Category: Corporate Services

Background

Dixcart has been approached by many clients wanting to redomicile their companies from other jurisdictions to the UK. 

Re-domiciliation is the process by which a company moves its domicile from one country to another by changing the country under whose laws it is registered.

Changes Being Put in Place to be able to Re-domicile a Company to the UK

Currently, as of February 2022, it is not possible to redomicile a company to the  UK, which has meant that Groups wishing to move business to the UK have had to undertake re-organisations, often crystallising liabilities. 

All this is likely to change in the near future.

The UK Government is determined to strengthen the UK’s position as a global business hub with an open and competitive free market.  The UK Government therefore intends to make it possible for companies to move their domicile, and to relocate to the UK, bringing it in line with other common law countries such as; Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and a number of US States.

Why is the UK Attractive to Corporates?

Clients are attracted to the UK as the UK is a leading destination for investment and business. It has world class regulatory systems, robust corporate law and governance, as well as a competitive corporate tax system especially for holding companies.  Please see our Information Note The UK – A Truly Excellent Holding Company Regime.

A Need to Enhance Reputation

Some Groups with companies incorporated, for historic reasons in offshore jurisdictions, all be it legitimately, have suffered reputational damage by being cited in the Panama and Pandora papers.  As a result many are  keen to redomicile to protect themselves from reputational damage.

Benefits of Re-domiciliation

The act of re-domiciliation enables a company to maximise continuity of its operations while enabling it to shift its place of incorporation.  This enables its corporate history, intellectual and other property rights, contracts and regulatory approvals to remain intact, despite the companies re-domiciliation.

What Happens Next?

The UK Government have just completed an initial consultation and legislation for the introduction of a UK Corporate Re-domiciliation Regime is expected within the next year.

Additional Information

If you would like further information on this subject, please contact Paul Webb: advice.uk@dixcart.com at the Dixcart office in the UK, or your usual Dixcart contact.

Background

Malta has long been a popular choice for companies and new businesses and is a reputable EU jurisdiction. An exceptional package of support and financial incentives is available to innovative companies seeking to establish themselves and/or extend operations within Malta.

 Companies based in Malta have access to national and EU funding. Dixcart Malta can assist with applications to Malta Enterprise, the Government agency which offers support to companies at different stages of their lifecycle.

Please see below a summary of the support, grants and repayable loans that are available, the Dixcart office in Malta can provide further details: advice.malta@dixcart.com

1. Research and Development Feasibility Studies

Research and development initiatives are associated with high risk, and therefore R&D Feasibility Studies are a vital component, to determine that the critical elements of the proposed research project are based on sound principles.

Businesses, employing at least two full-time employees, and intending to carry out an Industrial Research and Experimental Development Project may benefit from financial assistance.

A cash grant is available, for six month projects, to cover the salaries of research personnel, and costs associated with undertaking ‘contractual research and technical knowledge’.

• Businesses carrying out R&D Feasibility Studies can receive up to €50,000 per project, up to a maximum 70% of eligible costs, depending on the size of the business. Aid is capped at €5,000 per full-time employee employed by the applicant at the time of application. In situations where an applicant established his/her company in the twenty-four months preceding the date of application, a grant of up to €20,000, may still be approved, irrespective of the number of full-time employees.

2. Cash Grant Towards Wage Costs 

This grant is designed to support industrial research and/or experimental development carried out to gain knowledge that leads to the development of innovative products and solutions.

Two grants are available:

• A cash grant on wage costs of up to €500,000.
• A tax credit on; instruments, equipment (depreciation costs) and materials and supplies, relating to a contractual research and technical knowledge project that last up to thirty-six months. This grant is available up to a maximum 25-60% of eligible costs, depending on the size of the business.

3. Aid for Research and Development Projects

This incentive allows companies to claim tax credits on costs incurred directly or indirectly in carrying out an R&D project or projects relevant to the company’s trade. Eligible projects must seek to make advances in a field of science or technology through the ‘resolution’ of scientific or technological uncertainty.

• Pre-approval, prior to the commencement of a project, is not required for this grant. This grant is available up to a maximum of 45% of eligible costs, depending on the size of the enterprise with a maximum €15million per project being available. 

4. Financing for Business Development

This incentive is targeted towards companies engaged in; manufacturing, industrial services, digital technology, biotechnology, or in other innovative or high value-added operations, as approved by Malta Enterprise.

• The maximum aid available per business is €200,000 over three rolling fiscal years. The approved financing must be directly related to the operation of the business. It can be used to cover; relocation costs of key personnel, payroll costs, lease and rental of real estate, services directly related to the business operations, rights and licenses, relocation of tangible assets, procurement of tangible assets and utility costs.

5. Skills Development Scheme

This scheme is specifically designed to help companies to provide training to create and update the skills and knowledge of their workforce.

• Support is available in relation to eligible costs, as follows; wage costs of trainees and trainers, direct contact hours of training service providers, air travel expense to send trainees to foreign training locations, air travel expense to bring trainers to Malta, rental of training rooms, tools, and equipment. The grant available  is a maximum of eligible costs; 70% for a ‘small’ business, 60% for a ‘medium’ business, and 50% for a ‘large’ business. The maximum grant available is €2,000,000 per Skill Development Project.

6. Start-up Finance

• Grants of up to €400,000 are available in Malta, unless the business is an innovative business, in which case the potential grant increases to a maximum €800,000.

The following criteria apply:

• the company (following an evaluation by an external expert) must be producing/developing new products/services/processes which are substantially improved OR
• Research and development costs represent at least 10% of the firm’s operational costs, in at least one of the three preceding years, or, in the case of a start-up, in the audit of the fiscal year, preceding the grant.

This ‘grant’ is offered as a repayable advance, unless the company is interested in taking part in the ‘Accelerator Programme’, please speak to Dixcart Malta for further information: advice.malta@dixcart.com.

The repayable advance support can be used to cover several eligible costs:

• Co-investment in payroll costs: to finance up to 75% of the full-time employees’ salaries.
• Co-investment linked to private equity: equivalent to 50% of the increase in share capital from unrelated parties, universities or non-profit research centres or related enterprises. The increase in share capital needs to occur following approval by Malta Enterprise, and not later than twelve months from acceptance of the advance. Disbursements can occur in tranches, linked to milestones established in the initial business plan.
• Support in relation to working capital: up to €200,000, increasing to up to €400,000 in the case of innovative companies.
• Support for the procurement of tangible and intangible assets: Malta Enterprise may award up to 75% of the costs to procure; machinery, equipment  and amortizable, intangible assets. Intangible assets must not exceed 50% of the total investment and are defined as being limited to the procurement of; patents, licences, and know-how.

7. Support Linked to Crowdfunding

• A repayable grant of up to 50% of a project or equity financing increase, that is also being funded through a successful crowdfunding campaign.

The grant may not exceed the amount requested through the campaign, and the beneficiary must notify that s/he has received assistance from ‘Malta Enterprise’. If the beneficiary raises more funds than those featured on the platform, the difference can be deducted from the repayable contribution.

Additional Information 

If you would like further information regarding the support measures for research and development and the opportunities available through the jurisdiction of Malta, please speak to Jonathan Vassallo: advice.malta@dixcart.com at the Dixcart office, in Malta or to your usual Dixcart contact.

Background

Companies based in Malta have access to national and EU funding.

Dixcart Malta can assist with applications to Malta Enterprise, the Government agency which offers support to companies at different stages of their lifecycle. Schemes are available depending on various criteria, including the nature of the project/operation.

Which Sectors are Eligible for Funding?

The main funding options are available for the following sectors: hi-tech, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, education and training, digital innovation and data science.

The hi-tech sector is defined to include: 

• Data hosting services 
• Payment gateway services
• Cybersecurity 
• Cloud-based applications 
• Behaviour analytics 
• Automated multilingual customer service development 
• Big data and AI-driven financial analytics and insights 
• Autonomous, decentralised and intelligent system design 
• Digital games 
• Fintech 
• MedTech

How Are Funding Decisions Reached?

Each situation is assessed on its own merits with Malta Enterprise reviewing numerous criteria and reaching a final decision on a case by case basis.

AI Strategy

The national AI strategy of Malta sets out the long-term objective as being to transform Malta into a leading economy in the field of AI by 2030. This maps the path for Malta to gain a strategic competitive advantage in the global economy as a leader in the AI field and has been built on the following three strategic pillars: 

• Investment, start-ups and innovation 
• Public sector adoption 
• Private sector adoption – three strategic enablers: education and workforce, ethical and legal, and ecosystem infrastructure.

New Niches 

Malta is becoming a home to technologies that will shape the future. Technologies such as: 

• Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) including blockchain 
• MedTech including bioinformatics and medical imaging
• Artificial Intelligence, mainly with a focus on machine learning, natural language processing and speech
• Internet of Things and 5G
• Biometrics 
• Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality 

Malta as a Technology Test Bed

Due to its relatively small size and population, Malta is an ideal micro test bed to enable solutions and service providers to prove their concepts.

Malta incentivises companies to introduce innovative technologies and to help build a new infrastructural future. The Government of Malta continues to invest in bringing the latest technologies to Malta to ensure continuous connectivity.

Malta The Tech Hub in the Mediterranean 

Malta Enterprise is the Maltese Government’s economic development agency, responsible for attracting Foreign Direct Investment whilst also assisting businesses to set-up, grow and continue to expand.

This is achieved through various fiscal and financial incentives that are managed and administered by the agency.

The Advantages Offered by Maltese Companies

In addition, a number of benefits, including several tax efficiencies are available to international companies established in Malta and these are explained fully in the Dixcart Article: What Are the Advantages Available to Companies Established in Malta?

Malta’s Expat Population

Malta as a jurisdiction appreciates the positive contribution being made by expats in helping to achieve its ambitious AI and technology objectives. 

25% of Malta’s population are expats living and working in Malta:

• Expats are active across all economic sectors
• Qualified non-residents are employed in roles that cannot be filled by the local labour market 
• Through the newly launched ‘Qualifying Employment in Innovation and Creativity Tax Programme’, qualified non-residents who earn an annual minimum employment income of €52,000 and pay income tax in Malta, are eligible to a flat tax rate of 15% for a maximum period of three years.

 Additional Information

If you require further information regarding setting up a company in Malta and would benefit from a one-stop-shop of corporate services, including support with funding applications, please speak to Jonathan Vassallo at the Dixcart office in Malta: advice.malta@dixcart.com.

Introduction

Whether you are an overseas business looking to expand into the UK, or already in the UK with plans for an exciting new busines, your time is valuable. Getting the compliance and administrative elements setup at an early stage is crucial to allow the business to grow efficiently, but can be a drain in terms of the time required. 

At the Dixcart office in the UK, our combined team of accountants, lawyers, tax advisers and immigration consultants make this process as easy as possible for you.

Bespoke Advice

As every business is different, there will always be some specific items to consider for your particular business, and taking bespoke professional advice at an early stage will always be the right thing to do. 

Please see below a checklist regarding the key compliance matters that every new UK business looking to take on employees needs to consider. 

Checklist

• Immigration: Unless you are looking to only employ workers already with the right to work in the UK, you may need to consider business related visas, such as a sponsor license or sole representative visa.

• Employment contracts: all employees will need to have an employment contract compliant with UK employment laws.  Many businesses will also need to prepare staff handbooks and other policies.

• Payroll: UK income tax rules, benefits-in-kind, pension auto-enrolment, employer’s liability insurance, all need to be understood and implemented correctly.  Administering a UK compliant payroll can be complex. 

• Book-keeping, management reporting, statutory accounting and audits: well- maintained accounting records will help provide information for considered decision-making and financing and remaining compliant with Companies House and HMRC.

• VAT: registering for VAT and filing, in compliance with requirements, will help ensure there will be no unexpected surprises and, if dealt with promptly, can help with early-stage cash-flow. 

• Commercial contracts: whether an agreement with a; vendor, supplier, service provider or customer, a well prepared and robust contract will help protect your business and ensure it is well placed for any future exit strategy. 

• Premises: whilst many businesses are operating more and more online, many will still require office or warehousing space.  Whether renting or purchasing space we can assist. We also have a Dixcart Business Centre in the UK, which may be helpful if a serviced office is needed, with professional accounting and legal services being available, in the same building.  

Conclusion

Failing to take the right advice at the right time can prove costly in terms of time and finance at a later stage.  By working as one professional team, the information Dixcart UK gain when we provide one professional service can be shared appropriately with other members of our team, so you do not need to have to have the same conversation twice.

Additional Information 

If you require additional information on this topic, please contact Peter Robertson or Paul Webb in the UK office: advice.uk@dixcart.com.

The Aim of this Note

The aim of this Article is to highlight the many other reasons for using Guernsey structures, besides the mitigation of tax leakage for holding UK real estate (and other assets). In the past the focus on the benefits of using Guernsey structures was often concentrated purely on the tax benefits available, whilst ignoring other potential benefits.

What’s Changed? – Tax Reforms for Non-UK Resident Owners

Since 2015 the UK government has announced various tax reforms to more closely align the tax treatment of non-UK resident owners of UK property (both residential and commercial) with that of UK residents holding UK property.

These reforms were introduced as part of the UK government’s wider efforts to tackle tax avoidance, evasion and non-compliance and were designed to ‘level the playing field’ in terms of taxation of gains between non-UK resident and UK-resident investors in UK real estate.

Notwithstanding these reforms, investors are still free to structure their investments in UK real estate through Guernsey structures reducing some of the adverse UK tax implications which use of UK vehicles may incur.

Lawful mitigation of tax liabilities is still permissible.

Why the Use of Guernsey Structures Can be Beneficial

There are a number of important non-tax related reasons why structuring through a Guernsey structure is beneficial for holding UK real estate (and other assets):

1. The Versatility of Guernsey Vehicle Options Available

Guernsey legislation allows a versatile variety of structures that can be used.  Some of the key advantages are the flexibility of the laws such as:

Companies – Very flexible company law, distributions on a solvency basis (not limited to distribution of profits), no withholding tax on distributions, re-domiciliation allowed, Guernsey corporation tax is currently 0% with no capital gains tax.

Limited Partnerships / Guernsey Property Unit Trusts (GPUTS) – Both of these provide options for tax transparent structures which can aid planning, particularly where there is a diverse pool of international investors.

Protected Cell Companies – Provides a company which has the ability to appoint different shareholders to different cells and ring fence assets in those cells, and can be an alternative to a Collective Investment Scheme.

Trusts and Foundations – For those investors who have estate planning in mind, Guernsey is a world leader in this area with a well-developed trust regime. Since 2012 Guernsey has been able to offer Foundations for wealth planning and asset holding which are increasingly popular, particularly with clients from civil law jurisdictions. Guernsey Foundations are particularly interesting due to their ‘disenfranchised’ beneficiary legislation.

2. Guernsey Collective Investment Schemes and Listed Real Estate Investment Trusts

Guernsey Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) and The International Stock Exchange (TISE) listed Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which use British offshore entities as the listing vehicles, offer the following benefits to investors:

• improved returns – exemption or potential exemption from UK corporation tax on rental income and from UK capital gains tax on corporate profits at the fund level, through the “transparency election” or an “exemption election”;
• reduced or no transaction costs – no stamp duty arises in relation to the sale of shares in or units of a Guernsey entity unlike the SDLT suffered with a UK entity;
• Private Investment Fund (PIF) Regime – provides a lighter touch regulation for a CIS and is therefore more cost-effective to use, rather than other more regulated fund structures.

3. Eurobond Exemption to UK Withholding Taxes

The TISE is an internationally recognised stock exchange headquartered in Guernsey, with offices in Isle of Man, Jersey, Dublin and London.

Currently, nearly one third of all UK REITs are listed on the TISE to take advantage of the Eurobond Exemption to UK Withholding Taxes, as non-UK companies issuing debt secured on UK real estate can list the debt on a recognised stock exchange in order to pay interest to non-UK Entities and Persons, without deducting UK withholding tax.

4. Privacy and Confidentiality (not secrecy)

Ultimate beneficial ownership of structures is not currently publicly available, but is required to be disclosed to the Guernsey Registry, and shared to fully meet the obligations of the Common Reporting Standard and Tax Information Exchange Agreements. 

In addition, trust and foundation instruments, limited partnership agreements and limited liability company (LLC) agreements are not publicly available, so investors can manage their affairs privately.

5. Internationally Recognised Jurisdiction

Guernsey has a reputation for being a well-regulated and transparent international finance centre. Guernsey has robust and extensive anti-money laundering laws and has entered into over 61 TIEAs based on the OECD model arrangement.  Guernsey also has a world-class, professional infrastructure with numerous legal, tax, accounting and corporate service providers providing the high level of services required from investors.  Other benefits include:

• All trust and corporate services providers must be regulated (not a requirement in many other countries including the UK).
• Most major UK, EU and US financial institutions are familiar with Guernsey and willing to provide services. Compliance related matters and therefore procedures such as opening bank accounts and raising finance can be carried out with minimal issues arising.

6. Guernsey: Ability to Redomicile Entities

It is often necessary or advantageous to move, or redomicile structures to other jurisdictions. For example, where geopolitical events or legislation become adverse, or there is a change in the investment strategy being followed, or there is adverse opinion regarding the structure’s current jurisdiction.

One of the attractions of this re-domiciliation option is that it permits an entity to transfer its legal base to a different jurisdiction, while maintaining its legal personality and so remaining subject to all agreements (including external financing arrangements and related security), to which the entity was party prior to re-domiciliation taking effect.

By contrast, companies incorporated in the UK or in some other jurisdictions cannot be redomiciled, which can limit the multi-jurisdictional structuring options available to such onshore companies.

7. Ability to Open Up to a Wider Buyer Audience on Exit

Holding UK real estate or infrastructure assets through a Guernsey entity can create a wider international buying audience at the time of exit.  An international buyer may not wish to hold shares directly in a UK company if they do not currently have a UK tax exposure.

It is also perfectly acceptable for a UK resident to have the asset held through a Guernsey company, to register the company as UK tax resident, and run the company’s affairs from the UK.  At the time of sale, the shares in the Guernsey company can be sold and the Guernsey company either re-domiciled (as described above), or have its tax residency changed to suit the new owner.

Have UK Tax Reforms Changed the Use of Guernsey Structures?

In short, no, not entirely.  

CIS benefits continue to persist as the UK government permits CIS to make either a transparency election or an exemption election, thereby meaning that investors will not be subject to possible double taxation.  As a result, we have seen a steady use of Guernsey holding structures and continue to see new enquiries.

We have also experienced a number of structures migrating to Guernsey to benefit from the jurisdiction’s reputation and expertise, particularly as substance requirements are now increasingly important to demonstrate.

In addition, advisers and clients are less focused on tax advantages but reverting back to traditional reasons for using Guernsey structures, such as; wealth preservation and succession planning. 

There are clearly a considerable number of benefits to investors in utilising Guernsey structures to hold real estate and other assets, with a great deal of flexibility and variety, to form a structure and to suit any investor.

Additional Information

For more information regarding the use of Guernsey structures to hold UK real estate and other assets, please contact Steven de Jersey or John Nelson at the Dixcart office in Guernsey: advice.guernsey@dixcart.com

Dixcart Trust Corporation Limited has a Full Fiduciary Licence granted by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission

This Article outlines the options available to third country nationals employed by foreign interest companies and the criteria that need to be met.

Key Feature of a Cyprus Foreign Investment Company

A Cyprus Foreign Investment Company (FIC), is an international company which can employ non-EU nationals in Cyprus. Such a company can obtain work permits for relevant employees and residence permits for their family members.

Main Advantages

A key advantage is that after 7 years, third country nationals can apply for Cyprus Citizenship.

In the shorter term:

• FICs can employ third country nationals, who can apply for appropriate residence and work permits, each of which will be valid for up to 2 years and are renewable.
• Employees can exercise the right for their families to join them in Cyprus.

Criteria to be Met

The requirements to be met are as follows:

• The majority of the company’s shareholders should be foreign shareholders, and, in the situation where the ultimate owners are foreign companies, they must be  approved by the Civil Registry and Migration Department.

The following cases are exempt:

• Public companies registered in any recognised stock exchange.
• Former offshore companies that were operating in Cyprus by approval of the Cyprus Central Bank, before the change of their offshore status.
• Cypriot shipping companies.
• Cypriot companies of high technology/innovation, as certified by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy.
• Cypriot pharmaceutical companies or companies operating in the fields of biogenetics and biotechnology.
• Persons who have acquired Cypriot citizenship by naturalization based on economic criteria, and able to prove that they continue to meet all of the criteria.
• Companies which employ staff from third countries for the first time must invest at least €200,000 in Cyprus, for the purposes of operating the company.

• If the percentage of foreign participation in the share capital of the company is equal to or below 50% of the total share capital, this percentage must represent an amount equal to or greater than €200,000.

• The company must operate independent offices in Cyprus, in suitable premises, separate from any private housing or other office, except in the case of business ‘co-habitation’.

Employee Classification:

Eligible companies which fulfil the above conditions can employ third country nationals in the following positions:

• Directors
  • this term includes directors or partners, general managers of branches and of parent companies of subsidiary companies, departmental managers, project managers.
  • the minimum acceptable gross monthly salary for directors is €4,000, an amount that may be adjusted from time to time, depending on fluctuations in the wage index.
  • there are no restrictions on the residence period of these employees.

• Middle-management staff, executive staff and any other key personnel

In this category the following third country nationals are included:

• Upper/middle management personnel,
• Other administrative, secretarial or technical staff

The minimum acceptable gross monthly salary for this category is €2,500. Amounts may be adjusted from time to time, depending on wage index fluctuations.

• Specialists

The minimum acceptable gross monthly earnings for Specialists is €2,500, an amount that can be adjusted from time to time, depending on fluctuations in the wage index.

• Support Staff

This includes all third country nationals not included in the above categories. Companies are expected to fill positions in this category, with Cypriot or European citizens. Where there are no qualified Cypriots or European citizens available, a company may employ third country nationals up to a maximum 30% of the total staff.

For this category, the General Employment Procedure is followed, after  receipt of a positive recommendation (sealed employment contract) from the Department of Labour, which confirms that the approved maximum percentage above, has not been exceeded. Please contact the Dixcart office in Cyprus: advice.cyprus@dixcart.com for details of the certificates/supporting documents that need to be submitted.

The market test is not necessary for third country nationals with free access to the labour market.

Length of Validity of the Temporary Residence and Employment Permit

Where the criteria are met, the third country national is granted a temporary residence and employment permit. The validity of the permit depends on the duration of the employment contract and can be up to two years, with a right of renewal. Directors, middle management executives and other key personnel, as well as specialists (staff categories 1-3), may reside in the Republic without a time limit, provided they hold a valid temporary residence and employment permit.

For support staff, the restrictions applicable to the general employment of third country nationals in the Republic apply.

Family Members

Third country nationals with residence and employment permits, under staff categories 1-3 of the policy, have direct access to family reunification with their family members (spouse and minor children), provided that the relevant conditions of the Aliens and Immigration Law, Cap.105 as amended, are met.

In such cases, third country nationals who are family members (spouse and minor children) can enter and reside in Cyprus after the sponsor has followed the procedure for family reunification.

Additional Information

If you require any additional information, please speak to your usual Dixcart contact or to the Dixcart office in Cyprus: advice.cyprus@dixcart.com.

Dixcart Corporate Services

The Dixcart Group has been providing corporate services for over 45 years. Dixcart has extensive expertise in advising both private and institutional clients as to how to set up structures to best meet their needs and to match their circumstances. A number of structures feature companies in one or more jurisdictions as well as other asset protection vehicles, whilst many just feature companies.

Dixcart not only establishes the companies but also provides a comprehensive range of company management services. Such corporate services include:

• Day to day administration and company secretarial services
• Director services
• Registered office and agent services
• Tax compliance services
• Accountancy services
• Dealing with transactions, including all aspects of acquisitions and disposals

Introduction to Charalambos Pittas and Steven de Jersey

Charalambos Pittas from our Cyprus office and Steven de Jersey from the Guernsey office are two key members of the Dixcart Corporate team that we are introducing to you today.

Charalambos Pittas joined the Dixcart Group in 2018 and was appointed Operations and Finance Director of the Dixcart office in Cyprus. He is responsible for the operations of the office and supervision of all accounting functions for clients. He also provides support to the Managing Director to develop the office and the depth of services that it provides.

Steven de Jersey is a Director of Dixcart Guernsey and is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales with over 25 years’ experience in the Guernsey Finance Industry. Steve joined Dixcart in 2018, after 13 years productively spent establishing, and developing the Guernsey office for a leading Guernsey service provider. His particular focus was advising and servicing the larger and more complex structures for both institutional and private clients. Guernsey is a very attractive location for structures due to its zero corporate tax rates for the majority of companies established on the island relating in tax transparent structures for investors.

Charalambos Pittas

Director

BSc, FCA

charalambos.pittas@dixcart.com

Charalambos holds a BSc degree in Accounting and Finance, and he qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2002, having completed his training with KPMG. In 2003 he moved to an International Information Technology company listed on AIM and later on WSE, where he served as the Finance Director of Western Europe. In early 2008 he was appointed Financial Controller when he moved to a Reinsurance company listed on CSE, which was acquired in late 2008 by a NYSE listed company. Charalambos moved to an Administrative Service Provider company in March 2010 until October 2018, where he was the Risk Assessment Manager

His direct involvement with multinational and multicultural companies and his wide exposure to various regulated environments and international business have enhanced his professional capabilities. His expertise is of direct relevance to the structures seeking to establish themselves in Cyprus and he is experienced in providing all of the management and accounting support required.

Charalambos also travels to meet prospective new clients and to detail the advantages available to companies established in Cyprus and for High Net Worth individuals seeking to relocate there.

He is a member of the Dixcart Risk Committee, assisting in providing advice and support, relating to compliance to all of the offices across the Dixcart Group. He advises on the relevant due diligence requirements relating to business acquisitions and is expert in providing support to ensure that all compliance requirements are fully met.

He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC).

Steven de Jersey

Director

ACA

steven.dejersey@dixcart.com

Steve is responsible for the business development of the Dixcart Guernsey office along with leading the Corporate offering and promoting corporate and listing services throughout the Group. He also specialises in the establishment and administration of all forms of domestic and offshore corporate vehicles, investment trusts, foundations and partnerships for corporate, institutional and private clients.

He has specific experience in relation to holding structures, mergers and acquisitions, migrations, restructuring, refinancing, reorganisations, joint ventures, disposals, debt and equity, private placements, and listings.

In addition, Steve is responsible for private client structures and works closely with local and international advisors in administering traditional trust and foundation structures as well as the more recent trend in the use of Limited Partnerships. Steve also works closely with Locate Guernsey in order to aid individuals and families relocating to the island and potentially establishing a business here. He provides professional advice regarding each stage of relocating to Guernsey, aid in integrating into Island life and guidance to Guernsey’s beneficial tax regime.

Steve travels regularly to the UK, as well as other jurisdictions around the world in particular South Africa and works closely with the other Dixcart offices. He is regularly involved in organising networking events for professional contacts and clients.

In his spare time Steve enjoys an active life, being very involved in the rugby scene in Guernsey including playing for the Guernsey veterans’ team. Steve also plays for a local veterans’ football team as well as being a passionate motorsport fan.  He is also connected to the equestrian world with a close family member owning a horse and frequently competing in events locally and on the UK mainland.

Background

With the advent of Brexit, the UK Government has been taking a number of steps to demonstrate it is definitely ‘open for business’ and to position itself as an attractive location for new and expanding companies.

In the Budget on 3 March 2021, the Chancellor announced two new first year allowances:

• A superdeduction of 130% on qualifying plant and machinery;
• A 50% first year allowance on qualifying special rate assets.

Who Qualifies for the Relief?

To qualify for either allowance, the expenditure needs to be made by a company within the charge to UK Corporation Tax.

As such, sole traders and partnerships do not qualify.

Which Expenditure Qualifies for the Relief?

The expenditure must be on new and unused items: second hand purchases will not qualify.

The categories of qualifying expenditure for the 130% superdeduction are very broad and include:

• Plant;
• Machinery;
• Furniture;
• Computer equipment;
• Software;
• Vans (cars do not qualify).

Purchases qualifying for the 50% deduction, are those which would normally be treated as ‘special rate’ assets with a lower rate of capital allowances:

• Air-conditioning and air-cooling systems;
• Hot and cold-water systems;
• Electrical systems, including lighting systems;
• External solar shading;
• Lifts, escalators and moving walkways;
• Space and water heating systems;
• Thermal insulation of buildings.

When Does Expenditure Need to be Incurred?

The expenditure must be made between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2023.

The contract cannot have been entered into, prior to 3rd March 2021, when the superdeduction and 50% first year allowance were announced.

Hire purchase contracts are included as qualifying expenditure, provided that the asset is in use by the year end.

What About the Annual Investment Allowance?

The Annual Investment Allowance (“AIA”) currently gives a 100% deduction on expenditure up to £1m. It has recently been confirmed that this limit will remain until 31 December 2021.

It would therefore make most sense to claim the superdeduction on expenditure qualifying for the130% deduction, and use AIA for special rate expenditure. The 50% first year allowance could then be claimed on expenditure in the special rate pool above £1m.

What if the Asset is Sold?

The rules are complex but, broadly speaking, if the superdeduction is claimed and the asset is then sold before 31 March 2023, a balancing charge will be payable in order for the enhanced relief to be clawed back.

Similar rules apply to the 50% first year allowance.

What Action Points Might There be for the Company?

Where the company capitalisation policy means that certain assets are not capitalised, this may be worth revisiting.

It might be beneficial to capitalise all assets in order that the 130% superdeduction can be claimed, rather than a100% P&L deduction.

Additional Information

For additional information regarding how these new allowances can be beneficial to a company established in England or Wales, please speak to Paul Webb or Sarah Gardner, in the UK office: advice.uk@dixcart.com.

Background

There has been discussion for many years regarding potential major changes to the way that international corporation tax is collected.

Reforms have previously been proposed by the EU, the United States and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

So What Has Changed Recently?

Much has changed during the past eighteen months, but the most significant factor in this debate, is the change in Government in the US and the arrival of Joe Biden as President.

Janet Yellen, the new US Treasury Secretary, is also pivotal to this initiative and has long been a supporter of moves by the OECD to level the international corporate tax playing field.

What is Proposed?

The new President has already announced plans for a big increase in taxes on the ‘offshore earnings’ of US businesses.

The US aim is to effectively stop countries using corporation tax as a competitive tool to attract investment:

1. The US is proposing to implement a minimum global tax on its companies. A key proposal is a 21% minimum tax rate on global earnings. The US administration also proposes to change the way this tax would be levied, removing a key allowance exempting earnings below a certain threshold, and collecting the tax for each jurisdiction that the company operates in.

Using Ireland as an example, this would currently mean US companies paying a top up of 8.5% in the US, having paid 12.5% corporation tax in Ireland.

There is, however, a long way to go before the details and the new US tax rate are agreed.

• Momentum is also building regarding the OECD minimum tax plan. The US position, favouring a global minimum rate being agreed by all countries at the OECD, is gaining support from a number of countries including the larger EU countries.

Exactly what level this rate might be set at is open to speculation. Until recently a rate of around 12.5% was considered possible, but with the US now supporting a minimum 21%, there is likely to be much debate.

Eventual agreement might be reached, at OECD level, on a lower rate, for example 15% or 18%, but this is highly speculative. Equally speculative, is the possibility that the US might subsequently be willing to sets its international corporate minimum tax rate at the agreed OECD rate, rather than 21%.

The OECD Digital Tax Sales Plan

Another central pillar of the OECD programme proposes that multinationals pay tax on what they sell through digital channels, in the markets where they sell these services.

This is a change to current rules where profit is declared and tax paid in countries from where the digital sales are managed.

The US has supported a version of this plan which will have a significant impact on US companies. The US administration might well hope that in return, this will help win support from Europe and other countries for its minimum tax rate plan.

Commentary

It is a matter of concern that larger nations are looking to dictate tax policy to smaller nations which use their tax system to compete for inward investment.  Larger nations do however have a legitimate concern with regards to the artificial diversion of profits to low tax centres.

The combined efforts of the OECD and the US  mean that it is likely that they will use their influence to introduce a minimum international corporation tax rate.

Additional Information

Dixcart provides effective solutions for protecting wealth. For more information please contact advice.uk@dixcart.com or your usual Dixcart adviser.

Legal Background

The Cyprus AML Law 188(I)/2007 has recently been amended to introduce into local law, the provisions of the 5th AML Directive 2018/843.

The Law provides for the establishment of two central registers of Beneficial Owners:

• Beneficial Owners of companies and other legal entities (the ‘Companies Central Beneficial Owner Register’);
• Beneficial Owners of express trusts and other legal arrangements (the ‘Trusts Central Beneficial Owners Register’).

The two Registers commenced on 16th March 2021.

The Companies Central Beneficial Owners Register will be maintained by the Registrar of Companies, and the Trusts Central Beneficial Owners Register will be maintained by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).

Obligations

Each company and its officers must obtain and keep, at the registered office, adequate and current information about the Beneficial Owners. These are defined as individuals (natural persons), who directly or indirectly have an interest of 25% plus one share, of the issued share capital of the company. If no such individuals are identified, the senior management official must be similarly identified.

It is the responsibility of the officers of the company to electronically submit the requested information to the Companies Central Beneficial Owner Register, no later than 6 months after the date of launch of the Companies Central Beneficial Owner Register. As detailed above, the Registers commenced on 16th March 2021.

Access

The Beneficial Owner Register will be accessible by:

• Competent Supervisory Authorities (such as ICPAC and Cyprus Bar Association), the FIU, the Customs Department, the Tax Department and the Police;
• ‘Obliged’ entities e.g. banks and service providers, in the context of conducting due diligence and identification measures for relevant clients. They should have access to; the name, month and year of birth, nationality and country of residence, of the Beneficial Owner and the nature and extent of their interest.

Following the Judgement of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEE) access to the Register of Beneficial Owners for the public is suspended. For more information, see a relevant announcement.

Penalties for Non-compliance

Non-compliance with the obligations can lead to criminal liability and administrative fines of up to €20,000.

How Dixcart Management (Cyprus) Limited can assist. If you or your Cyprus entity are in any way affected by the implementation of the Beneficial Owner Register or would like any additional information, please contact the Dixcart office in Cyprus: advice.cyprus@dixcart.com