Claiming V.A.T. back on goods bought in the U.K.

I get stuff sent here from the outnet in UK (arrives within 5 days of ordering, free to return it via DHL) and they deduct the VAT at source.

From my previous post on the subject: When you buy anything in the UK over about £30 (that you will be bringing back here), you need to ask for a VAT Free Shopping Form AT THE POINT OF MAKING THE PURCHASE. Most retailers will then simply print you out an additional and very long receipt, they will sign it, and also get you to sign it to declare that you don't live in Europe or the UK and that you will be taking the goods out of the country within the next 3 months. You will also need to fill in your permanent address here in Dubai, your Passport No, the date you entered the UK and the date that you are leaving. Apart from signing it, you can fill all the other details in at your leisure - i.e you don't have to do it in the shop. I generally do them all at the same time just before I fly. Get the till assistant to staple your receipt to this piece of paper, then you can't lose it. The only shop where they have to fill in a handwritten form for you at Customer Services rather than a the till is Marks & Spencer, but still no hassle for you in the long run. When you get to the airport, and BEFORE YOU CHECK IN, you need to go to the HM Customs desk, with all your luggage. You then hand over your passport and all the forms, they check them, give you back your reciepts, and give you the tax back, minus an admin charge. Technically they can ask to see your puchases (hence you have to go there BEFORE you check your suitcase in, although I've never ever been asked, or seen anyone asked). However, if you have jewellery or eletronics (e.g. an iPhone), these have to be taken airside and you will actually be asked to show them at the Customs desk. The admin charge is a bit of a rip off (you generally get about 9-11% back, not the full 20%), but on my last trip back, I got £85 back for filling in 6 forms. It's much easier than it sounds, and MUCH better than letting the government have it! There are two VAT-back companies that shops deal with - one lets the HM Customs desk give the money straight back on your cc there and then, the other needs to be sent off in the post, but the staff at the desk do this for you and the money goes back on your cc within a couple of weeks (if you want cash, you'll pay an extra charge). Just remember to ask for a form for ANYTHING you're bring back - I even did a big cosmetics run at Boots and got the tax back!

the scheme is voluntary so shops do not have to give you back your vat, in most cases i have asked along the high st and nope i checked with marks and sparks, the little model shop by me do it but thats all i could find.

[b'>amazon will send stuff here and they automatically take the vat off.[/b'>[/b'> yes I checked but unfortunately its dispatched by one of Amazon's 3rd parties who won't deliver here. Nevermind, I'll wait til I'm back and pick it up from a shop, DH nagging because when he wants something he wants it yesterday but he'll just have to wait :) yeh it depends on what you want they will not send electrical stuff etc.

It's really easy. Make sure you have a proof of address in the UAE (residency in your passport should be OK). I don't remember filling out any forms. Just ask for the tax return desk before passport control at Heathrow.

Thanks everyone, yes I just read that you can't claim for online purchases, will have to buy instore instead then. Some websites automatically knock the VAT off when delivering outside the EU but as we all know, most of them don't deliver here :( amazon will send stuff here and they automatically take the vat off.

We were told they might ask to see the goods-but they weren't remotely interested if its big and going in hold then you have to show them before you put your bag down the chute even if its handluggage they have never asked to see it, they are assuming that the shop has verified the goods etc.

did you have to prove residency for outside the UK and did you have to show the goods or just the receipt, neither of these are a problem if we have to do it but would like to know in advance. Thanks Also it will be bought online so how does that work with filling the forms? edited by bits on 18/04/2011 if you buy something online then you cannot claim back the vat, only in shops.

Wherever you buy your goods you will need to fill in the form whilst in the shop, then go to the airport and claim the VAT back. Ive never done it myself, even thou I thought about it, all the form filling would do my head in. yeh i have done it a couple of times, i did with marks and sparks they will only do it once you have spent 75 pounds, and then there is a sliding scale of admin charges, so all in all you dont get much back, they have to fill in form in shop, you have to prove you are nonresident etc, ie passport, you then either leave it at the airport depending on which airport (when i left from aberdeen there was no one there so you leave in a special box, but in heathrow there is a big desk for it), then hopefully you get charged back.

Hi we are buying something in the U.K. that will cost a few hundred pounds so would like to claim the 20% VAT back. I have tried to do this in the past for smaller purchases but given in after all the form filling and charges etc. Has anyone had any experience with this, we will be travelling through Heathrow. Thanks edited by bits on 18/04/2011 if you are going through t5 there is a desk just behind the check in desks.

BITS I have claimed VAT back several times when leaving Heathrow. When you buy the goods the store will have to fill in the paperwork and state amount of Tax to be refunded. It s done on a scale so depending on amount spent will determine how much you get back. I have claimed for laptops etc in past and only got about 10 per cent back. You will also be charged an admin fee. Not all stores take part in the scheme and I was told cannot be claimed for online purchases. Hope this helps.

Sorry but unfortunately you can't claim the vat back on goods bought online or mail order even if you get them delivered within the uk and take out through customs. I read this on hmrc website. Much better to buy in the shop!

We were told they might ask to see the goods-but they weren't remotely interested

Bits, you will have your passport with you to show your UAE residency, shouldnt be a problem.

Don't recollect the form filling was that bad-asked the store to do the paperwork and claimed it at a booth at Heathrow-was quick and painless

Wherever you buy your goods you will need to fill in the form whilst in the shop, then go to the airport and claim the VAT back. Ive never done it myself, even thou I thought about it, all the form filling would do my head in.