• The main purpose of these treaties is the avoidance of double taxation of income earned in any of these countries. Under these agreements, a credit is usually allowed against the tax levied by the country in which the tax payer resides for taxes levied in the other treaty country, and as a result the tax payer pays no more than the higher of the two rates (a number of the treaties also contain very beneficial “tax-sparing credits”).

• The EU Parent Subsidiary and the Interest & Royalties Directives can be used to eliminate withholding taxes on payments of dividends, interest and royalties from or to EU Group Companies and the EU Merger Directive to eliminate the tax effects of EU Group reorganizations.

Notes

* Payments of dividends and interest to non residents are exempt from withholding tax in Cyprus according to the Cyprus Legislation. Royalties granted for use outside of Cyprus are also free of withholding tax in Cyprus

** 10% in the case of royalties granted for use within the Republic. 5% on film and TV rights

1. 15% if received by a company controlling less than 25% of the voting power
2. 15% if received by a company controlling less than 10% of the voting power
3. NIL if paid to a company controlling at least 50% of the voting power
4. This rate applies if the amount invested by the beneficial owner is over € 200.000 irrespective of the % of voting power acquired. 10% is imposed if received by a holder of at least 25% of the share capital of the paying company. Otherwise the rate is 15%
5. 5% if received by a company controlling at least 10% of the voting power
6. 10% if received by company, which has invested less than $ 100.000
7. NIL if paid to the Government of for export guarantee
8. NIL if paid to the Government of the other State of to financial institution
9. NIL if paid to the Government of the other State or in connection with the sale on credit of any industrial, commercial or scientific equipment or any merchandise by one enterprise to another or in relation to any form of loan granted by a bank or is guaranteed from government or other governmental organisation.
10. NIL if paid to the Government of the other State to a bank or a financial institution or in respect to debt obligations arising in connection with sale of property or the provision of services
11. NIL on literally, dramatic, musical or artistic work with the exception of films used for television programs
12. 5% on film royalties (except films shown on TV)
13. 10% on literary, dramatic, musical, artistic work, films and TV royalties
14. NIL on literary, artistic or scientific work including films

15. 10% on payment of technical fees, management fees and consultancy fees
16. NIL if paid to the Government of the other State, a political subdivision or local authority, the National Bank or any institution the capital of which is wholly owned by the State or political subdivision or local authority or in the form of interest income from bank deposits
17. 10% on interest received from financial institutions, on interest paid in connection with industrial, commercial, scientific equipment or the sale or merchandise between two companies
18. 10% on right to use industrial, commercial or scientific equipment or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience and 15% for patents, trademarks, designs, models, plans, secret formulas or processes
19. 10% if received by a company, which owns less than 25% of the capital
20. This rate does not apply, where 25% or more of the capital of the Cypriot resident is owned directly or indirectly by the Bulgarian resident paying the royalties and the Cyprus company pays less than the normal rate of tax
21. The treaty provides for 25%, but domestic rate of NIL applies since it is lower than the treaty rate
22. The treaty provides that the tax on the gross amount of the dividends shall not exceed that chargeable on the profits out of which the dividends are paid
23. 7% if paid to a bank or similar financial institution. NIL if paid to the government
24. The treaty provides for 15% withholding tax but the local taxation provides for 0% withholding tax
25. NIL if paid to or is guaranteed by the government, statutory body, the Central Bank
26. 5% on film royalties, including films used for television programs
27. The treaty between the Republic of Cyprus and the United Soviet Socialist Republic applies
28. The treaty between the Republic of Cyprus and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia still applies
29. The treaty between the Republic of Cyprus and the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic still applies
30. NIL if the beneficial owner is a company (other than a partnership) which holds directly at least 10% of the capital of the company paying the dividends where such holdings is being possessed for an uninterrupted period of not less than one year. 5% in all other cases
31. The treaty has been ratified and will enter into force during 2014
32. 5% if the beneficial owner has invested in the capital of the company less than the equivalent of € 150.000 at the time of the investment
33. NIL if paid to the Government or to local authority, or to the Central Bank
34. NIL if the beneficial owner is a company (other than a partnership) which holds directly at least 10% of the capital of the company paying the dividends, where such holding is being possessed for an uninterrupted period of no less than 12 months

NIL if the beneficial owner is the other Contracting State or the Central Bank of that other State, or any national agency or any other agency (including a financial institution) owned or controlled by the Government of that other State

NIL if the beneficial owner is a pension fund or other similar institution providing pension schemes in which individuals may participate in order to secure retirement benefits, where such pension fund or other similar institution is established, recognized for tax purposes and controlled in accordance with the laws of that other State. 15% in all other cases

35. NIL if dividend is received by a company (other than a partnership) holding at least 10% of the capital of the dividend paying company. 5% in all other cases
36. NIL if the beneficial owner is a company (other than a partnership) which holds directly at least 10% of the capital of the company paying the dividends, where such holding is being possessed for an uninterrupted period of no less than 24 months. 5% in all other cases
37. 5% if the dividend is received by a company (other than a partnership) which holds directly at least 10% of the voting power in the company paying the dividends. 15% in all other cases

Future

Registered office:  25th March Str. 1st Floor, 2408 Engomi, Nicosia – Cyprus

Address: P.O. Box 25621, 1311 Nicosia – Cyprus
Telephone: +357 22 777802
Fax: +357 22 771469