Help: VAT Tax - Got Refund but not a Customs Stamp

If you got the refund onsite, what else do you need?

We have experienced different scenarios, including:
1) Getting stamp at last airport, dropping in mailbox at airport, and get refund to cc a week later.
2) turning in forms at airport globalblue desk and get cc refund while in transit home.
3) I think on one occasion we had retailer fill out paperwork, but office at airport was closed or very busy so we punted. A week later still got the refund.

Go figure...

Thank you so much for the reply. We received the refund already - Global Blue had an office on site at the mall where we shopped. They said we had to get the forms they provided us stamped by Customs, and that if we dropped them into the marked Global Blue box at the airport it would be taken care of automatically. We couldn't find the box. The forms were already filled out, with a receipt and VAT refund amount attached, and marked paid. We therefore took the envelope home with us and it still has all the forms in it.

I think what's going to happen is Global Blue is going to take back the refund and charge it to our credit card, possibly including a penalty fee. I just wanted to see if there was a way we could still get a digital confirmation from Italian Customs.

Hi Mary, I don't think you have anything to worry about. When I flew home in May (out of Venice) the Global Blue representative told me that I didn't have to put the paperwork in the box because they handled the transaction electronically. I received the refund a week or so after I came home, and that was it. Your refund is safe. I seriously doubt they go back and match up the hardcopy with the electronic record after they processed the transaction. I know they didn't do that for me because I never turned anything in. Hope this is helpful and hope you had a wonderful trip.

Mary, when we flew home from Rome June 6th, we had exactly the same experience as Jennifer described…the representative at the Global Blue kiosk returned the paperwork, and our refund was back to our credit card within two weeks, if not earlier. He indicated that nothing else would be necessary.

Thank you very much, Cathy and Jennifer! Fingers crossed that my experience is the same. I received an email from Global Blue asking about the forms, with a note about taking back the refund if they don't get them. We shall see! :)

Mary, the e-mail you received is interesting. You asked how you can get your items verified. Technically, when you are at the Global Blue desk, that is where your purchases are supposed to be "verified". I believe the paperwork states that you are to present the items unused/unworn with the tags etc. That being said, I've never been asked to see my goods and didn't have them 'verified' with Italian customs. The Global Blue rep matches the hard copy receipts (from you) to the transaction that is filed by the merchant. Everything is in their data base when you get there. I'm going to go out on a limb here, but is it possible that it was the merchant (with a Global Blue sign at the register) who issued the refund? Some merchants will do it on the spot for you but at a high fee. Maybe that's why you received the e-mail. Because the merchant filed on their end, but you didn't go to the official Global Blue desk or use the drop box. Also, I've flown out of a few airports in Italy and the Global Blue box was always in the vicinity of the desk. It certainly is an interesting situation. Please let us know how you make out.

Thanks, Jennifer, I will. This was my first time getting the refund, so maybe I'm confused. I shopped at an outdoor mall that had a Global Blue office. I brought my filled out forms from the merchants and took a number, waited in line, and an hour later they waited on me. I showed them my items, they processed my forms and gave me US dollars back. They said to drop the prepaid envelope, which is addressed to Global Blue in Slovakia, in the mailbox at the airport. No need to wait in lines at the desk or see customs; the forms would be electronically validated there, apparently. I asked about other alternatives because we still have the paperwork, and were told "no stamp, no refund," and that they would debit my credit card if they did not receive the paperwork back. It's due in two days so at this point, too late...

9/9/24: Following up. As suspected, Global Blue rejected the non-validated paperwork I sent back and charged my VAT savings back to my credit card. Posting in case this helps someone else. Don't take the word of all the people who say you can send the paperwork back from the states (U.S. Customs and an airport rep told me this). Find the Global Blue desk at the airport and drop the forms off in the mailbox there.

Thank you to all who tried to help! Safe and happy travels. :)

this is the usual routine -- if you don't get the stamp proving the goods were exported they take the money back from your credit card. You don't aways need to mail the form but you do need to register on a Pablo machine at the airport or get it stamped and return it. Sorry it didn't work out, but this is pretty much the way it goes.

Purchased jewelry(fair amount)and store provided global blue receipt/paperwork. Arrived at naples airport, custom office closed. Attempted to used global blue kiosk the receipt information, husband passport information etc was in global blue database. The kiosk requested his plane ticket but the kiosk could not read my husband plane ticket( which he had just printed out at airport). Spent 10-15 minutes trying to get machine to read it- line behind us waiting and we then had to get into security line. Obviously we will not get our vat % back, i have emailed global bluex 2 with basically no response- don't think it was worth buying jewelry at this point!!

I've never had any expectation of getting VAT refunded to me. And so far my expectations have been met.

I wouldn't count on accomplishing anything critical at the departure airport; things can go wrong, and I've read too many reports from people who had issues.

I want to remind folks that many shops will ship goods home and deduct the VAT from the cost. For expensive items that aren't heavy or bulky, the VAT is likely to cover, or more than cover, the shipping cost. Just be sure you're dealing with a respected retailer and your purchases are insured.