Tax Planning for Investment in Central and Eastern Europe
The revolutionary events throughout Central and Eastern Europe continue to have a profound effect on businesses worldwide. The opportunities for western companies are unprecedented and as the economic restructuring of the Central and East European countries continues, many new opportunities and challenges are created.
The unique network of Cyprus double tax treaties with almost all Central and East European countries in conjunction with the tax advantages offered to Cyprus businesses and ship owning companies, make Cyprus an ideal stepping stone for western investors intending to do business or invest in Central and Eastern Europe.
The table below shows the withholding tax rates applicable to payments out of these countries to Cyprus as compared to the withholding tax applicable to non-treaty countries.
WITHHOLDING TAXES ON PAYMENTS FROM
CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
|
Country
|
Dividends
|
Interest
|
Royalties
|
|
To
Cyprus
%
|
To
Non-treaty countries(1)
%
|
To
Cyprus
%
|
To
Non-treaty countries(1)
%
|
To
Cyprus
%
|
To
Non-treaty countries(1)
%
|
Armenia |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
Belarus |
5/10/15 |
15 |
5 |
10 |
5 |
15 |
Bulgaria |
5 |
5 |
7 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
Czech Republic |
10 |
15 |
10 |
15 |
5 |
15 |
Hungary |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Kyrgyzstan |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
30 |
Montenegro |
10 |
15 |
10 |
5 |
10 |
15 |
Poland |
10 |
19 |
10 |
20 |
5 |
20 |
Romania |
10 |
16 |
10 |
16 |
5 |
16 |
Russia |
5 |
15 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
20 |
Serbia |
10 |
15 |
10 |
15 |
10 |
15 |
Slovakia |
10 |
0 |
10 |
19 |
5 |
19 |
Slovenia |
10 |
15 |
10 |
15 |
10 |
15 |
Tajikistan |
0 |
12 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
15 |
Ukraine |
0 |
15 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
15 |
Uzbekistan |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
20 |
Notes:
- The non-treaty rate depends on the law of each state and it may be subject to change.