registering for tax in cyprus

[smudger]

Hhmmmm, yes, a Cypriot stamp which cost just Cy 1 when I did mine in 2006!!

[jeba]

Jeba if you are resident in Cyprus for 183 days or more then you are liable to pay tax here, that's the law.

You only have to register if you have taxable income, not just because you are a tax resident. As a non-domiciled resident I for instance don´t have taxable income as all my income is derived from sources which aren´t taxable here.

[Poppy]

As I have already stated Bassman62 it is easy peasy to re-register on returning to the UK. I rang them but I believe that you can do it all on line. It was all sorted within a week, even giving me some of my husbands allowance and I started paying tax here on my first pension received.

[jeba]

Jeba if you are resident in Cyprus for 183 days or more then you are liable to pay tax here, that's the law. When you leave the UK you need to fill in a form, the number of which escapes me at the mo, but this will trigger any refunds you may be due from the UK. The tax office here will need a copy of this form, presumably so that they know you have actually exited the UK tax system.

Spot on Smudger, I thinking is the NT 1 form, which you complete and take to the Cypriot tax office who will sign and authorise it...hence the €80 stamp...which is a bit of a con! but hey oh.....The Tax office here in paphos were very helpful and sent the form off for me. I received an acknowledge from HMRC, and was refunded my over paid tax which more than compensated the €80!

Maybe this is some special rule for Brits (I´m not British)?

[jeba]

I have that info from my own experience and the notes of the DT Individual form. The process is that you complete the form, give it to the Cypriot tax office, they send it to the UK, and the loop is closed. If you don't register you will continue to be taxed by the UK tax office. Even if you don't have an income sufficient to be taxed in the UK, you may still pay tax on bank interest. If you register with the Cypriot tax office then income from the UK (e.g. pension, bank interest, dividends) will be under a personal UK tax code of NT (no tax).

That makes me think even more that it´s some special rule for Brits which doesn´to apply to everybody. I´m German and will always have to pay tax in Germany on my income derived from there, no matter how many forms I submit in Cyprus and whether or not I register with the tax departement.

[jeba]

I wish I could also opt for having Cypriot tax rules applied to me rather than German ones. I´d happily pay the € 80 fee.

[geoffreys]

I wish I could also opt for having Cypriot tax rules applied to me rather than German ones. I´d happily pay the € 80 fee.

Lobby your German MP/MEP to get Germany to have a DT agreement with Cyprus.
Cyprus has DT agreements with several other EU Member States.
Geoff.

[Varky]

I wish I could also opt for having Cypriot tax rules applied to me rather than German ones. I´d happily pay the € 80 fee.

I am surprised that Germany does not have such a Double Tax Agreement with, not only Cyprus, but other countries. UK has such an agreement with many countries and I thought it was the norm also in other countries.

Instead of railing against the Brits getting 'special' treatment, perhaps you should be making representation to the German government to make similar tax agreements. Surely people, not only Brits, should not be taxed internationally twice on the same income.

[jeba]

I am surprised that Germany does not have such a Double Tax Agreement with, not only Cyprus, but other countries. UK has such an agreement with many countries and I thought it was the norm also in other countries.

Instead of railing against the Brits getting 'special' treatment, perhaps you should be making representation to the German government to make similar tax agreements. Surely people, not only Brits, should not be taxed internationally twice on the same income.

Where have I been railing against Brits? Please don´t put words into my mouth! And yes, of course Germany does have an agreement for avoidance of double taxation with Cyprus. However, this gives the right to tax German-sourced income to Germany.

[geoffreys]

I am surprised that Germany does not have such a Double Tax Agreement with, not only Cyprus, but other countries. UK has such an agreement with many countries and I thought it was the norm also in other countries.

Instead of railing against the Brits getting 'special' treatment, perhaps you should be making representation to the German government to make similar tax agreements. Surely people, not only Brits, should not be taxed internationally twice on the same income.

Where have I been railing against Brits? Please don´t put words into my mouth! And yes, of course Germany does have an agreement for avoidance of double taxation with Cyprus. However, this gives the right to tax German-sourced income to Germany.

If the DT agreement exists between Germany and Cyprus then you can, under the terms of that agreement, have all your worldwide income taxed in Cyprus (and none of it in Germany); you would have to pay the €80 stamps fee here to do that.
This is EXACTLY the same as us Brits.
I must have missed something here as there does not seem to be a problem at all (???)

Geoff.

[jeba]

If the DT agreement exists between Germany and Cyprus then you can, under the terms of that agreement, have all your worldwide income taxed in Cyprus (and none of it in Germany); you would have to pay the €80 stamps fee here to do that.
This is EXACTLY the same as us Brits.
I must have missed something here as there does not seem to be a problem at all (???)

Geoff.

No, I checked the DTA before I emigrated to Cyprus. It stipulates that income from German sources (e. g. dividends of German companies, rental income from property located in Germany, German pensions) is taxable in Germany. To make it worse, for non-resident taxpayers the tax threshhold is zero (unless you apply to be taxed as a resident which is possible only under certain circumstances (e. g. at least 90% from German sources) and implies that you declare all your worldwide income in Germany and pay tax on it)

[PaphosAL]

Which is what makes the whole thing senseless! Yes, make us all pay tax on everything we buy (luxury goods @ 25%; basic foods and ENERGY @0%)

WHY should we pay tax on our regular income? For example, when I'm up on 5m ladder single handedly fixing fire alarm cables to the walls and ceiling slabs of an open-sided 10 storey new-build in London in February, with a 20-30mph snow blizzard blasting through, then WHY does HMRC want an eventual 40% cut of my daily effort, when they weren't even there, footing my steps or ladder to assist me?

Grrrrrrrrr

[Varky]

I am surprised that Germany does not have such a Double Tax Agreement with, not only Cyprus, but other countries. UK has such an agreement with many countries and I thought it was the norm also in other countries.

Instead of railing against the Brits getting 'special' treatment, perhaps you should be making representation to the German government to make similar tax agreements. Surely people, not only Brits, should not be taxed internationally twice on the same income.

Where have I been railing against Brits? Please don´t put words into my mouth! And yes, of course Germany does have an agreement for avoidance of double taxation with Cyprus. However, this gives the right to tax German-sourced income to Germany.

Try this "That makes me think even more that it´s some special rule for Brits which doesn´to apply to everybody."

[jeba]

I am surprised that Germany does not have such a Double Tax Agreement with, not only Cyprus, but other countries. UK has such an agreement with many countries and I thought it was the norm also in other countries.

Instead of railing against the Brits getting 'special' treatment, perhaps you should be making representation to the German government to make similar tax agreements. Surely people, not only Brits, should not be taxed internationally twice on the same income.

Where have I been railing against Brits? Please don´t put words into my mouth! And yes, of course Germany does have an agreement for avoidance of double taxation with Cyprus. However, this gives the right to tax German-sourced income to Germany.

Try this "That makes me think even more that it´s some special rule for Brits which doesn´to apply to everybody."

??? I still don´t get you. How else should I express that it seemed to me that this was something specifically applicable to Brits (as opposed to being a general regulation) in the first place and that this suspicion had become even stronger?

[ApusApus]

For example, when I'm up on 5m ladder single handedly fixing fire alarm cables to the walls and ceiling slabs of an open-sided 10 storey new-build in London in February, with a 20-30mph snow blizzard blasting through, then WHY does HMRC want an eventual 40% cut of my daily effort, when they weren't even there, footing my steps or ladder to assist me?

Grrrrrrrrr

Doesn't WAHR have something to say about that?


Shane

[Varky]

Where have I been railing against Brits? Please don´t put words into my mouth! And yes, of course Germany does have an agreement for avoidance of double taxation with Cyprus. However, this gives the right to tax German-sourced income to Germany.

Try this "That makes me think even more that it´s some special rule for Brits which doesn´to apply to everybody."

??? I still don´t get you. How else should I express that it seemed to me that this was something specifically applicable to Brits (as opposed to being a general regulation) in the first place and that this suspicion had become even stronger?

So you admit you are suspicious that the Brits are receiving preferential treatment. As I said originally and then denied by yourself.

[jeba]

Try this "That makes me think even more that it´s some special rule for Brits which doesn´to apply to everybody."

??? I still don´t get you. How else should I express that it seemed to me that this was something specifically applicable to Brits (as opposed to being a general regulation) in the first place and that this suspicion had become even stronger?

So you admit you are suspicious that the Brits are receiving preferential treatment. As I said originally and then denied by yourself.

What do you mean when you say I admit? That makes it sound as if it was something I should be ashamed of. Of course, they are being given preferential treatment as compared to other nationals because "their" DTA is more favourable than those of other countries. That is simply stating a fact and has nothing to do with "railing" against them. I´m not complaning though - it could be much worse. I could e. g. be American or Eritrean. Those countries are taxing the worldwide income of their citizens wherever they reside and whatever DTA might apply to them. Germany at least taxes German-sourced income only.

[geoffreys]

OK, so if you are a German national residing in Cyprus does all this mean there is absolutely no point in registering for DT agreement
status if your income is derived in Germany?
If so what is the point of the DT agreement?
Geoff.

[Poppy]

Sorry Varky but methinks you are out of order.All Jeba was saying is that in his opinion the UK have got a better tax deal with Cyprus than it appears that Germany has. There was no railing against the British at all!!I personally am happy that Jeba is on board to hear view points from a German persons perpective and if I may say so his command of the english language puts many of us Brits to shame.

[Varky]

??? I still don´t get you. How else should I express that it seemed to me that this was something specifically applicable to Brits (as opposed to being a general regulation) in the first place and that this suspicion had become even stronger?

So you admit you are suspicious that the Brits are receiving preferential treatment. As I said originally and then denied by yourself.

What do you mean when you say I admit? That makes it sound as if it was something I should be ashamed of. Of course, they are being given preferential treatment as compared to other nationals because "their" DTA is more favourable than those of other countries. That is simply stating a fact and has nothing to do with "railing" against them. I´m not complaning though - it could be much worse. I could e. g. be American or Eritrean. Those countries are taxing the worldwide income of their citizens wherever they reside and whatever DTA might apply to them. Germany at least taxes German-sourced income only.

OK I get what you say. All would say is that your use of the word 'suspicious' to me infers that you think something illegal or underhand is taking place when all Brits are doing is to follow a legally negotiated agreement.

One question I have is if there is a DT agreement between Germany and Cyprus wherein income arising in Germany is still taxed in Germany does that mean that that income is not taken into account when assessing liability for tax in Cyprus, otherwise I see no advantage in have such an agreement, as geoffreys has already stated.