The Conditions for Recognition of the Home Office as Fixed Place of Business Constituting the Permanent Establishment of the Employer

Abstract

The article raises the issue of the constitution of the permanent establishment through the fixed place of business in the form of the Home Office of the employee. As part of the article, a detailed analysis of the provisions of the OECD Model Convention and the Commentary thereto, views in the doctrine, jurisprudence of the administrative courts and the interpretation practice of the tax authorities were presented. Special attention was paid to the notion “at the disposal” and “effective power to use the location”, as well as the controversies arising from the interpretation of those notions. Subsequently the exclusion from the definition of the permanent establishment for auxiliary activities was discussed, as well as the many doubts it raises. According to the author, the presented subject matter calls into question the premise of having a fixed establishment at the disposal of the taxpayer as a condition for the creation of the permanent establishment in the modern knowledge-based economy. On the other hand, in the circumstances of mobile work gaining popularity, it is necessary to regulate the allocation of income between the states with consideration to the postulate for minimizing of imposing of administrative burdens on the taxpayers.