Duty | Tax | Customs for International shopping {VAT refund}

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#601
Hi there all, what a useful forum! Do you need to be flying out to your home country to get the VAT refund, or just out of the EU?

I am a US citizen and plan to purchase a Chanel bag in France, but I spend some time in London before flying out to Dubai a few weeks after purchasing. As I understand it, this should be fine so long as I can prove my residence w my passport and have all the documentation from the store right?
 
#602
reesespcs54 said:
Hi there all, what a useful forum! Do you need to be flying out to your home country to get the VAT refund, or just out of the EU?

I am a US citizen and plan to purchase a Chanel bag in France, but I spend some time in London before flying out to Dubai a few weeks after purchasing. As I understand it, this should be fine so long as I can prove my residence w my passport and have all the documentation from the store right?
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Yes, you just need to be flying out of the EU. Keep in mind, when you fly from London go Dubai, you may need to declare it (even if it's only in transit) and you'll have to declare it when returning back to the U.S.

You should claim your VAT in London since its your last point before leaving europe.
 
#603
MASEML said:
Yes, you just need to be flying out of the EU. Keep in mind, when you fly from London go Dubai, you may need to declare it (even if it's only in transit) and you'll have to declare it when returning back to the U.S.



You should claim your VAT in London since its your last point before leaving europe.
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Good to know!! Thanks :)
 
#604
Hi all- been doing lots of research into this and am coming across some horror stories of not having VAT refunded when it is rightfully due! Could someone explain:

- the VAT refund documentation process at the story: do they just check your passport to see if you are non-EU citizen or is it more involved than this?
- the vat refund experience at the last port of departure outside UK: As i understand it, they mostly check to see if your form is filled out and possible if your goods are in unused condition

I know i need to declare the goods upon arrival to the US, which i'm fine with...
 
#605
reesespcs54 said:
Hi all- been doing lots of research into this and am coming across some horror stories of not having VAT refunded when it is rightfully due! Could someone explain:

- the VAT refund documentation process at the story: do they just check your passport to see if you are non-EU citizen or is it more involved than this?
- the vat refund experience at the last port of departure outside UK: As i understand it, they mostly check to see if your form is filled out and possible if your goods are in unused condition

I know i need to declare the goods upon arrival to the US, which i'm fine with...
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The SA will ask for your passport to prepare the VAT form so they will know if you are non-EU citizen.

At the airport the most important thing is to get the required customs stamp on the VAT refund form. The customs' role is not to check that the form is correctly filled but rather if you have taken the unused goods which VAT is being refunded out of EU, though they may or may not do the physical check.
 
#606
Mumof2mOnstErs said:
The SA will ask for your passport to prepare the VAT form so they will know if you are non-EU citizen.

At the airport the most important thing is to get the required customs stamp on the VAT refund form. The customs' role is not to check that the form is correctly filled but rather if you have taken the unused goods which VAT is being refunded out of EU, though they may or may not do the physical check.
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got it, that's helpful...but who checks the visa ultimately? The store or customs desk?

guess i will find out this weekend!! will report back...
 
#609
reesespcs54 said:
ah sorry, the visa on which i have access into the EU. The background is that I have an active UK visa for work purposes, but I reside in the US. I'd prefer not to get tripped up on that, though it's looking like it might end up being a toss up.
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Sorry, I am not too sure how it works already but perhaps the customs will have the records. Best to check if a work visa holder is allowed to claim VAT.
 
#611
reesespcs54 said:
got it, thanks for the quick replies!! :)

happy hump day!
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I happened to see something about VAT refund and did a goggle check. The UK government publishes this clause:

You can sometimes get*VAT*refunds on goods bought in the UK if you:
- visit the UK but live outside the EU and are going back home
- are an EU resident leaving the EU for 12 months or more
- are a non-EU resident but work or study in the UK and are leaving the EU for 12 months or more

Source: https://www.gov.uk/tax-on-shopping/taxfree-shopping

Not sure if this helps you though.
 
#612
Does anyone know how the US duty is calculated? I was trying to figure it out before deciding to purchase something overseas. I know about the allowance, and on the U.S. site for travel, it's 3% for the next $1000, and then for the balance, the percentage is determined by the harmonized tariff schedule. Specifically, I was searching for the duty on some jewelry, and it looks like I would pay 5.5% of the 80% of the cost. Does that sound right?
 
#613
Hi all , I was hoping to purchase a Chanel and Dior bag when I travel to europe in May, was hoping to know which EU country have the highest vat refund rate for these two brands ? cuz I'll be visting several eu countries.. I have heard that rome have better refund rate than paris , is it true?
 
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#614
bagaholicsun said:
Hi all , I was hoping to purchase a Chanel and Dior bag when I travel to europe in May, was hoping to know which EU country have the highest vat refund rate for these two brands ? cuz I'll be visting several eu countries.. I have heard that rome have better refund rate than paris , is it true?
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Try the global blue website. You can select countries and see which country gives the highest refund.
 
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