Cyprus has introduced new rules with respect to establishing the
tax residency of individuals, by an amendment to the Cyprus Income
Tax Law passed in July 2017. It is important to note that although
the law was amended in July 2017, it shall have retrospective
effect as of the 1st January 2017 and as such, it may already be
applicable and beneficial for a number of individuals.
The new provisions of the Income Tax Law define that an individual
will be considered as a Cyprus Tax Resident even if he/she spends
less than 183 days in a tax year in Cyprus, subject to certain
conditions. This is a clear differentiation from the long-standing
principle that an individual would be considered as a Cyprus Tax
Residence only if he/she had spent over 183 days in Cyprus.
The amendment to the Income Tax Law has inserted a new definition
for that "resident in the Republic" means, as
follows:
- An individual who does not stay in
any other state for one or more periods exceeding in aggregate one
hundred and eighty-three (183) days in the same year of assessment
and who is not tax resident in any other state in the same year of
assessment, is considered to be resident of the Republic in that
tax year, provided that he cumulatively meets the following:
- Stays in the Republic for at least sixty (60) days in the year of assessment; and
- Exercises any business in the Republic and/or is employed in the Republic and/or holds an office for a person tax resident in the Republic at any time during the year of assessment; and
- Maintains a permanent residence in the Republic which is owned or rented by him.
It is stressed that the above conditions are cumulative in nature and the individual needs to ensure that they are all met. It is further provided that an individual, who cumulatively fulfills the aforementioned conditions, is not considered to be tax resident of the Republic in the year of assessment, if in that year the exercise of any business in the Republic and/ or the employment in the Republic and/or the holding of an office for a person tax resident in the Republic is terminated.
Attachments
Vrikis & Associates - Tax Update (Cyprus - Tax Residency Rules) 05.09.2017.pdf 05/09/2017 08:02:06
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.