Asking for VAT refund on online purchases in Europe [closed]
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I want to buy some goods (around 700 pounds worth - a camera, a gpu and an ssd) from Amazon UK.
As I am living in Europe right now (residence in Ireland) is it possible to ask for a VAT refund, even if the purchase is online, as it is the case of Amazon? Any special rules from UK applied here?
I will be leaving Europe in three months, from Ireland with a flight connection in Madrid.
Best Answer
No, it is not. See, you have to pay your VAT. The only refund is possible if you are NOT european, not living in europe. Then you can ask for a refund when you take the goods OUT OF EUROPE. The refund has to be processed at the customs (to make sure that yes, you do export the goods).
Amazon NEVER gets involved. You will have to reclaim the VAT either directly from the relevant tax office (Likely ireland) and/or use an agency for this.
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Can you get VAT refund after leaving Europe?
Can you get a VAT refund after leaving Europe? Yes, you have to leave Europe to claim your VAT refund. If you merely cross a border within the European Union, you won't be eligible: the items have to leave the taxable area, not just the country where you purchased them, in order to count as an export.Can you get VAT refund after leaving Italy?
To claim VAT at your departure (most commonly at the airport), you will have to have already filled out a VAT refund document when you made your purchase, and will need your passport to do so. Choose your stores carefully.Can I claim VAT back on UK purchases after Brexit?
UK and Isle of Man businesses can still claim refunds of VAT from the EU after the end of the transitional period but they will have to use the existing processes for non-EU businesses.Can you claim back VAT for purchases outside UK?
Goods in European countries, like in the UK, contain VAT (value-added tax). This tax is automatically added onto your shopping and can be as much as 20-25% of the net price. However, if you're shopping abroad and take your purchases home with you to enjoy, you can get a refund on the tax that you've paid.Guide to getting the VAT refund in Europe + Importing goods home! Avoid overpaying customs!
More answers regarding asking for VAT refund on online purchases in Europe [closed]
Answer 2
The rules for selling online in the UK can be found on the UK Government website here; https://www.gov.uk/online-and-distance-selling-for-businesses/selling-overseas
- You must charge VAT to EU customers if you’d do the same for customers in the UK.
- If you’re selling goods to consumers and the value of the goods you sell in any EU country is above the ‘distance selling threshold’, you must register and charge VAT in that country.
Further information can be found here; https://www.gov.uk/starting-to-export/sending-goods-to-eu-countries
Basically, if you buy from the UK are in the EU then the retailer is legally required to charge you VAT at the UK rate.
Answer 3
Unlikely
At least in the UK the retail export scheme only applies to people who either aren't resident in the EU or in some cases is ending temporary residence AND who buy the goods in person (not mail order). It also only works if the retailer is part of the scheme.
I'm not sure what the situation is in ireland, I couldnt find any explicit prohibition on mail order when I looked for Ireland but I may have missed something. Even if there is no such provision I doubt amazon UK would participate in the Irish version of the retail export scheme.
If you are eligable for the retail export scheme I guess it may be possible to have a Buisness in Ireland buy the goods from amazon (which will give them the ability to either reclaim the VAT or not pay it in the first place) and then sell them on to you in person (which would allow the retail export scheme to be used) but I would expect the cost of setting up such an arrangement to eat up much or all of the savings.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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