Cyprus-Forum.com

[CrookedRiverGuy]

In general, is everything you'd order from the internet and have sent to your address subject to import duties? Or will items with a value below a certain amount pass without too much hassle?

[CBBB]

No duty on goods from the EU. From other places it depends.

[Sotos]

You pay nothing when from another EU country. From non EU countries you will pay at least VAT on the total cost (including the shipping) and maybe some import tax depending on the item.

[CrookedRiverGuy]

So there's no lower limit? Theoretically, if i order something from China with a value of ie. 20€, i must expect to go through a lot of paperwork, goods will be withheld at the customs office and so on?

[supporttheunderdog]

We have ordered from Non-EU countries in the past, and regularly have parcels sent to us by family in Russia: even gifts are possibly subject to duty and Vat, but small value parcels (I think up to USD 50 in value including postage) are normally exempt. I got some stuff sent from Russia last week and there was no charge.

If it comes in by post then you will probabaly get left a three part form tellng you to collect from a main post office, which will have a customs counter. This form is just about the only paperwork, apart from what the sender should include with the parcel, eg invoice, customs certificate, etc. You show the form and ID at the parcel counter. They ask you to sign the form then they get the parcel and give it to the customs. Customs will ask you to open the package , inspect the goods, then assess the value. It helps to have proper suppliers' invoices showing the value and postage costs in a recognisable language / Currency. If not you may have to argue with the Customs officer about the value of the items. Absent invoices they will base this on likely Cyprus Prices. Then they assess the duty and VAT. You pay the cashier and go.

In my experience at Limassol post office the staff are OK: they are efficient, and if you are friendly and polite with them they will be with you, and they usually try to be helpful. It is normally a 10 minute job from getting out the car at the post office to driving out the car park.

Only problems will be if the items are prohibited or it looks like value has been understated in the supplier's documents.

[CrookedRiverGuy]

Thank you for the feedback, all of you!