VAT Refund

[nyt]

Not sure if this is the correct topic but here goes ...

I have a friend from the far east staying. She'd like to take back some electronics (couple of iPads and a laptop).
She should be eligible for VAT refund afaics, but no mainstream stores seem to participate in this scheme (Amazon, Currys, Argos)

Does anyone know where she should look.

Thanks

[Mr Pointy]

It looks a s if John Lewis may do it but there could be a charge:

https://www.johnlewis.com/customer-services/shoppi...

[Somebody]

Or buy duty free after border control at a departing airport. Most airports have DixonsTravel. It's better as there's no handling/admin charge which you would have to pay if you do a claim at the airport.

[AKT]

Apple will do a VAT refunds too. Most of the major high street stores will. You are supposed to show your passport and they need to put details on the paperwork when you buy things but some retailers (not Apple as it’s printed) will leave this for you to do after. You then need to find out where to get them stamped and/or post them once you’ve cleared customs (google the airport). You need to be able to show the items so put them in hand luggage unless it’s an unmanned customs postbox. Bear in mind that the companies that process the refunds take a hefty chunk so a good rule of thumb is expect to get around 50% for the VAT back.

A

[ROSSinHD]

Not sure if still a thing but I used to claim all my VAT back at Gatwick when flying home. Had to show the person in the office receipts, the items and my passport complete a form and a couple of weeks later I got a credit to my bank account. Never once filled in a shop form.

Edited by ROSSinHD on Saturday 25th May 21:58

[AKT]

ROSSinHD said:

Not sure if still a thing but I used to claim all my VAT back at Gatwick when flying home. Had to show the person in the office receipts, the items and my passport complete a form and a couple of weeks later I got a credit to my bank account. Never once filled in a shop form.

Edited by ROSSinHD on Saturday 25th May 21:58

The last time I left the UK in 2017, you needed paperwork from the shop. In theory the shop has to fill it in for you but in my experience they can’t always be arsed. It could have changed since then.

A

[BlackLabel]

Apple offer this service:

“Tax-Free Shopping
Apple Retail UK Limited offers tax-free shopping through Global Blue for customers taking their purchases out of the European Union. Restrictions apply. Please see a Specialist for details.”

https://www.apple.com/legal/sales-support/sales-po...

But don’t just leave the store with a normal till receipt. You need the specific tax free shopping form which the retailer will have.

From gov.uk.......

“5. How to shop tax free
Find a shop that offers tax-free shopping. You have to be in the shop yourself when you buy the goods (although somebody else can pay for them).

Tell the shop assistant that you want to use tax-free shopping and show your passport or national ID card.

Ask the shop assistant to explain the scheme to you. Discuss:

how the refund will be made
when you’ll get it
what the charge is, this should be written on your refund form
Make sure that you are allowed to shop tax free (see section 3) and that you understand what you need to do.

The shop assistant will give you the form. Fill in and sign the customer sections of the VAT refund form in the presence of the shop assistant. You must sign the form yourself. The only exception to this rule is for people who cannot sign the form themselves for reasons directly related to disability.

The shop assistant must also fill in and sign the form while you’re in the shop. They may give you a reply paid envelope so you can post the form back after you’ve had it stamped by a customs officer. Take the form (and the envelope) and the goods and all your receipts with you to show to customs when you leave the EU.

You will not get your VAT back if you only have till receipts.”

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-vat-back-on-tax-...


Global Blue, the company Apple and others use to process such refunds, will take a significant cut though.

For example if you spend £2000 at an Apple store that’s £333.33 of VAT however you’ll only get £260.00 back after the Global Blue charges. There’s a calculator on their website which will give you the exact figures.

https://www.globalblue.com/customer-services/faqs/

[AKT]

BlackLabel said:

For example if you spend £2000 at an Apple store that’s £333.33 of VAT however you’ll only get £260.00 back after the Global Blue charges. There’s a calculator on their website which will give you the exact figures.

https://www.globalblue.com/customer-services/faqs/

I thought UK VAT is 20% which would make it £400.

Different companies charge different amounts and you don’t get to choose who to use. There used to be a difference in their charges based on how your refund was given back but that may have gone with credit card charges now becoming illegal.

A

[BlackLabel]

UK VAT is 20% however when you take it away from a figure you use 16.66%. For example, if something is sold for £100 it’s made up of £83.24 for the item and £16.66 vat at 20%.

Yep used to confuse me too.

AKT said:

I thought UK VAT is 20% which would make it £400.

Different companies charge different amounts and you don’t get to choose who to use. There used to be a difference in their charges based on how your refund was given back but that may have gone with credit card charges now becoming illegal.

A

[AKT]

BlackLabel said:

UK VAT is 20% however when you take it away from a figure you use 16.66%.

AKT said:

I thought UK VAT is 20% which would make it £400.

Of course it is. Oops!

A

[nyt]

Thanks for all the information