Economic Analysis of India's Double Tax Avoidance Agreements

Abstract

Bilateral Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) with particular reference to India's network of DTAAs are analysed here to assess national benefits from DTAAs and make suggestions for future policy directions for India's DTAAs. Though DTAAs are a tool of tax coordination used by nations to apportion tax bases in the global fiscal commons, there are potential costs from DTAAs if too many taxing rights are ceded to a partner country and also since DTAAs can facilitate tax avoidance and evasion So the paper attempts to make a contribution through the development of a tool for the economic assessment of the impact and benefits, if any, of DTAAs. The paper also contains an overview of key features of India's DTAAs filling a current information gap. Based on the analysis, suggestions are made for future policy involving DTAAs.