I recently returned from a trip to Paris -- I took a train and flew back to the US from Amsterdam, actually. Anyhow, I did some shopping in Paris, filled out the forms, but was running late to my flight home, and didn't have time to have my refund forms stamped in Amsterdam before boarding the plane.

Is it still possible for me to get a refund? I couldn't seem to find an answer at http://www.globalrefund.com. I live in NYC, by the way -- I may be traveling back to Europe in about 60 days -- in case it isn't possible for me to get my refund now, would it be possible for me to get the forms stamped when I go to the airport next time? Or, if not, what if I had them stamped on my next return trip to the US? I suppose that I may have to bring the items with me to Europe, just to bring them back to the US so I can get my forms stamped.

Too bad I was running late for my plane - any ideas on what I can do now? Thanks.

As you know meerely having the forms stamped some other time won't allow for verification of the purchases. I guess you'd have to decide if lugging the items back and forth is worth the refund. I don't know if there's a time limit on purchase date--if they examine the receipt they will know that the purchases were made well before the departure. Doesn't Global Refund have a 'contact us' email address?

Plus I think you might have problems claiming a refund on purchases you are exporting from Europe when you will be bringing them INTO Europe first.

i think that you can get the tax free within 3 months.

If you don't have a customs stamp on the form, you will not get a refund. Been there-done that.