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Cyprus Banks Advocate For Streamlined Supplementary Tax Declaration Process

Simplified Declarations For Exempt Entities

The Association of Cyprus Banks (ACB) has called for a simplification of the declaration process under the supplementary tax regime. The ACB’s submission, part of a public consultation on amending the Administrative Cooperation in Taxation Law from 2012 to 2025, emphasizes reducing the administrative burden on companies that ultimately incur no additional tax under the new rules.

Targeted Relief For De Minimis And Multinational Entities

ACB’s comments underscore the need to tailor the declaration process for companies exempt under the de minimis rule and for multinational groups in the early stages of international operations. According to the association, if a company qualifies for exemptions that result in a zero top-up tax, the declaration should be adapted to recognize such cases, thereby eliminating unnecessary fields and significantly reducing the compliance workload.

Clarifications On DAC9 And Submission Protocols

In addition to advocating for simplified declarations, the association has requested further clarifications regarding the draft declaration annexed to the bill. Key issues include the method for submitting supplementary tax information, whether special tools or software will be required, and if manual submission remains an option. The ACB stressed the importance of timely notifications and provided guidance from the Cyprus Tax Department to help taxpayers adjust to any new technical requirements.

Enhancing Cross-Border Transparency

Another area of concern is the process for Cypriot groups to notify local tax authorities about foreign entities expecting to receive information through exchange channels. The association seeks confirmation on how the Cypriot parent entity can indicate that its foreign subsidiaries fall under the de minimis exemption. By clarifying these points before the implementation deadline, companies will have sufficient time to make the necessary adjustments.

Transposition Of The EU Directive And Broader Implications

The revised bill aims to transpose EU Directive 2025/872 (DAC9) into national law. In line with the new EU mandates, DAC9 introduces standardized reporting for the automatic exchange of top-up tax information, targeting a uniform declaration process across member states. With a June 30, 2026 deadline for the first top-up tax submission and an automatic exchange starting December 31, 2026, the directive also expands reporting obligations for financial institutions including banks, investment firms, fund managers, and insurance companies.

The directive and the accompanying national legislation represent a significant step toward enhanced transparency and streamlined compliance for multinational enterprises and large domestic groups. With all EU member states required to implement DAC9 by December 31, 2025, and effective from January 1, 2026, stakeholders are urged to prepare for the impending changes in the regulatory landscape.

Bank of Cyprus Upgrade Signals Fresh Optimism For Greek And Cypriot Banks

Regional Banks Enter A More Favorable Cycle

Bank of Cyprus and Eurobank are well positioned to benefit from a renewed re-rating of Greek and Cypriot bank stocks, according to Cyprus-based investment firm Roemer Capital, which upgraded Bank of Cyprus to a buy rating and reaffirmed its positive view on Eurobank.

The firm cited easing geopolitical tensions, resilient economic growth in Greece and Cyprus, lower funding costs and Greece’s expected transition to developed-market status as the main factors supporting the sector.

Roemer Capital also lowered its cost of equity assumptions, updated its forecasts following first-quarter 2026 results and extended its valuation horizon to the end of 2027, raising target prices across its banking coverage.

Bank Of Cyprus Gets The Largest Upgrade

Bank of Cyprus received the biggest revision, with Roemer Capital upgrading the stock from hold to buy and setting a target price of €11.10, implying potential total upside of 27%.

The firm highlighted the bank’s strong capital generation, profitability and projected 100% dividend payout, describing it as the strongest capital-return story among the banks under coverage. Roemer Capital maintained its buy rating on Eurobank, assigning a target price of €4.90 and forecasting potential upside of 28%. The report said the bank is well placed to benefit from loan growth, improving operating performance and merger-and-acquisition synergies.

National Bank of Greece and Piraeus Bank also retained buy ratings, with expected returns ranging from 25% to 36%. Optima Bank was upgraded to buy, while Alpha Bank remained at hold on valuation grounds.

Why Growth Still Sets The Region Apart

According to Roemer Capital, Greek and Cypriot banks continue to benefit from stronger economic fundamentals than many western European peers. The report pointed to faster economic growth, healthier balance sheets, low levels of non-performing exposures, capital ratios approaching 20% and strong customer deposit bases.

Analysts expect performing loans across the sector to grow at a compound annual rate of 6% to 8% through 2028, supported by private investment, digitalisation, green manufacturing, supply-chain expansion and a gradual recovery in household lending.

The report also said the conclusion of lending under the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility is unlikely to materially affect credit growth, as banks have already shifted back towards traditional commercial lending. Roemer Capital expects Euribor to remain between 2.2% and 2.5%, a level it believes should support both lending activity and net interest margins.

Geopolitics, Valuation And Market Structure Support The Case

The report said improving geopolitical conditions have strengthened the investment outlook, noting that Brent crude prices have largely returned to pre-war levels while Greek government bond yields have stabilised at around 3.5%. Although geopolitical risks remain, Roemer Capital believes the likelihood of a major inflationary shock or significant pressure on bank profitability has eased.

Another important catalyst identified by the firm is Greece’s expected promotion to developed-market status by FTSE Russell, STOXX and MSCI over the coming months.

According to the report, the reclassification should improve liquidity and attract a broader base of international investors. Roemer Capital also said Euronext’s acquisition of the Athens Exchange is expected to strengthen market infrastructure and increase international visibility, particularly for Bank of Cyprus and Optima Bank.

The firm noted that Bank of Cyprus has already benefited from its Athens listing, with average daily trading value increasing from less than €400,000 before its September 2024 move to nearly €6 million afterwards.

Economic Momentum Remains A Core Tailwind

Roemer Capital said both Greece and Cyprus have moved beyond post-crisis recovery and are now supported by private-sector-led growth. For Cyprus, the report highlighted recent tax reform and efforts to simplify the legal and regulatory framework, while also noting that limited foreign banking competition continues to support domestic lenders.

Overall, Roemer Capital expects Greek and Cypriot banks to remain well-positioned for profitable loan growth over the coming years.

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