61
votes
Why do I need to leave the country before I can open my tax free consumables?
They want to tax goods you consume in the country.
For goods you consume somewhere else you have a real option of buying them somewhere else too; and faced with the possibility that you'd rather do ...
35
votes
Tax exemption in Tokyo
In principle, you are supposed to visit the Japanese customs office in the departure area of the airport before leaving (there is no systematic customs check for departing passengers in Japan), and ...
- 12.6k
32
votes
Why do I need to leave the country before I can open my tax free consumables?
Because the fact that you are exporting the goods is the critical fact that makes them tax free. If you consume goods in Japan, they're no longer legally exempt from tax.
The requirement to pick ...
- 140k
27
votes
Accepted
VAT refund for a conference ticket in Sweden
According to the organizers, 'there is no VAT return for private citizens'.
This is a conclusive answer. VAT refunds are intended for things which will be exported from a country. For example, if you ...
- 17.7k
20
votes
Accepted
Tax Free when leaving EU through a different country
Actually I found the answer, in case someone else wonder if it's possible, the answer was found here.
Do I have to leave the EU straight away from the country where I
purchased goods? No. You can ...
- 626
18
votes
US Sales tax in stores, are they listed on pricetag or checkout?
The United States does not have a national sales tax, such as VAT, and you're not able to get a refund from the Federal Government of sales tax you pay on items you purchase when visiting. However, ...
- 35.6k
16
votes
Accepted
Has anyone ever actually received a GST refund, from India?
According to this news report (emphasis mine)
Although a provision for GST refund to tourists has been made in the GST law, it is yet to be operational. The law has defined the term 'tourist' as a ...
- 4,343
12
votes
Tax refund rules in the UK (London) after Brexit
Since 2021, VAT-free shopping is usually only available in the UK if the goods are not picked up in person but shipped immediately to an address outside the UK. There are some additional exemptions if ...
- 15.2k
12
votes
Bought new phone while on holiday in Spain, travelling back to Switzerland by train. Got the tax refund form. What to do next?
I broke my phone while away in Spain and had to purchase a new one there.
First, if you are already using your phone, you are mostly likely not eligible for a tax refund, as it is reserved to goods ...
- 23.9k
10
votes
Accepted
Tax Free shopping in Sweden departing from Copenhagen with a stopover in Helsinki
This question is a bit confusing by the order the OP shows the itinerary.
I assume the following:
The OP buys goods in Sweden and obtains a receipt. The customer pays full price
The OP crosses the ...
- 4,920
10
votes
Accepted
Can I get tax refund stamp if just traveling between EU countries?
You have to get your form stamped at the airport before check-in, so you can show any of the goods exported on request, even if you are going to place them in checked luggage.
For this reason, even if ...
- 90k
10
votes
Accepted
I visited Tennesse and Atlanta for 2 weeks as a tourist (B1/B2) visa. Can I get a tax refund on things I purchased?
Generally no jurisdiction whatsoever will refund tax for goods and services that consumed within the jurisdiction, such as tickets, meals, accommodation, and so on.
Many jurisdictions will refund ...
- 140k
7
votes
Why is the required amount for EU VAT refund so high and it must come from a single shop?
According to the VAT Refund EU Guide https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/individuals/travelling/travellers-leaving-eu/guide-vat-refund-visitors-eu_en the limit is set to avoid administrative burdens ...
- 37.3k
7
votes
Accepted
VAT refund for tourists in UK?
No in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) and ‘maybe’ in Northern Ireland.
You can only buy tax-free goods from shops in Great Britain if they’re delivered straight to an address outside the ...
- 37.3k
6
votes
UK VAT refund: apply for refund directly and not through agents like GlobalBlue?
AIUI (this is based on what I have read on government sites, I am not a lawyer or an accountant)
When a "retail export" transaction is made the customer doesn't claim the VAT back from the government....
- 11.5k
6
votes
Accepted
Global Blue with D visa (Netherlands): possible?
You can only get a refund, if your permanent residence is outside the EU; the item is more than 50 EUR, the item is unused, and it has been less than 90 days since you bought it.
A "D" visa (which is ...
- 39.7k
6
votes
US Sales tax in stores, are they listed on pricetag or checkout?
According to the rules:
The sales and use tax applies to each total sale, not to each item of each sale. For example, if two items are purchased at the same time and each item is sold for $.07, ...
- 45.2k
6
votes
Tax issues for purchases in The Netherlands by a US citizen?
You can find many details on the official website of Schiphol airport. Provided you live outside the European Union, it is indeed possible to recover some taxes when shopping in the Netherlands but ...
- 113k
6
votes
Accepted
Tax-free shopping in Faroe Islands
I don't think there are any restrictions in the tax-free system on which kind of items it can be applied to, but as you can read on the page you are linking to in the question, it only applies to ...
- 58.6k
6
votes
Hotel charging 21% VAT in Argentina?
I'd like to add that, when you pay, keep the receipts. And if none is provided, ask for them.
You can request your VAT charges back at the airport, after security and check-in.
That was my last ...
- 423
5
votes
Am I eligible to VAT refund if I buy electronics at duty free stores (specifically Dubai)?
The United Arab Emirates has not yet instituted a GST refund system for tourists, although one was approved about a month ago and is expected to go into place sometime in the future.
Once this occurs ...
- 124k
5
votes
Accepted
Hotel charging 21% VAT in Argentina?
¡Sí! Had to learn how to make google search Spanish (latin america) pages first.
Here's a news article about it: Argentina devolverá IVA por hotel para atraer turistas extranjeros
And here's the ...
- 160k
5
votes
Accepted
What are "unused goods" for the purpose of tax-free shopping?
From my discussion with an export certification clerk it appears that only consumables have to be unopened. Durable goods like laptops or clothes have to be presented in the original package, ...
- 10.2k
5
votes
VAT refund for a conference ticket in Sweden
The VAT location for the conference is Sweden, so this is in itself an "inner-Swedish" type of invoice (like buying a cinema ticket when you are in Sweden). (As opposed to, say, buying Swedish goods ...
- 856
5
votes
Accepted
Global Blue and getting validation when exiting EU by ferry
From this answer :
... You have to get your documents stamped by a customs officer at the point of exit of the EU – not necessary in the same EU country where you bought it.
Since you're leaving EU ...
- 27.8k
4
votes
Accepted
Tax refund in the European Union
The most important thing upfront: Just bills will not help you at all. What you need is a special tax refund document issued by the shop where you purchase something. Beware that not all shops offer ...
- 1,583
4
votes
Accepted
Tax issues for purchases in The Netherlands by a US citizen?
Relaxed got it right, but not the whole truth. I kept on hunting, and finally found the best option (if everyone is honest). According to the Tax and Customs Administration, I can get a receipt ...
- 9,749
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible