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openaccountants/skills/cyprus-vat-return.md
cyprus-vat-return.md478 lines18.2 KB
v20EU
1---
2name: cyprus-vat-return
3description: Use this skill whenever asked to prepare, review, or classify transactions for a Cyprus VAT return (VAT4 form) for any client. Trigger on phrases like "prepare Cyprus VAT return", "do the Cyprus VAT", "fill in VAT4", "create the return", "Cyprus VAT filing", or any request involving Cyprus VAT filing. This skill covers Cyprus only and standard VAT registration. MUST be loaded alongside BOTH vat-workflow-base v0.1 or later AND eu-vat-directive v0.1 or later. ALWAYS read this skill before touching any Cyprus VAT work.
4version: 2.0
5---
6 
7# Cyprus VAT Return Skill (VAT4 Form) v2.0
8 
9## Section 1 — Quick reference
10 
11**Read this whole section before classifying anything. The workflow runbook is in `vat-workflow-base` Section 1.**
12 
13| Field | Value |
14|---|---|
15| Country | Cyprus (Republic of Cyprus) |
16| Standard rate | 19% |
17| Reduced rates | 9% (accommodation, restaurant/catering), 5% (food, pharmaceuticals, books, newspapers, water), 3% (specific social housing) |
18| Zero rate | 0% (exports, intra-EU B2B supplies of goods, international transport) |
19| Return form | VAT4 |
20| Filing portal | https://taxisnet.mof.gov.cy (TAXISnet / TFA portal) |
21| Authority | Cyprus Tax Department, Ministry of Finance |
22| Currency | EUR only |
23| Filing frequencies | Quarterly (standard); Monthly (option for large exporters) |
24| Deadline | 10th of second month after quarter end (e.g. 10 May for Q1) |
25| Companion skill (Tier 1, workflow) | **vat-workflow-base v0.1 or later — MUST be loaded** |
26| Companion skill (Tier 2, EU directive) | **eu-vat-directive v0.1 or later — MUST be loaded** |
27| Contributor | Michael Cutajar, CPA (Warrant No. 125122), ACCA |
28| Validated by | Deep research verification, April 2026 |
29| Validation date | April 2026 |
30 
31**Key VAT4 boxes:**
32 
33| Box | Meaning |
34|---|---|
35| 1 | VAT due on sales and other outputs (all rates combined) |
36| 2 | VAT due on acquisitions from EU + services from abroad (reverse charge output) |
37| 3 | Total output VAT (Box 1 + Box 2) |
38| 4 | VAT reclaimed on purchases and inputs (all deductible input VAT) |
39| 5 | Net VAT payable or refundable (Box 3 minus Box 4) |
40| 6 | Total value of sales and outputs (excl. VAT) |
41| 7 | Total value of purchases and inputs (excl. VAT) |
42| 8A | Value of intra-EU supplies of goods |
43| 8B | Value of B2B services supplied to other EU states |
44| 9 | Value of zero-rated outputs (exports, other zero-rated not in 8A/8B) |
45| 10 | Sales outside CY VAT scope with right of deduction |
46| 11A | Value of goods acquired from EU |
47| 11B | Value of services received from EU (reverse charge) |
48 
49**Conservative defaults:**
50 
51| Ambiguity | Default |
52|---|---|
53| Unknown rate on a sale | 19% |
54| Unknown VAT status of a purchase | Not deductible |
55| Unknown counterparty country | Domestic Cyprus |
56| Unknown B2B vs B2C for EU customer | B2C, charge 19% |
57| Unknown business-use proportion | 0% recovery |
58| Unknown SaaS billing entity | Reverse charge from non-EU |
59| Unknown blocked-input status | Blocked |
60| Unknown whether in scope | In scope |
61 
62**Red flag thresholds:**
63 
64| Threshold | Value |
65|---|---|
66| HIGH single-transaction size | EUR 3,000 |
67| HIGH tax-delta on single default | EUR 200 |
68| MEDIUM counterparty concentration | >40% |
69| MEDIUM conservative-default count | >4 |
70| LOW absolute net VAT position | EUR 5,000 |
71 
72---
73 
74## Section 2 — Required inputs and refusal catalogue
75 
76### Required inputs
77 
78**Minimum viable** — bank statement for the quarter. Acceptable from: Bank of Cyprus, Hellenic Bank, RCB Bank, Eurobank Cyprus, Astrobank, Revolut Business, Wise Business.
79 
80**Recommended** — sales invoices (intra-EU B2B, exports), purchase invoices for input VAT claims above EUR 200, CY VAT number (CY + 8 digits + letter).
81 
82**Ideal** — complete invoice register, prior VAT4, VIES listings, credit brought forward reconciliation.
83 
84### Cyprus-specific refusal catalogue
85 
86**R-CY-1 — Non-registered entity.** *Trigger:* not registered, turnover below EUR 15,600. *Message:* "Non-registered entities do not file VAT4 returns."
87 
88**R-CY-2 — Partial exemption.** *Trigger:* mixed taxable/exempt supplies. *Message:* "Mixed supplies require pro-rata input VAT apportionment under Section 26. Use a licensed accountant."
89 
90**R-CY-3 — Domestic reverse charge (construction Section 11B).** *Trigger:* construction services received/supplied. *Message:* "Construction domestic reverse charge requires specialist classification."
91 
92**R-CY-4 — Ship management / international services.** *Trigger:* shipping or maritime services. *Message:* "Ship management and tonnage tax structures require specialist advice."
93 
94**R-CY-5 — Special schemes (TOMS, margin).** *Message:* "Tour operator margin scheme and second-hand goods margin scheme require specialist computation."
95 
96**R-CY-6 — Immovable property classification.** *Trigger:* property transactions with option to tax. *Message:* "Immovable property VAT classification under the Eighth Schedule requires specialist review."
97 
98---
99 
100## Section 3 — Supplier pattern library
101 
102Match by case-insensitive substring. Most specific match wins.
103 
104### 3.1 Cypriot banks (fees exempt — exclude)
105 
106| Pattern | Treatment | Notes |
107|---|---|---|
108| BANK OF CYPRUS, BOC | EXCLUDE for bank charges/fees | Exempt financial service |
109| HELLENIC BANK | EXCLUDE for bank charges/fees | Same |
110| RCB BANK | EXCLUDE for bank charges/fees | Same |
111| EUROBANK CYPRUS | EXCLUDE for bank charges/fees | Same |
112| ASTROBANK | EXCLUDE for bank charges/fees | Same |
113| REVOLUT, WISE, N26 (fee lines) | EXCLUDE | Check for taxable subscription invoices |
114| TOKOI, INTEREST | EXCLUDE | Interest, out of scope |
115| DANEIO, LOAN | EXCLUDE | Loan principal, out of scope |
116 
117### 3.2 Cypriot government and statutory bodies (exclude)
118 
119| Pattern | Treatment | Notes |
120|---|---|---|
121| TAX DEPARTMENT, TMHMA FOROLOGIAS | EXCLUDE | Tax payment |
122| SOCIAL INSURANCE, KOINONIKON ASFALISION | EXCLUDE | Social security |
123| REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES | EXCLUDE | Registration fees |
124| CYPRUS STOCK EXCHANGE | EXCLUDE | Regulatory fee |
125 
126### 3.3 Cypriot utilities
127 
128| Pattern | Treatment | Box | Notes |
129|---|---|---|---|
130| EAC, ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY CYPRUS | Domestic 19% | 4 (input) | Electricity |
131| WATER BOARD, SYMVOULIO YDATOPROMITHEIAS | Domestic 5% | 4 (input) | Water at 5% |
132| CYTA, CYTANET | Domestic 19% | 4 (input) | Telecoms |
133| EPIC, PRIMETEL | Domestic 19% | 4 (input) | Telecoms |
134 
135### 3.4 Insurance (exempt — exclude)
136 
137| Pattern | Treatment | Notes |
138|---|---|---|
139| GENERAL INSURANCE CYPRUS | EXCLUDE | Exempt |
140| CNP CYPRIALIFE | EXCLUDE | Same |
141| ALLIANZ CYPRUS | EXCLUDE | Same |
142| ATLANTIC INSURANCE | EXCLUDE | Same |
143| ASFALEIA, INSURANCE | EXCLUDE | All exempt |
144 
145### 3.5 Post and logistics
146 
147| Pattern | Treatment | Notes |
148|---|---|---|
149| CYPRUS POST, KYPRIAKO TACHYDROMEIO | EXCLUDE for standard post | Universal service, exempt |
150| CYPRUS POST (parcel/courier) | Domestic 19% | Non-universal |
151| AKIS EXPRESS, ACS COURIER CY | Domestic 19% | Courier |
152| DHL INTERNATIONAL | EU reverse charge | Check invoice entity |
153 
154### 3.6 Transport
155 
156| Pattern | Treatment | Notes |
157|---|---|---|
158| TRAVEL EXPRESS, INTERCITY BUSES | Domestic 19% | Bus |
159| TAXI | Domestic 19% | Local |
160| RYANAIR, WIZZ AIR (international) | EXCLUDE / 0% | International flight |
161 
162### 3.7 Food retail (blocked unless hospitality)
163 
164| Pattern | Treatment | Notes |
165|---|---|---|
166| ALPHAMEGA, PAPANTONIOU, LIDL CY, CARREFOUR CY | Default BLOCK | Personal provisioning |
167| RESTAURANT, ESTIATORIO, TAVERNA | Default BLOCK | Entertainment |
168 
169### 3.8 SaaS — EU suppliers (reverse charge, Box 2 output + Box 4 input)
170 
171| Pattern | Billing entity | Notes |
172|---|---|---|
173| GOOGLE (Ads, Workspace, Cloud) | Google Ireland Ltd (IE) | EU reverse charge |
174| MICROSOFT (365, Azure) | Microsoft Ireland Operations Ltd (IE) | Reverse charge |
175| ADOBE | Adobe Systems Software Ireland Ltd (IE) | Reverse charge |
176| META, FACEBOOK ADS | Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd (IE) | Reverse charge |
177| LINKEDIN | LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited (IE) | Reverse charge |
178| SPOTIFY | Spotify AB (SE) | EU reverse charge |
179| DROPBOX | Dropbox International Unlimited (IE) | Reverse charge |
180| SLACK | Slack Technologies Ireland Ltd (IE) | Reverse charge |
181| ATLASSIAN | Atlassian Network Services BV (NL) | EU reverse charge |
182| ZOOM | Zoom Video Communications Ireland Ltd (IE) | Reverse charge |
183 
184### 3.9 SaaS — non-EU suppliers (reverse charge, Box 2 output + Box 4 input)
185 
186| Pattern | Billing entity | Notes |
187|---|---|---|
188| AWS EMEA SARL | AWS EMEA SARL (LU) | LU = EU reverse charge |
189| NOTION | Notion Labs Inc (US) | Non-EU reverse charge |
190| ANTHROPIC, CLAUDE | Anthropic PBC (US) | Non-EU reverse charge |
191| OPENAI, CHATGPT | OpenAI Inc (US) | Non-EU reverse charge |
192| GITHUB | GitHub Inc (US) | Check if billed by IE |
193| FIGMA | Figma Inc (US) | Non-EU reverse charge |
194| CANVA | Canva Pty Ltd (AU) | Non-EU reverse charge |
195 
196### 3.10 Payment processors
197 
198| Pattern | Treatment | Notes |
199|---|---|---|
200| STRIPE (transaction fees) | EXCLUDE (exempt) | Financial service |
201| PAYPAL (transaction fees) | EXCLUDE (exempt) | Same |
202 
203### 3.11 Professional services (Cyprus)
204 
205| Pattern | Treatment | Notes |
206|---|---|---|
207| DIKIGOROS, LAWYER, ADVOCATE | Domestic 19% | Legal |
208| LOGISTIS, ACCOUNTANT, AUDITOR | Domestic 19% | Accounting |
209| SYMVOLAIOGRAFOS, NOTARY | Domestic 19% | Notary |
210 
211### 3.12 Payroll and social security (exclude)
212 
213| Pattern | Treatment | Notes |
214|---|---|---|
215| KOINONIKES ASFALISIS, SOCIAL INSURANCE | EXCLUDE | Social contributions |
216| SALARY, MISTHOS | EXCLUDE | Wages |
217 
218### 3.13 Property and rent
219 
220| Pattern | Treatment | Notes |
221|---|---|---|
222| ENOIKIO, RENT (commercial with VAT) | Domestic 19% | Commercial lease |
223| ENOIKIO, RENT (residential) | EXCLUDE | Exempt |
224 
225### 3.14 Internal transfers and exclusions
226 
227| Pattern | Treatment | Notes |
228|---|---|---|
229| OWN TRANSFER, INTERNAL | EXCLUDE | Internal movement |
230| MERISMA, DIVIDEND | EXCLUDE | Out of scope |
231| LOAN REPAYMENT | EXCLUDE | Loan principal |
232| ATM, CASH WITHDRAWAL | Ask | Default exclude |
233 
234---
235 
236## Section 4 — Worked examples
237 
238### Example 1 — Non-EU SaaS reverse charge (Notion)
239 
240**Input line:**
241`03.04.2026 ; NOTION LABS INC ; DEBIT ; Monthly subscription ; USD 16.00 ; EUR 14.68`
242 
243**Reasoning:**
244US entity. Self-assess output VAT at 19% in Box 2. Claim input in Box 4. Net zero. Box 11B value not applicable (non-EU service — use Box 7 only).
245 
246**Output:**
247 
248| Date | Counterparty | Gross | Net | VAT | Rate | Box (input) | Box (output) | Default? | Question? |
249|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
250| 03.04.2026 | NOTION LABS INC | -14.68 | -14.68 | 2.79 | 19% | 4 | 2 | N | — |
251 
252### Example 2 — EU service reverse charge (Google Ads)
253 
254**Input line:**
255`10.04.2026 ; GOOGLE IRELAND LIMITED ; DEBIT ; Google Ads ; -850.00 ; EUR`
256 
257**Reasoning:**
258IE entity. EU reverse charge. Output in Box 2, input in Box 4. Value in Box 11B.
259 
260**Output:**
261 
262| Date | Counterparty | Gross | Net | VAT | Rate | Box (input) | Box (output) | Default? | Question? |
263|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
264| 10.04.2026 | GOOGLE IRELAND LIMITED | -850.00 | -850.00 | 161.50 | 19% | 4 | 2 | N | — |
265 
266### Example 3 — Entertainment
267 
268**Input line:**
269`15.04.2026 ; COLUMBIA STEAK HOUSE LIMASSOL ; DEBIT ; Business dinner ; -220.00 ; EUR`
270 
271**Reasoning:**
272Restaurant. Entertainment input VAT is blocked in Cyprus under the general "not for business use" principle. Default: block.
273 
274**Output:**
275 
276| Date | Counterparty | Gross | Net | VAT | Rate | Box | Default? | Question? | Excluded? |
277|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
278| 15.04.2026 | COLUMBIA STEAK HOUSE | -220.00 | -220.00 | 0 | — | — | Y | Q1 | "Entertainment: blocked" |
279 
280### Example 4 — Capital goods
281 
282**Input line:**
283`18.04.2026 ; LOGITECH CYPRUS ; DEBIT ; Laptop ; -1,595.00 ; EUR`
284 
285**Reasoning:**
286Business equipment. Input VAT deductible at 19%. No specific capital goods threshold in Cyprus VAT4 (unlike Malta). Goes to Box 4.
287 
288**Output:**
289 
290| Date | Counterparty | Gross | Net | VAT | Rate | Box | Default? | Question? |
291|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
292| 18.04.2026 | LOGITECH CYPRUS | -1,595.00 | -1,340.34 | -254.66 | 19% | 4 | N | — |
293 
294### Example 5 — EU B2B service sale
295 
296**Input line:**
297`22.04.2026 ; STUDIO KREBS GMBH ; CREDIT ; IT consultancy ; +3,500.00 ; EUR`
298 
299**Reasoning:**
300B2B service to Germany. Place of supply = Germany. 0% in Box 8B. Verify USt-IdNr.
301 
302**Output:**
303 
304| Date | Counterparty | Gross | Net | VAT | Rate | Box | Default? | Question? |
305|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
306| 22.04.2026 | STUDIO KREBS GMBH | +3,500.00 | +3,500.00 | 0 | 0% | 8B | Y | Q2 (HIGH) "Verify USt-IdNr" |
307 
308### Example 6 — Motor vehicle
309 
310**Input line:**
311`28.04.2026 ; PETROLINA STATIONS ; DEBIT ; Fuel ; -60.00 ; EUR`
312 
313**Reasoning:**
314Fuel. In Cyprus, input VAT on motor vehicle fuel is deductible if vehicle is used for business. Unlike Malta's hard block, Cyprus allows deduction proportional to business use. Default: 0% (business use unknown).
315 
316**Output:**
317 
318| Date | Counterparty | Gross | Net | VAT | Rate | Box | Default? | Question? |
319|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
320| 28.04.2026 | PETROLINA STATIONS | -60.00 | -60.00 | 0 | — | — | Y | Q3 "Vehicle business-use %?" |
321 
322---
323 
324## Section 5 — Tier 1 classification rules (compressed)
325 
326### 5.1 Standard rate 19% (VAT Law Section 17)
327Default rate. Output: Box 1. Input: Box 4.
328 
329### 5.2 Reduced rate 9% (Fifth Schedule Part II)
330Accommodation, restaurant/catering services.
331 
332### 5.3 Reduced rate 5% (Fifth Schedule Part III)
333Food, pharmaceuticals, books, newspapers, water supply, medical devices.
334 
335### 5.4 Reduced rate 3%
336Specific social housing.
337 
338### 5.5 Zero rate (Sixth Schedule)
339Exports, intra-EU B2B goods (Box 8A), intra-EU B2B services (Box 8B), international transport.
340 
341### 5.6 Exempt without credit (Seventh Schedule)
342Financial services, insurance, healthcare, education, postal, gambling, residential rental.
343 
344### 5.7 Reverse charge — EU services received (Section 11A)
345Output VAT at 19% in Box 2, input in Box 4. Value in Box 11B.
346 
347### 5.8 Reverse charge — EU goods received (Section 11)
348Output in Box 2, input in Box 4. Value in Box 11A.
349 
350### 5.9 Reverse charge — non-EU services (Section 11A)
351Same mechanism: output Box 2, input Box 4.
352 
353### 5.10 Domestic reverse charge — construction (Section 11B)
354Output and input both reported by recipient. Flag for reviewer — R-CY-3.
355 
356### 5.11 Blocked input VAT
357- Entertainment: blocked (no specific statutory list like Malta's 10th Schedule; follows general business-use principle)
358- Personal use: blocked
359- Motor vehicles: proportional deduction based on business use (not hard-blocked like Malta)
360 
361### 5.12 Cyprus consolidated Box structure
362Unlike Malta's 45-box VAT3, Cyprus VAT4 has only 11 boxes plus sub-boxes. All rates are aggregated into Box 1 (output) and Box 4 (input).
363 
364---
365 
366## Section 6 — Tier 2 catalogue (compressed)
367 
368### 6.1 Fuel and vehicle costs
369*Default:* 0%. *Question:* "Vehicle type and business-use percentage?"
370 
371### 6.2 Entertainment
372*Default:* block. *Question:* "Business purpose? (Note: blocked regardless in most cases.)"
373 
374### 6.3 Ambiguous SaaS
375*Default:* non-EU reverse charge. *Question:* "Check invoice entity."
376 
377### 6.4 Owner transfers
378*Default:* exclude. *Question:* "Customer payment, own money, or loan?"
379 
380### 6.5 Individual incoming
381*Default:* domestic B2C at 19%. *Question:* "Sale? Country?"
382 
383### 6.6 Foreign incoming
384*Default:* 19%. *Question:* "B2B? Country? VAT number?"
385 
386### 6.7 Large purchases
387*Default:* deductible; flag if capital. *Question:* "Useful life > 1 year?"
388 
389### 6.8 Mixed-use telecom/home office
390*Default:* 0%. *Question:* "Business line or mixed?"
391 
392### 6.9 Outgoing to individuals
393*Default:* exclude. *Question:* "Contractor, wages, or personal?"
394 
395### 6.10 Cash withdrawals
396*Default:* exclude. *Question:* "Cash purpose?"
397 
398### 6.11 Rent
399*Default:* exempt (residential). *Question:* "Commercial or residential?"
400 
401---
402 
403## Section 7 — Excel working paper template (Cyprus-specific)
404 
405Per `vat-workflow-base` Section 3. Column H accepts CY VAT4 box codes (1-11B). Sheet "Box Summary" maps directly to the VAT4 form. Bottom-line: Box 5 (net payable/refundable = Box 3 minus Box 4).
406 
407---
408 
409## Section 8 — Cyprus bank statement reading guide
410 
411**CSV conventions.** Bank of Cyprus and Hellenic Bank typically use comma delimiters, DD/MM/YYYY dates.
412 
413**Greek language variants.** Enoikio (rent), misthos (salary), tokoi (interest), metafora (transfer). Treat as English equivalent.
414 
415**Internal transfers.** "Own transfer", "esoteriki metafora". Exclude.
416 
417**IBAN prefix.** CY = Cyprus. IE, DE, NL = EU. US, GB = non-EU.
418 
419---
420 
421## Section 9 — Onboarding fallback
422 
423### 9.1 Entity type
424*Inference:* Ltd = company; sole trader. *Fallback:* "Company or self-employed?"
425 
426### 9.2 VAT registration
427*Fallback:* "Are you VAT-registered?"
428 
429### 9.3 VAT number
430*Fallback:* "CY VAT number? (CY + 8 digits + letter)"
431 
432### 9.4 Filing period
433*Inference:* quarterly by default. *Fallback:* "Which quarter?"
434 
435### 9.5 Industry
436*Fallback:* "What does the business do?"
437 
438### 9.6 Exempt supplies
439*Fallback:* "Any exempt supplies?" *If yes: R-CY-2.*
440 
441### 9.7 Credit brought forward
442*Fallback:* "Excess VAT credit from prior quarter?"
443 
444### 9.8 Cross-border customers
445*Fallback:* "Customers outside Cyprus?"
446 
447---
448 
449## Section 10 — Reference material
450 
451### Sources
4521. VAT Law N.95(I)/2000 (as amended)
4532. Fifth-Ninth Schedules (rates, exemptions, special schemes)
4543. Sections 11, 11A-11E (reverse charge provisions)
4554. EU VAT Directive 2006/112/EC — via companion skill
4565. VIES — https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/
457 
458### Known gaps
4591. Ship management/maritime sector not covered.
4602. Construction domestic reverse charge (Section 11B) flagged as refusal.
4613. Immovable property special rules not detailed.
462 
463### Change log
464- **v2.0 (April 2026):** Full rewrite to Malta v2.0 structure. Cypriot banks (Bank of Cyprus, Hellenic Bank, RCB).
465- **v1.0 (April 2026):** Initial skill.
466 
467## End of Cyprus VAT Return Skill v2.0
468 
469This skill is incomplete without BOTH companion files: `vat-workflow-base` v0.1+ AND `eu-vat-directive` v0.1+.
470 
471---
472 
473## Disclaimer
474 
475This skill and its outputs are provided for informational and computational purposes only and do not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Open Accountants and its contributors accept no liability for any errors, omissions, or outcomes arising from the use of this skill. All outputs must be reviewed and signed off by a qualified professional before filing or acting upon.
476 
477The most up-to-date, verified version of this skill is maintained at [openaccountants.com](https://openaccountants.com).
478 

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About

Use this skill whenever asked to prepare, review, or classify transactions for a Cyprus VAT return (VAT4 form) for any client. Trigger on phrases like "prepare Cyprus VAT return", "do the Cyprus VAT", "fill in VAT4", "create the return", "Cyprus VAT filing", or any request involving Cyprus VAT filing. This skill covers Cyprus only and standard VAT registration. MUST be loaded alongside BOTH vat-workflow-base v0.1 or later AND eu-vat-directive v0.1 or later. ALWAYS read this skill before touching any Cyprus VAT work.

CYty-2025

CY skill: