A Cyprus company generates a predictable set of annual costs regardless of its revenue. For an active single-shareholder company, expect to spend €2,500 to €6,000+ per year on professional compliance services alone. Budget planning requires understanding all cost layers: accountant, auditor, company secretary, registered office, filing fees, and VAT costs.
Running a Cyprus Ltd costs approximately €2,000–€3,500 per year in mandatory fees, accountant costs, and registered office — before any corporate tax.
The Five Cost Categories
| Category | Typical Annual Range |
|---|---|
| Accountant and auditor | €1,500 – €5,000+ |
| Registered office + company secretary | €300 – €1,200 |
| Registrar filing fees (HE32) | €20 – €50 |
| VAT and compliance filing costs | Included in accountant or €0 if self-filed |
| Municipal professional tax | €250 (standard) |
| Total minimum | ~€2,300–6,700+ |
1. Accountant and Auditor Fees: The Biggest Variable
Every Cyprus company must have its annual financial statements audited by an ICPAC-licensed auditor before filing HE32 and TD4. There are no small company exemptions in Cyprus.
Typical fee ranges (2026):
| Company Type | Annual Revenue | Accountant/Auditor Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Dormant company | €0 | €1,000 – €1,800 |
| Minimal activity (holding, IP) | <€50,000 | €1,500 – €2,500 |
| Active trading, simple | €50,000 – €200,000 | €2,500 – €4,000 |
| Active trading, complex | €200,000+ | €4,000 – €8,000+ |
What accountant/auditor fees typically include:
- Preparation of annual financial statements (IFRS)
- Statutory audit
- Filing of TD4 (company tax return) on TAXISnet
- Filing of HE32 on Ariadni
- Provisional tax calculations and TD5 submissions
- Quarterly VAT returns (some firms charge extra for this)
- Ongoing accounting queries
What is often charged separately:
- Quarterly VAT filing: €100–300/quarter
- Monthly TD603 (GESY on dividends): €30–60/month
- VIES declarations: €20–40/month
- Payroll management: €50–150/month per employee
- Tax planning and advisory: hourly rates €150–400/hour
Getting quotes: When comparing Cyprus accountants, clarify exactly what is included. A €2,000 quote that excludes VAT and VIES filings may cost more than a €3,000 all-inclusive package.
2. Registered Office and Company Secretary Fees
Every Cyprus company must have a registered address in Cyprus and a licensed company secretary. These are typically provided together as a package.
Typical annual fees:
| Service Level | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic registered address only | €200 – €400 |
| Registered address + mail forwarding | €300 – €600 |
| Full company secretary service | €600 – €1,200 |
Full company secretary typically includes:
- Registered address
- Mail forwarding (scan and email)
- Minutes Book maintenance
- Register of Members and Directors
- AGM minutes preparation
- Ariadni filing access
- Director/shareholder change assistance
Important: The registered office is where official government correspondence arrives. If you use a budget provider who does not reliably forward mail, you risk missing Tax Department notices and Registrar correspondence.
3. HE32 Filing Fees
The Registrar filing fee for the HE32 Annual Return is €20 to €50, paid via JCCSmart. This is separate from the accountant/auditor fee for preparing the return. Your auditor or company secretary typically handles payment on your behalf and includes it in their invoice.
4. VAT Filing Costs
If your company is VAT-registered and your accountant charges separately for VAT filings:
| Filing | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Quarterly VAT return (TFA) | €80 – €250 per return |
| Monthly VIES declaration | €20 – €50 per month |
| Annual VAT compliance review | Often included in audit |
For an active VAT-registered company, separate VAT filings can add €700 – €2,000/year to total costs.
5. Municipal Professional Tax
Every active Cyprus company pays an annual professional tax to its local municipality. The standard rate since 2021 is €250/year for active companies. This is paid directly to your municipality (Nicosia, Limassol, Paphos, Larnaca).
Your company secretary or registered office should receive the invoice and pay it on your behalf — but verify this. Some company secretaries do not include this in their service.
Total Annual Cost Estimates by Company Profile
| Profile | Annual Cost Estimate |
|---|---|
| Dormant company (no activity) | €1,500 – €2,200 |
| Active company, no VAT, dividends only | €2,500 – €4,000 |
| Active company, VAT-registered, no employees | €3,500 – €5,500 |
| Active company, VAT-registered, 1–2 employees | €5,000 – €8,000+ |
These are professional service costs only and exclude corporation tax (IS), GESY on dividends, or any other tax payments.
Reducing Annual Costs: Practical Tips
Organise your documents monthly — Accountants charge by the time it takes to process your records. A well-organised monthly document file (all bank statements, invoices sorted, TD603 records) can reduce audit hours by 30–50%, directly lowering your bill.
Provide clean bookkeeping — Use accounting software (Xero, QuickBooks, FreshBooks) and categorise transactions yourself. Accountants charge less for review than for data entry.
Bundle services — Choose one firm that handles accounting, audit, company secretary, and VAT together. Bundled services are typically cheaper than paying multiple providers.
Ask what is included — Before signing with a Cyprus accountant, get a written list of exactly which services are included. Compare total costs, not headline audit fees.
For a full document preparation checklist, see our accountant document checklist.
Finding the right Cyprus accountant at the right price requires comparing multiple quotes. Browse accountants and auditors in Cyprus with service descriptions, or find company formation agents who offer all-in annual maintenance packages.