The In-House Lawyer Private Client Guide

1. Which factors bring an individual within the scope of tax on income and capital gains?

Taxes on income

An individual who is resident in Cyprus for a particular tax year is liable to income tax on worldwide income, whether that income is remitted to Cyprus or not. Non-residents are subject to income tax on income accruing or arising from sources in Cyprus. However, there is no income tax on dividend and interest income, so if the individual is not domiciled in Cyprus and liable to SDC tax (see below), these categories of income are entirely free of Cyprus taxation.

Special Defence Contribution, commonly known as SDC tax, is payable on dividends, interest (other than interest received as a business activity) and rents receivable. In order to be liable for SDC tax an individual must be both resident and domiciled in Cyprus for the tax year concerned. Individuals who are resident but not domiciled in Cyprus are exempt from SDC tax.