(1)
A person may request that the Commissioner enter into an advance pricing agreement to establish an appropriate set of criteria for determining whether the person has complied with the arm's length principle for certain future controlled transactions undertaken by the person over a fixed period of time.
(2)
A request under sub regulation (1) shall be accompanied by-
(a)
a description of the person's activities, controlled transactions, and the proposed scope and duration of the advanced pricing agreement;
(b)
a proposal by the person for the determination of the transfer prices for the transactions to be covered by the advanced pricing agreement setting out the comparability factors, the selection of the most appropriate transfer pricing method to the circumstances of the controlled transactions; and the critical assumptions as to future events under which the determination is proposed;
(c)
the identification of any other country or countries that the person wishes to participate in the advanced pricing agreement; and
(d)
any other information which the Commissioner may require as specified in a practice note on transfer pricing.
(3)
The Commissioner shall consider a request made by a person under sub regulation (1) and, after taking account of the matters specified in the request and the expected benefits from an advance pricing agreement in the circumstances of the case, the Commissioner may decide to enter into an advance pricing agreement or to reject the request.
(4)
Where the Commissioner agrees to enter into an advance iicing agreement with a person, the Commissioner may-
(a)
accept the person's proposal under sub regulation (2)(b); (b) reject the proposal; or (c) modify the proposal with the person's consent. (5) The Commissioner may enter into an advance pricing ireement with the person either alone or together with the competent tthorities of the country or countries of the person's associate or sociates identified under sub regulation (2)(c). (6) Where the Commissioner approves a proposal under sub gulation (4)(a) or modifies it with the person's consent under sub gulation (4)(c), the Commissioner shall enter into an advance pricing ireement that will provide confirmation to the person that no transfer iicing adjustment will be made under regulation 7(2) to controlled i.nsactions covered by the agreement where the transactions are insistent with the terms of the agreement. (7) An advance pricing agreement entered into under sub regulation )| shall apply to the controlled transactions specified in the agreement that " entered into on or after the date of the agreement and the agreement all specify the years of income for which the agreement applies. (8) The Commissioner may cancel an advanced pricing agreement itth a person by notice in writing if- (a) the person has failed to materially comply with a fundamental term of the agreement; (b) there has been a material breach of one or more of the critical assumptions underlying the agreement;
(c)
there is a change in the tax law that is materially relevant to the agreement; or
(d)
the agreement was entered into based on a misrepresentation, mistake or omission by the person.
(9)
Cancellation of an advance pricing agreement under sub regulation (8) takes effect-
(a)
in the case of sub regulation (8)(a) and (c), from the date of the notice of cancellation specified by the Commissioner in the notice of cancellation
(b)
in the case of sub regulation (8)(b), from the date that the material breach occurred; and
(c)
in the case of sub regulation (8)(d), from the date the agreement was entered into.
(10)
The Commissioner shall treat as confidential any trade secrets or other commercially sensitive information or documentation provided to the Commissioner in the course of negotiating an advance pricing agreement.