I am taking a bus tour which starts from London, UK and then goes to Europe and then goes back to London, UK. Both times it crosses via the ferry from UK to France and France to UK back. If we make purchases in EU specifically Paris and Milan with US Passport, can we get refund from London Heathrow Airport for these purchases? What is the process if we cannot get refund?
Posted by
Los Angeles
34 posts
When we were in London in 2022, they no longer offered the VAT refund as a result of Brexit.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
553 posts
Nope
You need to see if you can get it at the ferry port in France
Theoretically, if you don’t get it done, you can try to work with the embassy here in the states, but I’ve never heard of anybody being successful with that so I would try to get it done before I leave the continent
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3856 posts
There is VAT refund processing at the ferry terminal in Calais. I know people who have tried the embassy approach and it did not work them and cost $60. If VAT processing was available at the time of your departure, the embassy process is not going to work. Also, you have to pay a per item/receipt fee to the embassy which might eat up any savings and in your case you might have to deal with two embassies.
Posted by
Michigan
410 posts
We were just in Spain, and the merchant where I bought saffron used Planet to process VAT refunds. Provided all the information and the form, as well as an envelope for mailing everything in if I did not process it at the airport. You might ask about that when you purchase items.
This also has some good info:
Posted by
Paris
9991 posts
You have to do VAT refund for EU goods at the last place you leave the EU. That is, you can not get a VAT refund for items purchased in France and Italy when departing at Heathrow.
Posted by
OP
6 posts
For is the last place in EU is Calais i. france from where we depart in ferry in a coach bus. Does Calais or ferry have Kiosk for VAT refund? As we cannot venture far since we will be on coach bus.
Posted by
Michigan
410 posts
Have you checked with the tour? Seems to me this would be a common question/situation, and they should have a recommendation. Perhaps they even allow time for it in Calais.