The Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (The United States of America) Order 2002

Article 21 Offshore exploration and exploitation activities

1.  The provisions of this Article shall apply notwithstanding any other provision of this Convention where activities are carried on offshore in a Contracting State in connection with the exploration (hereinafter called “exploration activities”) or exploitation (hereinafter called “exploitation activities”) of the sea bed and sub-soil and their natural resources situated in that State.

2.  An enterprise of a Contracting State which carries on exploration activities or exploitation activities in the other Contracting State shall, subject to paragraph 3 of this Article, be deemed to be carrying on business in that other State through a permanent establishment situated therein.

3.  Exploration activities which are carried on by an enterprise of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 30 days within any period of twelve months shall not constitute the carrying on of business through a permanent establishment situated therein. For the purposes of determining such period or periods:

(a) where an enterprise of a Contracting State carrying on exploration activities in the other Contracting State is associated with another enterprise carrying on substantially similar exploration activities there, the former enterprise shall be deemed to be carrying on all such activities of the latter enterprise, except to the extent that those activities are carried on at the same time as its own activities;

(b) an enterprise shall be regarded as associated with another enterprise if one participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of the other or if the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of both enterprises.

4.  Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State from an employment in respect of exploration activities or exploitation activities carried on in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State, to the extent that the duties are performed offshore in that other State. However, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of such employment performed in the other Contracting State shall not be taxable in that other State if the employment is performed in that other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 30 days within any period of twelve months.