UK VAT cash refund

[simongr]

Hi all

I am currently spending my way through England and have picked up some expensive bargains and have been provided with a VAT refund form.

I am trying to work out whether this works like TRS in Oz where things have to be in hand luggage and presented post immigration/customs.

The envelope shows a cash refund location at LHR T3 just at check in so I was thinking I could get the refund and then put things back in check luggage?

Any thoughts?

Simon

 

[Commuter]

You can get the form processed by the VAT refund people (which often are Travelex people) and then put them back in checked baggage and then check them in.

You are required to be able to show your goods to those VAT people at that point so don't pack them right at the bottom of your suitcase.

There are some exemptions - some items, if I remember correctly, they include jewellery and maybe electronic goods, need to be in hand luggage and checked by customs airside.

 

[Dave Noble]

When you get to the airport you need to go to the Customs VAT refund office before you check in for the flight. You need to have the forms filled in and the receipts to hand and make sure that you can easily get to the items in your luggage if you need them since they may require that they see the items ( though I have not had them ever want to do so )

If you have a normal VAT refund form then you need to put the stamped form in an anvelope and post back to the retailer. The retailer will receive the form and then process the VAT refund ( they can charge for doing this but I havent had any charge a fee yet )

If the retailer has a Travelex VAT refund form ( hopefully not since iirc there is definitely going to be a fee involved ) then you can go to the travelex currency exchange , hand them the form and then get the money on the spot

Do make sure not to show a UK passport at the Customs office since UK subjects are not entitled to a refund

More details at http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channels...ertyType=document&columns=1&id=HMCE_CL_000141

Dave

 

[docjames]

Best bet is have stuff in carryon or at top of checked luggage so it can be inspected if requested (ours wasnt!). Get the stamp, and they'll put onto credit card for you. Do this before bag drop.

If you have high priced items (usually jewelry), they want to ensure it truly leaves the country, so you have to get the revenue stamp after immirgation/security, so keep high priced (small) stuff in your carryon. They'll then send you to travelex for them to credit it to your credit card or post it to the company.

It's easy enough, but filling in the forms is a pain (when you have the amount mrsdoc handed me!), and it's a bit fiddly. Guess that's the idea to make it not worth it.

Love the commission the companies earn for the "service" (approaching 50%!)

 

[medhead]

Best bet is have stuff in carryon or at top of checked luggage so it can be inspected if requested (ours wasnt!). Get the stamp, and they'll put onto credit card for you. Do this before bag drop.

And when I did the EU version of this the CC company then deducted points for the credit. So watch out for that.
It was a simple matter to ring and explain that is was a EU "GST" refund and get the points recredited by the CC company.

 

[satprof]

Do make sure not to show a UK passport at the Customs office since UK subjects are not entitled to a refund

Sorry, Dave, but this bit isn't true. You must not be a resident of the EU, but your nationality is irrelevant. The retailer will want to see some evidence that you are from outside the EU, but at a pinch should accept even a UK passport. When I lived in Switzerland (not an EU country), I never had problems with getting the VAT back using my UK passport.

Potentially, HM Customs would also want evidence that you're not an EU resident, but they've never asked me. I suspect that they are only interested if there's more than a certain sum, say £100 or £200, of VAT involved. Equally, I've never had to show the goods, but always make the claim before checking in, just in case. So long as you claim at the airport on the day of travel, showing bookings if necessary, you don't need a BP. (Recently I noticed that, at one UK airport, possibly LGW, the customs office had moved to be after security. In that case, I would check-in any bulky item & tell them that it had to be checked in as it was impractical to carry.)

 

[medhead]

(Recently I noticed that, at one UK airport, possibly LGW, the customs office had moved to be after security. In that case, I would check-in any bulky item & tell them that it had to be checked in as it was impractical to carry.)

My experiences doing this at FRA has been that the money collection part is after security, but there is an office to witness the goods near the check in. (this office is also after security near the money collection point as well).

Of course this might have changed. But I would have thought that they would have someone to certify the goods before check in.

 

[Dave Noble]

Sorry, Dave, but this bit isn't true. You must not be a resident of the EU, but your nationality is irrelevant. The retailer will want to see some evidence that you are from outside the EU, but at a pinch should accept even a UK passport. When I lived in Switzerland (not an EU country), I never had problems with getting the VAT back using my UK passport.

Potentially, HM Customs would also want evidence that you're not an EU resident, but they've never asked me. I suspect that they are only interested if there's more than a certain sum, say £100 or £200, of VAT involved. Equally, I've never had to show the goods, but always make the claim before checking in, just in case. So long as you claim at the airport on the day of travel, showing bookings if necessary, you don't need a BP. (Recently I noticed that, at one UK airport, possibly LGW, the customs office had moved to be after security. In that case, I would check-in any bulky item & tell them that it had to be checked in as it was impractical to carry.)

The post was slightly incorrect and done for simplification purposes. Generally UK subjects cannot claim VAT back and it avoids the need to provide proof of eligability to claim to just use a non EU passport; the link I gave to HMRC gave the exact rules

Doing it after check in is something I would only consider if the goods were going in hand luggage since Customs may want to inspect the items

Dave

 

[Danger UXB]

Went thru T3 earlier this year with plenty of booty. No problem with the uk passport (they never even said it could be a problem and its not the first time i've left with plenty of VAT to claim) . They checked nearly everything landside which then went under in the hold. They wanted to sight the electronics (it was a camera and lens) and jewelery air side so it had to say in the hand luggage
Cheers Danger UXB

 

[simongr]

With 11 pieces of luggage (checked and hand), two trolleys and a sick wife and child the opportunity for the VAT refund was not compelling...