Category: Cyprus

101 Countries Sign Up For FATCA Network

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) has been in force for a month and still more countries are joining the tax network. So far, 101 countries and financial jurisdictions have either signed or agreed to join FATCA. FATCA is aimed at identifying US taxpayers with offshore bank accounts and investments. Overseas… – Continue reading

Review of patent tax regimes in EU has Irish support

Ireland can adopt ‘wait-and-see’ approach on tax breaks, says Department of Finance Ireland supports the EU review of all patent box regimes – under which certain member states offer tax breaks for intellectual property – and has decided to take a “wait-and-see approach” on the issue until guidance is provided… – Continue reading

First landmark ruling on Indian indirect transfer taxes! Delhi High Court restricts their applicability

The Delhi High Court upholds the non-taxability of gains from sale of shares of overseas entities by the Copal Group to the Moody’s Group. Interpretation of the indirect transfer tax provisions in a restrictive manner. 50% threshold for substantiality based on guidance by OECD/ UN material and Shome Committee Report… – Continue reading

Corporation tax: Rate cut likely as Prime Minister David Cameron set to let Northern Ireland go it alone

Northern Ireland looks set to be handed the power to slash corporation tax in a move with the potential to significantly boost our stuttering economy. In a development which could transform international investment, senior sources in London and Belfast predict that an announcement will be made no later than October… – Continue reading

Cyprus: Cyprus Chapter Of ‘Global Legal Insights – Corporate Tax’ – Second Edition

Despite being among the smallest countries in terms of area and population, over the past 40 years Cyprus has developed into one of the world’s most important financial and business centres. It has numerous advantages, including a strategic location, a mature and transparent legal system based on common law, world… – Continue reading

Russian FM Provides Anti-Offshore Law Update

Russia’s Finance Minister, Anton Siluanov, has told President Vladimir Putin that a new bill to deter Russian tax residents from hiding income offshore is expected to raise about RUB30bn (USD844m) from overseas accounts in Cyprus and the Netherlands. During a Government meeting on July 30, 2014, Siluanov explained that entrepreneurs… – Continue reading

Cyprus: New Cyprus-UAE Double Tax Agreement Takes Effect

New agreement The new double tax agreement between Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates took effect from January 1 2014. For the most part, the agreement reproduces the corresponding provisions of the latest Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Model Tax Convention verbatim. The principal departures from the OECD… – Continue reading

Cyprus: New Double Tax Treaty Between Cyprus And Spain Soon To Enter Into Force

Following the ratification of the double tax treaty (“DTT”) between Cyprus and Spain on March 22nd, the new treaty will come into force three months after the exchange of official notifications and upon completion of the official exchange of the ratified documents between the governments of Spain and Cyprus. Accordingly,… – Continue reading

Cyprus Court Freezes Mechel Owner’s Stake

A Cyprus court has frozen the assets of three offshore entities through which Mechel’s main shareholder and chairman Igor Zyuzin owns a 67.4 percent stake in the indebted steelmaker and coalminer, Interfax news agency reported Monday. Zyuzin is a controlling shareholder in Mechel, which has been hit by weak prices for its products, forcing it to sell loss-making assets and to negotiate delayed… – Continue reading

Cyprus: Cyprus Signs Model 1 IGA With US Treasury

The Inland Revenue Department of Cyprus (“IRD”) will proceed with the signing of Model 1 IGA (Inter Governmental Agreement) with the US Treasury, following the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). The Model 1 IGA requires Foreign Financial Institutions (FFIs) to report all FATCA-related information to their own governmental agencies,… – Continue reading

Cyprus: Cyprus Is Reportedly Close To Concluding An Inter-Governmental Agreement Under The US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) is a US tax measure enacted in 2010 to prevent and detect US tax evasion and improve taxpayer compliance. It targets tax non-compliance by US taxpayers with foreign accounts by imposing a 30% withholding tax on their transactions with foreign financial institutions and… – Continue reading

Malta, Moldova Sign Double Tax Agreement

Maltese Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella met with Moldavian Deputy Prime Minister Natalia Gherman to sign a dual taxation treaty (DTT) and a joint declaration, according to a press release issued by the Maltese Government. The joint declaration confirms Malta’s support for Moldova’s bid for greater integration in the EU…. – Continue reading

Cyprus: Imminent Entry Into Force Of The New Double Taxation Agreement Between Cyprus And Spain

Article 27 of the new double taxation agreement between Spain and Cyprus provides that the agreement will enter into force three months after the exchange of official notifications between the governments concerned that all ratification procedures have been completed. We understand that notifications were exchanged in March, which means that… – Continue reading

FDI from Mauritius to India drying up

India had received in $8.17 bn during April- January 2012-13 Foreign Direct Investment inflows from Mauritius have almost halved during April-January period of last fiscal to $4.11 billion on fears of impact of GAAR and possible re-negotiation of the tax avoidance treaty. India had received in $8.17 billion during April-… – Continue reading

What qualifies as direct investment under Cyprus-Russia double tax agreement?

Introduction Article 10 of the Russia-Cyprus double tax agreement grants taxing rights over dividends to the state of residence of the company paying the dividends (in addition to the state of residence of the recipient). The tax that may be imposed in the state in which the dividends originate is… – Continue reading

New Russian Forex Bill: Offshore Regulation To Be Banned

The schedule of the Russian parliament has been updated yet again and it appears that forex dealing regulation is coming back to the fray. According to recent reports by Russian media there might be some key amendments aimed to limit the participation of brokers residing in offshore financial centres (OFCs)…. – Continue reading

India, Switzerland spar over access to bank accounts information

NEW DELHI: The Indian Tax authorities and the Swiss government could be headed for a showdown over what the Indian side regards as lack of co-operation from the Alpine country over access to information on bank accounts. Last week Finance Minister P Chidambaram wrote to his Swiss counterpart – officials… – Continue reading

Why ‘Londongrad’ Weighs On Britain’s Russia Policy

LONDON — They are the most expensive and luxurious flats in the whole of London. Their ultramodern bay windows offer an unobstructed view onto Hyde Park. An underground corridor connects them to the Mandarin Oriental, the palace where Michelin-starred chef Heston Blumenthal has one of his prized restaurants. In total, the… – Continue reading

Liverpool children’s hospital goes offshore

DESPITE George Osborne’s platitudes to last month’s G20 meeting in Australia – “It is not fair if big companies avoid their taxes by shifting their profits around artificially” – the Eye has discovered that the government has signed its most significant PFI deal to date (a new £190m children’s hospital… – Continue reading

Payment of Annual Fees (€350) in relation to Voluntary Liquidations (Winding up’s) and Compulsory Liquidations

The Bankruptcies and Liquidations Section announces that, with accordance to the Companies (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2011, it will not receive the documents for Voluntary Liquidation, unless they are accompanied by a proof of payment of the Annual Fee of the amount of €350 – for all the pending years,… – Continue reading

Documents reveal Kurchenko’s alleged tax evasion schemes

The young Ukrainian ex-billionaire Serhiy Kurchenko, now widely suspected of being a front man for overthrown President Viktor Yanukovych’s family, clearly liked offshore destinations. His companies registered in offshore zones are now accused of trading in oil products using a tax evasion scheme that cost Ukraine’s government an estimated $1… – Continue reading

Cyprus: Cyprus Signs Five New Double Tax Treaties

As of January 1st 2014, Cyprus entered into five new Double Tax Treaties (DTT’s) with Estonia, Finland, Portugal, Spain and Ukraine expanding its already rich list of DTTs. All the agreements aim to avoid double taxation between the mentioned countries and follow the OECD conventional model on income and capital. The… – Continue reading

PAYMENT OF THE ANNUAL FEE

The Department of Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver announces that as from 2nd April 2014 the payment of the annual fee of three hundred and fifty euros (€350) for the years 2011 and 2014 will be done only through the Department’s website www.mcit.gov.cy/drcor and through JCCsmart. NO payment of the annual… – Continue reading

The Republic of Korea joins TMview

As of 12 February 2014, The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) has made its trade mark data available to the TMview search tool. The integration of KIPO is a concrete result of the International Cooperation programme managed by OHIM in collaboration with its international partners. This last extension brings the… – Continue reading

ELECTRONIC FILING OF DOCUMENTS FOR REGISTRATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES

The Department of the Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver announces that as from 2nd April 2014 the documents for registration of private companies with share capital will be filed only electronically through the Department’s website www.mcit.gov.cy/drcor. The Departments’ Cashier Office WILL NOT receive documents relating to the registration of private… – Continue reading

Switzerland Refuses To Share Information With India On Black Money

BANGALORE: In response to the letter written by finance minister P. Chidambaram, the Swiss finance minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf has informed that the Swiss authorities can’t share the details of the bank accounts held by Indians in Swiss bank without the consent of the account holders, reports Economic Times. An Indian… – Continue reading

Blackmoney: India posts IRS officers in 7 nations except Cyprus

NEW DELHI: As part of its strategy to curb offshore tax evasion and promote foreign investment, India has recently operationalised seven new Income Tax Overseas Units (ITOUs) in countries like Germany, USA and France. A similar Income Tax office in Cyprus has, however, not been activated as India, last year in November, classified the island nation… – Continue reading

Luxembourg: on-shore financial center with a commitment to privacy

Luxembourg has been widely hailed as an international investment center for years. The Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI) provides a number of reasons underlying the country’s designation as a top fund-industry choice. Its legal and regulatory framework for investment funds is recognized for its excellence by the global… – Continue reading