Last Updated on Sunday, 11 October 2009 09:36
Written by peter
Monday, November 9th, 2009
If you are planning to own an offshore company in Cyprus there is a lot of information that you need to bear in mind concerning Cyprus company formation. There has been a change in the registration and taxation rules which need serious consideration. This is especially important if you plan to set up a company in Cyprus.
Cyprus is a former British colony having received its independence in 1960. It is an island in the Mediterranean Sea located somewhere near the south of Turkey. Cyprus joined and became a part of the European Union in 2004 which has led to the change in its company registration and taxation policies. With the incorporation into the European Union everyone carrying a Cyprus passport gained the status of European citizenship.
Initially taxation of the offshore companies controlled by foreign investor’s mostly depended on the place that the companies were registered. With the introduction of the country’s new legislation the taxation now depends on where the company is controlled and managed from.
The companies controlled and managed from abroad but registered in Cyprus are only taxed on the income that is made in Cyprus. The offshore companies enjoy tax exemption on foreign interest and dividends together with any income from a stable company located abroad and all foreign tax credit and loss offsets acquired abroad. The companies will not be allowed benefits by the double taxation treaty. They will, however, not be subjected to the trade of information rules under those treaties.
Therefore the offshore companies in Cyprus might as well be known as international business companies. In the Cyprus company formation guidelines the approval and acceptance of company names expressed in Greek or any other Latin language but words like asset manager, asset management, assurance, banking, bank, broker, deposit, brokerage, derivative, capital,, credit, fiduciary, financial, finance, fund, insurance, future, pension, reserves, portfolio, security, savings, stock, trustees, trust, lender, loan, custodian, currency, or custody.
The number of directors and shareholders has also been revised. The companies should have a minimum of one director. The director can be a single person or a corporate body. They don’t have to be Cyprus residents. The least number of share holders required is one.
All the companies incorporated in Cyprus should have an office registered in Cyprus. All the Cypriot companies should appoint a secretary to the company. The company secretary may be a single person or a corporate body. The share capital generated for the company should be in Cyprus pounds. The authorized minimum capital share of an offshore company that is issued and paid up is 1000 Cyprus pounds.
Every offshore company in Cyprus is required to obtain a tax number which should be stated in the company invoices after the company has been registered in Cyprus.
The company’s financial statements that have been audited need to be submitted to the central bank of Cyprus and the Cyprus Taxation Authority every year. You can consult the Cyprus government for any more information on Cyprus company formation.
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