Cyprus-Forum.com

[maewing]

Does anyone know whether you have to pay VAT on books you order from Amazon in the US? That is, would you be charged additionally upon picking them up from the post office in Cyprus? (I know Amazon in the europe is not charged.)

[Kenneth]

As in any other EU country you have to pay both VAT and Import tax. I just don't know how strict/good they are to fullfil these regulations. In Denmark you can't buy a cd or book without getting charged.

[nhowarth]

I ordered several text books from the US for my Greek teacher. She paid no VAT in Cyprus.

(Although the books she wanted are available in Cyprus, she saved herself quite a bit of money by ordering them direct from the publisher).

REgards,

[maewing]

Thanks guys. Nigel,

Did you order the books from Amazon? Do you know whether they send the books to her home or does she have to pick them up at some post office or something? This VAT is new to me.

[Sotos]

I paid VAT on a camcorder I ordered from the US but not on books I ordered from Amazon. They sent you a note and you have to pick the package from the post office. I will order some books soon and I will let you know if they still don't charge VAT for them.

[nhowarth]

Hi maewing

No, I didn't order the books from Amazon, I got them directly from the publisher - 'Papaloizos Publications'.

They were sent to her home address - but she got a card in her letterbox asking her to collect them from the Post Office in Limassol. No extra charges were payable.

I believe that books are exempt from VAT in Cyprus.

Regards,

[maewing]

Thanks guys,

I know it may sound trivial but in my business as well as in my personal life I buy a lot of books and the bills are sometimes several hundred dollars. Since I am moving soon and have a large shipment coming, I wanted to ensure that it was better to send them directly to Cyprus than to HK and take them to Cyprus.

Thanks!

Maurice

[andri_cy]

I know my brother orders books from Amazon all the time for college classes he takes in cyprus and he doesnt have to pay extra tax apart from what amazon already might charge.

[maewing]

Thanks!

[Sotos]

The post office is full with parcels from Amazon. In Cyprus it is almost impossible to find a variety of books on anything technical.