Is there tax free in cyprus. Shopping in Cyprus: shops, malls, flea markets, Tax Free, Duty Free and sales. Flea markets in Cyprus
Part of the taxes from the value of purchases made in Cyprus, as well as in other EU countries, can be refunded upon departure. Purchases must be at least 50 euros. In Cyprus, VAT is 15%, but not all of it will be returned, but less than 10% of the amount of purchases. Part of the returned money is taken by the Global Refund or Eurorefund organization as compensation for their services. So, for example, the amount of my purchase (I had to buy a watch to replace the lost ones in Cyprus) was 119 euros. On the check in the store indicated the amount to be returned - 11 euros. They returned it at the airport - 9 euros, which amounted to 7.5% (I have never seen such a predatory commission anywhere else).
The return system itself is quite simple, but if you find yourself in Larnaca for the first time and you don’t have much time at the airport, I hope the information provided will help you quickly and easily get your money and have time to spend it in Duty-Free. The purchased purchases must be taken out of Cyprus no later than within three months. In the tax-free form issued in the store, you must fill in the columns: name and surname in accordance with the passport, passport number and data, address of permanent residence, country, duration of stay in Cyprus.
At Larnaca airport, the customs control window is located in the far corner, to the left of the entrance to the departure hall between the check-in counters and the toilets:
Before check-in must be presented to the customs officer passport, air ticket, cash receipts and a completed Tax Free form. Purchases you also need to have it with you (with price tags, in packages), although no one checked the purchases with me. I arrived at the airport 3 hours before departure and quickly received the necessary stamp. However, after some time, a large queue lined up at the window of the customs officer, so calculate your time:
After the customs officer puts a stamp and signature on the checks, you can pack your purchases and go through check-in and check in your luggage. After registration, you need to go to the customs control zone. Immediately after the turnstiles with green lights, where you put your boarding pass on the scanner, without going through customs, Turn left. There are two windows where you can receive the money due to you: Eurorefund and Global Refund. Depending on what form was issued in the store, you need to go to one of the windows.
If for some reason you have not yet put a stamp on the check (the money will not be issued without it), do not worry: you can contact the same customs officer through another window overlooking the customs control zone (it can be seen in the photo on the wall on the right ).
If you want to receive money not in cash, but to transfer it to a bank account, then you need to fill in the account details in the Tax Free check and give it to the window.
Everything, now the money has been received, and you can go through customs and passport control.
Hot topic for shoppers of all countries. Usually everyone goes to dress in Italy and I understand them perfectly. The best country in terms of price and quality is hard to find. When I was in Dubai and saw how our compatriots are buying up things of Italian and French brands with the words "how cheap it is .." I was sincerely surprised, because after Italy the prices seemed very high to me. But the rich have their quirks. Unfortunately, my budget does not allow me to go to Dubai for shopping, so I will go shopping in the country of my stay, that is, in Cyprus. As a sensible person, I decided to spend the money profitably, or rather with the return of VAT to me. For this, there are rules that I share with you, maybe you, too, will go to Cyprus instead of Dubai.
Since Cyprus is part of the EU, an indispensable condition for a tax refund is the export of goods outside of Cyprus or the EU. In each country, the amount of purchases is different, in Italy 150 euros, and in Cyprus only 50
Euro. Return TO 10 % from the sum. Of course, not every store in which you purchased for this amount is ready to provide you with documents for a tax refund, but only those where there are stickers Tax Free Shopping. It is also important not only to make a purchase for this amount, but also to ask the seller to issue a check for a tax refund Refund Check or Tax Free Form.
Only a non-resident of the country can get back VAT (I’m sure you know this, but I’d better repeat it anyway), who arrived for a short period of no more than 3 months (without a residence permit, not a refugee who did not come to work or study for a long time).
Tax refund available upon purchase clothes, shoes, cosmetics. Does not apply to food, tobacco, books, services, medicines, partially toys and children's products.
There are two agencies in Cyprus: Global Refund (www.global-blue.com) and Eurorefund (www.eurorefund.com) www.taxfreeworldwide.com
Let's say I go shopping. What are my actions:
* I have to make purchases and collect all checks so that they are more than 50 euros.
* ask the store staff where I can get Tax Free
* submit all checks to the employee who will issue me a Tax Free Form. In the form, the employee will indicate the general name of the purchases (clothes, shoes, cosmetics), the amount of the purchases and the amount of the VAT refund. She will also attach a cash receipt and put it in an agency envelope in which I can return my cherished money.
* I myself need to fill in the rest of the information (name, surname as in the passport, passport number, address of permanent residence, terms of stay in Cyprus).
NB! The tax-free form is not valid without a cash receipt!
Then, within three months, I have to take the goods out of Cyprus or the EU. And I have two options to get a VAT refund: at the airport or at the Downtown Cash Refund (at the city's VAT refund offices).
I like the option "at the airport" more, somehow more familiar. So now imagine that I'm at the airport. My actions:
1. Before registering, I go to customs. Since I am flying out of Larnaca airport, I go to the customs office to the end of the check-in counters. There I demonstrate my purchases, check, passport to a nice customs officer. He checks everything and puts me a stamp in the Tax Free Form. I remember very well one of the most important rules - do not wear things, do not cut off the tags! Remember you too.
2. I pack things in my luggage and check in for the flight. In the passport control area, to the left of the entrance to the area, there are two Refund Offices of the Global Refund and Eurorefund agencies. I present my Tax Free Form and receive compensation either in cash or by bank transfer. I prefer cash, because Duty Free is ahead of me ;-))
But, if you want the money to be transferred to your credit card account, then fill in the details of your account on the Tax Free check and give it to the window (put it in a special box or send it in a special envelope from home). The money will be transferred to your account within 5 weeks. Instead, you can receive a euro check at the address indicated on the form. Eurocheques can be cashed at any bank.
Tax refund in urban Downtown Cash Refund
Important conditions are leaving the country or the EU within 21 days from the date of receipt of compensation and the presence of a credit card that expires in at least 4 months.
1. Checks, passport and credit card must be presented at the city office. You will receive a refund of the amount of taxes paid on the spot or a bank transfer will be issued.
2. At the airport, at the customs service, present your purchases, passport, checks. The customs officer will stamp the checks.
3.Most importantly, return the stamped checks to the Refund Office at the airport or mail the check using only the envelope that was given to you at the place with the checks in the store.
NB!If you do not return the checks stamped by customs to the agencies within 21 days from the date of receipt of compensation, the amount of compensation and a fine will be deducted from your account!
Offices in Limassol are very conveniently located, one opposite the Crusader Beach Hotel (Instant Photo, opening hours from Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 21.00), the second on Archiepiskopou Makariou III Street (Konstantinou Paparrigopoulou, Prometheus Travel, opening hours from Monday to Friday from 08.00 to 21.00). 19.00, Saturday from 09.00 to 15.00).
Happy shopping!
Cyprus is not the place where shopaholics tend to shop. The purpose of a visit to Cyprus is usually completely different - visiting sights, relaxing on the beach (usually an all-inclusive holiday), against the backdrop of amazing nature, in the local mild or hot climate. Beach idleness is pleasant to diversify with an excursion to nearby shopping establishments, to get acquainted with local crafts, the fruits of luxurious nature and culinary delicacies.
In Cypriot stores, both Turkish and Greek, you can buy natural cosmetics, interesting souvenirs from national crafts, delicacies and other culinary delights.
As for shoes and clothes, you can find something interesting in this area.
In Nicosia, for example, there are designer shops and stores of famous brands such as Louis Vuitton, Karen Millen, Mariella Burani, Max Mara, D&G, Fendi, Versace, La Perla, Woolford.
In Larnaca, shops sell goods of such brands: Cavalli Class, Roberto Cavalli, Valentino, Kenzo, DKNY.
In the stores of almost all cities in Cyprus there are budget goods and brands of mass demand, such as Franklin Marshal, Guess, Mango, Gap, Body shop, Zara, Bershka, Replay, Bata and others.
The most interesting shopping in Nicosia, Paphos and Protaras, a small resort town located in the southeastern part of Cyprus, in the Famagusta area, Paralimni community.
Northern Cyprus is dominated not by the usual large complexes, but by small retail outlets, even just shops, often within colorful markets. The main place in the markets is occupied by products, you can also buy food in supermarkets such as Tempo, Lemar and Starling. As for the goods of popular brands, in addition to Nicosia, they are also sold in Famagusta and Girne.
Do you want to ask the prices in Cyprus? Then read on.
In Nicosia:
— Mall of Engomi, a lively shopping center with a fair amount of branded stores;
— The Mall of Cyprus, with an area of 27 thousand square meters. meters, quite a modern metropolitan megamall.
In Paphos:
- , a shopping complex, very visited;
— city shop, the city center of trade, the largest and most popular.
In Limassol:
— My Mall, this outlet is the largest on the island, has more than 100 outlet stores.
Electronics stores in Cyprus
There are surprisingly many of them in Cyprus, in almost all cities.
In Nicosia:
— Infotrend Innovations, Nicosia 1017, after Dimonaktos no. 13;
— Sarpcom Computer, his address is Yuzbasi Tekin Yurdabak Dad. No:8 Duk.1 - 2 Ortakoy;
— A.Th. Loizou & Son Ltd located on Karpenisiou street;
— Demstar Information Group, according to Neas Egkomis No. 29;
— HS Data Ltd, you need to look for 13, Lefkosa 1511.
In Paphos:
— Modecsoft, according to Akropoleos 1 – mobile phones, other devices and gadgets;
— N. S. Intercom Enterprises Limited, located at 3 Agiou Spyridonos, Cnn Brothers Court - laptops, tablets, phones;
— Cantoniou Trading Paphos– electronic equipment and cameras;
— Petasis Computer Systems, Eleftheriou Venizelou No. 72, Shop 2;
— SimpLink Corporation LTD on Telepeniou street - not only the sale of digital equipment, but also computer repair.
In Limassol:
— Softline Computer Systems, Spyrou Kyprianou street - electronic equipment;
— Telectronics IT– sale of mobile phones;
— Antros Aristotelous LTD, No. 26 by Gr.Afxentiou - all types of electronics;
— Raptical Computers- computers, laptops and tablets;
— Hadjikyriakos & Sons Ltd, Arch. Makarios III Avenue - digital technology;
— Custom PC Systems, a good selection of computer equipment;
— TelectronicsIT, VasileosGeоrgiouB 34, TVs and other electronic equipment.
Children's shops in Cyprus
Chain stores covering most cities in Cyprus:
- - a chain of stores in the children's world for babies, including newborns; sell strollers, car seats, cribs, all kinds of bottles and rattles.
— "Jumbo"- this is also a network that covers the capital, Paphos, Larnaca, Limassol, and everywhere in stores there is a wide selection of baby care products for children and older ones. These are toys, educational games, all kinds of constructors, radio-controlled devices, transformers, puzzles and more. Also on sale is a good selection of children's clothing for sports, and stationery, as well as school supplies. When it comes to child care, the chain offers everything from diapers and softening creams to baby food, strollers and furniture.
In Limassol:
— Mamatoto, strollers, furniture and bedding for children, toys, as well as bedding and clothes for expectant mothers;
— Pinokio, here they sell designer children's clothing, from MINI Cooper, Romeo Gigli, Calvin Klein, Miss Blumarine, Roberto Cavalli Byblos, Iceberg Starchic and Monnalisa;
— Hippo Kids, goods for newborns and babies up to 3 years.
In Paphos:
— Damart, an interesting boutique, sells children's clothing of excellent quality.
Jewelry stores in Cyprus
In Limassol:
— KOVIS Jewelery, and this respectable salon sells unique jewelry made of silver and gold;
— Evgenios Petrides Fine Jewels and Rare Gems, here you can buy products with rare precious stones;
— Opera Jewel Gallery, the salon is modern and refined, offers a large selection of silver and gold items, with precious stones.
In Larnaca:
— Metaxes, a store located at a jewelry factory, sells here gold items adorned with precious stones. Since the manufacturer sells, the prices are reduced compared to retail;
— Versace, company store, well-known brand jewelry;
In Larnaca and Nicosia:
— Roberto Cavalli, company store, jewelry from the famous designer.
In Ayia Napa, near Protaras:
— Carats, trades in jewelry, throughout the year provides significant discounts, up to 50%, on various types of products.
Flea markets in Cyprus
For lovers of antiques, it is recommended to first get acquainted with the legislation of Cyprus, since there are certain prohibitions on the export of antique items from the island. Meanwhile, you can buy a lot of such items here, all conditions have been created for this. First of all, in almost every city there are flea markets that sell collectibles, crafts of local artisans and true works of art. What can I say, almost every item from such a market can boast of its own history. Here are the main markets in Cyprus.
In Limassol: Sunday market, Linoperta and Fassouri.
In Larnaca: Larnaca open market.
In Nicosia: Flea market;
In Paphos: Flea market;
Near Timi village in Paphos district: Flea market.
Famous grocery stores in Cyprus
- , a chain department store, in addition to products, sells toys, household appliances, perfumes and cosmetics;
— Lidl, a network of grocery stores with a good assortment, in addition to products, offers household goods and household chemicals;
— "Metro", large stores are located in Larnaca and Protaras, in addition to products, they sell wearable items, household appliances, cosmetics and perfumes, children's toys;
— carrefour, supermarkets of this network are available in Nicosia and Larnaca, they offer a wide selection of products, gifts, they also sell sportswear, cosmetics, and home clothes.
Tax free (Tax Free) in Cyprus
In Cypriot stores, the tax free system adopted in Europe operates. This means that the buyer can expect to receive a refund of 19% of the value of the purchased items if he properly completed his purchase. This means that the check must be at least 50 euros, a correctly completed special check is attached, in addition to the main one, and the packaging of the goods is not broken. So you can make purchases only in stores marked with the Global Blue Tax Free Shopping logo.
In other stores that are not covered by the tax free system, you can, of course, buy goods, but you cannot count on a refund of 19% of the cost.
Sales in Cyprus
You can really save money in Cypriot stores during sales periods. These are official events, summer and winter, lasting 45 days, and they are regulated at the state level.
In 2016, the sales procedure is defined as follows: for winter from 02/02/2016 to 03/20/2016, and for summer 0 from 07/15/2016 to 08/28/2016. In addition to the pan-European ones, there are also their own reasons for holding such events, which include Catholic Christmas and Easter.
From the beginning of the action until its end, there is an increase in the value of discounts from 50 to 70%. However, various single and thematic promotions are held throughout the year, and the remains of unsold collections are sold at reduced prices.
Duty Free in Cyprus
This system also works in Cyprus, as well as throughout Europe. However, prices in local duty free shops are about 20% higher than in Moscow. Despite this, tourists still buy alcohol and tobacco products, jewelry, local natural cosmetics, perfumes, travel goods, sunglasses and confectionery in duty-free shops.
The range of goods in duty free shops is different, the widest is considered at Larnaca airport. In Paphos, for example, the choice is much poorer. Duty free shops work from 6:00 to 22:00, the rest of the day, if they function, then like ordinary shops. At this time, their assortment includes only eau de toilette, cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.
Shopping in Cyprus is interesting for its unpredictability. In fact, everything is sold here, from original brands to small souvenirs, but you cannot predict what exactly you will get this time. Or ordinary uninteresting items, or a really unique thing. Moreover, it can be an antique rarity, a piece of jewelry of amazing beauty, or even a wardrobe item that you have long dreamed of.
In a word, Cyprus is not only a heavenly vacation, but also an exciting, easy shopping.
"Shopping" is an integral part of travel. If you are very fond of this, then I will tell you about a simple way to return part of the money spent on purchases back to your wallet. Most countries have a so-called value added tax. In our opinion, this is VAT, but in foreign - VAT.
VAT is invisibly present in any of your expenses - in payment for hotel accommodation, in the price tag of a tavern or in the things you bought that you want to bring home from Cyprus. I will say right away that it will not be possible to return part of the money you spent in the tavern, but for the goods that you take away from Cyprus, completely.
I will tell you the whole sequence of actions using my example. After Christmas in Cyprus comes the season of sales. Prices fall first by 30%, then by 50%, and as a result, discounts can reach as much as 70%! Well, how can you stop shopping? So we bought a bunch of some kind of "junk" in the nearest large store. The idea to try to return part of the money spent was suggested by the signs standing at each cash desk that the store draws up tax free. It is important. Small shops don't usually do this, but those that do proudly put stickers on their front doors to match. Look closely and you will surely notice them. It is not necessary to immediately try to get the treasured piece of paper on the day of purchase. This can be done later, within 30 days. An important condition is that the amount of purchases must be more than 50 euros. It is the amount, not the cost of each item separately. Most importantly, keep all receipts!
When we realized that running around the floors of Debenhams was already fed up, I collected all the checks from different bags in a pile and counted the amount spent. It came out 354 euros. According to estimates, they could return about 30. I did not yet know how much time I would spend on returning this money, but I decided to conduct an experiment on myself so that I would have something to tell later.
So, during the next trip to our "court" Debenhams for groceries, I took with me all the accumulated checks. To apply for tax free, you had to go up to the third floor to their service department. In smaller stores, this operation is most likely done right at the checkout. I handed the girl a stack of checks with the words "tax free please". She quickly counted the amount on the checks, then peeped on her piece of paper how much of this amount was due for a refund. Then she took out a special form, quickly filled it out, scribbled a few lines, pinned all my checks to it and put it in a branded envelope. All! It took her about two minutes to complete the operation. Here's what the paper looks like.
Already in the hotel, I wrote on the form the name, surname and country of export (this is how I translated the words "Country of issue"). In principle, you can write everything later. Well, it was curious what was written in the booklet. There was an instruction in several languages, telling what to do next.
The simplest thing was to do nothing, but to take these pieces of paper with you directly to the airport. There you can get money at the box office. There is only one but. If you have a night flight or falls on a Sunday or some local holiday, then the ticket office at the airport does not work, and the process of receiving money can become very complicated. Again, if you are brought there almost back to back, and you still have to bother with it. As a result, we decided to try another method - to get money right in the city, since there were still a few days left before departure.
The booklet shows the locations of distribution points on the maps of the cities of Cyprus. It is strange that not all cities are marked there. For example, I did not find either Larnaca or Paphos. But in Limassol there are already three points. Well, maybe in other cities they distribute their booklets, I don’t know. Here's what it looks like. If the photo is enlarged, then you can read both the addresses of the points and their phone numbers.
Yes, I forgot to mention one more important thing. To get money in the city, you need to have a credit card on hand. Well, not necessarily "credit". In general, one on which the numbers are convex (scientifically embossed), suitable for at least another four months. I had one, so after a couple of days, having gathered to walk around the city, we decided to visit one of the offices indicated on the map. The closest to us was the first one on the map, located on Makarios Avenue. We found this building (Doma Building) quite quickly, well, there was a sign with a characteristic logo at the entrance.
We read on the sign that Prometheus Travel is located on the fourth floor, we go up there by elevator. We were met by a friendly girl from this travel agency and said that we had come to our destination. Communicated with her in Russian - well, I have not been surprised at this in Limassol for a long time. I gave her an envelope, passport and bank card. The girl said that it was not necessary to write Cyprus on the letterhead, but Russia, they say it is important where they are taken out, and not where. Crossed out Cyprus, attributed to Russia. She quickly filled out the form, I signed in a couple of places, and we were given 31 euros. Just? Yes. But in fact, this is not the last step. The girl returned the envelope with the papers to us and told us what to do next with them.
Here I will interrupt and explain why, after all, and to whom this money is returned. The tax is returned to those foreign citizens who bought goods in Cyprus, and then took them outside ... there is no Cyprus, but the European Union. That is, for the Germans, for example, the Cypriot tax free does not "shine". Keyword here took out. But we have not taken anything anywhere yet, so you can legalize the export only at the airport. This will be the final step.
On the day of departure, you arrive at the airport. Now the main thing to remember is that you should not take things immediately into luggage. You must go to the customs officer, show him the papers and checks and present exported items. Knowing this, we packed our things so that the purchases were on top of the bag. It was enough to unfasten it so that the customs officer could look at them. The second photo on the right shows the layout of the customs checkpoint at the airports of Cyprus. It can also be found on a large diagram, which you will see immediately at the entrance to the terminal building. While we were considering the scheme, an airport worker approached us with an offer to help. We asked about customs, and she practically escorted us to the place. So with a cart loaded with suitcases, they arrived there, only the customs officer was not there.
True, he quickly came later, took our papers, tickets and asked where the things were. I pointed towards the bag. He nodded his head contentedly, and that was the end of the "presentation". The customs officer put a stamp on the back of the form, wrote something there and returned it to us. "Customs gives the go-ahead" - scrolled through my head at that moment. In fact, according to the rules, he had to inspect things, make sure that they were not used, that is, the tags and packaging were intact. In our case, he did not do this, but who knows, maybe with larger purchases, the inspection will be more stringent.
You ask, why did you have to find out something with the customs, if the money has already been received? The trick is that the money was given to us on parole, that we will eventually go through customs, put a stamp on the documents, and then put them in the issued envelope, seal it and put it in a box, which is already located in the area where you can You can only get in through passport control. The letter from the box will end up in the company's office, and on the basis of these documents they will "knock out" money back from the state, that is, return this VAT. If the documents are not received, then they will not be able to return this amount. But no wonder they asked to bring a credit card. If the documents do not arrive at the office within a month, then they will simply withdraw the amount issued from my card, plus additional "penalties". By the way, this is how one of the "papers" that I signed looks like. Those are the terms and conditions there.
Well, that's almost all. Lena put the envelope in her purse, and we went to the check-in desk, then we went through passport control and ... and Duty Free shops opened their arms to us! It seemed that they surrounded us from all sides. Even if you have already bought everything, you don’t need anything anymore, but you will still go there, at least just to “stare”. I'll tell you that the prices in Larnaca duty free are not much less than in the same Debenhams with almost the same choice. Another thing is that you did not have to drag the goods bought here to the airport, and they no longer fall into the kilograms allowed for transportation. In general, we often still "buy" something there.
Instead of an afterword
The flight went well, then we drove for a long time by car through the snowy St. Petersburg, slowly remembering our native places. We came home, Lena opened her bag and found there ... that's right, an envelope that we had to drop at the Larnaca airport. Damn duty free of theirs, it's all his fault!
There was one last chance to save 40 euros - to send a letter by mail. Was not, stuck stamps on the envelope as for an international letter (although it seemed possible not to glue, but it’s better to overdo it a little), just in case, they wrote the address “where”, taken from the contract (although the address was printed on the envelope), and the return address and put the letter in the mailbox. It remained to be hoped that our mail would have time to take him to Cyprus in a month, without losing him on the way.
Several months have passed since then. The money was not withdrawn from the card, so the letter arrived normally. On this, we will consider our experience on the return of taxi fries successfully completed.
For those who want more detailed information about Cyprus, the CIA story on Cyprus is provided. Well, whoever is not very interested in statistics can immediately go to the "pitfalls of Cyprus" - you definitely need to know them!
 |
