Asking the CC community, as you folks ALWAYS have the answers (now that I have buttered you up…)
Will be traveling overseas for the first time next month, specifically, to Ireland. Tour operator sent us cards we can swipe to keep track of the VAT we will pay, in order to get refunds at the airport.
Now the question: if I understand correctly, when an item is priced, the VAT is included? So in other words, a 70-euro sweater is 70 euros, VAT included?
If I am totally off base, please let me know, and thanks.
When I’ve purchased items out of country, prices I’ve paid have always included a VAT. In general I would only try to get a refund if I spent a considerable sum, otherwise I didn’t feel it was worth my time or effort.
The receipts have always shown the vat. It’s just like here where there is a separate line item. I haven’t been through Irish customs so I don’t know how easy it is there, but it was a bit of a pain at Heathrow, and it couldn’t have been easier in Iceland. You need to keep the items together so if they ask to see them you can show them. They actually went through it all in Heathrow. In Iceland it was just here’s the receipts, here’s your money.
Go to the bottom and select the country(ies) you’ll be traveling in to get a sense of the tax. General rule in EU is a little over 20%. I find the refund process to not be worth the aggrevation…but maybe technology has improved the process.
EDIT: Keep in mind that there is a US Import Duty due on purchases over a certain amount (~$1000 now?). Doing paperwork on one end of the trip (IMO) starts a file that you may or may not want to engage in. Look at the entire transaction…not just the refund.
ALSO…the refund is always less than the tax. Service fees? Run €100 on the Ireland calculator and you get back €12…not €20.
Thanks all!! We have a Fexho (?) card to swipe when making purchases that is supposed to streamline the paperwork–Fexho(?) has kiosks in the terminal for refunds. W wants to buy adult kids aran sweaters for Christmas–not cheap, tax recovery may be worthwhile in that case.
Hope those sweaters would not cost you more than the exemption. I usually try to keep my purchases under 2X duty-free allowance for import to the US (if we are traveling together) to minimize headaches at the customs. The exemption used to be $800 per person.
In the past, when I was ordering things online from certain European retailers, if they had Euro pricing, an item under $800 would become 20% cheaper when added to the checkout basket and an item over $800 would get extra tax added to it. I think most of them now include the import duties into their online pricing.
^^^ the one thing you have to be REALLY cautious of when ordering for Europe is return shipping. It could cost you a LOT of money to return something. The shipping requirement and insurance out of Europe are much more reasonable than heading East.
It’s great when it works…but the aggravation of a problem is massive, and puts the refund at risk potentially for weeks / months.
I only buy stuff I have tried on in the US stores or things that would fit for sure. Nowadays, return shipping is included in the pricing at most reputable retailers or aggregators like Farfetch or there is a reasonable fee.
Just to give you some info, the hand knits Aran sweaters are bulkier and not usually washable and are about 2x the price of the Aran machine knit products. Places like the Blarney Woolen Mills usually run store only specials of items not available on their website. www.blarney.com/womens-aran-sweater/
"Present your FEXCO HORIZON card at the FEXCO Tax Free Refund Desk at Dublin or Shannon airport prior to departing Ireland or by using the Self Service Kiosks present in Dublin/Shannon and Cork Airports. Be sure to allow yourself ample time to visit the desk or kiosks, and have your boarding pass, credit card and passport ready for viewing/processing. Please ensure you enter the correct details as failure to do so can result in a delay in processing
Self Service Kiosk Locations:
Dublin T1: A FEXCO self service kiosk is positioned in Pier B, towards gates 301 – 313, adjacent to the Dixon retail unit.
Dublin T2: There are 3 self service kiosks positioned in the departures area of T2, follow generic signage to VAT RETURNS.
Shannon Airport: There are 2 self service kiosks available adjacent to the office in the Departures area of Shannon Airport
Cork Airport: There is a self service kiosk placed in the departure gates area of Cork Airport where you can process your transactions.
Please note: if an individual purchase is €2000 or over you must have Customs verification prior to departure. If this is the case, please be sure you leave sufficient time to visit the Customs desk as each item must be presented to Customs, along with the receipt, before any VAT refund can be approved. The FEXCO Tax Free Refund Desk at Dublin or Shannon airport can print a copy of the transaction if you have used a FEXCO HORIZON card. This copy is stamped by Customs on inspection of the goods."
I think most of them now include the import duties into their online pricing.
Nowadays, return shipping is included in the pricing at most reputable retailers or aggregators like Farfetch or there is a reasonable fee.