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Vat refund query

Posted by on

Hi guys. I am an International traveler outside from the EU. I bought some goods in Italy on October 30th and got all my tax refund forms wherever I purchased. I'm traveling out of EU on 9th November from Barcelona. Before which I am also traveling to other counties in europe via flight (portugal, Amsterdam, paris). Can I claim the vat amounts at any of these airports or locations in the city now (global blue, planet payment, etc) and then get the documents sealed by customs at Barcelona Airport while leaving EU ? Is there some 9 day rule that one must leave EU within 9 days of vat refund or there will be penalty charged to card whivh was used for purchase? Also, do the goods need to be kept unused for the customs to inspect ?

Please suggest what would be the best procedure to collect refund and how the entire process works at the airport.

Posted by
3990 posts

You claim your VAT refund at your departure point from the EU. You will need your boarding pass which will show that you are departing the EU and the goods should be kept unused in case your customs officer chooses to inspect them. There are cities where you can claim the VAT refund before you leave the EU but I have never understood the point of that because one still has to go through the customs process at the departing airport and if that process is not done or not recorded properly, the claimed credit will be reversed. The goods you buy VAT-free must leave the EU by the end of the third month after that in which you buy them.

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