Reclaiming tax on items purchased in the USA?

leamingtonspaceman

I was recently on holiday in the USA in Washington DC. I spent a few quid:eek: and I've been told that I can claim back the US taxes I had to pay on my purchases whilst there. Is this true? If so, how do I go about doing this? I'm led to believe you have to make the claim through the US state you spent the money in but have no idea where to start.

If anyone can help I'd appreciate your help no end.

Thanks:T

Cook_County

This is not correct, where did you get this information?

The goods - including sales taxes - are chargeable to customs duty & VAT when imported to the UK. Did you declare them when you imported them to the UK?

DX-SFX

Actually it is possible depending on the State. US state tax is levied on goods and goes to that state. It's not a Federal tax. It's a local tax. Some US airports have agents with the forms to claim the state tax back just before leaving but these forms are also available retrospectively by contacting the relevant state tax authority or even online. I'm not sure which states allow you to do this but I remember doing it some years ago. I believe Canada also allows you to do this.

However..

Reclaiming the state tax just before you board the plane is one thing. When you bring the goods into the UK, they are liable to a VAT charge. This is why it's important to take your UK receipts for expensive camera equipment (for example) because Customs could charge you VAT for bringing your own stuff back into the UK if it looks new and they mistakenly believe you've bought the goods in the US. It's not common but it has happened. You can subsequently claim the VAT back by producing the receipts but who needs the hassle in the first place.