VAT refund

I always received the refund. Wait a few more weeks.

It does take a while . I returned from Vienna on 11/6 having processed two VAT refunds st the airport , and my credit card posted the refunds only about ten days ago .

We were in Paris early November for 10 days and just received our VAT refund last week. Definitely slower than our other trips but it did make it :)

Hmm. When I lived in the U.S. and traveled to Europe either for work or leisure, I never bothered with the refund. I figured I was taking advantage of the things (museums, free cultural events, infrastructure, mass transit) that taxes go to pay for, so why shouldn't I pay my share?

I've often wondered if anyone bothered with that, and it looks as if they do. I'm curious: is it common for travelers to do that? What fraction do you guys estimate bother with it?

Sammy , for small purchases I wouldn't bother . On my last trip I had purchased several; small pieces of decorative porcelain , so the refund amounted to $70 . The two merchants involved , provided the necessary receipts on request in the shops , and it only took a few moments to submit them at the airport prior to departure .

Thanks everyone for your timely responses. I will give it more time before worrying about it. I’ve never had issues with the refund in the past but they did arrive more quickly. I guess things are just moving a little slower these days. I am not exactly sure but I assume the VAT tax that Europeans are subject to is to cover healthcare, pensions and other things such as those. I am not entitled to those things because I’m not a European citizen. While in Paris I paid for all my museum entrances and anything else I did. Therefore, I have always opted for the VAT refund.

We don't do VAT often but did have a large purchase this fall; the money was refunded within a week after we scanned it on Pablo -- I mailed the paperwork but it clearly had no reached Poland before the VAT was in my account.