英语论文网

th other members of the Nordic Council (Iceland and Norway) which substituted the previous bilateral treaties. The Nordic Convention is a classic example of a multilateral treaty between a group of countries that are members of the OECD and some of the EU. This follows strongly the provisions of the current OECD Tax Model Convention [25]

Several countries have cross the threshold into multilateral agreements with the aim to assist in coordinating their tax policies and foster regional economic development. All of these agreements which subsist throughout the world follow an internationally accepted format which is prescribed by the OECD. The US Model Income Tax Convention which was concluded in 1996 forms the starting point of all US double taxation agreements. Just like any other tax agreement, its aim and objectives includes elimination of international tax avoidance by prescribing rules for allocation of information and deductions between related parties for the exchange of information and for the assistance in collection, it also seek to alleviate international double taxation and provides procedural rules for the resolution of objectives and inconsistencies [26] . In UK, Section 788 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1998 gives legislative effects to any arrangement made with other countries that provide for relief for double taxation, which will include double taxation agreements negotiated by UK

1.3 DEFINITIONS OF BASIC CONCEPTS

A starting point for such a study is the word itself. The electronic world has been given a number of names-‘ the information superhighway’, ‘cyberspace’, ‘the internet’, etc. these all refer to a non-physical or virtual space created through the use of technology in which participants can interact with each other. This allows for the creation of a virtual world in which people in different physical locations can meet up and do businesses with each other [27] .

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the earliest manifestation of what is known as e-commerce. Dating from the mid-1960s, the beginning of EDI is seen in the clearing system for banks and in airline passenger reservation system. Various definition of EDI has been used over time, with the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce providing the most widely acceptable. It considers it to be the electronic transfer from computer to computer of information using an agreed standard to structure the information. [28]

Electronic commerce is an important part of the growth of the internet. As the name connotes, electronic commerce refers to a wide array of commercial activities carried out through the use of computers, including on-line trading of goods and services, electronic funds transfer, on-line trading of financial instruments, electronic data exchanges between companies and electronic data exchange within a company over the internet (which is referred to as information high way). This method is a sharp contrast with the traditional method of transaction which was/is done over the counter and face to face with the parties involved.

The US Department of Commerce defines it as any transaction conducted over the internet or through internet access, comprising the sale, lease, license, offer or delivery of property, goods, services or information, whether or not for consideration and including the provision of internet access. [29]

Tax on the ot