This choice can be made from January 1, 2019, until December 31, 2024.

The protocol was signed in Nicosia by Finance Minister Harris Georgiades and British High Commissioner to Cyprus Stephen Lillie.

“The new UK-Cyprus Double Taxation Agreement is important because of our already strong trading links and close people-to-people links, which we hope to grow further in the future,” Lillie said.

UK Government service pensions are currently taxable only in the country in which the recipient is resident, but under a 2018 Convention, they will be taxable only in the country which pays the pension.

Her Majesty’s Revenues and Customs has published guidance showing how pensioners wishing to remain within the current arrangements can make a decision. That guidance is available here

Government service pensions include pensions and other similar remuneration paid in respect of services rendered to either the UK or Cyprus which are: paid by, or out of funds created by, the UK or Cyprus, or a political subdivision of the UK or Cyprus, or a local authority of the UK or Cyprus.

A state pension is not a government service pension.

State pensions will continue to be taxable only in the country in which the recipient is resident for tax purposes.

If you want your government service pension to be taxed in the country in which you are resident you must notify the tax authority of the country that is paying the pension.

If your pension is paid by the UK, you must make an election to HMRC.

People can make an election at any time after January 1, 2019.

The election will apply to all pension payments received for the whole of the year in which your election is made, as well as to pension payments received in every year afterwards until December 31, 2024.

So, if you make an election on December 30, 2020, it will apply to all pension payments received from January 1, 2020, until December 31, 2024.

A person’s election must be in writing and should state:

“I elect for my government service pension to be taxed in accordance with the 1974 Double Taxation Convention between the UK and Cyprus. I understand that this election will continue to apply until December 31, 2024, or until I revoke it.”

Include full name and address, UK Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) or National Insurance Number and tax reference in Cyprus.

The election can be revoked election at any time after it is made. If revoked, the 2018 Convention will apply to all pension income received for the whole year in which the revocation is made.

Elections and revocations made to HMRC will automatically be shared with the Cyprus Ministry of Finance (and vice versa).

If a person wishes their government service pension to be taxed in the country that pays the pension there is no need to make an election.

However, they may need to notify the relevant tax authority of their taxable income.

If they are a Cyprus resident in receipt of a UK government service pension, they may need to let HMRC know about the pension income. Failure to notify HMRC their income may result in interest and penalties being charged.

If a government service pension is paid by the UK, the election should be sent to: PAYE Self-Assessment HM Revenue & Customs United Kingdom BX9 1AS

If the government service pension is paid by Cyprus: Commissioner of Taxation Tax Department 1471 Nicosia Cyprus

Source: Cyprus Mail