CYPRUS

Cyprus is not a zero tax jurisdiction, but rather a low tax jurisdiction. This beautiful island in located in the Mediterranean Ocean offers an extensive double tax treaty network that makes it ideal when it comes to tax planning and additionally is a member of the EU and thus it will not be frowned upon.

The Principal Corporate Legislation is the Companies Law, Cap. 113 (as amended). The international trade and investment companies that can be incorporated under the Companies Law, Cap 113 (amended) are as follows:

Public Companies;

Private Companies - up to 50 Shareholders;

Offshore Companies – the most interesting now for international operations. A Cyprus "offshore" company is defined as an otherwise normal Cyprus company which is owned by non-residents of Cyprus and does business mainly outside the island.

Among the particular features of the Cyprus Company we find:

1. The powers and objects of a Cyprus company are contained within the Memorandum of Association and have to be specific. The languages of legislation and corporate documentation are English and Greek. Off-the-shelf companies are available;
2. The company must maintain a registered office address within Cyprus;
3. The company must also appoint a company secretary who, for practical reasons, is advisable to be resident in Cyprus;
4. The Company cannot engage in banking, insurance or the provision of financial services to the public unless special permission is granted;

1. The Company cannot trade with resident individuals or companies located in Cyprus other than in relation to the maintenance of premises or banking and professional services.
2. Company names are subject to the following requirements: names may be expressed in any language that uses the Latin or Greek alphabet if the Registrar is in receipt of a Greek or English translation and the name is not deemed undesirable; Any name that is identical or similar to an existing company name is not acceptable; Any name that implies illegal activity or implies royal or government patronage is not permitted. The following words or their derivatives are restricted: Asset Management, Asset Manager, Assurance, Bank, Banking, Broker, Brokerage, Capital, Credit, Currency, Custodian, Custody, Dealer, Dealing, Deposit, Derivative, Exchange, Fiduciary, Finance, Financial, Fund, Future, Insurance, Lending, Loan, Lender, Option, Pension, Portfolio, Reserves, Savings, Security, Stock, Trust or Trustees. The following names or their derivatives and foreign language equivalents require consent or a license: Bank, Trust, Building Society, Insurance, Assurance, Reinssurance. The suffix Limited or Ltd. denoting limited liability must be included.
3. The minimum number of directors is one. The directors may be natural persons or corporate bodies. In order to obtain relief under the taxation treaties signed by Cyprus, the Company needs to be Cyprus resident, and must have a majority of its directors based in Cyprus;
4. The minimum number of shareholders is one;
5. The details of directors and shareholders appear on the public files but anonymity can be retained by the use of third party directors and nominee shareholders. Bank references for the beneficial owners must be submitted to the Central Bank of Cyprus. However, this information is protected by secrecy laws;
6. The share capital must be expressed in Cyprus pounds. The minimum authorized share capital of a Cyprus offshore company is CYP 1,000;
7. For companies wishing to establish a physical presence in Cyprus, the minimum is CYP 10,000;
8. The following classes of shares are permitted in Cyprus: registered shares, shares with par value, preference shares, redeemable shares, and shares with no voting rights. It should be emphasized that bearer shares are not permitted;
9. Taxation rules imply that by virtue of special provisions in the Cyprus Income Tax Laws, the net chargeable profits of Cyprus Offshore Companies are taxed at a rate of 10%;
10. One of the great benefits of Cyprus Companies is that Cyprus has signed a large number of double-tax treaties which provide for reduced or zero withholding taxes on dividends, interest or royalties paid to a Cyprus Company. There are treaties with Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, the Czech Republic & Slovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Malta, Mauritius, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia (including all the CIS countries except for Kazakhstan), Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, UK, USA and the former Yugoslavia. Double taxation treaties with Kazakhstan and Finland are currently being negotiated;
11. License fees are not applicable in Cyprus;
12. An annual return giving details of all those who have held shares throughout the year and the current directors must be filed and submitted to the Cyprus Taxation Authority and the Central Bank of Cyprus. In addition, every Cyprus Company must prepare audited accounts and submit these to the Central Bank and the income tax office.

FEES FOR REGISTRATION	US$
One Cyprus company, door to door courier included	$2.345,00

The aforementioned fee also includes the following:

- Verification of the proposed names for the company at the registrar

- Memorandum and Articles

- Certificate of Formation

- Share certificates

- Share register

- First minutes

- Power of attorney

- Undated and signed resignation letter from the nominee director

- First year of the license fee.

The nominee director service is rendered free of any cost to you for the first year.

OPTIONAL SERVICES	US$
Corporate documents with Apostille	$280,00
Twelve (12) months of Virtual Office (Mail forwarding from a
PO Box in Panama)	$350,00
Bank account in:
Panama	$500,00
Bahamas	$600,00
Belize	$600,00
Cyprus	$600,00
Seychelles	$600,00
Nevis	$600,00
St. Vincent and The Grenadines	$600,00
St. Lucia	$600,00
Switzerland	$600,00
Austria	$600,00
RENEWAL FEES	US$
With nominee director, registered agent and annual license fee
payable to the government of Cyprus	$950,00
Without nominee director, registered agent and annual license
fee payable to the government of Cyprus	$850,00