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Cyprus
| Location | Cyprus is an island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. |
| Time Zone | Greenwich Mean Time +2. |
| Population | 802,000. |
| Capital | Nicosia. |
| Airport | Larnaca Airport and Pafos Airport. |
| Language | Greek and Turkish are the official languages but English is widely spoken. |
| Currency | Euro. |
| Dialing Code | +357. |
| Centre's Expertise | Financial centre, double tax treaties, tax incentives, lowest tax in EU. |
| Political System | Democratic Republic member of the EU. |
| Legal System | Based on common law and harmonised to Acquis Communautaire. |
| Personal Income Tax | Depending on income. Maximum 30%. |
| Corporate Income Tax | 10% on profits. |
| Exchange Restrictions | None. |
| Tax Treaties | Double taxation treaty access. |
| Permitted Currencies | Any. |
| Minimum Authorised Capital | No minimum. |
| Minimum Share Issues | Usually one thousand. |
| Shelf Companies | Available. |
| Incorporation Time Scale | 5 to 10 days with acceleration fee, subject to name approval. |
| Incorporation Fees | Depends on the authorised share capital of the company, at the rate of 0.6%. |
| Annual Fees | Annual return filing fee (€17). |
| Minimum Number | One. |
| Residency Requirements | Local not required but advisable for tax purposes. |
| Corporate Directors | Yes. |
| Meetings/Frequency | Obligations for annual meeting. |
| Disclosure | Names of the shareholders disclosed. Use of nominees possible. |
| Bearer Shares | No. |
| Minimum Number | One. |
| Public Share Registry | Publicly accessible records. |
| Meetings Frequency | Written decisions signed by all directors possible. |
| Annual Return | Yes. |
| Audit Requirements | Yes, small companies – as defined – are exempt. |
| Registered Office | Yes. |
| Domicile Issues | Yes. |
| Company Naming Restrictions | Any word that the registrar considers undesirable or that is similar or identical to an existing company name, or that implies legal activity or royal or government patronage. Any words, among others, which include ‘asset management’, ‘assurance’, ‘bank’, ‘credit’, ‘dealer’ etc. |
| | The Cyprus Holding Company |
| | Christos Mavrellis on the extra advantages a Cyprus holding company has over its competitors. (09/02/2010) |
| | The Cyprus holding company |
| | Christos Mavrellis outlines the Cyprus holding company’s use as a vehicle in international tax planning. (01/06/2009) |
| | Cyprus: Looking forward |
| | Christodoulos G. Vassiliades provides an overview of what advantages Cyprus offers as an International Financial Services Centre (09/01/2008) |
| | Cyprus: An international crossroads |
| | Christodoulos Vassiliades outlines the legislative and regulatory framework of the jurisdiction (01/09/2007) |
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