cavalierpup

Hi,

Next week I'm leaving for Spain and would like to purchase a Louis Vuitton bag there. Based on the prices posted on their website, it's much cheaper to buy a bag in Spain. I have a couple questions:

1- Is it difficult to get a refund on the VAT tax? I've heard getting the envelope and forms is easy, but wasn't sure about finding the counter at customs and how that process works (I'm leaving through Madrid Barajas).
2- Does anyone know how duty works on items coming into the U.S. from Spain? I've read you can spend up to $800 without duty, so as long as my purchase is under this amount should I be okay?
3- If not, about what would the duty rate be for a handbag?

I tried to find these answers on my own but wasn't successful. As a young student with little experience traveling to Europe (and having never bought an LV bag before), I appreciate your time and patience!

greg

The instructions are on the envelope you get from the store.

1- I have not tried at Barajas. At other airports, it has been maddening experiences. Plan on spending a lot of time in the process. The hard part has been finding the customs validation station tucked in some obscure place (at least it seemed that way to me) and a need to wait in a long line at an understaffed refund window (if you want get it done before departures) watching the clerk fill out all sorts of forms.

2- US customers has a reasonably readable site explaining how it works. http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/

I felt that the process was meant to be as tedious as possible...

cavalierpup

Thank you so much!! Because I'm on an organized trip with other students, perhaps I should rethink the purchase. Your response was very helpful

Judy

Research ahead of time. I went through the tax refund at Barajas but cannot remember the details so it was probably not that bad. Just give yourself enough time and it is well worth it.

Robert2533

If you're flying out through Barajas, you will need to go to the refund window before passing through security. There's a window on the other side, but they never seem to man it. The process can take awhile, depending on how many people are there ahead of you. If you want the refund, I'd allow for an extra hour at the airport in the very least, or you could go dutyfree shopping in the airport where they also sell the bags. No VAT refund needed.

There are two ways of bringing items back to the States. One is you claim it on the form. The other is forget about listing it as a purchase. If it's not unique in some way, and a Louis Vuitton bag is hardly unique, take the tag off and treat it as if you've had it forever.

There is a dollar limit, but sometimes the paperwork isn't worth the agent's time.

jubilada

I'm sure to get stomped on for this but I wish to offer the following perspective: The VAT is in support of the country you are visiting, which is in the throes of great economic difficulty. You can afford both a vacation and a luxury handbag. Maybe it is not of paramount importance to get the tax back. I know, many will disagree, this is just my opinion.

Robert2533

Having dropped a few coins over the years, I have only once done the VAT refund thing. It's just not worth my time, and as jubilada says, if you can afford to travel and purchase luxury goods, then the VAT is nothing. Now the exchange rate is something else.

Lynnaustin

The rate on a handbag (if you are over the $800 total limit) would be 9%.
The general rule that I follow is to not buy something if the VAT is the deciding factor. As others have noted, getting the refund is never a sure thing. The office is often hard to find, closed, or has a long line. If you do allow yourself extra time then you will probably be successful.

Luisah

"The other is forget about listing it as a purchase. If it's not unique in some way, and a Louis Vuitton bag is hardly unique, take the tag off and treat it as if you've had it forever."

Don't try that. Customs agents watch for that type of cheating. If you get caught they'll go through everything you have with you looking for more items you haven't declared and you'll end up paying the duty and may also have to pay a fine.

Regarding the VAT refund, I have done it in Paris and in Buenos Aries and it wasn't difficult. I did have to wait in line for a while once in Paris so just allow enough time for that.

Robert2533

I see you've never tried it at Barajas, quite a different story then Paris.

wordsmith

Louis Vuitton handbags look very new for awhile because the leather is light...I would guess agents know this fact.

celeste60

You should have no problem in getting your VAT refund as long as your airport of departure from Europe is Barajas. I go to europe every year, i fly air france so I fly from Madrid to Paris and Paris to LA. My airport of departure to the US is Paris. I always get my form stamped at the Barajas airport, but my VAT refund is issued by the VAT office in Paris. This can be a huge problem since when you land in Paris, you are in transit and there is no VAT office in the transit section. In Paris I had to exit the airport, re-enter, go to the VAT office that is in the departure section. I hope this has changed. in Italy, they give you the VAT refund at the airport in Italy irrespective of whether you continue to travel in europe or your airport of last departure from EU. My impression is that the spanish government tries to make it as hard as possible, so they get keep the tax. I had no problem with the French immigration police or immigration office, they allowed me to leave the transit section.

Lynnaustin

Not true for Italy. When I left Rome in March they would not stamp my paperwork or give refund. I was connecting in Munich for trip to U.S. I had to get it done in Munich. In Rome they asked me where I was going and checked the tickets.

celeste60

I traveled from florence to Madrid in july 2009, got my VAT refund at florence airport. I am going back to florence in two weeks. Will let everyone know if things have changed. On previous occasions I have had my papers stamped and received my VAT refund in town (their office is near ponte vecchio) I have not flown through the airport in rome.