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

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#946
Oh, and generally, you get the Customs stamp before Security and before you check your luggage. It's the first thing I do when I get to the airport is drag the DH over to Customs lol.
 
#947
Thank you! This is incredibly helpful. The Chanel boutique filled out all the forms with and us and gave us a quick run through what we need to do.

We leave Europe at noon so we'll likely just head over after breakfast with plenty of time to spare. Thank you for the tip regarding taking photos of the stamped documents. I am writing myself a note!
 
#948
Yes, definitely take the pictures. With the document ID numbers you can track your refund status online at the Premier or Global Blue sites.

Hope you had a wonderful time and came home with some beauties!
 
#949
When I flew from MarcoPolo (Venice), with a bag, scarf and a pair of shoes. They asked to see the shoes. I'd worn them 2x (items are supposed to be brand new, not worn). One could tell they'd been used a little bit, but obviously not all worn. They commented to each other, but didn't say anything to me. The never asked to see the bag or scarf, but I had original bags and boxes available of everything.

Once I got the stamp from the VAT/Customs guys (before you actually go through security), you go though security & check your bags. In Venice, there is a refund counter on the other side. I got my cash back that day. They do not ask to see your stuff on the other side, so you COULD get your paperwork done before you check your bags, once you get your stamp put those items into your checked luggage, and then get your refund on the other side of security.

fishyxpisces13 said:
Thanks for the helpful tips!

I'm wondering how often customs agents actually inspect your items at CDG? I've done the VAT refund in the Venice airport and was not asked to show my items. I'm guessing it depends on the agent and also the amount spent?
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#950
Hello ladies, I have a couple of questions that I hope you can help me with as this is my first trip to Europe.

I will be traveling from Southeast Asia to Heathrow next month. My itinerary is as follows:

1. Upon arrival, spend a few days in London
2. London to Paris via Eurostar train
3. Back to London via the train and spend another few nights in London before flying back home (out of Heathrow)

I just found out that there are no custom offices at Paris' train stations, so my question is:

1. If I make any purchases in Paris, how do I get the custom stamps and get the vat refund processed (since I am taking the train back to London)?
2. Any tips or guidance for vat refund process in Europe post Brexit?

Thank you very much in advanced, I really appreciate it!!!
 
#951
I agree with youngster - the process she outlined is exactly what I followed when I flew to the US from Seoul in December. I frequently fly in and out of Seoul Incheon. I am a US citizen, so I get my VAT refunds as I leave Seoul. The last few times I've flown out of Incheon, I've noticed that they don't check to see my goods anymore at all (they used to be quite strict about this in the past).
 
#952
weffendy said:
Hello ladies, I have a couple of questions that I hope you can help me with as this is my first trip to Europe.

I will be traveling from Southeast Asia to Heathrow next month. My itinerary is as follows:

1. Upon arrival, spend a few days in London
2. London to Paris via Eurostar train
3. Back to London via the train and spend another few nights in London before flying back home (out of Heathrow)

I just found out that there are no custom offices at Paris' train stations, so my question is:

1. If I make any purchases in Paris, how do I get the custom stamps and get the vat refund processed (since I am taking the train back to London)?
2. Any tips or guidance for vat refund process in Europe post Brexit?

Thank you very much in advanced, I really appreciate it!!!
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You will get the customs stamp only when you exit at your last stop in the European Union, London. If you intend to buy from Paris, avoid taking cash refund as London will only do cash refund in GBP without exchange difference, i.e. VAT cash refund in EUR will be converted to GBP at unfavorable exchange rate and then exchanged to EUR at unfavorable exchange before it is presented to you.

As of now, Britain has not officially exited the European Union so nothing has changed.
 
#953
Hi there, thanks so much for this wealth of information. I'm still a bit confused on what the best practices are so I hope someone will be able to help!
I'm traveling to Spain and France next month; flying from the US to Paris, with a short layover in Madrid. I will stay four days in Paris, then fly back to Madrid for a few more days before making it back to the US. I plan to do some shopping at Chanel and Longchamps in Paris. Will it be possible for me to get my VAT return if I opt for the cash option when flying from Paris to Madrid or will I have to wait till I'm leaving the EU from Spain back to the US? I'd like to have the extra euros from the return to use in Madrid if possible.
Thanks again!
 
#954
sheskatatonic said:
Hi there, thanks so much for this wealth of information. I'm still a bit confused on what the best practices are so I hope someone will be able to help!
I'm traveling to Spain and France next month; flying from the US to Paris, with a short layover in Madrid. I will stay four days in Paris, then fly back to Madrid for a few more days before making it back to the US. I plan to do some shopping at Chanel and Longchamps in Paris. Will it be possible for me to get my VAT return if I opt for the cash option when flying from Paris to Madrid or will I have to wait till I'm leaving the EU from Spain back to the US? I'd like to have the extra euros from the return to use in Madrid if possible.
Thanks again!
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I'm pretty sure you have to wait until you are leaving the EU entirely. They will check your boarding passes to make sure you are leaving the EU and won't give you the customs stamp or process the forms otherwise.
 
#956
Hello all! I've been to Paris several times and successfully gotten the tax refund back at CDG airport. However, this summer, I'm planning a trip and taking a train from Paris to London (and flying out of Heathrow back to the states).

Does anyone know how I can get the refund for my Paris purchases? Do I have to go to airport for the tax refund?

Thank you!!
 
#958
Oh that is an interesting question... given that UK is no longer part of the EU...
I wonder if they have the tax refund counters at the train station when you leave paris? have you checked the website of the train station to see if that's there?
 
#960
winks said:
UK is still part of the EU...
Click to expand...
Your comment made me google Brexit and I was so amused that the below came up as top result. I'm fascinated that they actually defined the word like a dictionary word!

Brex·it
ˈbreksət/
noun
noun: Brexit; noun: Brixit
  1. a term for the potential or hypothetical departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
    "a Brexit is considered a real possibility for the first time in four decades"
 
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