ARTICLE 12
U.S. Income Tax Treaty — Jamaica Income Tax Treaty - 1980 · 2026-10-03 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · United States
Royalties
Royalties arising in a Contracting State which are derived and beneficially owned by a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
However, such royalties may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise and according to the laws of that State, but the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties.
The term "royalties" as used in this Convention means payments of any kind received as a
consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work (including cinematograph films or films or tapes used for radio or television broadcasting), any patent, trademark, design or model, plans, secret formula or process, or other like right or property, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience. The term "royalties" also includes gains derived from the alienation of any such right or property which are contingent on the productivity, use, or disposition thereof but does not include payments for the use of tangible personal property.
The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the royalties arise, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such a case the provisions of Article 7 (Business Profits) or Article 14 (independent Personal Services), as the case may be, shall apply.
Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties, having regard to the use, right or information for which they are paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the person deriving the royalties in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such a case the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.
Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, a political subdivision or a local authority thereof, or a resident of that State. However, where the right or property for which the royalties are paid is used within the United States or Jamaica, as the case may be, the royalties shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the right or property is used.
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