The new protocol to the income tax treaty between the United States and Finland, signed on 31 May 2006, entered into force on 28 December 2007. The announcement was made in Treasury Department release hp-753 dated 2 January 2008. The new protocol applies from 1 February 2008 for withholding taxes and from 1 January 2008 for other taxes. The new zero percent withholding rate for dividend payments is, however, effective from 1 January 2007.