VAT refunds help required please

jase13uk

I am looking to purchase a laptop online, but I will need it for when I stationed in Afghanistan. I know Amazon do VAT refunds for anything sent to BFPO addresses but the laptop I require can only be purchased from the manufacturer and they dont deliver to BFPO addresses.

So if Amazon can do it, can I not claim back my VAT somehow??

Thanks

egon

Hi,

Who do you want to purchase it from?


Most manufacturers give VAT refunds for BFPO's.

Apple and Dell for sure.

Egon

mannews

I thought that it was only certain BFPO addresses that you can get VAT free shopping from. I know that Amazon will only sell VAT free if they deliver to a BFPO address. I wanted to buy my Dad a present when I was living in Germany but because I had it delivered to his address in the UK I could not claim the VAT back.

archie159

You can get a VAT refund if you are stationed outside the UK. By far the easiest way is to find a manufacturer or seller who will post to BFPO - many do, many don't, there is no obligation to do so; you just need to keep asking around. Some, like Amazon, will charge the full price and then refund the VAT once you have contacted them to say that it has arrived. Others just don't charge VAT at the beginning - again, its up to them.
Occasionally, some manufacturers won't post to BFPO, but will let you collect it in the UK and immediately export it yourself - you will need to get a letter from your RAO confirming that you are stationed overseas and entitled to VAT free purchases, and this might suffice to get the VAT back - but again, it is up to the seller if they are willing to follow this process. Bottom line, you have no absolute entitlement to VAT free purchases if the company does not wish to sell that way (it does, after all, impose extra accounting burdons on them which some small companies cannot afford); you cannot reclaim VAT at the Customs desk when you leave the UK. However, if the company you are looking at doesn't do VAT free sales, then, as already mentioned, plenty of others do. If you look on the BFPO website, somewhere they list many of the companies who have made the necessary arrangements to ship via BFPO - that might help finding one. Also, the forces discount directory (online or via your RAO) lists others.

smileypigface

Personally I wouldn't bother taking a personal laptop to Afghanistan anyway - certainly not a brand new one - it'll get ruined by the dust - that's if it survives being battered around with the luggage which is usually thrown on and off of 4-tonners by 'volunteers' among the passengers! Needless to say they aren't too bothered about handling bags carefully!

Personal choice - but I wouldn't bother. I bought a mini Phillips DVD player from Amazon and had it delivered to BFPO772 with no problems - e-mailed Amazon to let them know it had been delivered outside the EU and the VAT was refunded with no problems. The size of the player meant it was easier to carry in hand luggage and less buttons etc for sand/dust to get stuck in.

Good luck with your deployment.

Ivrytwr3

Personally I wouldn't bother taking a personal laptop to Afghanistan anyway - certainly not a brand new one - it'll get ruined by the dust - that's if it survives being battered around with the luggage which is usually thrown on and off of 4-tonners by 'volunteers' among the passengers! Needless to say they aren't too bothered about handling bags carefully!

Why pack your laptop with your main luggage? I carried mine along with a small backpack onto the aircraft and off again into theatre, as did many others.

My laptop was a lifesaver, i was able to watch movies, write letters, send email, surf the net, listen to music, all the good things a alptop can do.

It's still going strong 4 years later, after a trip to 'stan and Basra!.

ICATQ

You can always wait until you get to Afghan. They sell laptops at KAF. Choice might be limited of course. Watch out for voltages though, some US models are only 110v.

Most laptops will survive in hand baggage, and if looked after in most established camps will be OK. Dont reckon you will have time to watch DVD's in some of the more reported on locations anyway :-)

Most locations now have WiFi so could be useful for keeping in touch with the UK as well as other stuff.