Official worldwide thread - Tips/Advice for customs, VAT, etc...
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Back to VAT refunds:
I'm from Canada and will be heading to Paris next May and am planning on buying a few bags and clothes. I've tried to read through this entire thread but am still a bit confused
If anyone could offer some advice that would be great -
1. Is the VAT desk / customs desk (I have no idea which one applies) in the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris located AFTER check-in or BEFORE? I understand that you might have to show all your purchases to the official but I won't have any carry-on luggage - just one big luggage that I plan on checking in. So i was worried that the VAT desk will be after check-in, which means i have to change my luggage plans.
2. Based on the answers here so far, I think it depends on which airport you exit from but in Paris, do the bags/clothes that you are claiming the refund on have to be unused or have the receipts attached? I was hoping to use one of the wallets and new purses that I will be buying during my trip but i don't want the official to void my refund because of that.
3. My departure flight will be at 11 in the morning and i heard that the VAT desk always has long lines. Is an additional hour enough, i.e. arrive at the airport around 9 am?
4. Do you actually get less back if you opt for the cash option? I don't mind getting a handful of euros back because I can always just take them back with me to Canada to my local bank and wait for a good exchange rate. But some people here said that they charge a 2 - 5% commission to give you cash instead of credit card refund?
Thank you!
I'm from Canada and will be heading to Paris next May and am planning on buying a few bags and clothes. I've tried to read through this entire thread but am still a bit confused
If anyone could offer some advice that would be great - 1. Is the VAT desk / customs desk (I have no idea which one applies) in the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris located AFTER check-in or BEFORE? I understand that you might have to show all your purchases to the official but I won't have any carry-on luggage - just one big luggage that I plan on checking in. So i was worried that the VAT desk will be after check-in, which means i have to change my luggage plans.
2. Based on the answers here so far, I think it depends on which airport you exit from but in Paris, do the bags/clothes that you are claiming the refund on have to be unused or have the receipts attached? I was hoping to use one of the wallets and new purses that I will be buying during my trip but i don't want the official to void my refund because of that.
3. My departure flight will be at 11 in the morning and i heard that the VAT desk always has long lines. Is an additional hour enough, i.e. arrive at the airport around 9 am?
4. Do you actually get less back if you opt for the cash option? I don't mind getting a handful of euros back because I can always just take them back with me to Canada to my local bank and wait for a good exchange rate. But some people here said that they charge a 2 - 5% commission to give you cash instead of credit card refund?
Thank you!
Rikko, you need to go to the VAT refund desk with all your purchases and the receipts and other paperwork. This paperwork must be gotten at the time of purchase, and stores have different policies as the amount of refund and in what form you get it. You can't just show up with the receipts!
You can certainly wear them while you're there.
For an 11am flight, I would get there no later than 8am - perhaps even earlier. The lines are often enormous, as are those to check your luggage and then get through import security/passport control. We would have never made our flight due to lines if we hadn't been on Virgin in their Preium Economy, which has much shorter lines than Economy, and if we hadn't had wheelchair assistance due to my husband's poor health.
Better to have a long wait in the waiting room with a good book, than to miss the VAT refund or even ones flight!
You can certainly wear them while you're there.
For an 11am flight, I would get there no later than 8am - perhaps even earlier. The lines are often enormous, as are those to check your luggage and then get through import security/passport control. We would have never made our flight due to lines if we hadn't been on Virgin in their Preium Economy, which has much shorter lines than Economy, and if we hadn't had wheelchair assistance due to my husband's poor health.
Better to have a long wait in the waiting room with a good book, than to miss the VAT refund or even ones flight!
thank you! Do you need to show the stores your real passport in order to get the tax refund papers filled out? I was going to leave my passport in my hotel safe and just carry a photocopy of it around with me but now I'm not sure if they will require the real thing
I always carry my "real" passport with me. I would not want to take a chance with a photocopy when asking for VAT refund forms. I keep it in a zipper compartment in my handbag so it is relatively safe from pick-pockets, and I close the straps on my Kelly to make it even safer.
Hi guys;
Has anyone here had to try to get a refund of US Customs duty back for an item purchased from NAP UK? I bought a dress and have returned it. I paid the duty to NAP but on their website they say they won't refund it and that the local Customs office should be contacted. Customs tells me that since they didn't collect the duty from me they cannot issue a refund. I have an email to NAP pending a reply but wanted to see if anyone here had any similar experience/advice.
TIA!
Has anyone here had to try to get a refund of US Customs duty back for an item purchased from NAP UK? I bought a dress and have returned it. I paid the duty to NAP but on their website they say they won't refund it and that the local Customs office should be contacted. Customs tells me that since they didn't collect the duty from me they cannot issue a refund. I have an email to NAP pending a reply but wanted to see if anyone here had any similar experience/advice.
TIA!
I know this post is old but bought an LV bag from Barcelona and got my refund today! Took 1 month from the time I left (Sept 17).
Refund was roughly 11.5% and yes, the customs office for getting the paperwork stamped is on the left side of BCN when you enter (in the corner). Line took a long time around 1 - 1.5 hrs since there was only 1 customs officer working in the beginning. A second officer came about 45 minutes later.
Some guy stood in the same line thinking it was for passing customs....poor guy...
Refund was roughly 11.5% and yes, the customs office for getting the paperwork stamped is on the left side of BCN when you enter (in the corner). Line took a long time around 1 - 1.5 hrs since there was only 1 customs officer working in the beginning. A second officer came about 45 minutes later.
Some guy stood in the same line thinking it was for passing customs....poor guy...
Girl_next_door:
I have a question regarding your Choice#1, was the $7 process fee a one time charge or it's a per item charge? i.e. $7 per item x10 items= $70 or it's a flat rate of $7?
I have a question regarding your Choice#1, was the $7 process fee a one time charge or it's a per item charge? i.e. $7 per item x10 items= $70 or it's a flat rate of $7?
If you are leaving via any major airports around the EU, you can opt for cash refund but make sure you have ample time as the lines can be very long. You also get slightly less back than the normal VAT refund if you do cash refunds.
There is no one-off fixed processing fee. If you buy something from the UK, you end up getting only about 12% (after admin charge and processing fee) whereas if you buy from Netherlands, you get back about 15%-16%.
If the amount of your purchase is not significant, I wouldnt bother with VAT refund as you only get back less than 10%.
dozzaroo said:
Thanks for the info! I was hoping to cut corner by avoiding going to the airport , try to get all refund in the Paris city center ...
Thank you so much!!! This is one of the most informative threads I've read in a long time. This should be made a STICKY!!! 
I bought a LV bag at Printemps in Paris. I got the VAT refund immediately on my card by using their office at the department store. The lady gave me a form and told me I needed to get it stamped at the airport. That is all she said.
It came in an envelope. I got it stamped at CDG when I was coming back to the USA. Am I supposed to mail it in? B/C the form states it needs to be submitted within 21 days or my refund will be revoked and I will have to pay a 3 percent fee. Was there a box I was supposed to drop it off in at the airport? Anyway, too late for that? How do I submit the form now.....
It came in an envelope. I got it stamped at CDG when I was coming back to the USA. Am I supposed to mail it in? B/C the form states it needs to be submitted within 21 days or my refund will be revoked and I will have to pay a 3 percent fee. Was there a box I was supposed to drop it off in at the airport? Anyway, too late for that? How do I submit the form now.....