Do you get VAT back at the airport?

Some big airports, ports and train stations have VAT refund offices where you can get your refund right away — if the retailer you shopped at uses that office. When you go home with your stuff, a customs officer has to stamp your refund paperwork as proof of export. Without the stamp, you won't get your VAT refund.



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The United States Government does not refund sales tax to foreign visitors. Sales tax charged in the United States is paid to individual states, not the Federal government - the same way that Value Added Tax (VAT) is paid in many countries.

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If you're visiting an EU country, you'll generally have to pay the price of an item, VAT and all, and get your refund after the fact. There are several requirements to follow to claim your refund. For instance, you must take your new item or items home within three months of the purchase.

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For an immediate VAT refund, you should present all your documents at the tax refund desk at the airport, the port or the train station from which you are departing. Otherwise, you must send the documents by post to a tax refund office such as Detaxe SAS, Global Blue France or Detaxe.com.

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A VAT, or Value Added Tax, refund in Europe is fairly similar to a tax-free holiday in the States, except it's only available to foreign tourists. A VAT is a surplus charge, often in excess of 25% of the total purchase that is added to most sales in countries inside of the European Union.

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If you are not VAT registered then you will not be able to reclaim any VAT unless you are from overseas visiting Northern Ireland. If you are a VAT registered trader, then you will normally offset the VAT you have been charged by your suppliers against the VAT you have charged your customers.

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A VAT, or Value Added Tax, refund in Europe is fairly similar to a tax-free holiday in the States, except it's only available to foreign tourists. A VAT is a surplus charge, often in excess of 25% of the total purchase that is added to most sales in countries inside of the European Union.

MORE DETAILS