Do It Yourself VAT Refund Process Forms
Americans who travel abroad (especially to countries in the European Union) may be surprised when sales tax is not added to their purchases when they check out at the till. In reality, sales tax (universally known as value-added tax) has already been added to the base price of a product. VAT varies by country, and must be paid by citizens. On the other hand, foreign tourists are not always required to pay VAT. Many companies offer VAT refund service by charging a fee, but by carefully keeping track of all purchases in a VAT-applicable country, you can process your own refund for free.
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Instructions
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Make purchases and ask for a receipt and a tax refund form. Show the retailer your foreign passport to obtain this form. Save receipts after every purchase.
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Present your receipts to a customs official at the airport of departure. Obtain a stamp on all receipts and completely fill out your VAT return form. You will be directed to another window to continue the return process.
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Submit your stamped receipts and VAT refund form to the employee at the window. Fill out any additional paperwork as requested by agent.
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Wait for your VAT return. Normally, the VAT credit is refunded to your credit card after several weeks, but is known to take up to several months (depending on the country where you purchased the items).
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure to shop at stores that advertise "Tax Free Shopping."
VAT refund forms can be obtained only from a retailer at the point of purchase.
Don't wait until you get home to request a VAT refund; it may cause long processing delays.
You will be charged a fee if you choose to use a "VAT refund service company" to process your refund.
References
- Photo Credit tax form image by Kirill Zdorov from Fotolia.com
