Cyprus

Cyprus combines EU membership with an English-derived common-law system, a competitive 12.5% corporate income tax rate, and one of the broadest double-tax treaty networks in the region. The private company limited by shares under the Companies Law, Cap. 113, modeled on English company law, is the workhorse holding and treaty-access vehicle for inbound and outbound investment into Europe, the CIS region and beyond. Substance in the underlying structure now matters as much as the rate, so we frame any Cyprus structure with that in mind and coordinate it with Cyprus-admitted advocates.

A Cyprus International Trust is settled under the International Trusts Law as amended and used for succession, asset protection and confidential wealth holding. The statute allows reserved powers, protects against forced-heirship and foreign claims, and leaves drafting flexibility; Cyprus has ratified the Hague Trust Convention. The practical point is that the trust is only as strong as its administration: a regulated trustee must run it, and the terms should be settled by Cyprus-admitted advocates before an asset moves in.

Yes. A Cyprus Alternative Investment Fund (AIF), Registered AIF (RAIF) or UCITS is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission under the EU AIFMD and UCITS frameworks, so the manager can passport across the single market from a cost-competitive domicile. In practice, choosing between a Registered AIF and an authorized AIF or UCITS sets how long the launch takes and what the vehicle costs to run. We help assemble the authorized manager, administrator and depositary from licensed providers.

Hart David Carson does not maintain an office in Cyprus. We act as facilitator and project lead through a facilitation and partner network of Cyprus-admitted advocates, licensed administrative service providers, regulated trustees, fund administrators and accountants. Locally admitted advocates and licensed providers carry the regulated mandate and provide the substantive Cypriot legal advice; we coordinate the moving parts to one standard.

Cyprus offers EU banking with SEPA and euro access, but onboarding has tightened markedly following sector reforms, with enhanced anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing diligence, demonstrable economic substance, and detailed source-of-funds and source-of-wealth review. Realistic preparation of the structure and supporting evidence is essential. We coordinate introductions through licensed providers and do not promise any particular bank outcome.

Cyprus taxes corporate income at 12.5%, with a notional interest deduction on new equity, an OECD-compliant IP-box regime and participation exemptions for qualifying dividends and gains. An extensive double-tax treaty network sits on top, and Cyprus participates in the OECD Common Reporting Standard, FATCA and the OECD minimum-tax measures. In practice, treaty relief depends on showing substance in Cyprus, so the cost of real presence belongs in the model. Cypriot tax advisers confirm the positions before anything is implemented.