Duty Free Shopping

Connie_28

Whilst on a week's cruise back at the beginning of March we got off the ship in Mexico.  I bought a few pieces of Swarovski crystal at the Swarovski store which was in the shopping square at the port in Costa Maya, Mexico.  The shop owner told me that as we were visitors we were getting the items tax free (duty free) but he quoted me the price in US dollars and the receipt showed Mexican pesos and the US dollar price.   Unfortunately it was not until after we got back home and I was able to study the receipt and work out the pesos to dollar rate and see what was actually on the receipt that I realized we had been charged tax on the price of the goods.  I just wanted to know if it was possible now we are back in the UK for me to claim the tax back.  Is this something I can claim back via Customs and Excise or is there no chance of me claiming this back.  Or is it claimed back via another avenue and if so how do I go about it?  Thanks for any help and advice that anyone can give me.

TELLIT01

No chance of reclaiming anything now.

sheramber

 The tax you paid is Mexican  tax, not UK tax, so  nothing to do with Customs and Excise.

zagfles

In fact if they were over £390, you have to pay UK tax as well!

See https://www.gov.uk/duty-free-goods/arrivals-from-outside-the-eu

NoodleDoodleMan

 "Unfortunately it was not until after we got back home and I was able to study the receipt and work out the pesos to dollar rate and see what was actually on the receipt that I realized we had been charged tax on the price of the goods."

Or maybe he just used his own exchange rate to calculate the price you paid ?