The law governing the establishment of trusts in Cyprus is a combination of the English Principles of Equity and Statue Law. Cyprus International Trusts are regulated by the International Trusts Law 69(I)/1992 as amended by Law 20(I)/2012.
What is a Trust
A trust is a settlement or legal agreement affecting at least three parties:
- The Settlor: (or Grantor, Trustor, Trust Maker); the person (natural or legal) who creates the trust; he/she is the owner of the property to be divested into a trust.
- The Trustee: legal or natural person, who agrees to hold the trust property in his/her/its name for the benefit of the Beneficiary, under the terms of the trust. Responsible for managing the property.
- The Beneficiary/Beneficiaries: individuals or companies or any other entities receiving the benefits of the trust property.
In a Discretionary Trust, instead of specifying specific persons or entities as beneficiaries, classes of beneficiaries are defined, for example “all current and future children of Mrs X”, or “charity organisations providing education for refugees and their children in the UK”. - The Protector: individuals or companies that are typically appointed by the settlor to protect the trust assets. Appointing a protector is optional. The protector has the right to control the trustee but does not have the right to intervene in the trustees obligations and undertakings. The protector has the right to dismiss a trustee.
If a protector intervenes a trustee’s duties or has been granted the right to do so in the Trust Deed, a trust may be recognized as a “sham trust” or “illusionary trust” and thus being considered or even declared void.
The Trust Deed
A trust is a contractual, fiduciary relationship in which the settlor gives the right to the trustee to hold title to a property (trust property) for the benefit of the beneficiary. The trustee has the legal title to the trust property, whereas the beneficiary has the beneficial title to the trust property. The ultimate beneficial owners of the trust property is/are the beneficiaries.
Consequently, the trustee is the legal owner of a trust’s assets, but not the beneficial owner, which is the beneficiary or beneficiaries or classes of beneficiaries.
Trusts are established to provide legal protection for the settlor’s assets; for the purposes of wealth management, investment, social goals, charities, succession planning or sometimes tax planning.
The law imposes a strict duty of confidentiality on the trustee about the trust and the identity of the settlor and beneficiary. It is only possible to disclose such information in case of a court order in any civil or criminal proceedings when the court is convinced that such information is important to the outcome of the proceedings.
The main duties of a trustee is to administer the trust property prudently and to comply with the terms of the trust. The terms of a trust are set in the Settlement of Trust, also referred to as Trust Deed or Trust Instrument. Any action taken by a trustee that contravenes the terms of the trust deed is a ‘breach of trust’ and makes the trustee personally liable for the full extent of any loss incurred.
The Settlor has the right to reserve some powers, such as to revoke or amend the trust or to remove and appoint trustees.
All trusts related matters are determined in accordance with Cyprus Law.
Letter of Wishes for a Trust
In addition to the Trust Deed with its provisions and instructions how the assets of the trust shall be managed etc., a settlor may additionally opt to draft and hand over to the trustee a so-called Letter of Wishes.
A Letter of Wishes is not legally binding for the trustee but shall provide guidance to the trustee on how to manage the trust. A Letter of Wishes is not mandatory.
Unlike a Trust Deed, a Letter of Wishes remains discretely with the trustee. Neither courts nor beneficiaries have the right to demand disclosure of a Letter of Wishes.
Requirements of a Cyprus International Trust
- Certainty of Intention: Evidence of express intention of the settlor to create the trust. This is evidenced by the Trust Deed.
- Certainty of Subject Matter: The trust property must be readily identifiable otherwise the trust is void for uncertainty.
- Certainty of Objects: The identity of all the beneficiaries of the trust must be ascertained or ascertainable at the time of setting up the trust.
- The Settlor shall be of sound mind and of right age.
- The Settlor (being either a natural or legal person) shall not be a resident of Cyprus at the time when a CIT (Cyprus International Trust) is established. The settlor may become resident of Cyprus once a trust has been established.
- The beneficiaries shall not be residents of Cyprus at the time when a CIT (Cyprus International Trust) is established. They may become resident of Cyprus once a trust has been established.
- The trust property can include all kinds of assets situated in Cyprus or anywhere in the world
- At least one of the trustees must be resident of Cyprus during the whole duration of the trust.
Cyprus Discretionary Trusts
There are various forms of trusts existing, based on certain details; for a list of trust types, please see the end of this article.
Cyprus discretionary trusts are trusts with now specific individual beneficiaries defined and the selection of beneficiaries as well as their benefit left to the discretion of the trustee.
In case of defining specific individuals or entities as beneficiaries, the settlor, in the trust deed, defines classes of beneficiaries. There is no limit to the definition of classes of beneficiaries, which could be, for example, “all current and future children of Mrs X”, or “charity organisations providing education for refugees and their children in the UK”, or “the elderly houses in my city”.
The settlor may define projects or areas in the Trust Deed, for which the assets, or if preferred so, the gains from the assets, shall be used. A brief example of definition of benefits and beneficiaries: “education costs and financing of viable startups of my children and grandchildren”.
It is then left to the trustee to decide when and how the trust will fulfil those provisions of the Trust Deed. If, after having finalised their education, only one of three children runs a viable startup, only that one child qualifies for benefiting from startup financing by the trust.
An advantage of a Cyprus Discretionary Trust is that none of the members of the class of possible beneficiaries has a right for claims against the trust.
The members of a class of beneficiaries become beneficiaries once the trustee decides as per the provisions of the Trust Deed, and perhaps of the Letter of Wishes.
As long as the members of the class of beneficiaries did not become actual beneficiaries, they cannot be held tax-liable for any assets and gains of assets of the trust, because they cannot be assumed as beneficiaries.
Trustees
It is important that a settlor chooses a person of trust as the trust’s trustee. Furthermore, a trustee should have asset management and business qualities and experience, because the trustee will be the person who will manage the assets of a trust, as per the provisions of the trust deed and a possible letter of wishes and under the supervision of a possible protector.
The merely appointment of a staff member of a law office or trusts service provider will definitely not suffice. Simple “appointees” without management background might even lead to the undesired result that a trust is recognized as a sham trust or illusionary trust, because it cannot be assumed that a trustee without the necessary management capabilities is able to manage the assets of a trust without a substantial involvement of the settlor.
A substantial involvement of a settlor, though, would be contradictory to the idea and spirit of a trust, to which a settlor entrusts assets for the management by the trustee and for the benefit of the beneficiaries. In such cases, despite the settlement of a trust, that trust might be recognized by courts as not existing.
Cyprus Trust Registry
The law imposes the obligation on resident trustees to register all Cyprus International Trusts with one of the three Competent Authorities i.e. the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC) or with the Cyprus Bar Association. The Trust registries maintained by the supervising authorities shall contain the following information about the Trusts:
- Name of the trust
- Date of creation of the trust
- Date of termination of the trust
- Name and address of the trustee
- Date of any change in the law governing the trust to or from Cyprus Law.
The identity of the settlor and the beneficiaries is not disclosed in the Registry. The Registers of Trusts are not available to the public, but they are available for inspection by the Competent Authorities.
Benefits of Cyprus International Trusts
Asset protection
- A Cyprus International Trust may be used to protect assets against risks, future claims by governments or creditors, expropriation etc.
- Future protection from creditors.
- Future protection from claims of spouses or former spouses.
- A Cyprus International Trust can be utilized to protect assets against future claims in tort or contact because of transactions entered by the previous owner of the trust property.
Confidentiality and reporting
- The trustees owe duty of confidentiality to the settlor and to the beneficiaries. They are not allowed to disclose any information or documents unless they are ordered to do so by a specific court order.
- However; registration of the Cyprus International Trust in the Trusts Registry is mandatory, the registration does not require the submission of the relevant Trust Deed, disclosure of the settlor and the beneficiaries and the information is not available to the public, only to the Competent Authorities in case of inspection.
- No reporting requirements for Cyprus International Trusts in Cyprus.
- Please note that in the case of bank account opening on behalf of a trust, the settlor, the trustee, the protector (if any) and the beneficiaries (if they are not defined as a class of beneficiary without naming them) are legally subject to full due diligence and compliance procedures.
Managing family wealth, estate planning, inheritance planning
A Cyprus International Trust is ideal for asset planning of high net-worth individuals with extended or complicated family structures.
Tax benefits
- Income, gains and profits from non-Cyprus sources are exempt from taxes in Cyprus.
- The worldwide income, gains and profits are taxable in Cyprus only if the beneficiary is tax resident in Cyprus.
- Beneficiaries who are non-tax residents of Cyprus are taxed only on Cyprus sourced income in accordance the Income tax law of Cyprus.
- Dividends, interests or royalties received by a Cyprus International Trust from a Cyprus company are not taxable and not subject to any withholding tax.
- No estate duty/inheritance tax.
Reservation of Powers
When setting up the trust the settlor may reserve powers to him/herself specifically drafted into the trust instrument. Such powers are: to revoke, vary or amend the terms of a trust; to appoint or remove any trustee/enforcer/protector/beneficiary/investment adviser; to give (very limited) directions to the trustee etc.
Perpetuity period
Trusts may exist for the duration of a lifetime plus 21 years or in the case where no natural person is involved it can exist for merely 21 years.
Cyprus International Trusts
The legal framework governing the establishment of trusts in Cyprus is based on a combination of English principles of equity and statutory law. Cyprus International Trusts (CITs) are regulated under the International Trusts Law 69(I)/1992, as amended by Law 20(I)/2012.
What is a Trust?
A trust is a legal arrangement involving at least three key parties:
- The Settlor (also referred to as Grantor, Trustor, or Trust Maker): The individual or legal entity that creates the trust. The settlor is the original owner of the property that will be transferred into the trust.
- The Trustee: The individual or legal entity responsible for holding and managing the trust property in accordance with the trust’s terms, for the benefit of the beneficiaries.
- The Beneficiaries: The individuals, companies, or entities that benefit from the trust property.
In a discretionary trust, instead of naming specific individuals or entities as beneficiaries, the settlor can define classes of beneficiaries, such as “all current and future children of Mrs. X” or “charitable organizations supporting refugee education in the UK.”
Additionally, a Protector can be appointed to oversee the trust’s assets. The protector has the authority to monitor the trustee but cannot intervene in the trustee’s duties. A protector can dismiss a trustee if necessary. Appointing a protector is optional, and excessive involvement by a protector in trustee duties can render the trust invalid, potentially making it a “sham trust” or an “illusionary trust.”
The Trust Deed
A trust is a fiduciary relationship in which the settlor grants the trustee legal title to the property for the benefit of the beneficiaries. The trustee holds the legal title, while the beneficiaries hold the beneficial title. Ultimately, the beneficiaries are the rightful owners of the trust property.
The primary purpose of trusts is to provide legal protection for assets, whether for wealth management, charitable purposes, succession planning, or tax planning. The trustee has a legal duty to administer the trust prudently and in accordance with the terms of the trust deed. Breaching these terms constitutes a “breach of trust,” rendering the trustee personally liable for any resulting losses.
While the settlor has the right to reserve certain powers, such as the ability to revoke or amend the trust, the trust itself is governed by Cyprus law.
Letter of Wishes
In addition to the trust deed, the settlor may provide a Letter of Wishes to guide the trustee on managing the trust. Although not legally binding, this letter can provide useful instructions. Unlike a trust deed, a Letter of Wishes remains confidential and cannot be disclosed to the court or beneficiaries.
Requirements for a Cyprus International Trust
To establish a Cyprus International Trust, several conditions must be met:
- Certainty of Intention: The settlor’s clear intention to create the trust must be evident, typically through the trust deed.
- Certainty of Subject Matter: The assets of the trust must be clearly identifiable.
- Certainty of Objects: The beneficiaries must be identified or easily identifiable at the time of creating the trust.
- Mental Capacity and Age: The settlor must be of sound mind and the legal age to establish the trust.
- The settlor and beneficiaries must not be Cyprus residents at the time the trust is created, though they can become residents afterward.
- The trust property can consist of assets located in Cyprus or abroad.
- At least one trustee must be a resident of Cyprus for the entire duration of the trust.
Cyprus Discretionary Trusts
In Cyprus discretionary trusts, individual beneficiaries are not pre-determined. Instead, the trustee has the discretion to select beneficiaries from designated classes, such as “all future children of Mrs. X” or “charities supporting refugee education.”
The settlor may also outline specific projects or areas where the trust assets should be allocated, like “education costs for my children and grandchildren” or “financing viable startups of my descendants.” The trustee has full discretion in executing these provisions, based on the terms of the trust deed and any accompanying Letter of Wishes.
One advantage of a discretionary trust is that potential beneficiaries have no claim against the trust unless the trustee decides to make them actual beneficiaries. As a result, they are not liable for taxes on trust assets or gains until they become beneficiaries.
Trustees
Choosing a qualified and trustworthy person to serve as trustee is crucial. The trustee should possess strong asset management skills and business experience, as they are responsible for managing the trust’s assets according to the trust deed. Appointing a mere staff member of a law firm or trust service provider, without proper management expertise, may lead to the trust being regarded as a “sham trust,” especially if the settlor maintains significant involvement in the trust’s operations.
Cyprus Trust Registry
Cyprus law requires trustees to register all Cyprus International Trusts with one of three competent authorities: the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC), or the Cyprus Bar Association. Trust registries must include details such as the trust’s name, creation and termination dates, trustee information, and changes in the governing law.
Notably, the identity of the settlor and beneficiaries is not disclosed to the public. The registry is accessible only by the relevant authorities for inspection.
Benefits of Cyprus International Trusts
Cyprus International Trusts offer several key advantages:
- Asset Protection: A CIT can protect assets from future claims by governments, creditors, or expropriation.
- Confidentiality: Trustees are bound by strict confidentiality, and trust information can only be disclosed by court order.
- Tax Benefits: Income and gains from non-Cyprus sources are tax-exempt in Cyprus unless the beneficiaries are tax residents. Cyprus International Trusts are also free from estate duty and inheritance tax.
- Succession and Wealth Planning: CITs are ideal for high-net-worth individuals planning family wealth distribution, estate management, and inheritance.
Perpetuity Period
A trust can last for the lifetime of the settlor plus 21 years, or 21 years if no natural person is involved.
