksas, kas veiktas

šīs otras Līgumslēdzējas Valsts pensiju fondā, ar nosacījumu, ka

šī fiziskā persona nebija šīs valsts rezidents, un bija pensiju

fonda dalībnieks uzreiz pirms tā sāka sniegt pakalpojumus šajā

otrā Valstī.".

11. Konvencijas Protokols tiek papildināts ar jaunu 12.punktu

šādā redakcijā:

"12. Attiecībā uz 26.pantu:

a) Tiek saprasts, ka informācijas apmaiņa tiek pieprasīta

vienīgi, ja pieprasītāja Līgumslēdzēja Valsts ir izsmēlusi visus

parastos informācijas avotus, kas pieejami saskaņā ar nacionālo

nodokļu uzlikšanas kārtību.

b) Tiek saprasts, ka, iesniedzot informācijas pieprasījumu

saskaņā ar 26.pantu, pieprasītājas valsts nodokļu iestāde sniedz

šādu informāciju pieprasījuma saņēmējas valsts nodokļu

iestādei:

(i) personas, par kuru tiek veikta pārbaude vai izmeklēšana,

identitāte;

(ii) laika periods, par kuru tiek pieprasīta informācija;

(iii) pieprasītās informācijas izklāstījums, tai skaitā tās

būtība un veids, kādā pieprasītāja valsts vēlas saņemt

informāciju no pieprasījuma saņēmējas valsts;

(iv) nodokļu mērķis, kādam informācija tiek pieprasīta;

(v) tik lielā mērā, cik tas ir zināms, jebkuras personas vārds

un adrese, par kuru tiek uzskatīts, ka tās rīcībā ir pieprasītā

informācija.

c) Tiek saprasts, ka atsauce uz "paredzamu

svarīgumu" ir paredzēta, lai nodrošinātu pēc iespējas

plašāku informācijas apmaiņu nodokļu jomā, vienlaikus precizējot,

ka dalībvalstīm nav atļauts veikt pierādījumu meklēšanu pēc

nejaušības principa ("fishing expeditions") vai

pieprasīt informāciju, kas, visticamāk, nav saistīta ar attiecīgā

nodokļu maksātāja nodokļu jautājumiem. Lai gan b) apakšpunktā ir

paredzētas svarīgas procedūras prasības, kuru mērķis ir

nodrošināt, lai netiktu veikta pierādījumu meklēšana pēc

nejaušības principa, b) apakšpunkta (i) līdz (v) noteikumi nav

jāinterpretē tādā veidā, kas traucētu efektīvu informācijas

apmaiņu.

d) Tiek saprasts, ka 26.pants Līgumslēdzējām Valstīm neuzliek

pienākumu veikt automātisko informācijas apmaiņu vai informācijas

apmaiņu pēc savas iniciatīvas.

e) Tiek saprasts, ka informācijas apmaiņas gadījumā turpina

piemērot administratīvās procedūras noteikumus par nodokļu

maksātāju tiesībām, kas noteiktas pieprasījuma saņēmējas

Līgumslēdzējā Valstī. Papildus tiek saprasts, ka šo noteikumu

mērķis ir godīgas procedūras nodrošināšana nodokļu maksātājam,

nevis informācijas apmaiņas procesa traucēšana vai nepamatota

kavēšana.".

XIV. PANTS

1. Katra Līgumslēdzēja Valsts informē otru pa diplomātiskiem

kanāliem par to, ka ir izpildītas tās likumdošanas aktos

noteiktās procedūras, kas nepieciešamas, lai šis protokols stātos

spēkā. Protokols stājas spēkā datumā, kurā ir saņemts pēdējais no

šiem paziņojumiem.

2. Protokola noteikumi tiek piemēroti:

a) attiecībā uz nodokļiem, ko ietur ienākuma izmaksas brīdī

par samaksātajām vai ieskaitītajām summām - janvāra pirmajā dienā

vai pēc tās, kalendārajā gadā, kas seko gadam, kurā Protokols

stājas spēkā;

b) attiecībā uz pārējiem nodokļiem - ar jebkuru taksācijas

gadu, kas sākas janvāra pirmajā dienā vai pēc tās, kalendārajā

gadā, kas seko gadam, kurā Protokols stājas spēkā;

c) attiecībā uz 25.panta 5. un 6.punktiem, savstarpējās

saskaņošanas procedūrām, kas:

(i) nav pabeigtas starp Līgumslēdzēju Valstu kompetentajām

iestādēm Protokola spēkā stāšanās datumā (šādos gadījumos trīs

gadu periods saskaņā ar 5.punkta b) apakšpunktu sākas ar šī

Protokola spēkā stāšanos), vai

(ii) uzsāktas pēc šī datuma;

d) attiecībā uz 26.pantu - uz informāciju, kas attiecas uz

finanšu gadiem, kas sākas janvāra pirmajā dienā vai pēc tās

kalendārajā gadā, kas seko Protokola spēkā stāšanās datumam.

To apliecinot, būdami pienācīgi pilnvaroti, šo protokolu ir

parakstījuši.

Sastādīts Rīgā divos eksemplāros 2016.gada 2.novembrī

latviešu, vācu un angļu valodā, turklāt visi teksti ir vienlīdz

autentiski. Atšķirīgas interpretācijas gadījumā noteicošais ir

teksts angļu valodā.

Latvijas Republikas valdības vārdā

Finanšu

ministre

Šveices Federālās Padomes vārdā

Konfederācijas ārkārtējais un pilnvarotais vēstnieks

Latvijas Republikā

Dana

Reizniece -Ozola

Markuss

Niklauss Pauls Dutli

PROTOCOL

BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA AND THE SWISS

FEDERAL COUNCIL AMENDING THE CONVENTION OF 31 JANUARY 2002

BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA AND THE SWISS

FEDERAL COUNCIL FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION WITH RESPECT

TO TAXES ON INCOME AND ON CAPITAL

The Government of the Republic of Latvia

and

The Swiss Federal Council

Desiring to conclude a Protocol to amend the Convention of 31

January 2002 between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and

the Swiss Federal Council for the Avoidance of Double Taxation

with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital (hereinafter

referred to as "the Convention"),

Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE I

1. The title of the Convention shall be deleted and replaced

by the following title:

"CONVENTION BETWEEN THE

GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA AND THE SWISS FEDERAL

COUNCIL FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION WITH RESPECT TO

TAXES ON INCOME AND ON CAPITAL AND THE PREVENTION OF TAX EVASION

AND AVOIDANCE"

2. The preamble shall be deleted and replaced by the following

preamble:

"THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA

AND

THE SWISS FEDERAL COUNCIL

DESIRING to further develop their economic relationship and to

enhance their cooperation in tax matters,

INTENDING to conclude a Convention for the elimination of

double taxation with respect to taxes on income and on capital

without creating opportunities for non-taxation or reduced

taxation through tax evasion or avoidance (including through

treaty-shopping arrangements aimed at obtaining reliefs provided

in this Convention for the indirect benefit of residents of third

States)"

ARTICLE II

Subparagraph b) of paragraph 1 of Article 3 (General

definitions) of the Convention shall be deleted and replaced by

the following subparagraph:

"b) the term "Switzerland" means the territory

of the Swiss Confederation as defined by its laws in accordance

with international law;"

ARTICLE III

Clause (ii) of subparagraph h) of paragraph 1 of Article 3

(General definitions) of the Convention shall be deleted and

replaced by the following clause:

"(ii) in Switzerland, the Head of the Federal Department

of Finance or his authorised representative;"

ARTICLE IV

The following subparagraph j) shall be added to paragraph 1 of

Article 3 (General definitions) of the Convention:

"j) the term "pension fund" means any plan,

scheme, fund, foundation, trust or other arrangement established

in a Contracting State which is:

(i) regulated by and generally exempt from income taxation in

that State; and

(ii) operated principally to administer or provide pension or

retirement benefits or to earn income for the benefit of one or

more such funds."

ARTICLE V

Article 10 (Dividends) of the Convention shall be deleted and

replaced by the following Article:

"Article 10

Dividends

1. Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a

Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State

may be taxed in that other State.

2. However, such dividends may also be taxed in the

Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a

resident and according to the laws of that State, but if the

beneficial owner of the dividends is a resident of the other

Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed 15 per

cent of the gross amount of the dividends.

3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, the

Contracting State of which the company is a resident shall exempt

from tax dividends paid by that company, if the beneficial owner

of the dividends is:

a) a company (other than a partnership) which is resident of

the other Contracting State which holds directly at least 10 per

cent of the capital in the company paying the dividends for at

least one year prior to the payment of the dividend; or

b) a pension fund; or

c) the central bank of the other State.

4. Paragraphs 2 and 3 shall not affect the taxation of the

company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are

paid.

5. The term "dividends" as used in this Article

means income from shares or other rights, not being debt-claims,

participating in profits, as well as income from other rights

which is subjected to the same taxation treatment as income from

shares by the laws of the State of which the company making the

distribution is a resident.

6. The provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall not apply if

the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a

Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting

State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident,

through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs

in that other State independent personal services from a fixed

base situated therein, and the holding in respect of which the

dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent

establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of

Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

7. Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State

derives profits or income from the other Contracting State, that

other State may not impose any tax on the dividends paid by the

company, except insofar as such dividends are paid to a resident

of that other State or insofar as the holding in respect of which

the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent

establishment or a fixed base situated in that other State, nor

subject the company's undistributed profits to a tax on the

company's undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid

or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits

or income arising in such other State."

ARTICLE VI

1. Paragraph 2 of Article 11 (Interest) of the Convention

shall be deleted and replaced by the following paragraph:

"2. However, such interest may also be taxed in the

Contracting State in which it arises and according to the laws of

that State, but if the beneficial owner of the interest is a

resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall

not exceed:

a) 0 per cent of the gross amount of the interest, if the

interest is paid by a company that is a resident of a Contracting

State to a company (other than a partnership) that is a resident

of the other Contracting State and is the beneficial owner of the

interest;

b) 10 per cent of the gross amount of the interest in all

other cases."

2. The following subparagraphs e) and f) shall be added to

paragraph 3 of Article 11 (Interest) of the Convention:

"e) interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a

pension fund of the other Contracting State who is the beneficial

owner thereof shall be taxable only in that other State;

f) interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a

resident of the other Contracting State who is the beneficial

owner thereof shall be taxable only in that other State to the

extent that such interest is paid on any loan of whatever kind

granted by a bank."

ARTICLE VII

Paragraph 2 of Article 12 (Royalties) of the Convention shall

be deleted and replaced by the following paragraph:

"2. However, such royalties may also be taxed in the

Contracting State in which they arise and according to the laws

of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the royalties is a

resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall

not exceed:

a) 0 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties, if the

royalties are paid by a company that is a resident of a

Contracting State to a company (other than a partnership) that is

a resident of the other Contracting State and is the beneficial

owner of the royalties;

b) 5 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties in all

other cases."

ARTICLE VIII

Paragraph 3 of Article 17 (Artistes and Sportsmen) of the

Convention shall be deleted and replaced by the following

paragraph:

"3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to income from

activities performed in a Contracting State by entertainers or

sportsmen if the activities of the entertainer or sportsman are

funded, directly or indirectly, wholly or mainly from public

funds of the other Contracting State, a political subdivision or

a local authority thereof. In such a case, the income shall be

taxable only in the Contracting State of which the entertainer or

sportsman is a resident."

ARTICLE IX

The following Article 22a (Entitlement to benefits) shall be

added to the Convention:

"Article 22a

Entitlement to benefits

1. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Convention, a

benefit under this Convention shall not be granted in respect of

an item of income or capital if it is reasonable to conclude,

having regard to all relevant facts and circumstances, that

obtaining that benefit was one of the principal purposes of any

arrangement or transaction that resulted directly or indirectly

in that benefit, unless it is established that granting that

benefit in these circumstances would be in accordance with the

object and purpose of the relevant provisions of this

Convention.

2. Where a benefit under this Convention is denied to a person

under paragraph 1, the competent authority of the Contracting

State that would otherwise have granted this benefit shall

nevertheless treat that person as being entitled to this benefit,

or to different benefits with respect to a specific item of

income or capital, if such competent authority, upon request from

that person and after consideration of the relevant facts and

circumstances, determines that such benefits would have been

granted to that person, or to another person, in the absence of

the transaction or arrangement referred to in paragraph 1. The

competent authority of the Contracting State to which the request

has been made will consult with the competent authority of the

other State before rejecting a request made under this paragraph

by a resident of that other State."

ARTICLE X

Subparagraph a) of paragraph 2 of Article 23 (Elimination of

double taxation) shall be deleted and replaced by the following

subparagraph:

"a) Where a resident of Switzerland derives income or

owns capital which, in accordance with the provisions of this

Convention, may be taxed in Latvia, Switzerland shall, subject to

the provisions of subparagraph b), exempt such income or capital

from tax but may, in calculating tax on the remaining income or

capital of that resident, apply the rate of tax which would have

been applicable if the exempted income or capital had not been so

exempted. However, such exemption shall apply to gains referred

to in paragraph 4 of Article 13 only if actual taxation of such

gains in Latvia is demonstrated."

ARTICLE XI

The following paragraphs shall be added to Article 25 (Mutual

agreement procedure) of the Convention:

"5. Where,

a) under paragraph 1, a person has presented a case to the

competent authority of a Contracting State on the basis that the

actions of one or both of the Contracting States have resulted

for that person in taxation not in accordance with the provisions

of this Convention, and

b) the competent authorities are unable to reach an agreement

to resolve that case pursuant to paragraph 2 within three years

from the presentation of the case to the competent authority of

the other Contracting State,

any unresolved issues arising from the case shall be submitted

to arbitration if the person so requests. These unresolved issues

shall not, however, be submitted to arbitration if a decision on

these issues has already been rendered by a court or

administrative tribunal of either State. Unless a person directly

affected by the case does not accept the mutual agreement that

implements the arbitration decision or the competent authorities

and the persons directly affected by the case agree on a

different solution within six months after the decision has been

communicated to them, the arbitration decision shall be binding

on both States and shall be implemented notwithstanding any time

limits in the domestic laws of these States. The competent

authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement

settle the mode of application of this paragraph.

6. The Contracting States may release to the arbitration

board, established under the provisions of paragraph 5, such

information as is necessary for carrying out the arbitration

procedure. The members of the arbitration board shall be subject

to the limitations of disclosure described in paragraph 2 of

Article 26 with respect to the information so released."

ARTICLE XII

Article 26 (Exchange of information) of the Convention shall

be deleted and replaced by the following Article:

"Article 26

Exchange of information

1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall

exchange such information as is foreseeably relevant for carrying

out the provisions of this Convention 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

their political subdivisions or local authorities, insofar as the

taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Convention. The

exchange of information is not restricted by Articles 1 and

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,

or the determination of appeals in relation to the taxes referred

to in paragraph 1. 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.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, information received by a

Contracting State may be used for other purposes when such

information may be used for such other purposes under the laws of

both States and the competent authority of the supplying State

authorises such use.

3. In no case shall the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 be

construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the

obligation:

a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the

laws and administrative practice of that or of the other

Contracting State;

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;

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 (ordre public).

4. If information is requested by a Contracting State in

accordance with 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 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. 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."

ARTICLE XIII

1. The Title of the Protocol shall be deleted and replaced by

the following Title of the Protocol:

"PROTOCOL

With respect to the Convention concluded between the

Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Swiss Federal

Council for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to

taxes on income and on capital and the prevention of tax evasion

and avoidance, the undersigned have agreed that the following

provisions shall form an integral part of the

Convention."

2. The following new paragraph 2 shall be added to the

Protocol to the Convention:

"2. ad Article 3 paragraph 1 j)

It is understood that the term "pension fund"

includes the following and any identical or substantially similar

funds which are established pursuant to legislation introduced

after the date of signature of this Protocol:

a) in Latvia, any pension fund covered by:

(i) the Law on State Pensions, of 2 November 1995;

(ii) the Law On Private Pension Funds, of 5 June 1997;

b) in Switzerland, any pension fund covered by:

(i) the Federal Act on old age and survivors' insurance, of 20

December 1946;

(ii) the Federal Act on disabled persons' insurance of 19 June

1959;

(iii) the Federal Act on supplementary pensions in respect of

old age, survivors' and disabled persons' insurance of 6 October

2006;

(iv) the Federal Act on income compensation allowances in case

of service and in case of maternity of 25 September 1952;

(v) the Federal Act on old age, survivors' and disabled

persons' insurance payable in respect of employment or

self-employment of 25 June 1982, including the non-registered

pension funds which offer occupational pension plans and the

pension funds which offer individual recognised pension plans

comparable with occupational pension plans."

3. The following new paragraph 3 shall be added to the

Protocol to the Convention

"3. ad Article 4 paragraph 1

In respect of paragraph 1 of Article 4, it is understood that

the term "resident of a Contracting State" includes in

particular:

a) a pension fund established in that State; and

b) an organisation that is established and is operated for

religious, charitable, scientific, cultural, sporting, or

educational purposes and that is a resident of that State

according to its laws, notwithstanding that all or part of its

income or gains may be exempt from tax under the domestic law of

that State."

4. Existing paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of the Protocol to the

Convention shall be renumbered accordingly paragraphs 4, 5 and

6.

5. The following new paragraph 7 shall be added to the

Protocol to the Convention:

"7. ad Article 10 paragraph 2 and paragraph 3

Where the minimum holding period laid down in subparagraph a)

of paragraph 3 of Article 10 was not met at the time of the

payment of the dividend and, therefore, the tax stipulated in

paragraph 2 of Article 10 was withheld at the moment of the

payment, and the condition of the minimum holding period is met

subsequently, then the beneficial owner of the dividend shall be

entitled to a refund of the tax withheld."

6. Existing paragraph 7 of the Protocol to the Convention

shall be deleted.

7. Existing paragraph 5 of the Protocol to the Convention

shall be renumbered paragraph 8.

8. The following new paragraph 9 shall be added to the

Protocol to the Convention:

"9. ad. Article 11 paragraph 3 f)

It is understood that the term "bank" means a bank

regulated under the law of the other Contracting State."

9. Existing paragraph 6 of the Protocol to the Convention

shall be renumbered paragraph 10.

10. The following new paragraph 11 shall be added to the

Protocol to the Convention:

"11. ad Articles 18 and 24

As regards Article 18 and Article 24 contributions to a

pension fund of a Contracting State that are made by or on behalf

of an individual who renders services in the other Contracting

State shall, for the purposes of determining the individual's

tax payable and the profits of an enterprise which may be taxed

in that State, be treated in that State in the same way and

subject to the same conditions and limitations as contributions

made to a pension fund in that Contracting State, provided that

the individual was not a resident of that State, and was

participating in the pension fund, immediately before beginning

to provide services in that State."

11. The following new paragraph 12 shall be added to the

Protocol to the Convention:

"12. ad Article 26

a) It is understood that an exchange of information will only

be requested once the requesting Contracting State has exhausted

all regular sources of information available under the internal

taxation procedure.

b) It is understood that the tax authorities of the requesting

State shall provide the following information to the tax

authorities of the requested State when making a request for

information under Article 26:

(i) the identity of the person under examination or

investigation;

(ii) the period of time for which the information is

requested;

(iii) a statement of the information sought including its

nature and the form in which the requesting State wishes to

receive the information from the requested State;

(iv) the tax purpose for which the information is sought;

(v) to the extent known, the name and address of any person

believed to be in possession of the requested information.

c) It is understood that the reference to "foreseeable

relevance" is intended to provide for exchange of

information in tax matters to the widest possible extent and, at

the same time, to clarify that the Contracting States are not at

liberty to engage in "fishing expeditions" or to

request information that is unlikely to be relevant to the tax

affairs of a given taxpayer. While subparagraph b) contains

important procedural requirements that are intended to ensure

that fishing expeditions do not occur, clauses (i) through (v) of

subparagraph b) nevertheless are not to be interpreted in a way

to frustrate effective exchange of information.

d) It is understood that Article 26 does not require the

Contracting States to exchange information on an automatic or a

spontaneous basis.

e) It is understood that in case of an exchange of

information, the administrative procedural rules regarding

taxpayers' rights provided for in the requested Contracting State

remain applicable. It is further understood that these provisions

aim at guaranteeing the taxpayer a fair procedure and not at

preventing or unduly delaying the exchange of information

process."

ARTICLE XIV

1. Each Contracting State shall notify to the other, through

diplomatic channels, the completion of the procedures required by

its law for the bringing into force of this Protocol. The

Protocol shall enter into force on the date on which the later of

those notifications has been received.

2. The provisions of the Protocol shall have effect:

a) in respect of taxes withheld at source on amounts paid or

credited on or after the first day of January of the calendar

year next following the entry into force of the Protocol;

b) in respect of other taxes for taxation years beginning on

or after the first day of January of the calendar year next

following the entry into force of the Protocol;

c) in respect to Article 25 paragraphs 5 and 6, to mutual

agreement procedures that are:

(i) pending between the competent authorities of the

Contracting States at the entry into force of the Protocol (in

such cases the three year period under subparagraph b) of

paragraph 5 begins with the entry into force of this Protocol),

or

(ii) initiated after that date;

d) in respect to Article 26, to information that relates to

fiscal years beginning on or after the first day of January of

the calendar year next following the entry into force of the

Protocol.

In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorized thereto,

have signed this Protocol.

Done in duplicate at Riga this 2nd day of November,

2016 in the Latvian, German and English languages, all texts

being equally authentic. In the case of divergence of

interpretation the English text shall prevail.

For the Government of

the

Republic of Latvia

Minister

of Finance

For the Swiss Federal Council

Ambassador

of Switzerland to Latvia

Dana

Reizniece-Ozola

Markus

Niklaus Paul Dutly