When you purchase goods, inform the retailer immediately that you wish to reclaim the VAT. You will be given a VAT refund form to complete and sign. Please note VAT refund forms should be completed prior to visiting a moneycorp VAT branch at London Stansted Airport.

As of 2026, it is no longer possible for most tourists to get a standard VAT refund at airports in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales). The UK government ended the traditional "VAT Retail Export Scheme" for tourists in 2021. This means you cannot buy a watch or clothing and claim the 20% tax back at a desk in Heathrow or Gatwick. The only way to shop "tax-free" in Great Britain is to have the retailer ship the goods directly to your overseas address; the store can then deduct the VAT at the point of sale. A limited exception still exists for Northern Ireland, where tourists can claim VAT refunds on goods if they are departing for a destination outside the EU/UK, provided they use the VAT 407 form and have it stamped by Customs before leaving. Consequently, for most travelers, the "VAT refund desk" at the airport is now a thing of the past.