Tax Regime
Unlike other countries in Europe, a Cyprus Holding Company must only hold at least 1% of the share capital of a foreign entity in order to receive the tax benefits awarded by the new tax reform.

New Tax Legislation
A uniform 10% corporate tax rate, applicable to the worldwide income, is now levied on all resident companies from the 1st of January, 2003. This is the lowest corporate tax rate in the European Union and thus the most advantageous standard rate of corporation tax for Cyprus.

The taxation status of a Company is residence-based. A company is only “resident in the Republic” if its business is centrally managed and controlled in Cyprus . Under the new rules, a resident corporation is taxable on its worldwide income accrued or arising from sources both within and outside Cyprus , if it is managed and controlled from Cyprus.

In view of the current tax legislation, the Holding International Business Companies operating from Cyprus are now in a much more beneficial position because they can enjoy the benefits deriving from the tax exceptions as well as the corporate tax benefits by virtue of the tax legislation.

Tax Exemptions

Interest received
100% of interest received (up to 31 December 2008 - 50%) by a corporation is tax exempt, excluding interest received from the recipient's ordinary course of business or closely connected with the recipient's ordinary business.

Dividends received
Dividends received from abroad are totally exempt from corporation tax by virtue of the tax legislation. Furthermore, they are also exempt from the 15% defence contribution provided that the direct holding is at least 1% of the share capital of the overseas company, the paying company is directly or indirectly engages in more than fifty per cent (50%) activities that produce non-investment income and the foreign tax burden is not substantially lower than that in Cyprus.

Restructuring provisions
Following the adoption of the EC Merger Directive 90/434/EEC into the tax law, there are tax exemptions on the transfer of assets (including shares) under a reorganisation (merger / de-merger / transfer of assets).

Gains on shares and Capital Gains Tax
Profits from buying and selling shares are exempt from tax. Furthermore, there is no capital gains tax except for the 20% capital gains tax applying on gains accruing from disposal of immovable property held in Cyprus and shares in non-listed companies, which own immovable property in Cyprus.

Permanent establishment abroad
The profits from a permanent establishment abroad are exempt from taxation. The exemption does not apply if (i) the Permanent establishment directly or indirectly engages in more than fifty per cent (50%) in activities that produce investment income, and (ii) the foreign tax burden is substantially lower than that in Cyprus.

Cyprus Branches of Companies
Following the accession of Cyprus to the EU, double taxation relief is available to all Cyprus branches, of companies resident in other member states in the European Union, since there is no discrimination between the companies' resident in a Member state and the branches of such companies' residence in another member state.

Distributions by Cyprus Holding Companies
Dividends paid to non-resident shareholders are exempt from withholding tax. In fact, Cyprus does not impose withholding taxes on payments of dividend, interest and royalties (under certain conditions and provided the intellectual property rights are not used in Cyprus) to non-resident recipients that live in Countries with which Cyprus has a Double Tax Treaty.

Corporate Tax Benefits - Carry forward of Losses
Tax losses may be carried forward indefinitely. Losses incurred abroad by a permanent establishment of a Cyprus company can be offset against profits of the Cyprus Company.

Group relief
The Group relief rules are now enacted, providing for group relief of tax losses between a holding Company and its subsidiaries in the event where the Holding Company owns at least 75% of the Subsidiary directly or indirectly and/or otherwise among companies of the same group for the whole year. However, losses brought forward will not be available for Group Relief.

By virtue of the above rules a company is considered as a member of a group if it is at least a 75% subsidiary of the other, or both companies are at least the 75% subsidiaries of a third company.

Network of Double Tax Treaties
Cyprus combines a low-tax regime with a network of double tax treaties. It has concluded the highest number of double tax treaties compared to any other offshore jurisdiction, particularly with Central and Eastern European Countries and a number of Middle Eastern countries. Most of the Treaties follow the OECD model and all of them have the impact of reducing or eliminating the normal withholding taxes imposed by the Contracting states on dividends, interest and royalty payments. This is beneficial for trade with certain Eastern European Countries and Russia because foreign investors investing in Eastern Europe have the opportunity to channel their investments through Cyprus, which has treaties with the investment recipients allowing for a reduction and in some cases elimination of the withholding taxes.

Conclusion
Cyprus as a European low tax jurisdiction, is a suitable place for locating an intermediary company due to the island's combination of tax treaties and low-tax regime. Dividends can flow through the Cyprus company totally tax exempt and the company can be used to take advantage of the extensive network of double tax treaties.