Main Provisions of Cyprus Tax Laws
Advantages of Cyprus Companies
The main advantages are:
1. Corporation tax on net profit is 12,5%.
2. Dividend income is wholly exempt from income tax, but see paragraph 16 below.
3. Any gains realised on disposal of securities / shares in subsidiaries are not subject to taxation
in Cyprus. This applies to all gains including capital gains and gains from trading in securities,
but see “Capital Gains” at 15.
4. A notional interest deduction (NID) is allowed on paid, newly introduced capital.
5. There is no holding period requirement for dividends or capital gains exemptions.
6. Cyprus is a member of European Union (EU). As a result, Cyprus holding companies can
receive tax-free dividends from their EU subsidiaries in cases where the Parent – Subsidiary
Directive applies, subject to any anti-avoidance provisions in the jurisdiction of the paying
company. Interest and Royalties can also be free of withholding taxes through the application of
the Interest and Royalties Directive.
7. Cyprus has a wide network of double tax treaties providing zero or low withholding tax rates
on interest, dividends and royalties.
8. There is no withholding tax on dividend, interest and royalties paid to non- resident
individuals, and corporations.
9. There is no general Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC) legislation.
10. Interest paid to non-resident group companies is tax deductible.
11. There are no thin capitalisation rules.
12. There are no general transfer pricing rules but transactions between related parties should
be at “arm’s length”.
13. Taxes withheld abroad can be credited against corresponding Cyprus tax even in cases
where there is no double tax treaty between Cyprus and the other country. Also, where tax was
withheld on dividends by an EU country the tax credit includes the share of tax paid on the gains
of the company paying the dividend and the gains of its subsidiaries.
14. Losses
Can be offset against other sources of income
Can be carried forward for five years
Losses of a company can be set off against profits of another company of the same
Group (Group of Cyprus tax-resident companies).
World-wide losses can be set off against taxable income of the same year or carried
forward
15. Reorganisations, Mergers, Acquisitions, Amalgamations
The Law adopted the Merger Directive of the European Union, but took into account emerging
EU policies. The Law covers domestic and foreign reorganisations, and reorganisations abroad
that have effect in Cyprus; these are exempted from all taxes including Capital Gains Tax, VAT,
Stamp Duties, and Land Transfer Fees.
16. Capital Gains
Capital gains are not taxable in Cyprus except for the 20 % tax on gains on immoveable
property that is located in Cyprus, and on any gain from the sale of shares in companies that
own, directly or indirectly, immoveable property in Cyprus. All other gains of a capital nature arenot taxable.
17. Dividends Received by a Company
a. Participation Exemption:
Defence contribution, another form of taxation, is imposed as follows:
17% on dividends received. Nil if received from a non-resident company. The exemption will not
apply if the paying company derives more than 50% of its income from investments, and foreign
tax on its income is substantially lower than the tax that is payable in Cyprus on the dividends
received.
b. Dividends from foreign companies
Such dividends will not be exempt from income tax if the dividends were allowed as a tax
deduction in the country of residence of the paying company, in which case, then (a.) above will
not apply.