The New Cyprus India Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA)

After some years of tough negotiations, the new Cyprus India Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) has been signed on 18 November 2016. The new Cyprus India DTAA is expected to re-boost trade and investment activities between the two countries.

The new Cyprus India Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) came into force on 1 January 2017 in Cyprus and on 1 April 2017 in India, where the financial year ends on 31 March. The new DTAA replaces the old one from June 1994.

 

New DTAA Cyprus India: Exchange of Information

The implementation of the Article 26 of the OECD model Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement is probably the most important amendment, as it ensured the rescindment of Cyprus from India’s black list of non-cooperative countries, to which Cyprus had been added on 01/11/2013.

The new Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between Cyprus and India now provides for the exchange of information and mutual assistance for tax collection.

New DTAA Cyprus India: The Importance of Substance

As everywhere in the world, India started to challenge aggressive tax planning that is based on profit shifting to companies in jurisdictions with lower taxation, but such companies having no economic activities and no substance. The new Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between Cyprus and India focuses on the necessity of substance. Furthermore, both India and Cyprus have signed and started to implement the provisions of the BEPS Initiative (Base Erosion and Profit Sharing Initiative).

New DTAA Cyprus India: Associated Enterprises

Where an enterprise of a Contracting State participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise in the other Contracting State, or a person of a Contracting State participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise in the other Contracting State, and conditions of commercial or financial transaction between the two enterprises are differing from those that would be made between independent enterprises (= arm’s-length principle), the profits of the enterprise in the other Contracting State may be taxed in the Contracting State). The tax authorities of the other Contracting State may grant a tax credit for such taxes paid in the Contracting State (Article 9 of the new Cyprus India Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement.

Example: When the managers of an Indian company participate directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of a Cyprus company that is associated with the Indian company, then the profits of the Cyprus company may be taxed in India, and Cyprus may grant a respective tax credit to the Cyprus company.

New DTAA Cyprus India: Capital Gain Tax

The Article 13 of the new Cyprus India Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) provides for taxation of capital gains as following:

Gains from the alienation of immovable property may be taxed in the State where the immovable property is situated.

Gains from the alienation of shares of company that derives its income mainly from immovable property may be taxed in the country where the immovable property is situated.

Especially interesting is the Paragraph 5 of the Article 13: Gains from the disposal of shares in a company of a Contracting State may be taxed in that State. In other words: When a person resident of India alienates shares in a Cyprus company, the gains from this alienation may be taxed in Cyprus. However, gains from the disposal of securities, including company shares, are not taxable in Cyprus.

The Paragraph 5 of the Article 13 puts Cyprus in the position of an ideal place for holding companies of Indian residents. It furthermore provides substantial advantages for the setup or investment in funds or fund companies in Cyprus, including Alternative Investment Funds (AIF).

New DTAA Cyprus India: Withholding Tax

The new Cyprus India Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement stipulates that dividends, interest and royalties may be taxed in the Contracting State that receives the income. However, such dividends, interests and royalties may also be taxed in the Contracting State of which the paying company paying is a resident, as per the laws of that State (= Withholding Tax). In cases when the beneficial owner of the amounts is a resident of the Other Contracting state, then the tax so charged is not to exceed 10 % of the gross amount of dividends, interests or royalties.

It is important to mention that the Withholding Tax concerns Indian parties only, as Cyprus does not impose Withholding Tax, except on Cyprus sourced royalty payments.

The DTAA between Cyprus and India also provides for the restriction of relief to the arm’s length principle for payments of interest and royalties between related enterprises.

Outlook

The new Cyprus India Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) and the fact that Cyprus has been rescinded from India’s black list provide a strong regulatory basis for Indian companies and investors to benefit from the jurisdiction Cyprus in context with their global tax planning and structuring of investments.

The new DTAA between Cyprus and India provides also an excellent framework to use Cyprus companies as a gateway to the markets of the EU.

 

Previous interesting News Articles related to India:

  • India removed Cyprus from tax blacklist

  • Cyprus Startup Visa for third country nationals

  • Shanda Consult visiting Mumbai and Delhi

The experienced team of Shanda Consult will be happy to further advise clients from India and to assist in the formation of Cyprus Companies, Cyprus Investment Firms and Alternative Investment Funds. Please do not hesitate to contact us.