Wednesday March 3, 2010 15:11
Tax Free Shopping For Non-EU Residents
Posted by Liam McGulliver Fletcher as Taxes
Traveling abroad among countries a part of the European Union which includes a large number of countries from Belgium, to Ireland, to Sweden (check which countries are included in the EU when traveling abroad) has its temptations and perks in the shopping arena, such as purchasing from duty-free shops, or tax-free merchants within European Union (EU) airports.
Taxes can be added onto a good through a number of ways and names including consumption, sales, or the standard EU value added tax (VAT). Traveling abroad in the EU, customers will find the VAT a standard addition to any purchased goods. The ability to refund VAT, however, is a perk not held by member countries of the EU, unless the items are meant to be shipped to non – EU countries.
Paying tax (EU-VAT) on all goods purchased when abroad in the EU is mandatory, but non-EU residents by law are allowed to instigate the refund process on return to their native countries. The amount of EU-VAT will vary from country to country much like the variety found state-by-state in America.
Saving all receipts and stopping at customs before leaving an EU country to obtain an export validation stamp is the bulk of work that needs to be completed by the consumer. Once all receipts and stamps are collecting, working with an established company to refund EU-VAT is a simple process.
A number of companies are available for utilization in making the refunded of EU-VAT a simple transaction requiring only that the consumer collect and save all receipts on good purchased in EU countries and visit customs before leaving the EU to collect an export validation stamp.
Goods exempt from VAT, in general, are childrens clothing and books. Full VAT-refunds can be had, but countries vary on the percentages that are able to be claimed, as well as having minimum purchase requirements on goods purchased.
One company, Premier Tax Free, is partnered with over 75,000 worldwide retailers. With the company’s technical expertise, dealing with international retailers will be free of the red-tape and hassle of tax free shopping for non-EU residents. Receipts, provided by you, are sent back to retailers in the effort of requesting a VAT refund.
Discover all you want to know about tax free shopping by checking it out now. Take advantage of the chance to save money by doing some tax free shopping. Head online and learn all you want to know.
Tags: advice, finance, legal, london, misc, services, Shopping, tax, tax free, Taxes, tourism, tourist, travel, UK


