Hello,<BR><BR>Anyone taken an early morning flight out of Firenze lately? I have a Lufthansa flight with a 7:15 departure time and am wondering if the customs people at the VAT window will be on duty (~5:00 to 6:00, before I have to check my luggage) to stamp any VAT forms I might have.<BR><BR>I realize that if I'm not able to get the customs stamp in FLR, I would be able to get it in Frankfurt before continuing on to the U.S. But according to the FRA web site, this would mean picking up my luggage on arrival and proceeding to two different customs desks (one for VAT refund-eligible merchandise in my checked luggage, one for any in my carry on) to get the stamps. <BR><BR>I have just under 2 hours connection time in Frankfurt before continuing back to the U.S. Allowing for lines at both the baggage claim and at the customs in FRA, plus the time it will take to walk back and forth, this doesn't seem like a good option. Not to mention that the fewer times the airline handles baggage, the smaller the odds of some piece getting lost or misdirected.<BR><BR>I'm also aware that I can get the VAT back in Firenze but the one time I did this I had to wait for 90 minutes while the clerks took care of the three people in line ahead of me. In other words, it's too slow a process for each form and takes time and energy from the vacation.<BR><BR>Anyone care to advise or offer comment? <BR><BR>

I don't know if it will be the case in Germany, but in Copenhagen, there was a sign on the VAT window telling us what to do in off hours (involved going to some other office inside security, etc.)<BR><BR>HOWEVER, the stupid thing seems to be that even though the shop-keepers are forced to seal packages and fill out forms with numbers correlated to the seal, once we got to the airport, no one even looked at the packages or asked questions. They just forked over the money. Glad to get the money but would really have liked to be able to pack the various things instead of toting them outside my luggage.

Thanks for the info. I'm hoping not to have the forms stamped at FRA because of the logistics involved.<BR><BR>re: inspections -- Same experience here. In four trips to Italy, I've not had them ask to see the goods, they just look at the receipts and stamp the form(s). But I know from other posts here that in some cases (depending on the airport, mood of the inspectors, etc.) they do indeed ask to see the merchandise and, as you pointed out, it must be unused -- as in you can't be wearing it, etc. If they ever ask me, it will be a job, because I use lots of bubble wrap and rubber bands and would have to re-pack it all. <BR>Interesting what you said about the seal matching the number on the form...I've not run into that one, i.e., haven't had a merchant seal a purchase with a number. Maybe in Italy that number is on the receipt and the merchants don't bother with it?<BR><BR>Anyone else?

JBB,<BR><BR>To the best of my knowledge, you will HAVE TO get your forms stamped in Frankfurt as this is the point from which you will be leaving the EU. I wouldn't worry too much about the logistics though, you only need to get the forms stamped by customs and throw them in the nearest mail box as long as you fill in your CC details - the credit always shows up (although it can take a while). Why would you need to pick up your luggage? Just wear whatever you bought or put it in your carryon.<BR><BR>I ALWAYS wear the clothes I have just purchased when getting my form stamped, this has NEVER been a problem. As previous posters have noted, sometimes they check the merchandise, sometimes not - play it safe and take the stuff in your hand luggage or wear it.<BR><BR>Andre

Thanks, but I usually bring back things like handmade ceramics and other handicrafts so I bring my own bubble wrap and pack the stuff carefully in my check-in luggage.

Topping. Any more replies?

For interested parties:<BR><BR>re: Tax refund window (for reimbursements of VAT)<BR><BR>The home page for the Amerigo Vespucci airport in Firenze is:<BR><BR>http://www.airport.florence.it<BR><BR>The hours of operation are from 6:00 to 14:00. The telephone number is 055.3024285<BR><BR><BR><BR>