by Svetlana » Wed Feb 08, 2006 1:33 pm
Hi Vicky
The following items are incorrect:
Non-Cypriot citizens are permitted to acquire:
A. an Apartment
B. a House*
C. A piece of Land on which to build a House** with restrictions (not exceeding 3 donums = 4014sq.m)
Non-Cypriots who are EU Nationals have no restrictions on what they may purchase, providing they reside in Cyprus.
There is no restriction on how much land an EU National can buy, whether they are resident or not.
Permission to buy property must be sought from the Council of Ministers by a written application from the foreign buyer, after the contract of sale is completed and signed.
No-one now needs to apply to the Council of Ministers:
EU Nationals, who reside or intend to reside in Cyprus do not have to make any application.
Non-Residents apply to the District Administrative Office.
The prospective buyer needs to apply for the consent of the Council of Ministers (form 145) as well as a permit from the Central Bank of Cyprus, concerning the transfer of funds
Evidence of payment for the property with Foreign Exchange must be provided as a prerequisite for the registration.
Not so.
TRANSFER FEES
Transfer fees are paid to the District Land Office by the purchaser on the sale price upon transfer of the property with the following scale:
VALUE OF PROPERTY £
TRANSFER FEES
Up to £50,000
3.0%
From £50,001 – £100,000
5.0%
From £100,001 >
8.0%
It fails to mention that the 3% and 5% bands are doubled when the property is registered in more than one name.
SELLING OF PROPERTY
Purchased property by a foreigner can be sold at any time in the future and the sales proceeds can be remitted overseas.
The equivalent of the full purchased price can be remitted immediately while the remaining balance from the sale can be remitted at the rate of £10,000 per year, starting from the year after sale.
Not so.
VALUE ADDED TAX
V.A.T rate 15% applies on all new constructions as from 1st May 2004.
No, VAT only applies to properties where a Planning Permit was not applied for, before 1st May 2004, which is very different.
In describing allowances against Capital Gains Tax, you say the Personal Allowance increase to £20,000 if the property is registered 'by a husband and wife'; the £20,000 allowance applies whether the two (or more) regsitered owners are husband and wife or not.
lana