VAT back - UK purchase, advice

[In-Cog-Neeto]

Guys, I’m looking at buying a new Rolex from UK AD (already sourced) and obviously claiming the VAT back (out of the EU)

The question is, when I visit the customs office at airport, I will have the watch + receipt + AD VAT back completed form BUT, must I also present the actual box i.e. do customs request to see the ‘whole’ package?

I can’t imagine they would but keen to hear from anyone who has done it and what they were requested to show

I don’t want to carry the box with me as I am travelling onwards for a few weeks after and have limited space

Thanms

[ninjin]

Just wear the watch will be fine. Depending on your next destination, you claim the VAT back at the last EU country on your itinerary. So say you are leaving UK for Germany as you next destination, you cannot claim VAT back as Germany is still the EU.

[Sandpit]

I've reclaimed the VAT several times on other purchases and the usual advice is that the item must be new and unused and in original packaging. I honestly wouldn't risk it. They could quite easily reject the application as the goods are used.

Edit: it depends on the people at the desk. Previously I've only had to show 1 or 2 examples of goods we've bought, but on other occassions they've wanted to inspect every single thing.

[torrente]

I only show the item, usually I have the box in the checked in baggage and wearing the watch or in a travel case in cabin bag.

[Jackumi]

Last October I bought a new Rolex from Mappin & Web AD in London. They provide a VAT service for non EU residents and completed the VAT rebate paperwork for me. At the airport I presented the paperwork to the VAT reclaim booth and they asked to see my Japanese residence visa card. They gave me a reclaim transaction tracking number, when I got back to Japan I could follow my claim online, and I received the VAT rebate into my bank account 4wks after my return.

[JodyHighroller]

You don’t need to show the box. Went through the same process last year. I’d keep the watch in “new” condition and wait till afterwards to wear it.

[In-Cog-Neeto]

Thank you to all

Much appreciated

[CharlesN]

Customs do not require to see anything other than the watch and receipt etc.

No box is needed.

They usually don't even want to see the watch but sometimes do spot checks.

[VacherObsessive]

Get there early. I was departing from Heathrow T3 a few weeks ago and there were 100s of Chinese people in the VAT refund queue and it must have taken hours.

[In-Cog-Neeto]

Originally Posted by VacherObsessive

Get there early. I was departing from Heathrow T3 a few weeks ago and there were 100s of Chinese people in the VAT refund queue and it must have taken hours.

Very good point. Thanks

[Panych]

In June I claimed vat refund in Heathrow. I was asked to demonstrate the box and the watch. Once have seen them, they made the refund. For watch, jewelry, mobile phone it is required to apply to the vat refund dest which is located after security check.

[BlkExplorerII]

I left EU from Paris in May, they didn’t even ask to look at the watch or the box. I just showed the form and got it stamped.

[WatchLurv]

Originally Posted by In-Cog-Neeto

Guys, I’m looking at buying a new Rolex from UK AD (already sourced) and obviously claiming the VAT back (out of the EU)

The question is, when I visit the customs office at airport, I will have the watch + receipt + AD VAT back completed form BUT, must I also present the actual box i.e. do customs request to see the ‘whole’ package?

I can’t imagine they would but keen to hear from anyone who has done it and what they were requested to show

I don’t want to carry the box with me as I am travelling onwards for a few weeks after and have limited space

Thanms

No. Watch and warranty card only.

[In-Cog-Neeto]

Guys, to open this again

Must I use a service like the Travelex booth to process the refund or do I bypass them and go straight to customs with the watch and completed paperwork for them to stamp?

Travelex obviously charges a fee and I’d like to avoid this if I don’t need this middle man

[Luke@TRF]

Originally Posted by In-Cog-Neeto

Guys, to open this again

Must I use a service like the Travelex booth to process the refund or do I bypass them and go straight to customs with the watch and completed paperwork for them to stamp?

Travelex obviously charges a fee and I’d like to avoid this if I don’t need this middle man

No getting rid of them unfortunately and sometimes they rip people off buy telling you they can only refund the vat back in your home currency and give you crap exchange rate.

[jagwap]

I've done this without the box. However valuables like watches and jewelry need to be shown after security at a separate counter to the huge queue outside. The watch will be inspected to make sure you are not taking a fake while the real one stays in the UK.

Just make sure you have the tax refund paperwork filled out correctly by the shop and yourself.

[zaydans]

Last couple of years I’ve bought twice from the UK (2016 and 2018) and both times I was asked just to show the watch along with the paperwork of course. Flew out of Heathrow terminal 3 the first time and they offer a cash refund on the spot if desired but you take a small hit on that, or you can mail the claim and wait a few weeks. Second time was at terminal 5 and there you can only mail the claims. I’m very surprised that anyone has ever been asked to present the box, warranty, etc

[In-Cog-Neeto]

Originally Posted by zaydans

Last couple of years I’ve bought twice from the UK (2016 and 2018) and both times I was asked just to show the watch along with the paperwork of course. Flew out of Heathrow terminal 3 the first time and they offer a cash refund on the spot if desired but you take a small hit on that, or you can mail the claim and wait a few weeks. Second time was at terminal 5 and there you can only mail the claims. I’m very surprised that anyone has ever been asked to present the box, warranty, etc

When you did this, did you use Travelex or Global Blue or another agent in the airport or did you just go straight to customs with the watch and paperwork, have it stamped and then put it in the post box?

I’m trying to figure out if you can bypass the Travelex/Global Blue agent

Thanks

[JodyHighroller]

Originally Posted by In-Cog-Neeto

When you did this, did you use Travelex or Global Blue or another agent in the airport or did you just go straight to customs with the watch and paperwork, have it stamped and then put it in the post box?

I’m trying to figure out if you can bypass the Travelex/Global Blue agent

Thanks

Lol there is no way to bypass.. the AD will complete the paperwork for you and on the paperwork it’ll say which agent to use. Mine was through Travelex and it was a smooth process.

[APPRF]

How much VAT on Rolex can be claimed.

[Batmannr1]

VAT in UK is 20% on top of the purchase value.
Refund claim will be 20/120 = 16,67%
VAT percentage differs in the EU countries

[In-Cog-Neeto]

Originally Posted by Batmannr1

VAT in UK is 20% on top of the purchase value.
Refund claim will be 20/120 = 16,67%
VAT percentage differs in the EU countries

Problem with this is then there are the fees charged by the agent which, apparently, can be horrible

Which is why I am trying to avoid them!

[mpkdz6]

Does anyone know if it's acceptable to have the buyer and person responsible for requesting the VAT back at the airport be different people?

I am likely going to buy a watch as a resident of the UK but send it back a few weeks later with my mom who lives in the USA.

[sinkholeninja]

Watch, receipt, VAT form & to be safe a guarantee card. By the way, if you’re planning to claim VAT back in cash on the spot, get ready to be royally screwed on exchange rate, since you will not be allowed to claim it in GBP. If you don’t need the money immediately, I would suggest that you ask for VAT in GBP to be deposited into your bank account, which could take between 4-8 weeks.

[zaydans]

Originally Posted by In-Cog-Neeto

When you did this, did you use Travelex or Global Blue or another agent in the airport or did you just go straight to customs with the watch and paperwork, have it stamped and then put it in the post box?

I’m trying to figure out if you can bypass the Travelex/Global Blue agent

Thanks

I think terminal 3 was an agent and can’t remember which one but at terminal 5 it was customs. At terminal 3 they stamped the form and there is a mailbox right there. At T5 they kept the form and you get a copy for reference.

[mjg002]

Whether you need to use an "agent" or not is completely the decision of the AD. The best ADs will use the HMRC tax form 407 eliminating the agent and you will then get the full VAT amount refunded - sometimes less a small admin fee, but often not.

At Heathrow Terminal 5 you now have to go to Travelex to get the form signed - Customs themselves simply won't stamp the form any longer unless the item is worth GBP 20k or more. But although Travelex won't stamp the form on the spot and say it will take them 4 or more weeks for their "admin", when you point out that is all they have to do is stamp it and mail it back to the AD, they will do so and it doesn't take much longer than when Customs used to stamp the form and you were allowed to mail it the AD yourself.

My strong advice is to try to find ADs who use the HMRC form 407 for the purpose and not the agents like Global Blue or similar. The agents sell their services to retailers so they can take a portion of the tax and share it. The best Rolex ADs don't do that and are to be highly recommended accordingly.

And you can pack the box in in your checked luggage - just keep the watch, receipt and paperwork available for inspection by Customs after security (or now by Travelex - at T5 anyway).

[Rsdecker971]

Originally Posted by In-Cog-Neeto

Problem with this is then there are the fees charged by the agent which, apparently, can be horrible

Which is why I am trying to avoid them!

You can avoid them completely if you take the VAT back on a credit card and return the forms via mail. The processing time on the VAT return is something like 4-6 weeks. After passing through security, you would need to go directly to the UK custom’s agent at HMRC desk. The desk is located near the Travelex location in most of the Heathrow terminals - just follow the signs.

Once the Officer stamps your forms, take a picture of them just in case the refund doesn’t hit your account, seal the envelop and place it in the mailbox near the Travelex.

In regards to carrying the box, I have been asked by the custom’s officer to present the box when I left with my last watch purchase. Prehaps the officer was just having a bad day, but I was fortunate to be carrying it.