Brits Missing Out On Hundreds In Eu Vat Refunds – Here’s How To Claim Yours Before You Fly Home

Half of British travellers are losing money connected their European holidays without moreover realising it – simply by skipping a simple taxation refund process that could put rate consecutive backmost successful their pockets.

Most Brits unaware of VAT refund perks

If you’ve precocious returned from a travel to Spain, France aliases Italy, chances are you could person claimed a tidy sum backmost from your vacation shopping – but didn’t. According to caller figures from nan Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), much than half of Britons (51 per cent) person nary thought they tin declare backmost VAT connected purchases made wrong nan EU.

Only 1 successful 4 travellers really cognize really to make a claim, and an moreover smaller 13 per cent person ever done so. Younger travellers look to beryllium starring nan way, pinch almost double nan consciousness compared to those complete 65.

Considering that VAT rates crossed Europe scope from 12 per cent to 27 per cent, missing retired could mean leaving superior money behind. Whether it’s luxury equipment from Paris aliases designer sunglasses from Barcelona, those purchases could gain you a refund worthy a mini fortune.

How to declare your EU VAT refund

So really does it work? The process whitethorn sound complicated, but it’s easier than it seems – you conscionable request to scheme ahead. Here’s really to make judge you don’t suffer retired adjacent time:

1. Ask earlier you buy. When making a acquisition abroad, cheque pinch nan shop unit if they connection tax-free shopping. You whitethorn request to walk a minimum magnitude (which varies by country).
2. Get nan VAT refund form. Retailers will either manus you a insubstantial shape aliases nonstop you to an online portal. You’ll request to supply your name, passport specifications and nan acquisition date.
3. Keep your receipts. They’re your impervious for customs, truthful don’t worldly them astatine nan bottommost of your suitcase.
4. Validate astatine nan airport. Before checking successful your luggage, spell to nan customs agency astatine nan airport. You’ll request to show your purchases, receipts and completed forms for stamping.
5. Collect your refund. Once stamped, you tin either get your money backmost instantly astatine nan taxation refund antagonistic aliases person it transferred to your in installments paper wrong a fewer weeks.

In Spain, you tin get up to 21 per cent back, while Greece offers astir 24 per cent, and Hungary tops nan database pinch a whopping 27 per cent refund imaginable – meaning it’s good worthy a fewer other minutes astatine nan airport.

Don’t fto free money gaffe away

Post-Brexit, nan rules for British travellers person changed, but that doesn’t mean you’ve mislaid your correct to claim. In fact, being a non-EU visitant now makes you eligible for VAT refunds – provided your purchases are for individual usage and you’re taking them home.

Experts astatine ABTA accent that nan process isn’t automatic, and forgetting to validate your forms earlier you time off nan state intends you suffer nan chance entirely.

So, earlier your adjacent getaway, return a infinitesimal to double-check those receipts, scheme a fewer other minutes astatine nan airport, and make judge your purchases gain you a well-deserved rebate. After all, why time off your money down erstwhile it could beryllium paying for your adjacent flight?

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