Will be doing a walking holiday in the UK, Have booked with a company that books B&B's, moves luggage, etc. At the bottom of there email they list a VAT #. Would the VAT I am charged qualify for a rebate?
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
No. There is no VAT refund for service charges.
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
VAT refunds are only available for consumer goods you purchase but do not consume or use in any way while in country.
Posted by
San Diego
1540 posts
My opinion is that it is NOT worth the trouble to get a VAT refund. This is even using the machines at the airport. I waited over 6 months for my small VAT refund and had actually given up.
The check was in British pounds and there was another fee to cast it at my bank here in the US.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
Frances, my experience was not like yours. I have always turned in my VAT refunds when leaving Ireland, and the refunds have been reasonably prompt (within a couple of months) and posted directly to the credit card I used for the purchases.