Self-employed or a company?
Enter your expected yearly profit. See what you keep as self-employed and what you keep through a Cyprus company.
Your figures
Figures are for the tax year.
This is an approximation, not advice. Self-employed social insurance is shown on the weekly amount set for your occupation. Company costs depend on the size and activity of the company. We assume you have no other income. Other income, such as a salary from another job or rent, would increase your taxable income and the tax due. Speak to us before deciding.
The full comparison
Click a line with an arrow to see how it is worked out.
| Item | Self-employed | Company |
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Self-employed social insurance is paid quarterly on the weekly amount set for your occupation.
How it changes with profit
What you keep each year at different profit levels. This assumes no salary and all company profit paid out as dividends.
How it is worked out
- Self-employed. Accounting and admin costs come off profit first. Then income tax on the 2026 bands, with the first €22,000 tax-free. Social insurance at 16.6% plus 0.5% to the Human Resource Development fund, on the weekly amount set for your occupation. GESY at 4%. Social insurance and GESY are deducted for income tax, up to one fifth of income.
- Company. Corporate tax at 15% after accounting and admin costs. Dividends pay defence tax at 5%, or nothing for non-doms, and GESY at 2.65%. Dividends carry no income tax.
- Salary from the company. You pay income tax, social insurance at 8.8% and GESY at 2.65%. The company pays 8.8% social insurance, 2% social cohesion, 1.2% redundancy, 0.5% HRDA and 2.9% GESY on top, and deducts the salary and these costs from its profit.
- GESY is capped at €180,000 of income.
What it leaves out
- Any other income you have, such as a salary from another job or rent. Other income increases your taxable income and the tax due.
- Self-employed people on a low income can file an objection to pay less social insurance. This is not taken into consideration.
- The holiday fund on salaries, where the company is not exempt.
- Personal deductions for children, housing and insurance, and the exemptions for new Cyprus residents.
- VAT, and profits earned before 2026.
- Social insurance builds your state pension. Dividends do not.
Already have a company?
See how salary and dividends compare on the same profit.
Salary or dividend →