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Cyprus vs Bulgaria: 15% or 10% corporate tax

At 10%, Bulgaria has one of the lowest EU standard rates. Cyprus sits at 15% but can reach 3% effective on qualifying IP profits. The lower headline does not automatically win. Substance, banking, language and your asset decide.

CriterionCyprusBulgaria
EUYes, euroYes; euro accession to be watched separately
Corporate tax15%, IP Box 3% on qualifying IP profits10% standard rate
IP BoxYesNo equivalent, established IP Box as a core offering
Business languageEnglish is usualBulgarian / English depending on the setup
SubstanceDirector model in LarnacaLocal team and management to be reviewed in the same way

Takeaway

Bulgaria can be interesting for operational EU production or simple trading companies with a local team. Cyprus stands out when English-language governance, the IP Box, relocation to Larnaca or a DACH-facing service model matter. 10% without fitting substance is not an advantage over 15% with credible management.

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Why Cyprus · Cost and scope

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