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

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I just came back from London Heathrow. Travelex charged me £10 for processing. I requested to get £ back, since if I get other currency, likely there is exchange difference charged by Travelex. For credit card refund, it would depend on when the process is done and the exchange rate at that point in time (or whether your credit card charge additional fees for foreign exchange).

Thanks for your response gg.leigh! [emoji173]️[emoji173]️ So is that mean £10 for all the processing fees no matter how many VAT refund you planning to get back? Let say If I have a total 3 items for VAT, the processing fees are still £10? If £10 that's all they gona charge us I prefer to get the cash back on the spot.
 
I just came back from London Heathrow. Travelex charged me £10 for processing. I requested to get £ back, since if I get other currency, likely there is exchange difference charged by Travelex. For credit card refund, it would depend on when the process is done and the exchange rate at that point in time (or whether your credit card charge additional fees for foreign exchange).

Sorry I got another question hope you don't mind. When you did your VAT in London Heathrow, did you have your original receipts or tax invoices back ? I heard that they will take your original receipt even you did the VAT refund. Cheers [emoji257][emoji257]
 
I was given the cash back at the Barcelona airport. My friend bought a LV and we had to go2 2 different vat counters(she went to global blue and I was at the other-forgot the name) The counter I had to go2 which was on my Chanel receipt couldn't credit back on Amex as they only could do visa mc. I'm not sure why so I took the cash.

Oh I see, thanks for the info. Mine are to be processed via mail, so when they processed my tax refund info at Harrod's in London, they asked if I wanted it back on CC. I gave them my AMEX card - so it should work, since they would have turned AMEX away at that point. Whew! This was Global Blue though.
 
Sorry I got another question hope you don't mind. When you did your VAT in London Heathrow, did you have your original receipts or tax invoices back ? I heard that they will take your original receipt even you did the VAT refund. Cheers [emoji257][emoji257]

There should be two receipts. One for you one for the paperwork. You don't get to keep the VAT info, just your copy of the receipt.

There's a fee per form to process, I forget if there's a fee to get cash. But £10 sounds right. So it's best to do all your shopping at once to lessen your fees, or wait till you're done at the department stores to have it all on one form.

If you do the VAT on air side (after security) the line is shorter but they do ask to see all the items to give you the stamp. Then the travelex counter to get your cash is right in front of Chanel at Terminal 5
 
If I had done the mail in option I would have gotten the vat back on my Amex because it is a option on the form. I was just a little neverous with that so went for the cash option
 
Hi guys, a few quick questions as this is all completely new to me.

I am currently vacationing at Greece and I spent about 7k euros BEFORE THE VAT REFUND on luxury goods. I am on the trip with my S.O.
I understand that there is a chance I will have to pay custom taxes when I land in the U.S... so my questions are:

Is it best that the split the total between the two of us? or it really doesn't matter.
Also when I write the total I spent post vat refund or before?

thanks in advance.
 
Oh i also forget to mention that me and my S.O aren't married yet so we both have different address. That's why I ask if we should both sign the custom form and split the purchase amount since I read that reach person is exempt up to $800 from being taxed.

thanks again
 
Also, what method of payment is allowed for the taxes?

Yes. Split the total up between the two of you, especially if he isn't buying much. He had his own allowance and you will have yours.

Customs takes cc/cash.

You write the total after VAT refund in USD.

Tbh, the fee isn't that bad compared to the how expensive the item is in the US plus sales tax vs. price in Euros and VAT refund.
 
Oh i also forget to mention that me and my S.O aren't married yet so we both have different address. That's why I ask if we should both sign the custom form and split the purchase amount since I read that reach person is exempt up to $800 from being taxed.

I don't think you can do that. If all the reciepts have your passport info then it has to be you.

I think missy b is correct, if the receipts are in your name only. If you two shared an address, then you could combine exemption amounts. As you said, the first $800 is tax free, the next $1,000 is at 3% (so $30), then it's 6% on the amount over $1,800.
This is from the U.S. Customs site:
A joint declaration is a Customs declaration that can be made by family members who live in the same household and return to the United States together. These travelers can combine their purchases to take advantage of a combined flat duty rate, no matter which family member owns a given item.
 
Oh, right. I usually have DBF buy half my stuff to split it up since we have separate addresses. So VAT and everything is in his name. But in general I split my purchases up between our names.

ETA though even with DBF taking some items for his quota, I still exceeded it last time and brought £5000/$7250ish worth of items. The customs fee was less than $200 iirc. The customs agent was nice about it lol.

Have your documentation/receipt ready, though mine didn't ask to see.
 
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Oh, right. I usually have DBF buy half my stuff to split it up since we have separate addresses. So VAT and everything is in his name. But in general I split my purchases up between our names.

That was good planning! My favorite trip was when I took my youngest child along and got to combine exemptions for 3 of us lol!
 
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