Claiming A Tax Refund

By Liam McGulliver Fletcher

In the UK and a few surrounding countries, there are many tax free shops and anyone who is visiting from outside the EU is entitled to shop there. Some shops display the tax free goods logo outside to let you know that they take part in this scheme. To be eligible for this tax discount you must be a resident of a country outside the EU. And that is basically the reason why people from outside the European Union love coming to the UK to save money on shopping.

One can claim for the VAT only after having spent a bare minimum amount on the purchase. The minimum amount varies from country to country. And once the purchase is over and you are waiting for a refund, you will have to show proof of exportation by getting it stamped at the Customs office. Once your tax free cheque is stamped you may get the refund from various refund offices and you can choose a way that is convenient for you. Frequently, the tax refund is credited to the credit card or in certain cases the money is sent to the bank account.

It has never before been so full of saving opportunity for people from another continent to come and shop in the UK, and so if you are from outside the EU and you intend to visit the UK, you should make sure that you have enough room in your luggage to store any goods you buy in tax free stores separately from the rest of your purchases.

Claiming your tax back is very simple, when in the tax free shop in the UK, you should ask the shop assistant for a tax free cheque (after having spent the minimum amount of course) and then when you go through customs before leaving the UK, you should get the cheque stamped by the customs officer for approval, and then upon arriving at your destination airport, you should show your stamped refund cheque along with your passport and credit card to get the full amount of tax you paid credited back to your card or to your bank account.

This tax free shopping scheme was created for the benefit of tourists from countries outside the EU who visit the UK or another European participating country. - 30244

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