D Welter

Going to London, Paris, Lucerne, Innsbruck, and Munich in 6 days. What is the minimum one must spend in order to qualify for the VAT tax? Must it all be spent in one store, or can receipts be totaled from several stores? Thanks much

elaine

This is the current information I have re the UK <BR>Value-Added Tax is significant, 17.5% on most items, but it is already included on the price tag. The minimum expenditure in any one store in order to be eligible for a refund is 50 pounds. Not every store uses this minimum (at Harrods and Selfridges, for example it's higher). The VAT refund applies to goods that will be leaving the country. If the store is shipping something home for you there is no minimum required and no VAT should be charged, but shipping costs can double the cost of your purchase, and you will still have to pay U.S. customs duties when your shipment arrives in the U.S. <BR> <BR>For goods you are taking with you, ask the store what their minimum purchase is for VAT refunds. It is best to pay by credit card. The store must fill out a refund form on your behalf. You must get this form at the store; don't leave without it. Reputable stores take care of this all the time. Before leaving the country, fill out your portion of the form. Get to the airport early in case there is a line at the customs desk; there usually is. You are required to show the goods, so don't pack them in your checked luggage. The customs officials must stamp your refund form. You then have two choices. Choice 1: You can mail the papers back to the store and wait for a credit, <BR>either in the form of a credit to your credit card, or a refund check. Make sure you have retained a copy. The <BR>credit to your credit card will probably give you the best exchange rate and highest refund. If they send a check in pounds sterling to your home, you'll likely have to pay a significant fee to cash it in the U.S. If you want to mail the form from the airport, remember to bring an envelope and local stamp with you, or else wait and mail it after you get home. Choice 2: You can go to the cash VAT Refund Desk at the airport and get your refund in cash. If you ask for American cash, you will lose a little on the currency transaction. <BR> <BR>If you are traveling to other countries within the European Union, you don't have to do all this when you leave Britain. You can take care of all your VAT refunds from all the countries at the airport when you are leaving your last country. <BR> <BR>

Al

Just a reply for general info on this topic: <BR>In Italy, it is now 300,000 Lira (I think that's up from 100,000 last year). Ask at any store where you'll be buying. <BR>At the airport, get there early enough to have customs stamp the documents. I recommend allowing an hour (that may be due to the Italian efficiency).

Ed

The tax rate, minimum for refund and method of refund varies by country. <BR> <BR>As Al suggests, ask in the stores. As well, they're likely in many cases to have the forms necessary for claiming your refund. <BR> <BR>A pity you can't slip in another country or two on your trip. <BR> <BR>Rome.Switzerland.Bavaria <BR>www.twenj.com <BR>

Caitlin

Ed, I think the poster means he/she is leaving in 6 days, not going all those places for 6 days.

elvira

In France, you must purchase a minimum of 1200ff in EACH store to get a VAT refund.

scigirl

I'll add that you can get a refund check in US dollars - not local currency. So, you may lose something in the exchange rate, but it won't cost you anything to cash the check. Also, most countries the average you had to spend seemed to be about $150 per store to qualify for the refund.

elaine

the minimun was always set in local currency, and of course the exchange rate with the dollar varied from day to day and year to year. But now I think of another question: the VAT minimum purchases are/will be defined in euros in each country?

Tom

We were in Germany last month and the minimum purchase to get the refund was 50DM (appx $25). You may have to ask the cashier for the form,especially if they are busy. They fill out the form and attach the sales receipt and give you an instruction sheet on how to get your refund.If you can," carry on" your purchases.When we departed the Munich A/P we got the forms stamped by the customs official, and then presented the forms at the refund window and were given a cash refund---your choice DM or US dollars. The entire procedure took only about 10 min. We promply spent our DM refund in the duty free store and were on our way home.