Official worldwide thread - Tips/Advice for customs, VAT, etc...

[bakeacookie]

You're welcome. Also if you haven't done so already make copies of your entire itinerary, passport, tickets, visas, cc etc at HOME with a trustworthy person. If your handbag or luggage gets stolen someone has all the infomation in one place.

Also watch out for pickpockets, etc in crowded tourist areas.

Have a safe journey and a wonderful time

Thank you so much for all the information. I'll make all the copies soon.

 

[that_claudz]

This might be a silly question, but AFTER you put the paper work through at the airport, do you keep the store receipts for the goods you have purchased?

Also, to receive the cash back option, so you have to have paid with cash in the first place?

Thanks very much in advance for your help everyone!

 

[tannedsilk]

This might be a silly question, but AFTER you put the paper work through at the airport, do you keep the store receipts for the goods you have purchased?

Also, to receive the cash back option, so you have to have paid with cash in the first place?

Thanks very much in advance for your help everyone!

Yes, you do get your store receipt back but they stamp it to show you reclaimed the VAT.

No, you do not have to pay in cash to get cash back but they do deduct an 'admin' fee which basically means your refund will be less.

Depending on who the refund is coming from it can take 2-6 weeks for your cc to be refunded. If the government agency processes it then you get the refund quickly - if the store processes it, it can take up 6 weeks. hth

 

[that_claudz]

Yes, you do get your store receipt back but they stamp it to show you reclaimed the VAT.

No, you do not have to pay in cash to get cash back but they do deduct an 'admin' fee which basically means your refund will be less.

Depending on who the refund is coming from it can take 2-6 weeks for your cc to be refunded. If the government agency processes it then you get the refund quickly - if the store processes it, it can take up 6 weeks. hth

Cheers and thanks heaps for your reply. I obviously want to keep my receipts but also worried that I will have to pay a whole lot of duties when I land back in Australia as it will obviously show the full amount of items I have purchased.

I don't mind getting less back if it means I get it on the spot. More to spend in duty free! Haha.

 

[afsweet]

So annoyed! I mailed my tax refund form and just received it back because it is "undeliverable as addressed" and "unable to forward." Now I'm completely clueless as to what to do. It clearly says you can only mail back the form in the enclosed global blue envelope, and I don't understand what is wrong with the envelope I was provided. I emailed global blue, so we'll see...

For reference, this is for my Hermes purchase made in Italy, but the envolope is addressed to Slovakia.

 

[debussy]

If you buy a bag on eBay from a seller in Japan and have it shipped to the U.S., how do you figure the amount of customs duties?

There are standardized import duty lists you can access online...try googling it. Of course, out depends on what value the seller marks on the form s. I've paid from zero from japan to an for a bag sent from additional several percent for a used bag from the uae.

 

[lalalaadeeda]

I am going to Paris and stopping in Turkey on the way back to US. You're supposed to get your VAT forms stamped at the last EU location but I've read conflicting info about Turkey being an exception. Does anyone know if the VAT forms from Paris will be stamped/refunded at the Turkey Airport? Thanks for anyone's help!

 

[layd3k]

This might be a silly question, but AFTER you put the paper work through at the airport, do you keep the store receipts for the goods you have purchased?

Also, to receive the cash back option, so you have to have paid with cash in the first place?

Thanks very much in advance for your help everyone!

Just wanted to say that in Frankfurt and Prague they will keep the receipts. However, they will give you a photocopy if you ask.

Also just wanted to add that you do not need to claim the refund at the last place in the EU. For example, I leave Prague through Frankfurt or Munich if flying Lufthansa, and through Paris if flying with Air France. I always get my forms stamped and my refund given to me in Prague. And if you buy something while in one of the airports in your connecting flight you can still claim the VAT back because there are customs offices and VAT refund desks within the terminals by the gates.

 

[DizzyFairy]

Can anyone help....

Dilemma is that I requested the vat to be deposit into credit card...

I was supposed to mail the forms back but the customs officer in Heathrow took it all back (post stamping) and said he will mail it back on behalf of me....

Has anyone experience this before and was successful in getting vat back?
Tia

 

[Pollywaffle]

Can anyone help....

Dilemma is that I requested the vat to be deposit into credit card...

I was supposed to mail the forms back but the customs officer in Heathrow took it all back (post stamping) and said he will mail it back on behalf of me....

Has anyone experience this before and was successful in getting vat back?
Tia

I don't understand what the issue is.

If they said they would mail it for you, why do you think you won't get a refund?

 

[brigadeiro]

A store in the UK doesn't have their online site yet, and told me they'll have to charge me the full price (inclusive of VAT), but will post the VAT Form for me to get a refund. Has anyone does this successfully before? TIA!

 

[brigadeiro]

A store in the UK doesn't have their online site yet, and told me they'll have to charge me the full price (inclusive of VAT), but will post the VAT Form for me to get a refund. Has anyone does this successfully before? TIA!

 

[materialgurl]

I'm hoping to seek some clarification regarding the VAT refund/process!!

I will be going to Paris this week, then to Barcelona, so that is where I will file my VAT.

I've been reading a lot of info online and here on tpf. Here is the what i currently understand:

When I spend over 175 euros, I should ask the store to fill out the VAT form (and present my passport). When I leave Barcelona, I should go to the airport, get customs to stamp my goods, then proceed to get my refund. Now here is my confusion, I've read 3 different scenarios:

1) Someone said they purchased from Paris, and got a refund right away after getting paperwork processed in the city (at Detaxe? Not sure where exactly). Still went to airport to get receipt stamped, and mailed off paperwork.

2) Someone said they went to airport, got stamped THEN got refund right away.

3) Someone else said they went to airport, got stamped, mailed in paperwork THEN got refund.

Also, I've also read that each company can use different refund companies? So potentially, after I get stamped, I need to go to a few different refund counter??

Thanks in advance!!

 

[luvbags99]

Last year in Europe I bought a Gucci bag in Italy and an LV purse in France. Both places automatically filled out the VAT papers and asked for my passprt (I guess the NY accent gave it away that we were traveling). When we flew home out of Rome we just went to the VAT counter, showed our papers from the stores, I think my husband filled out one more form and we got U.S. cash on the spot. It was really easy and a great deal. Have fun!

 

[layd3k]

What the above poster said is what i do. However, Not all stores will fill out that form for you. I have spent the designated amount at H&M and Loccitane. I took my receipt from those stores and brought them to a special office who fills out the paperwork most high end boutiques do in-store. You need that paperwork if you want customs to stamp them at the airport for your refund.