Best way to 'detax' after H in Europe

[HavLab]

Ladies,
I have just done the Pablo machine at Nice airport and also stopped at the Custom office (right next to the machines and since there was no line... I stopped by and asked the officer if I did everything correctly. He was very pleasant and politely helped me check in his computer, which he could already see the forms I scanned, and told me there is NO NEED to send the forms as he can see in the system all the data (what I bought, payment etc)!
So he told me to just keep the forms for my record and check/track online my tax return progress!

So ladies no more mailing the forms!

Thank you this is very helpful info. That being said, I'll probably continue to mail forms as a backup as long as H keeps providing envelopes and forms. While Pablo/France customs can see the data there is still some kind of integration to Global Blue since they are issuing the refund. I'm assuming it's a fully automated process but on the off chance something goes off it might be taken care of faster if Global Blue has the form in its possession.

 

[jmc3007]

Thank you this is very helpful info. That being said, I'll probably continue to mail forms as a backup as long as H keeps providing envelopes and forms. While Pablo/France customs can see the data there is still some kind of integration to Global Blue since they are issuing the refund. I'm assuming it's a fully automated process but on the off chance something goes off it might be taken care of faster if Global Blue has the form in its possession.

Create an account on global blue and you’ll get notifications when refunds hit. I’ve had an account for 3-4 years with GB but this is a first that I received alerts from my trip last month. Also it helps that Hermes updated their VAT refund form to be in compliant with other stores. Seriously it’s the coolest thing to get these alerts.

 

[periogirl28]

Just wanted say that one can make an appointment in advance to clear tax refund at London Heathrow if pressed for time. There is a charge of £15 to prebook a date and time or I believe £5 per claim receipt if you are already there, the queue is long and one is running late for check-in. See Heathrow.com website for details. My process has always been smooth even if I was asked to show my bags after security due to the value. Refund is also fast. I wanna go slightly off topic and thank Hermes for sending me 3 SOs AFTER I moved away and now qualify for Tax Refund from the EU.

 

[Anna Carroll]

Hi,
I will depart Dublin airport at 6:40am and stop by Heathrow for 2 hours before heading to USA. Do you know what time the Dublin’s Vat custom office open? I wonder how I can get custom stamp on my VAT tax refund form. Any advices will be appreciated. TIA!!!

 

[rurorjuror]

Hi,
I will depart Dublin airport at 6:40am and stop by Heathrow for 2 hours before heading to USA. Do you know what time the Dublin’s Vat custom office open? I wonder how I can get custom stamp on my VAT tax refund form. Any advices will be appreciated. TIA!!!

I know this reply won't be of much help to the previous poster since much time has passed but wanted to add my 2 cents in case it helps someone else in the future:

If you should find that the customs desk is closed (since you're traveling "after hours") then do not hesitate in contacting airport staff immediately. Most airports (esp. large ones) are supposed to have officers (with the authority to conduct customs stamps etc.) available to manage one-off situations like this.

A week ago I was in a similar boat while traveling from Amsterdam to the US. My flight departed Amsterdam at 8AM but the customs desk did not open until 8AM. So after my check in at 6AM or so, I rang the emergency contact # left at the closed customs desk explained my situation and within 10~ minutes a couple of officers came over to help with all my paperwork. While I was waiting for them, I had also politely followed up with another airport official in person to confirm the urgency of my situation. They were all very helpful and accommodating.

Hope you were able to get everything resolved too, Anna!

 

[lulilu]

I know this reply won't be of much help to the previous poster since much time has passed but wanted to add my 2 cents in case it helps someone else in the future:

If you should find that the customs desk is closed (since you're traveling "after hours") then do not hesitate in contacting airport staff immediately. Most airports (esp. large ones) are supposed to have officers (with the authority to conduct customs stamps etc.) available to manage one-off situations like this.

A week ago I was in a similar boat while traveling from Amsterdam to the US. My flight departed Amsterdam at 8AM but the customs desk did not open until 8AM. So after my check in at 6AM or so, I rang the emergency contact # left at the closed customs desk explained my situation and within 10~ minutes a couple of officers came over to help with all my paperwork. While I was waiting for them, I had also politely followed up with another airport official in person to confirm the urgency of my situation. They were all very helpful and accommodating.

Hope you were able to get everything resolved too, Anna!

Some customs offices have Pablo machines outside of them, so if they are closed, you can still use the machine. This is what I did when catching a 630 am flight out of Singapore.

 

[pandaaa]

Hi all,

Apologies if this has been asked before - I am in Paris and will be taking a train to Switzerland (not part of EU) next and flying home from Zurich. As I will be leaving the EU via train, I was wondering if anyone knows how to detax. Do the train stations have Pablo machines or offices where I can get the stamp? I’m quite concerned about whether this is even possible. I bought a Birkin so it’s quite a lot of money lost if I’m not able to detax

 

[cavalpha]

Hi,
For Global Blue detaxe in Paris: some FYI as well as a question:
I came back from Paris about 2 weeks ago, had a pretty big $wise purchase but this was not at Hermès, actually it was at my longtime Opticiens. My purchase was the day before leaving Paris. Whilst he was doing the detaxe form and I always do a credit card refund for detaxe, the manager mentioned that if you are departing the EU 24-48 hours after your purchase, GB will credit refund within 2 days. And I got an email from GB almost immediately that I would receive refund within 2 days and that the credit will be reversed if I don’t get my form stamped within 21 days. At CDG, my form was “green-ed” at the Pablo kiosk. Refund was already on my cc by the time I got back.
On the same trip but several days before leaving Paris, I also had a much smaller $wise purchase with detaxe from H but they never said anything about the instant credit. the H form was also greened by Pablo and I got refund to my cc end of last week.

My question is: has anyone had the same experience for the instant GB refund for H purchases (or at any of the other lux designers)? I’m wondering if this is peculiar to the merchant or the time of departure or something else. If it can be done at/by H, it sure would be v handy.

 

[izzyParis]

Hi,
For Global Blue detaxe in Paris: some FYI as well as a question:
I came back from Paris about 2 weeks ago, had a pretty big $wise purchase but this was not at Hermès, actually it was at my longtime Opticiens. My purchase was the day before leaving Paris. Whilst he was doing the detaxe form and I always do a credit card refund for detaxe, the manager mentioned that if you are departing the EU 24-48 hours after your purchase, GB will credit refund within 2 days. And I got an email from GB almost immediately that I would receive refund within 2 days and that the credit will be reversed if I don’t get my form stamped within 21 days. At CDG, my form was “green-ed” at the Pablo kiosk. Refund was already on my cc by the time I got back.
On the same trip but several days before leaving Paris, I also had a much smaller $wise purchase with detaxe from H but they never said anything about the instant credit. the H form was also greened by Pablo and I got refund to my cc end of last week.

My question is: has anyone had the same experience for the instant GB refund for H purchases (or at any of the other lux designers)? I’m wondering if this is peculiar to the merchant or the time of departure or something else. If it can be done at/by H, it sure would be v handy.

I had a similar experience in Chanel rue Cambon in April 2019. As long as I was leaving the EU within the next 21 days, Chanel was able to charge my credit card for the purchase sans the tax refund, so paid the net amount. I still needed to use Pablo on my way out of Paris CDG but essentially I was able to make my purchase as if I was at the airport in the duty free shops with the time departure stipulation. Which was wonderful as I didn't have to try and track the refund etc. I had no such opportunity at Hermes, but my Hermes Pablo aided detaxe funds were more quick than previous trips. I really like this new process and hope Hermes joins in. A long time in the rumor mill was that LVMH was going to up mega store that was essentially this same detax process, I haven't kept up with the story line to know the status but it sure does sound interesting.

 

[eagle1002us]

Maybe someone can clarify this point for me. If a new item bought on the visit to Paris shows signs of use what difference does it make if the traveler is declaring the item at how much it cost? Isn't the receipt/declaration all that matters? I think someone could try to sneak a new bag thru customs by carrying it and not declaring it. That would be fraud. But if the purchase is declared and the traveler has to pay some duty b/c of the declaration, isn't the duty what really matters to customs?

 

[lulilu]

Maybe someone can clarify this point for me. If a new item bought on the visit to Paris shows signs of use what difference does it make if the traveler is declaring the item at how much it cost? Isn't the receipt/declaration all that matters? I think someone could try to sneak a new bag thru customs by carrying it and not declaring it. That would be fraud. But if the purchase is declared and the traveler has to pay some duty b/c of the declaration, isn't the duty what really matters to customs?

The VAT refund applies (by law) only to items that are purchased for export only, like when foreign companies deduct the VAT when they ship items to you. Not for things that are used. It requires new packaging etc as stated above. If you use an item, the country feels that you have taken the benefit the tax is intended to cover -- use in the VAT country. Now while some people have used items and not experienced a problem, that is merely anecdotal evidence that the law is not applied evenly in all cases. We know that. Customs is merely applying the law.

 

[azukitea]

Can we use the detax thread for tax and customs related questions / issues please

https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/best-way-to-detax-after-h-in-europe.178302/page-67

 

[frankiextah]

In all the years that I’ve travelled abroad and made purchases, this has never been a problem. I’ve cut off tags from a lot of my purchases. The only time that I ever get asked is to see the goods. I know that you’re trying to be helpful here but I don’t find this to be valid advice.

Good for you nothing unfortunate happened but before you criticize me / giving false information here on the forum you should probably first check the facts per below stated by both Global Blue and Premier Tax Free (now Planet Tax Free).

Obviously anyone can do whatever they want / if the officers are strict or lenient, but should be well informed of the potential consequences.

 

[nymeria]

Good for you nothing unfortunate happened but before you criticize me / giving false information here on the forum you should probably first check the facts per below stated by both Global Blue and Premier Tax Free (now Planet Tax Free).

Obviously anyone can do whatever they want / if the officers are strict or lenient, but should be well informed of the potential consequences.

View attachment 4498867
View attachment 4498870

Also happy nothing untoward has happened to you, but have to agree-at least everyone should know the law and the "potential"consequences of their action.
I also play by the rules coming home- declare, do the math calculations in both currencies and coded according to type of purchase.This has stood me in good stead- personally, I think they just want to get rid of a crazy OCD lady, but regardless I have always been on the receiving end of "Thank you for your honesty, please just go through".
Whatever you choose to do, know the consequences and be willing to deal with them.

 

[cavalpha]

I had a similar experience in Chanel rue Cambon in April 2019. As long as I was leaving the EU within the next 21 days, Chanel was able to charge my credit card for the purchase sans the tax refund, so paid the net amount. I still needed to use Pablo on my way out of Paris CDG but essentially I was able to make my purchase as if I was at the airport in the duty free shops with the time departure stipulation. Which was wonderful as I didn't have to try and track the refund etc. I had no such opportunity at Hermes, but my Hermes Pablo aided detaxe funds were more quick than previous trips. I really like this new process and hope Hermes joins in. A long time in the rumor mill was that LVMH was going to up mega store that was essentially this same detax process, I haven't kept up with the story line to know the status but it sure does sound interesting.

Thanks for this. I’m pretty sure now that this fast refund or VAT off option is only with GB’s affiliated stores and Hermes is not a participant.