Tell me about VAT
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Anonymous
| I know there's something I need to do about this. Is it only in France, or the UK too? What do I need to do about it? I heard that it may be reimbursable. Or is that wrong? |
Anonymous
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It's all of Europe. If you get something expensive ask for the vat paperwork. Some stores will actually run your credit card through the special service and if you have your passport you get a price without the vat. You still have to mail paperwork when you come back to the states or they take that money back. Other places you get the paperwork and then bring your items to a special office in the airport, show the items and get a stamp. When back in the us you mail the paperwork back.
Look for a tax free sticker on the store window. Usually here's a minimum purchase to claim it in a single store like $100. https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/vat-refunds We did it on our honeymoon when we bought expensive things in Italy. |
Anonymous
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It is in almost every country in the world outside the US now, favored by economists for its non-distortionary and non-cascading nature, and by governments for its incentives to business to be compliant.
You don't need to know anything about it - unless you buy something really expensive to take back too the US with you, in which case you can keep the recept and reclaim the VAT when you leave. |
Anonymous
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In the UK you tell the store when you are purchasing something over the limit (look it up, in the L50 range?) and they will print the refund receipt. Not all stores do it so otherwise save your receipts. When you go to the airport to leave you first go to the VAT office and they will check to make sure you are taking the item out of the country. Then on the plane side of security you will get your paperwork processed. Allow time for these two steps. There are admin fees along the way so you don't get the full VAT back. And last time I did it I never got the refund.
You should probably be looking at trip advisor for more specifics. |
Anonymous
| It's basically sales tax, but built into the price, not added on at the point of purchase, like in the US. |
Anonymous
In some countries, it is added on like a tax. In one country I lived, different items had different surcharges - some had a VAT, some had a smaller tax, some (like milk) had no tax. We (as non-locals) had to keep our receipts, compile them and submit them for a refund. |
Anonymous
| In Iceland we were offered a form with almost every purchase. The shop validated the form and we kept receipts. We took these things to a counter in the airport upon our departure and got a refund. I think they returned some cash immediately and the rest was credited to our credit card account. |
Anonymous
| No VAT in Ireland. |
Anonymous
| There most certainly is VAT on most goods in Ireland! Refund process much the same as described above. |
Anonymous
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In the UK, it is refundable on clothing - not items like books, lodging, food etc....
Save your receipts and file for a refund at the airport. |