Official worldwide thread - Tips/Advice for customs, VAT, etc...
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Hi,
I'm fairly new to this forum and I have been browsing through about the VAT refund process, since I will be travelling to Europe next month for about 10 days. I will be going to London then Paris. I will be heading home from Paris at CDG to Canada.
Even after browsing through, I am still a little confused about the process. Here are the details I need clarification/advice on:
1) If I purchase an item in London, do I ask for the VAT refund form there but have it processed when I leave Paris at CDG?
2) Since I will be making some hefty purchases (probably small wallet items from Chanel and LV), I will most likely be over my limit in the amount of goods I can bring back to Canada. I read that some people wore their bags, as if they bought it prior to the trip, when they went through customs to not declare. But I was wondering how this would work. Is the VAT refund counter before security check or after? Also, It's been a while since I've flown so I'm not sure when Canadian customs asks you about the goods you're bringing in, so I don't know how people have made it look like they've purchased the items before their trip.
3) And if I am declaring an item and I am over my limit, would I pay the difference that I went over in duties and taxes, or duties and taxes for each item? For example, the amount I can bring back is $800. If I brought back $1000, do I pay duties and taxes on the $200 or for each item I brought back?
Thanks!
I'm fairly new to this forum and I have been browsing through about the VAT refund process, since I will be travelling to Europe next month for about 10 days. I will be going to London then Paris. I will be heading home from Paris at CDG to Canada.
Even after browsing through, I am still a little confused about the process. Here are the details I need clarification/advice on:
1) If I purchase an item in London, do I ask for the VAT refund form there but have it processed when I leave Paris at CDG?
2) Since I will be making some hefty purchases (probably small wallet items from Chanel and LV), I will most likely be over my limit in the amount of goods I can bring back to Canada. I read that some people wore their bags, as if they bought it prior to the trip, when they went through customs to not declare. But I was wondering how this would work. Is the VAT refund counter before security check or after? Also, It's been a while since I've flown so I'm not sure when Canadian customs asks you about the goods you're bringing in, so I don't know how people have made it look like they've purchased the items before their trip.
3) And if I am declaring an item and I am over my limit, would I pay the difference that I went over in duties and taxes, or duties and taxes for each item? For example, the amount I can bring back is $800. If I brought back $1000, do I pay duties and taxes on the $200 or for each item I brought back?
Thanks!
If I leave the EU and claim VAT refund, is there a time limit in which I can't claim another VAT when I visit again?
Like say I leave France in January, but come back February. Can I claim my VAT refund when I leave again in February?
Like say I leave France in January, but come back February. Can I claim my VAT refund when I leave again in February?
Hi everyone - I need your expertise please. I went to Paris in April and have dropped off my tax return forms at CDG airport for both Global Tax and Premier Tax Free. I have received all Global Tax refunds. However, Premier Tax customer service (via email) kept saying that they have not received my forms. I have emailed them back with photos of my customer copy of the forms, but they don't seem to care and responded back with the same content: "our database to date have not received your vouchers...please be aware that we are not obligated to provide a refund without a return of a stamped voucher within the outlined timeframe".
At this point, do I just need to forget about it and kiss my refund good bye?
If I should continue to pursue, do you have any recommendation/suggestion for me?
Thank you in advance for your help and time.
At this point, do I just need to forget about it and kiss my refund good bye?
If I should continue to pursue, do you have any recommendation/suggestion for me?
Thank you in advance for your help and time.
Hi guys.
I am planning a trip to Munich-Salzburg-Vienna-Budapest. I will be flying out from LAX to Munich and returning from Budapest to LAX (connecting in Munich) Between Munich to Budapest, i will travel via train.
I have been to Vienna and i'm pretty much sure i will be doing some major shopping done there and possibly in Munich as well. Since my last destination is Hungary and it's part of EU, I am guessing i need to get the VAT stamp and send it from Budapest airport? Or do i have to get it done in Munich airport before i catch my connecting flight? I only have an hour in Munich and if that is the case, there is no way i can make it
I usually travel to one country at a time so i don't know what to expect with this scenario. I hope my question makes sense.
TIA!!!
I am planning a trip to Munich-Salzburg-Vienna-Budapest. I will be flying out from LAX to Munich and returning from Budapest to LAX (connecting in Munich) Between Munich to Budapest, i will travel via train.
I have been to Vienna and i'm pretty much sure i will be doing some major shopping done there and possibly in Munich as well. Since my last destination is Hungary and it's part of EU, I am guessing i need to get the VAT stamp and send it from Budapest airport? Or do i have to get it done in Munich airport before i catch my connecting flight? I only have an hour in Munich and if that is the case, there is no way i can make it
I usually travel to one country at a time so i don't know what to expect with this scenario. I hope my question makes sense.
TIA!!!
Hi guys.
I am planning a trip to Munich-Salzburg-Vienna-Budapest. I will be flying out from LAX to Munich and returning from Budapest to LAX (connecting in Munich) Between Munich to Budapest, i will travel via train.
I have been to Vienna and i'm pretty much sure i will be doing some major shopping done there and possibly in Munich as well. Since my last destination is Hungary and it's part of EU, I am guessing i need to get the VAT stamp and send it from Budapest airport? Or do i have to get it done in Munich airport before i catch my connecting flight? I only have an hour in Munich and if that is the case, there is no way i can make it
I usually travel to one country at a time so i don't know what to expect with this scenario. I hope my question makes sense.
TIA!!!
I am planning a trip to Munich-Salzburg-Vienna-Budapest. I will be flying out from LAX to Munich and returning from Budapest to LAX (connecting in Munich) Between Munich to Budapest, i will travel via train.
I have been to Vienna and i'm pretty much sure i will be doing some major shopping done there and possibly in Munich as well. Since my last destination is Hungary and it's part of EU, I am guessing i need to get the VAT stamp and send it from Budapest airport? Or do i have to get it done in Munich airport before i catch my connecting flight? I only have an hour in Munich and if that is the case, there is no way i can make it
I usually travel to one country at a time so i don't know what to expect with this scenario. I hope my question makes sense.
TIA!!!
Your question makes perfect sense. I'm doing something similar in a few months. I did a little research a few weeks ago and what I found is that its important as to whether you hand carry your purchases on the plane with you or put them in your luggage and check them through to your final destination.
If you put your purchases in your luggage and check it all through to L.A., you can get the stamp in Budapest without question. In theory, if you hand carry your purchases on the plane with you, I think you are supposed to get the stamp in the last EU country you are in which would be Munich. But, with only 1 hour available to you, that's pretty much impossible. (I'm kind of in the same boat, I'm not going to have time because my connection is pretty tight.)
So, what to do? I think you can still get the stamp in Budapest. Once you walk away from the Customs Desk or the Global Blue counter in Budapest, how would they know that you didn't check everything in your luggage? They'll inspect your items, stamp the form, you go drop it off at the little mail kiosk or get your refund from Global Blue, and then you can take the items and put them in your carry on. No one in Munich is going to say anything as you'll just go straight to your connecting flight.
I'm still looking into this but this is the approach I'm planning to take since I haven't found any good advice for when connections are tight. I'm curious as to what others have done in this situation.
If you put your purchases in your luggage and check it all through to L.A., you can get the stamp in Budapest without question. In theory, if you hand carry your purchases on the plane with you, I think you are supposed to get the stamp in the last EU country you are in which would be Munich. But, with only 1 hour available to you, that's pretty much impossible. (I'm kind of in the same boat, I'm not going to have time because my connection is pretty tight.)
So, what to do? I think you can still get the stamp in Budapest. Once you walk away from the Customs Desk or the Global Blue counter in Budapest, how would they know that you didn't check everything in your luggage? They'll inspect your items, stamp the form, you go drop it off at the little mail kiosk or get your refund from Global Blue, and then you can take the items and put them in your carry on. No one in Munich is going to say anything as you'll just go straight to your connecting flight.
I'm still looking into this but this is the approach I'm planning to take since I haven't found any good advice for when connections are tight. I'm curious as to what others have done in this situation.
Yes, I'd love to know what others have done! I do know for sure that I'm not going to check any of my purchases in my luggage. It's all staying in my possession. I think the only "risk" is that the Budapest customs officials might look at your ticket/itinerary and say that since you are connecting in Germany, you should get the stamp there. I think if you already know what to say to that, that you are checking your purchases in your luggage as soon as you have taken care of the paperwork and received your refund from Global Blue, then they should give you the stamp and let you go on your merry way.
I'm also planning on standing in line at the Global Blue (or equivalent) counter and getting my refund immediately. Last time, all my refunds eventually showed up but it took weeks and weeks for one of them and I was almost sure it was lost. There is pretty much no recourse if it gets lost in the mail.
Does anyone know what percent customs in the U.S. will charge on a LV handbag that is over the $800 limit allowed? In other words, if I buy a $2500 bag in Italy, that is $1700 over the limit, so what will my tax be when I reenter the U.S.? Thanks in advance! I always claim everything, so I want to be prepared.
Agreed ^ I brought back four bags and only claimed one when we returned from Paris. Keep it in its shopping bag until you get your stamp for your vat refund then use it as your personal item or stuff it in your carry on.
Also, if you're traveling with someone you can combine your amounts..ex: my husband and I can claim $1600 worth of items without getting charged customs.
Also, if you're traveling with someone you can combine your amounts..ex: my husband and I can claim $1600 worth of items without getting charged customs.