International Business Company (IBC) Types
Our team of experts will assist and advise you to decide the type of International Business Company (IBC) which satisfies your business requirements.
TYPES OF CYPRUS IBC COMPANIES
- TRADING / RE-INVOICING
- CONSULTANCY
- EMPLOYMENT
- HOLDING
- INVESTMENT
- FINANCE
- SECURITIES TRADING
- INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
- REAL ESTATE
TRADING / RE-INVOICING
International trading is one of the most commonly used examples where a Cyprus IBC can be used. An intermediary Cyprus IBC can be placed in between a Buyer and a Seller. In this way, taxable profits can be transferred from a high tax jurisdiction to one with low taxes. The trading will continue with the goods moving directly from the seller to the final buyer and the documents through the intermediary Cyprus IBC company.
The addition of a Cyprus IBC in the commercial chain can be suitable for a seller or a buyer. Both the seller and the buyer can use an intermediary IBC to reduce taxes paid on the profits arising from the trading in their home countries.
It must be mentioned that the transactions with the intermediary company should be entered into on terms and conditions which could be obtained on an open market basis from independent third parties.
For trading within Europe it is necessary to register the company for VAT purposes. We can assist you to register with the VAT Authorities in Cyprus and we can administer the VAT documentation.
The advantages of Trading and Re-invoicing Cyprus IBC’s are the following:
Movement of goods
Goods are not necessary to be physically delivered to Cyprus. They are delivered directly to their destination.
VAT registration
VAT registration in Cyprus with EU VAT registration number.
Trading Profits
Trading profits will be subject to corporation tax at the rate of 12,5% after deducting all relevant expenses.
Dividends distributed
No withholding tax on dividends distributed to non-resident shareholders of Cyprus Companies.
Interest paid
No withholding tax on interest paid by a Cyprus Company to non-resident creditors.
SECURITIES TRADING
Cyprus has a favorable tax regime for IBC’s trading in securities worldwide.
The advantages of a Cyprus IBC used to buy and sell securities such as bonds and shares worldwide, listed in a stock exchange or not, are the following:
Profit from the sale of securities
Profits realized by a Cyprus IBC from the sale of shares, bonds and other securities are exempt from tax.
The only exemption applies, and taxation at 20% will take place, if and to the extent that a profit is realized upon the sales of shares in certain companies owning Cyprus real estate.
Dividends distributed
No withholding tax on dividends distributed to non-resident shareholders of Cyprus Companies.
Withholding taxes
No withholding taxes on payments out of Cyprus.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Intellectual Properties (IP) can be one of the most valuable assets of an organization. Cyprus offers an efficient Intellectual Property Tax regime combined with the protection offered by EU Member States and by the signatories of all major Intellectual Property treaties and protocols.
The Cyprus Intellectual Property Taxation
The Intellectual Property taxation includes a wide range of intangibles:
- Copyrights (literary works, dramatic works, musical works, scientific works, artistic works, sound recordings, films, broadcasts, published editions, databases, publications, software programmes)
- Patented inventions
- Trademarks designs and models that are used or applied on products
Intellectual Properties are not necessary to be registered in Cyprus to benefit from Intellectual Property regime of Cyprus.
Tax benefits of Intellectual Property of Cyprus companies
The tax provisions provide exemptions from tax of income related to Intellectual Property. More specifically:
- 80% of worldwide royalty income generated from Intellectual Property owned by Cyprus resident companies (net of any direct expenses*) is exempt from income tax
- 80% of profit generated from the disposal of Intellectual Property owned by Cyprus resident companies (net of any direct expenses*) is exempt from income tax
- Any expenditure of a capital nature for the acquisition or development of Intellectual Property is claimed as a tax deduction in the year in which it was incurred and the immediate four following years on a straight-line
- All the above exemptions are also available for Intellectual Properties acquired or developed before January 2012
*Direct expenses include finance costs to acquire/develop Intellectual Property and annual tax amortization.
The EU Directives and Regulations relating to Intellectual Property protection apply and have been introduced into Cyprus local legislation. With a single Intellectual Property registration in Cyprus, Intellectual Property rights owned by Cyprus companies may enjoy full protection in all EU Member States.
Cyprus is signatory to the following international conventions relevant to Intellectual Property
- European Community Trademarks
- Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)
- The Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (the Madrid Agreement) and Protocol to the Madrid Agreement
- The Patent Cooperation Treaty
- Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works
- Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property
- Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms against Unauthorised Duplication of Their Phonograms
- WIPO Performance and Phonograms Treaty
- Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organisations
- Trademark Law Treaty
- WIPO Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances
REAL ESTATE
In certain jurisdictions the use of an IBC owning a real estate will minimize or eliminate capital gains taxes, inheritance taxes and income taxes.
The advantages of a Cyprus non-resident Company are the following:
Capital Gains Tax
Gains from the disposal of immovable property situated outside Cyprus including gains from the disposal of shares in companies which own such immovable property are exempt from capital gains tax in Cyprus.
Dividends Distributed
No withholding tax on dividends distributed to non-resident shareholders of Cyprus Companies.