Tax Alert COVID-19 Tax Measures

By an amendment to the Assessment and Collection of Taxes Law L.4/78, the Minister of Finance is provided with the power to issue a decree setting the deadline for the filing of tax returns.

By decree issued on 30 March the Minister of Finance announces that the submission date for Income Tax Returns for Companies (T.D.4) and Self Employed with accounts (T.D.1 Acc) for the year 2018 is extended until the 1st of June 2020.

Further, by the same decree, the Minister of Finance has extended the deadline for the payment of tax due under the aforementioned tax returns for 2018 until the same date.

Exemption from paying General Healthcare System Contributions for a period of three months under the Programme for Financial Support to counter the economic impact of COVID-19 disease

Under the Programme for Financial Support to counter the economic impact of the COVID-19 disease, approved by the House of Representatives on 27/3/2020, and more specifically, the decision to exempt from payment of the increased GHS contribution for a period of 3 months, the rates of the GHS Contributions are set as follows:

GHS Contribution Rates	1/3/2020 -31/3/2020	1/4/2020 -30/6/2020	1/7/2020 onwards
Employees	2.65%	1.70%	2.65%
Employers	2.90%	1.85%	2.90%
Self-employed/Sole practitioners	4.00%	2.55%	4.00%
Pensioners	2.65%	1.70%	2.65%
Individual holding an office or employment	2.65%	1.70%	2.65%
The Republic of Cyprus or any natural or legal person responsible for the payment of emoluments to any person holding an office or employment	2.90%	1.85%	2.90%
Income other than emoluments	2.65%	1.70%	2.65%
Consolidated Fund of the Republic	4.70%	1.65%	4.70%

In the event where businesses/employers have already proceeded with the implementation of the reduced rates for March 2020, the 3-month period applies from 1 March 2020 to 31^st May 2020 for those businesses/employers only. In the event where the reduced rates have not been applied for March 2020, the 3-month period applies from 1 April 2020 to 30 June 2020.