Can you get a VAT refund as a tourist after purchasing goods from the Internet inside the EU?

I am a resident of India planning to visit Europe next month with my family.

I am planning to buy a road bike from a UK website and want it delivered to my friend's house in France, for collection when I visit him next month.

Will I qualify for a VAT refund if I show the bills I purchased online and leave Europe?

Best Answer

As when buying anything else, it depends on if the retailer offers a VAT return service and will give you the necessary paperwork. It is not a problem to order by mail or leaving the EU through another country, but depending on the arrangement at the airport you are leaving from, it might be an issue that you can't bring the item in your hand luggage.

To claim VAT refund, the retailer must fill out and give you a tax-free form. When leaving the EU, the form must be stamped by customs, confirming that the item is brought out of the EU and you can then send the form back to the retailer or his agent, if the retailer has an agrement with an agency dealing with tax-free returns, e.g. Global Blue. The retailer or the agent will then pay back the VAT minus any processing fee.

Depending on the exact requirements of the customs authorities in the country you are leaving, you may have to bring the relevant items in hand luggage, since you are for legal purposes not leaving the country until you have passed airport security and domestic and international departures are separated 'properly'.

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Can I get VAT refund on online purchase in Dubai?

Tourists and visitors can claim refund on VAT paid on purchases they made during their stay in the UAE. Recovery of payment will be done through a fully integrated electronic system which connects retailers registered in the 'Tax Refund for Tourists Scheme' with all ports of entry and exit from the UAE.

Do tourists pay VAT?

Here are 10 things you need to know about claiming VAT refunds. Countries generally exempt exports from VAT. So when you buy merchandise or other goods as a tourist, what you take home is considered an export. Accordingly, you are entitled to a refund for the VAT portion of the price.

How do I get a refund on VAT?

You must claim your VAT refund online, via the authorities in the country where your business is based. If you are eligible for a refund, the authorities will pass on your claim to the authorities in the other country. outlining the responsibilities of the national tax authorities.

Can I get VAT refund when I leave Germany?

The VAT can be refunded if the merchandise is purchased and exported by a customer whose residence is outside the European Union. Please note that in order to qualify for tax-refund the merchandise has to be exported within three months of purchase.

Guide to getting the VAT refund in Europe + Importing goods home! Avoid overpaying customs!

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Ketut Subiyanto, George Pak, Oleksandr Pidvalnyi, Monstera