Reclaiming Your UK VAT

Carndi


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 613

Message Posted:
20/08/2009 17:26

Talking with a group of people the other night when one of them mentioned that he was going back to UK for a holiday and was bringing back some computer equipment. I said dont forget to claim your VAT back and was amazed to find that they did not know that in certain circumstances you can claim VAT back if the items purchased were leaving the country.

SO.... Thought I would put this on in case there are others who are not aware that if travelling to a non EU country you can claim for items on which VAT has been paid.

Ask at the shop where you purchased the goods for a VAT reclaim form. They fill in their details and stamp the form and you complete the form with bank details etc and give to customs at point of departure.

Best to ring customs and make them aware you are taking the items out of the country and they will be ready for you when you are leavig. Also if you ring before you go you will get all the information you need so that you cant go wrong.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
20/08/2009 17:50

Be carefull this is a retail scheme and you will need a full VAT invoice - I have not sold anything on it in a long while it might have changed look at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/vatresmanual/VATRES2350.htm



It will not in all probability apply to goods bought over the net and if you are exporting from someone who is not a retailer within the scheme you might find that they can't do anything unless there is full proof of export via a shipper.



Repayment used to be made after export normaly by the retailer.

Harold2555



Joined: 19/04/2008
Posts: 1139

Message Posted:
20/08/2009 18:06

Quick point, it is at the final point of departure from the EC. If you come through Larnaca then that won't be Heathrow, Gatwick etc etc.





Harold

Cyprusquest


Joined: 09/12/2008
Posts: 428

Message Posted:
20/08/2009 18:28

Can you see the ROC customs giving money back? I thought this was from British Customs and Excise the rest of the EU rules might not be the same.

Harold2555



Joined: 19/04/2008
Posts: 1139

Message Posted:
20/08/2009 21:11

If you were flying to ERcan then it would be British Customs who are responsible but Larnaca is in the area of the EU where the aquis Communitaire applies.



Harold

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
20/08/2009 21:51

The scheme does apply to items purchased over the internet my daughter purchaed an item from Amazon and had it sent to her in Afghanistan and she got the VAT back.

scruff


Joined: 15/07/2008
Posts: 1070

Message Posted:
20/08/2009 22:43

It all depends on whether the retailer wants to offer the scheme. Internet purchase or not isn't relevant. Department Stores like John Lewis do operate this scheme & obviously Amazon does too.

My understanding is that assuming you have the right paperwork at the UK. airport you can either see the custome & Excise people yourself or failing that there is a box that you can leave the paperwork in. The refund takes some time but you do get it.