Tax Deprtment

On which supplies is VAT charged at the standard rate of 19%, at the reduced rates of 5% and 9% , which supplies are zero-rated and which supplies are exempted?

VAT is charged on every supply of goods or services at the standard rate of nineteen per cent (19%). The reduced rate of 5% is imposed on the supply of coffins, services supplied by undertakers, services of writers, artists, on the supply of fertilizers, foodstuff for animal, live animals, seeds, non bottled water, newspapers, books, periodicals, certain products for persons with special need, ice cream, certain types of nuts (salted etc), transport of passengers and their accompanying luggage with urban and rural buses, the letting of camping sites and caravan parks.

As from 19 October 2007, the following are taxable at the reduced rate of 5%:
· hair salon services,
· repair and maintenance of private households (based on specific condition)
· animal feedstuff
· confectionary product
· bottled water
· Juices
· pharmaceutical products that were previously taxed at the standard rate.
· entry fees to theaters, cinemas at sports events, luna parks and similar cultural events

As from the 1st August, 2005, the following are taxable at the reduced VAT rate of 9%:
transport of passengers and their accompanying luggage within Cyprus, with urban, suburban and rural taxis as well as with tour and suburban buses.
The VAT reduced rate of 9% is also imposed as from the 1st January, 2006 up to 9/1/2011, on the services of restaurants and the supply of food in the course of catering (except the supply of alcoholic beverages wine and beer, which was chargeable at 15%, until the 09/01/2011. Since the 10/01/2011 it is chargeable at 9%), as well as on the provision of accommodation in the hotel sector or in sectors with a similar character. As from the 1st January, 2006, the transport of passengers and their accompanying luggage by sea, within Cyprus is taxable at the VAT rate of 9%.As from 27 June 2018 services and goods provided by old people nursing homes are liable to the reduced rate 9%.
Certain supplies of goods or services are zero-rated; the supply, hiring and repair of sea-going vessels and aircrafts, the supply of services to meet the direct needs of sea-going vessels, the supply of goods entered into customs regime, the supply of medicines and food – except the supply of food in the course of catering. In addition, a supply of goods is zero-rated if the VAT Commissioner is satisfied that the goods have been exported or supplied to a registered person in another member state.

No VAT is charged on supplies of goods or services which are exempted under the VAT legislation:financial services, lotteries, medical care, social welfare, education, sports, cultural services, insurance transactions etc.

Since the establishment of V.A.T. legislation on the 1/7/1992 the changes for V.A.T. rates are shown in the table that follows:

V.A.T. Rates

Dates / Periods	Standard Rate	Reduced Rate 1	Reduced Rate 2
01/07/1992 - 30/09/1993	5%	---	---
01/10/1993 - 30/06/2000	8%	---	---
01/07/2000 - 30/06/2002	10%	5%	---
01/07/2002 - 31/12/2002	13%	5%	---
01/01/2003 - 31/07/2005	15%	5%	---
01/08/2005 - 29/02/2012	15%	5%	8%
01/03/2012 - 13/01/2013	17%	5%	8%
14/01/2013 - 12/01/2014	18%	5%	8%
from 13/01/2014	19%	5%	9%

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VAT Rates

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