Cyprus does not impose inheritance tax. The tax was officially abolished on January 1, 2000, and as of 2025, this policy remains unchanged.
Inheritance tax plays a central role in estate planning, particularly for individuals with cross-border assets or beneficiaries residing abroad.
In some countries, the transfer of wealth after death is subject to significant taxation, potentially reducing the value of the estate passed on to heirs.
For this reason, high-net-worth individuals and families often seek jurisdictions with more favorable succession rules.
Cyprus, a member of the European Union and a well-established destination for expats and international investors, is frequently cited as a tax-efficient country for wealth transfer.
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Does Cyprus have inheritance tax?
There is no estate tax, inheritance tax, or gift tax levied by the Cypriot government, regardless of the value of the estate or the relationship between the deceased and the beneficiary.
This tax exemption applies equally to:
- Residents: Individuals domiciled or ordinarily resident in Cyprus
- Non-residents: Foreigners inheriting property or financial assets located in Cyprus
The absence of inheritance tax makes Cyprus one of the few jurisdictions in Europe to fully eliminate taxation on wealth transfers upon death.
This provides a significant advantage for individuals engaging in long-term estate planning, particularly those with real estate or financial holdings in the country.
Cyprus also imposes no gift tax, meaning assets can be transferred during one’s lifetime without triggering additional tax liabilities.
This combination of policies makes Cyprus attractive for intergenerational planning, especially for expats, retirees, and international families looking to pass on wealth with minimal tax exposure.
Cyprus Forced Heirship Rules
Although Cyprus is known for having no inheritance tax, it still enforces a set of rules that affect how a person’s estate can be distributed after death.
These rules are part of Cyprus’ forced heirship system, which limits how much of an estate can be freely passed on through a will.
What Is Forced Heirship?
Under Cyprus law, a portion of a person’s estate must be reserved for their closest family members usually a spouse, children, or parents.
This reserved portion is called the statutory portion, and it cannot be overridden by a will. The part of the estate that the person can freely dispose of is called the disposable portion.
How much is disposable depends on who survives the deceased:
- If there are children or descendants, only 25% of the estate is freely disposable.
- If there is a spouse or parent but no children, then 50% is disposable.
- If there are no spouse, children, or parents, the entire estate (100%) can be left to anyone.
Does It Apply to Everyone?
That depends on domicile:
- If the person was domiciled in Cyprus, the forced heirship rules apply to their entire estate—including both movable (like money or shares) and immovable (real estate) property.
- If the person was not domiciled in Cyprus, but owned immovable property in Cyprus, then forced heirship applies only to that Cypriot real estate. Movable assets are governed by the inheritance laws of their home country.
How to Avoid Forced Heirship
Thanks to EU Regulation 650/2012 (known as Brussels IV), there are ways to circumvent Cyprus forced heirship rules.
This regulation allows individuals living in Cyprus who are nationals of another country to choose, in their will, to have their home country’s laws apply to their estate.
For example, a British national living in Cyprus can state in their will that UK inheritance law should govern their estate, which may allow them to distribute their estate more freely.
However, this choice mainly applies to movable property. Cypriot law may still apply to immovable property (real estate) located in Cyprus, so it’s important to get legal advice when preparing a will under this structure.
Why You Should Have a Valid Will in Cyprus
To control how your assets are passed on and to reduce delays and complications you should have a legally valid will in Cyprus. A Cypriot will must:
- Be in writing and signed by the person making it
- Be signed in the presence of at least two witnesses, who must also sign it
- Be made by someone over 18 and mentally competent
Foreign nationals should strongly consider drafting a local Cypriot will for assets located in Cyprus, especially real estate, even if they also have a will in their home country.
What You Still Need to Pay: Cyprus Real Estate Transfer Fees
Although Cyprus does not levy inheritance tax, real estate inherited in Cyprus is subject to transfer fees, which are collected by the Department of Lands and Surveys.
These fees are not considered taxes on inheritance itself but are a standard administrative cost for the legal transfer of immovable property ownership from the deceased to the beneficiary.
The amount payable depends on two factors: the market value of the property at the time of inheritance, and the relationship between the deceased and the inheritor
- Parent to child: 0%
- Between spouses: 0.1%
- Between third-degree relatives: 0.1%
Properties subject to Value Added Tax (VAT), typically new builds, are exempt from transfer fees. For resale properties not subject to VAT, a 50% reduction in transfer fees is applicable.
The Department of Lands and Surveys assesses the property’s market value at the time of transfer, which may differ from the declared value.
It’s crucial to ensure that the declared value reflects the true market value to avoid disputes or penalties.
In practice, Cyprus’s overall cost of asset transfer remains low compared to jurisdictions with full inheritance or estate taxation.
These one-time fees are significantly lower than ongoing annual wealth taxes or probate charges seen in other countries.
Administrative Requirements
Cyprus also enforces structured administrative procedures to ensure transparency and regulatory compliance during the transfer of assets upon death.
Key obligations include:
- Declaration of Estate: The executor or administrator of the deceased’s estate is legally required to submit a complete statement of assets and liabilities to the Cypriot tax authorities. This must be done within six months of the date of death, although extensions may be granted upon request in complex cases.
- Valuation of Assets: For immovable property, an official valuation may be required to determine the correct transfer fees. This is typically coordinated with the Department of Lands and Surveys.
- Probate or Letters of Administration: For estates that include property or financial assets, legal confirmation (either a grant of probate or letters of administration) must be obtained through the Cypriot courts. This process ensures that the estate is managed and distributed in accordance with local succession laws or the terms of a valid will.
- Bank and Financial Accounts: Banks may require probate documentation and tax clearance certificates before releasing funds to heirs or transferring account ownership. These institutions generally freeze the deceased’s accounts until all administrative conditions are met.
Hiring a local lawyer or estate planner is often recommended, especially when real estate, business interests, or complex family structures are involved.
Inheritance for Non-Residents in Cyprus
Cyprus’ inheritance policy is equally favorable for non-residents, including foreign nationals who inherit Cypriot-based assets such as property, bank accounts, or business shares.
Non-residents are not subject to any Cypriot inheritance tax, regardless of their domicile, citizenship, or the value of the assets inherited. This makes Cyprus particularly attractive for foreign investors and retirees holding property or financial interests in the country.
However, non-residents should still consider several important points:
- Transfer fees still apply to any inherited real estate, as outlined in the previous section. These fees are based on the value of the property and the relationship to the deceased, regardless of where the beneficiary lives.
- Beneficiaries must comply with the same administrative procedures, including asset declarations and the probate process, which may require coordination with local legal professionals.
- Bank accounts and financial assets may also be subject to temporary freezes until proper probate documentation and tax clearances are presented, which applies equally to residents and non-residents.
- Most importantly, non-residents may still owe inheritance or estate taxes in their home countries, depending on their domicile status and national tax rules.
The last point naturally falls on a case-by-case basis. UK citizen in the UK may be subject to UK inheritance tax on worldwide assets, including those inherited in Cyprus.
US citizens may also face global estate taxation under US tax law, even if Cyprus imposes no local taxes.
To mitigate this, non-residents should seek cross-border estate planning advice, particularly regarding tax treaties, asset ownership structures, and strategies for managing international succession in a tax-efficient manner.
Advantages of Cyprus for Estate Planning
Cyprus stands out as one of the most estate-friendly jurisdictions in Europe, especially for individuals seeking to reduce tax exposure on intergenerational wealth transfers.
Its combination of zero inheritance tax, a common law legal system, and EU membership provides a stable and attractive environment for both residents and international families.
Key advantages include:
- No inheritance, estate, or gift tax, enabling lifetime and post-death transfers with minimal tax erosion
- Predictable legal procedures, especially for individuals from common law backgrounds
- Low property transfer fees relative to European norms
- No wealth or annual property tax that might otherwise diminish asset value
- Political and financial stability, with strong legal protections for property and ownership rights
- Appeal to expatriates and retirees, especially from the UK, Russia, the Middle East, and Northern Europe
For high-net-worth individuals or families with property in Cyprus, the ability to pass on wealth with low friction and minimal tax burden makes the jurisdiction especially attractive.
When combined with the right cross-border planning, Cyprus can serve as a central pillar of a long-term succession strategy.
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