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Cyprus: EU jurisdiction for financial and professional services

The following benchmark table offers a quick overview of how Cyprus compares to other well known global investment jurisdictions, as well as some key source markets. Of course each jurisdiction serves its own unique purpose and caters to a specific niche; with various pros and cons. Some specialise in offshore companies, others in pure corporate or individual tax benefits, and then some are strictly financial centres. Where Cyprus truly differs is its infrastructure for facilitating professional services together with investment benefits. As an EU and Eurozone member state, as well as part of the British Commonwealth group of countries, activities in Cyprus are both credible and proficient; in approach and output.

Indeed, Cyprus has the lowest corporate tax rate in European Union and is the lowest non-investment tax jurisdiction in the world.
As such, it has become one of the most popular destinations in the world for professional services and a true financial centre, combining unique cost and flexibility features while fully complying with the EU Fund regulation and international best practices, as well as listed on the OECD white list of jurisdictions which have substantially implemented the internationally-agreed standards for tax cooperation. In addition, although many of these well-known investment tax jurisdictions have a low or nil corporate tax rate, they do not have extensive double tax treaties such as Cyprus.

	Basis of legal System	Paid Up Capital Requirement	Accounting - Audit Requirement	Taxation (on profits)	Minimum government fees (excluding taxation)	Local directors / Managers required	Double taxation treaty access	Time to form	Ready-made shelf company availability
Cyprus	common	€1,000		12.5%				3 - 5 days
Australia Ltd.	common	Fraction of 1c		30%	AUD 400 1st year AUD 1,000 p.a. thereafter	2		1 - 2 days
Australia Pty.	common	Fraction of 1c		30%	AUD 400 1st year AUD 212 p.a. thereafter	1		1 - 2 days
Bahamas	common	US $1			US $350			5 - 7 days
Belize	common	US $0			US $100			1 - 2 days
British Virgin Islands	common	US $1			US $350 for US $50,000 US $1,100 for US $50,001			2 - 3 days
Hong Kong	common	HK $1		*	US $320 / US $65		**	5 - 7 days
Ireland	common	€1		12.5%	€30			10 days
Isle of Man***	common	£1		0 - 10%	£360		Only UK	3 - 5 days
Jersey	common	£1		0 - 10%	£600			10 - 14 days
Luxembourg S.A.R.L.	civil	€31,000		Varies				1 - 2 days
Malta	civil	€1,165		27.5 - 35%	€100			2 - 3 days
Panama	civil	US $1			US $300			1 - 2 days
Seychelles	hybrid	US $1			US $100			1 - 2 days
Singapore	common	SGD $1		Varies	SGD $365			3 - 5 days
Switzerland	civil	CHF 100,000		8 - 35%				10 days
UK	common	GBP 1 (Private Ltd.) GBP 50,000 (Public Ltd.)		21% - 29.75%	Not applicable			1 - 2 days

* No taxes are levied on incomes earned outside Hong Kong.
** China - Corporate and Personal Income Tax. Belgium,Thailand, Luxembourg - dividends, interest and royalties. Some other Countries - for shipping and aviation.
*** Isle of Mann offers a variety of entities available, including Resident LLC, Limited Partnership, Private Limited, Hybrid, and New Manx Vehicle. Essentially, these entities all have similar requirements. Key differences are that a Limited Partnership requires at least one local director/manager; ready-made shelf companies are not available for Hybrids; except for New Manx Vehicle all must be in GBP currency; Resident LLC must have a minimum of 2 members; and only a Resident LLC offers a certain level of anonymity.

• Each jurisdiction has a minimum requirement of 1 Shareholder.
• Each jurisdiction has a minimum requirement of 1 Director, except in some jurisdictions such as Panama and with an Australian Ltd. where it is 3; as well as Seychelles, Ireland, Isle of Man and a UK Public Limited where it is 2.
• Investment Anonymity: each jurisdiction above offers a certain level of director and shareholder anonymity, except in Australia, the UK, Malta, Luxemburg, Singapore and Hong Kong. In some jurisdictions however, such as the USA, UK, Canada, India, Australia, Malta, Luxemburg, Singapore and Hong Kong, and even Cyprus, it is mandatory for companies to produce yearly audited accounts. At the same time, this makes these tax jurisdictions more credible for the company and offer greater substance.

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