Travelling to Europe in August, VAT refund question

[toni8284]

Hi, I am planning to travel to Munich in August.

My plan was fly from Philly to Munich, drive to Frankfurt, and fly form FRA - AMS. Then AMS fly back to Philly.


Question 1:
If I buy watch in Frankfurt airport on my way to AMS, do I have to pay VAT?

If I do have to pay VAT, that means I need to go AMS to get my refund done?

If I dont have to pay VAT, do I have to do anything when I leave AMS?

Question 2 :

If when I land in Munich, I think there is a ROLEX AD in Munich airport, can I buy the watch when I land or I am not allowed to buy it? How about the VAT?

Thank you for your time.

[Dan_lie]

If you are travelling within the EU, you have to pay VAT as your ticket will have an EU destination and thats what they scan for the tax relief.

Upon leaving the EU you can get a VAT refund although I think you will get slightly less back this way due to "admin fee's".

To make a claim at AMS, you have to show your ticket with end destination being non EU and also proof that you are a non EU resident which would be your non EU passport or a residence visa.

I have bought at an EU airport before, while travelling in the EU and the sales lady scanned another ticket and I got the watch VAT free.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by toni8284

Question 1:
If I buy watch in Frankfurt airport on my way to AMS, do I have to pay VAT?

If I do have to pay VAT, that means I need to go AMS to get my refund done?

If I dont have to pay VAT, do I have to do anything when I leave AMS?

Question 2 :

If when I land in Munich, I think there is a ROLEX AD in Munich airport, can I buy the watch when I land or I am not allowed to buy it? How about the VAT?

Thank you for your time.

1/1:
Yes, VAT is applicable by country, so the VAT return should be done in the country where you make the purchase.

1/2:
No, You can't buy a watch in Germany and get the VAT refund in the Netherlands. You need to claim the VAT back in Germany.

1/3:
You will always have to pay VAT (Except at Schiphol, where they seem to have some kind of special agreement) If you claim your VAT back before leaving Germany, if you do buy your watch there, then no problem. You don't need to do anything in AMS.

2:
Most likely yes, unless you are hushed from your gate straight to arrivals... Never flown from outside the EU to Munich, so cannot speak for the arrival practices. VAT would be paid, but then you can claim it back when you leave the country.

Just remember that VAT is alive only within the country of purchase, and can't be claimed somewhere else than your country of purchase.

No need to buy the watch at an airport, I think you can get a better deal on "the street" at an AD, just make sure they offer "Tax refund". But again you will have to pay the VAT upon purchase, and then you'll get it back at the airport.

[Ruud Van Driver]

If OP is coming in from the US and has a return ticket, are we absolutely certain he'd have to pay duty for a watch purchase in Germany when he's then heading to the Netherlands? Technically, the answer would be 'yes' but in reality, I very much doubt it.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by Ruud Van Driver

If OP is coming in from the US and has a return ticket, are we absolutely certain he'd have to pay duty for a watch purchase in Germany when he's then heading to the Netherlands? Technically, the answer would be 'yes' but in reality, I very much doubt it.

Yes. As I mentioned, the only place I know of that offers watches for sale "VAT FREE" is Schiphol airport.
He can of course claim that VAT back upon leaving.

[bayerische]

May well be other airports selling their inventory VAT free, but I don't know about these. I do believe the best price can be have landside though.

[homerish]

Your VAT claim has to be submitted in the last EU country you are leaving not in the country you first bought you watch from

[Quailhunter]

Without regard to struggles with EU VAT, you would have to declare the watch upon entering the US and pay the required duties. If you get caught trying to get by without declaring, you could forfeit the watch. Bummer.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by homerish

Your VAT claim has to be submitted in the last EU country you are leaving not in the country you first bought you watch from

And that's why you should buy in the last country you're visiting before leaving.

[Yogi20]

The other problem is, if your looking for a Rolex there's very little choice in Europe now, I was traveling to the US last month and not much at Heathrow, NY was a different story, it was like Christmas trying on stuff like the Hulk and Batman, just the price was bad, good luck with you watch hunting

[dmash]

Originally Posted by Yogi20

The other problem is, if your looking for a Rolex there's very little choice in Europe now, I was traveling to the US last month and not much at Heathrow, NY was a different story, it was like Christmas trying on stuff like the Hulk and Batman, just the price was bad, good luck with you watch hunting

This is nonsense in my opinion. The selection is not good at AIRPORTS in Europe (and the U.K. ENTIRELY), but fine at actual city ADs. I just scoped out ~10 different Rolex windows in the past month in assorted cities and have seen plenty of subs, DSSD, GMTs, explorers, everything in Professional line essentially (except a BLNR). This was in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

[homerish]

Originally Posted by bayerische

And that's why you should buy in the last country you're visiting before leaving.

Nope you can buy wherever you want but you need the customs stamp of the eu's last country of visit..