Can I sell online from Cyprus?
It depends: allowed, with business registration and obligations. Distance selling to consumers is governed by the Electronic Commerce Law 156(I)/2004 and consumer-protection law (Directive 2011/83/EU). No prior authorisation is needed, but business registration, tax/VAT registration and mandatory website disclosures apply. Consumers have a 14-day right of withdrawal with a full refund. VAT: 19%; for cross-border EU B2C sales the OSS scheme applies (€10,000 threshold). The site must show name, address, email, phone, register details and VAT number. In short: yes, with registration, VAT and a 14-day return right.
📋 The rules
- Business registration + tax/VAT registration
- 14-day right of withdrawal
- VAT 19%; cross-border B2C: OSS (€10,000)
- Mandatory trader details on the site
- Law 156(I)/2004 + consumer protection
🔓 Exceptions
- 14-day exceptions: custom-made, sealed hygiene items, perishables
- Information-society services: no prior authorisation
- Small sales: still taxable
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Running an e-shop without registration/VAT or not honouring the withdrawal right breaches the law, with fines from the Consumer Protection Service and tax penalties. Not declaring income is tax evasion. Beware a myth: "I sell online from home, so I need no registration or VAT" is false — business registration, VAT and consumer rights apply. Tip: put clear terms, trader details and a 14-day returns policy on the site.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Do I need registration to sell online?
You don't need prior authorisation as an information-society service provider, but you must register the business at the Registrar of Companies, register with the Tax Department and for VAT, and publish the mandatory trader details on your website for consumers to see.
What rights does the customer have?
The consumer has a fourteen-day right of withdrawal from a distance contract, with a full refund, subject to the usual exceptions. You must inform them of this right and have a clear returns policy on your site, so buyers know how to cancel and get a refund.
Do I pay VAT?
Yes, the standard VAT rate is 19%. For cross-border sales to consumers within the EU, the OSS scheme applies, with a €10,000 EU-wide threshold before destination VAT applies. You register with the Tax Department for VAT and account for it through the system.
Which sales are exempt from the 14-day rule?
Certain goods and services are exempt from the right of withdrawal, such as custom-made products, sealed health or hygiene items once opened, and perishable goods. You must inform the consumer of these exceptions before the purchase is made, in your terms.
What details must the site show?
The website must state the trader's name, address, email and phone, the company-register details and the VAT number. These mandatory disclosures let the consumer identify and contact you, and are required under the e-commerce and consumer-protection rules.
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