On 30 October 2019, the Ukrainian parliament approved the ratification of the Cyprus-Ukraine DTT protocol, which was signed back in 2015.

The Protocol is now in force and will be in effect from 1^st January 2020.

The main amendments effected by the Protocol to the existing treaty cover dividends, interest and capital gains resulting from the sale of shares of immovable property rich companies.

Dividends:

• The withholding tax on dividends remains the same at the rate of 5% on gross dividends if the beneficial owner of the dividends received is a company, which holds directly at least 20% of the capital of the dividend paying company and it has invested the equivalent of at least €100.000 in the acquisition of the shares or other rights of the dividend paying company.
• In all other cases the withholding tax will be 10% on gross dividends.

Interest:

• The withholding tax on interest is increased from 2% to 5% if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the interest.

Capital Gains:

• Capital gains derived by a resident of a State from the alienation of shares deriving more than 50% of their value directly or indirectly from immovable property situated in the other State, may be taxed in that other State, subject to certain exceptions, which exceptions include the sale of shares of public companies and gains resulting from a reorganization. Any other disposal of shares is taxed in the State of the alienator.

What is important to be noted is that Cyprus has managed to secure that if Ukraine after 2 July 2015 enters into a Double Tax Treaty with any country with more beneficial provisions in relation to dividends, interest, royalties and capital gains compared to the Cyprus/Ukraine Double Tax Treaty then the two countries have the right to renegotiate the same exception or reduction in rates.