Tax back on purchases in France

nigeltrotter

Has anybody used the Skiptax app or know more about it. I can't post the link here (apparently I haven't been around long enough) but if you go to Google Play Store and search for skiptax, you'll find it. Is this genuine?

Sandtree

Certain countries have always allowed refund of VAT for items that are due for export when bought in country, the UK used to offer this to tourists too but I believe have now stopped.

You need to check into the rules, for the old UK scheme it only covered items that you'd be taking out the country unused so if you damaged your trainers whilst here and had to buy a replacement then they couldnt claim the VAT back because they had used the items in the UK but if they were going out the country unused you could.

For the avoidance of doubt it obviously doesnt apply to anything you are buying online to be shipped to the UK (or elsewhere outside the EU) as then the merchant shouldnt be charging French sales tax anyway.

If you look at the French Government website Situation: You are a tax-free operator or wish to become a tax-free operator | Portal of the Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Duties (douane.gouv.fr) You will see that SkipTax is listed as an authorised agent for processing such refunds but there are others so you may find others charge a smaller fee

phatbear

nigeltrotter said:

Has anybody used the Skiptax app or know more about it. I can't post the link here (apparently I haven't been around long enough) but if you go to Google Play Store and search for skiptax, you'll find it. Is this genuine?

Eligibility for VAT refunds - PABLO | Portail de la Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects

Dont forget if you spend more than £390 on items they need to be declared on entry to the UK 


You need to check into the rules, for the old UK scheme it only covered items that you'd be taking out the country unused so if you damaged your trainers whilst here and had to buy a replacement then they couldnt claim the VAT back because they had used the items in the UK but if they were going out the country unused you could

Never heard of this and I use to be one of the people who stamped those forms

Sandtree

phatbear said:
Never heard of this and I use to be one of the people who stamped those forms

As a UK resident obviously couldnt use the scheme myself and unfortunately the likes of Global Blue have updated their websites to reflect the fact the UK scheme has ended. If you look at Finland Tax free shopping in Finland | Global Blue however they have a similar rule that the goods must be sealed and unused on export.

Depending on where you were "stamping" it could be understandably difficult to know if the goods will be sealed or not at the point of export. Given these are operated at no cost to the store they probably have little interest in policing it properly given its a selling point for them and tax payment is ultimately the responsibility of the individual 

phatbear

Sandtree said:

phatbear said:
Never heard of this and I use to be one of the people who stamped those forms

As a UK resident obviously couldnt use the scheme myself and unfortunately the likes of Global Blue have updated their websites to reflect the fact the UK scheme has ended. If you look at Finland Tax free shopping in Finland | Global Blue however they have a similar rule that the goods must be sealed and unused on export.

Depending on where you were "stamping" it could be understandably difficult to know if the goods will be sealed or not at the point of export. Given these are operated at no cost to the store they probably have little interest in policing it properly given its a selling point for them and tax payment is ultimately the responsibility of the individual 

I was stamping them when people were leaving the UK with said items and have done so for items worth hundreds of thousands of pounds which were not sealed/un-used.

Global blue are merely advising people that it could save any issues at point of export if one of those oh so handsome customs officers wish to see the items before stamping their forms

Sandtree

phatbear said:

Sandtree said:

phatbear said:
Never heard of this and I use to be one of the people who stamped those forms

As a UK resident obviously couldnt use the scheme myself and unfortunately the likes of Global Blue have updated their websites to reflect the fact the UK scheme has ended. If you look at Finland Tax free shopping in Finland | Global Blue however they have a similar rule that the goods must be sealed and unused on export.

Depending on where you were "stamping" it could be understandably difficult to know if the goods will be sealed or not at the point of export. Given these are operated at no cost to the store they probably have little interest in policing it properly given its a selling point for them and tax payment is ultimately the responsibility of the individual 

I was stamping them when people were leaving the UK with said items and have done so for items worth hundreds of thousands of pounds which were not sealed/un-used.

Global blue are merely advising people that it could save any issues at point of export if one of those oh so handsome customs officers wish to see the items before stamping their forms

It doesnt appear to be universal because its listed on Finland but not France for example... so either they think Finish (and I believe formally British) customs officers were more of a pain in the @rse or they have bad website management

phatbear

Sandtree said:

phatbear said:

Sandtree said:

phatbear said:
Never heard of this and I use to be one of the people who stamped those forms

As a UK resident obviously couldnt use the scheme myself and unfortunately the likes of Global Blue have updated their websites to reflect the fact the UK scheme has ended. If you look at Finland Tax free shopping in Finland | Global Blue however they have a similar rule that the goods must be sealed and unused on export.

Depending on where you were "stamping" it could be understandably difficult to know if the goods will be sealed or not at the point of export. Given these are operated at no cost to the store they probably have little interest in policing it properly given its a selling point for them and tax payment is ultimately the responsibility of the individual 

I was stamping them when people were leaving the UK with said items and have done so for items worth hundreds of thousands of pounds which were not sealed/un-used.

Global blue are merely advising people that it could save any issues at point of export if one of those oh so handsome customs officers wish to see the items before stamping their forms

It doesnt appear to be universal because its listed on Finland but not France for example... so either they think Finish (and I believe formally British) customs officers were more of a pain in the @rse or they have bad website management

Well youre not the first person to call me a pain in the @rse!