VAT refund credit - will we ever see it?
Jun 21st, 2005, 06:21 AM
#1
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VAT refund credit - will we ever see it?
When we tried to submit our paperwork for the refund in Venice, they refused because our ticket to the US showed an overnight in the UK. When we tried to submit the paperwork in Gatwick, they gave us grief about not having submitted it in Italy and said we now had to mail it in and request refund on a credit card, which we did. But of course, we had no way to photocopy the forms with just a short time to boarding the plane, so we have no record (except for one duplicate receipt out of three eligible). And, btw, the envelopes said "no postage required" but I worried about whether they would make it back to Italy (or wherever) from the UK.
Does anyone have experience with this? How long does it normally take to have the refund processed and show up on the credit card statement? Or would your guess be that the envelopes have been tossed into the cosmos somewhere never to be seen again?
Does anyone have experience with this? How long does it normally take to have the refund processed and show up on the credit card statement? Or would your guess be that the envelopes have been tossed into the cosmos somewhere never to be seen again?
Jun 21st, 2005, 06:54 AM
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I did this at the Rome airport two years ago and it took about a month for the refund to be credited to me.
The whole process was kind of a nightmare, Italian-style--I kept being sent from one window to another. How was the process in the Venice airport?
The whole process was kind of a nightmare, Italian-style--I kept being sent from one window to another. How was the process in the Venice airport?
Jun 21st, 2005, 07:09 AM
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I think I usually see it eventually. I might have missed one refund, but I'm not sure. I think that it takes more than a month, but you should see it within two months.
If customs stamped it, you should see the refund. The "no postage required" stamp probably says the region of validity. It might have said EU, for example.
But I'm most impressed with Scandinavian efficiency on my past trip. They gave me a refund in cash, in USD (a Forex counter also doubles up as the VAT refund counter, I think -- and no commissions were charged, but I suppose the Fx rate was probably not the most favorable). Since Norway was not in the EU and I was flying to the UK from Bergen, I was able to claim all my remaining refunds in Bergen.
It was really great.
If customs stamped it, you should see the refund. The "no postage required" stamp probably says the region of validity. It might have said EU, for example.
But I'm most impressed with Scandinavian efficiency on my past trip. They gave me a refund in cash, in USD (a Forex counter also doubles up as the VAT refund counter, I think -- and no commissions were charged, but I suppose the Fx rate was probably not the most favorable). Since Norway was not in the EU and I was flying to the UK from Bergen, I was able to claim all my remaining refunds in Bergen.
It was really great.
Jun 21st, 2005, 07:17 AM
#6
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I got mine on my next credit card statement after I got home. I got my refund on purchases at Gallerie Lafayette in Paris and they made the process very easy. I go 66.00 back. I mean it WAS 66.00 but in the big scheme, depending on where is shopped etc. I'm not sure I would even apply for it. So, hopefully yours will come soon.
Jun 21st, 2005, 07:58 AM
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With the greatest of respect, you're not getting any useful answers here, since you're in a position different from the previous posters. And you ought to assume you'll never see the refund, though there may be something you can do.
EU countries don't have identical rules, and it's quite likely both HMCE and Dogane Italiane were telling you the rules as they applied in their countries.
HMCE is quite clear: their handout - quite rightly IMHO - refers only to refunds on goods bought in the UK (why on earth should my taxes be used to refund a tax you've paid in Italy? Britain's airports form overwhelmingly the biggest gateway for non-EU visitors, and we fork out far too much money subsidising southern Europe already).
The Italians say they can't give refunds unless you're actually leaving the EU on that flight or on a direct connection - which you weren't.
You might think you're snookered. If you want to get further, you might try this though.
Phone the HMCE Adjudicator on 020 7730 2292. Explain the problem, and ask what the authority is for refusing to refund Italian taxes (apart from the overwhelming wishes of the people paying HMCE's salaries, of course). If you get a helpful answer - and it may well be that you really are in a black hole, and you just can't get a refund if you're going home via an overnight stay in another EU country - then contact the Dogane Italiane Customs Relations people on (+39)-06-50246061
(+39)-06-50245131
(+39)-06-50957046 (fax), quoting the inter-governmental protocol the British told you about.
And then come back to this board, explaining how to get round the problem.
I wouldn't like to bet you'll get very far. But you'll at least have had the satisfaction of helping people in your position in the future.
EU countries don't have identical rules, and it's quite likely both HMCE and Dogane Italiane were telling you the rules as they applied in their countries.
HMCE is quite clear: their handout - quite rightly IMHO - refers only to refunds on goods bought in the UK (why on earth should my taxes be used to refund a tax you've paid in Italy? Britain's airports form overwhelmingly the biggest gateway for non-EU visitors, and we fork out far too much money subsidising southern Europe already).
The Italians say they can't give refunds unless you're actually leaving the EU on that flight or on a direct connection - which you weren't.
You might think you're snookered. If you want to get further, you might try this though.
Phone the HMCE Adjudicator on 020 7730 2292. Explain the problem, and ask what the authority is for refusing to refund Italian taxes (apart from the overwhelming wishes of the people paying HMCE's salaries, of course). If you get a helpful answer - and it may well be that you really are in a black hole, and you just can't get a refund if you're going home via an overnight stay in another EU country - then contact the Dogane Italiane Customs Relations people on (+39)-06-50246061
(+39)-06-50245131
(+39)-06-50957046 (fax), quoting the inter-governmental protocol the British told you about.
And then come back to this board, explaining how to get round the problem.
I wouldn't like to bet you'll get very far. But you'll at least have had the satisfaction of helping people in your position in the future.
Jun 21st, 2005, 10:46 AM
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Oh, dear, Flanneruk, you aren't very encouraging but I'm afraid your answer makes some sense. Nonetheless, once I did get the 3 forms stamped by Gatwick customs people, I went to the office there that deals with VAT refunds who were the ones who told me I should put them in the yellow (grey) envelopes provided by the retailers and drop them in the post box, which I did. They seemed to be telling me something they tell people all the time, so I more or less assumed they knew what they were doing.
Somebody please "beep" me in 2 more months to remind me to check my AmEx bill to see if there's any sign of a refund.
It does seem rather a rook, I must say, if you can't get a refund just because you can't get a same-day connection home to the States.
Somebody please "beep" me in 2 more months to remind me to check my AmEx bill to see if there's any sign of a refund.
It does seem rather a rook, I must say, if you can't get a refund just because you can't get a same-day connection home to the States.
Jun 21st, 2005, 05:43 PM
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By being persistant, we got our refund at Heathrow for goods purchased on the continent....but they don't make it easy...with the certain hope that it will discourage the fainthearted. Yes, we went from window to window, and sometimes back again, but finally got it, in cash.
Jun 22nd, 2005, 03:50 AM
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I read some flanneruk wrote, but not in any great detail -- but isn't the question one of a matter of getting a customs stamp?
I think that one needs to get a stamp from the last EU country visited, or something like that.
I don't think that the UK is refunding Cassandra's taxes -- she'd have sent the forms back to some Italian address.
On my past trip, I bought stuff in Denmark and Sweden and I claimed my refunds when I flew to Oslo (Norway is non EU), if I remember right. Then I claimed my refund for the stuff I bought in Norway (in the Bergen airport) when I flew to London.
The Swedish customs had no trouble stamping a Danish VAT refund form. But perhaps the Scaninavian countries simply share closer ties.
I think that one needs to get a stamp from the last EU country visited, or something like that.
I don't think that the UK is refunding Cassandra's taxes -- she'd have sent the forms back to some Italian address.
On my past trip, I bought stuff in Denmark and Sweden and I claimed my refunds when I flew to Oslo (Norway is non EU), if I remember right. Then I claimed my refund for the stuff I bought in Norway (in the Bergen airport) when I flew to London.
The Swedish customs had no trouble stamping a Danish VAT refund form. But perhaps the Scaninavian countries simply share closer ties.
Jun 22nd, 2005, 04:38 AM
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Cassandra, last Sept we did the same thing. We bought most of our stuff in Italy. We flew from Venice to Gatwick.
Overnighted in London and flew out of Heathrow. I presented the forms at Heathrow--they did the custom stamp, then pointed out a mailbox to me. I put the envelopes in the mailbox and had the credit on my next credit card statement--maybe 6 weeks due to the date of my statements. It was almost $200.00 and had no problem. Hope this gives you hope.
Overnighted in London and flew out of Heathrow. I presented the forms at Heathrow--they did the custom stamp, then pointed out a mailbox to me. I put the envelopes in the mailbox and had the credit on my next credit card statement--maybe 6 weeks due to the date of my statements. It was almost $200.00 and had no problem. Hope this gives you hope.
Jun 24th, 2005, 03:11 PM
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I agree with 111op about it being stamped where you leave the EU but that the forms go back to the country where you bought the merchandise. You are supposed to show proof (plane ticket) that you are leaving immediately and not reselling the items w/in the country. I've never been asked to show my purchases but again, as I understand it, they can ask to see them, to prove you didn't resell it to locals and thereby cheating the country out of the taxes.
I imagine it's a different story if one is claiming detaxe on many high ticket items. My couple of handbags from Galeries Lafayette and bars of Occitane soap don't amount to that much refund!
I imagine it's a different story if one is claiming detaxe on many high ticket items. My couple of handbags from Galeries Lafayette and bars of Occitane soap don't amount to that much refund!
Jul 18th, 2005, 04:32 PM
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Following on this thread - I submitted VAT Refund forms(including stamped envelopes) to Customs on two different occasions (Oct of 2004, and December of 2004) at Heathrow Airport, had them customs stamped, and was informed that they would process/mail them for us and we would receive a refund to our credit card.
It has now been almost 9 months, and I have yet to see any refund on my credit card or any correspondence from the Customs office or from the retailors whose forms I filled out.
Is there anyone I can contact at Customs or should I contact the retailors directly? All toll it is not a significant amount (about $64.00), it's more the principle of the thing. I don't like the idea that I went to so much trouble to obtain and fill out the paperwork, only to have someone pocket my refund.
It has now been almost 9 months, and I have yet to see any refund on my credit card or any correspondence from the Customs office or from the retailors whose forms I filled out.
Is there anyone I can contact at Customs or should I contact the retailors directly? All toll it is not a significant amount (about $64.00), it's more the principle of the thing. I don't like the idea that I went to so much trouble to obtain and fill out the paperwork, only to have someone pocket my refund.
Jul 18th, 2005, 05:24 PM
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When I submit my VAT forms at LHR it normally takes 5 to 7 weeks for the credit to show up.
Contacting the merchant won't help you much. And probably neither will contacting customs/revenue office, since they merely stamp the forms to confirm the goods are leaving the country.
The refunds are processed by third party firms - so you probably need to contact whichever company(s) is handling yours. If you don't have that info, you might need to contact the merchant just to find out who processes their VAT refunds.
Contacting the merchant won't help you much. And probably neither will contacting customs/revenue office, since they merely stamp the forms to confirm the goods are leaving the country.
The refunds are processed by third party firms - so you probably need to contact whichever company(s) is handling yours. If you don't have that info, you might need to contact the merchant just to find out who processes their VAT refunds.
Aug 12th, 2005, 01:51 PM
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Hi, this question is somewhat related to this thread. Hope someone would be so kind to answer it.
I am student in the UK from Malaysia. Last year I bought a PDA and got VAT refund for it at Heathrow airport. I'm still studying here though. I just found out that I can only claim VAT refund if I do not return to the UK.
Which means I am in trouble! Because I'v e claimed VAT refund even though I'm not eligible. Does anyone know what penalty/criminal punishment that I might risk? And does anyone know what I can do to avoid trouble? I'll be studying in the UK for a couple more years and I want them to be trouble-free.
Cheers
khim.
I am student in the UK from Malaysia. Last year I bought a PDA and got VAT refund for it at Heathrow airport. I'm still studying here though. I just found out that I can only claim VAT refund if I do not return to the UK.
Which means I am in trouble! Because I'v e claimed VAT refund even though I'm not eligible. Does anyone know what penalty/criminal punishment that I might risk? And does anyone know what I can do to avoid trouble? I'll be studying in the UK for a couple more years and I want them to be trouble-free.
Cheers
khim.
