The VAT refund scheme says that the it doesn't apply to freight and the goods have to be with you at the airport. I have treated myself to something from Bose, but it will be in the container as too heavy to carry. However Bose gave me a VAT refund receipt to give to Duty free office at the airport.

My question is: - "Has anyone tried to reclaim VAT at the airport on goods in their container and were you successful?"

I am aware that GST will be due over a certain amount on import to Oz.

Many thanks

I am being a bit naughty and bumping this up, but only because I rather stupidly posted in when Oz was in bed and it is really aimed at the oz audience more than the uk one.
sorry and thanks.

When I returned from a quick trip to the UK in March I handed over a few receipts at the landside VAT reclaim counter in heathrow terminal 4. They didn't ask to see any of the things that I was claiming for.

Cheers

Steve

Thanks steve, I guess no harm in trying and claiming ignorance, after all I am taking them abroad, just not with me.

I'd definitely try it - you've got nothing to lose, have you?

We did this once in Canada. Checked in our suitcases, then trotted off to their version of the VAT refund office (forgotten what they call VAT in Canada). They wanted to see the goods (which were in the checked-in suitcases), because they said we might have given them to Canadian relatives/friends as presents. We don't have any Canadian relies or friends but of course couldn't prove this. After a bit of arguing we got the refund .

When we turned up at the VAT desk at Gatwick, we had bags and bags of stuff, because we thought we had to show each and every item. they just asked if it was leaving the country with us, didnt' bother checking and that was that. just be mindful as well that the VAT form is filled out correctly. One of ours wasn't, and we couldn't get a refund straight away, had to send off for it.

We turned up at Heathrow T4 in May with all the associated paperwork from the retailer but the item packed in checked in luggage since it was LIQUID and more than 100ml - only to be told "Sorry - you need to show us the goods to get the refund" - the guy then ripped up the paperwork we had and handed it back to us...

I am now convinced that the VAT refund is a mythological creature that is only actually viable in a perfect theoretical world. Its too hard to actually claim it!

It's a bit late now, but if you have stuff in your checked luggage, you need to go to the VAT refund desk before security.

In Terminal 4, the landside VAT refund desk is just to the right of the entrance to security.

Cheers

Steve

Hi,
Does anyone know if the VAT refund scheme can be used before I become resident in Australia? i.e say I buy a new laptop a couple of weeks before I emigrate, can I claim the VAT back?
KJJ

Yes, so long as the retailer you buy the laptop from is in one of the VAT refund schemes or processes the refund themselves.

We bought wedding rings in the UK about 4 weeks before we emigrated and claimed the VAT back (processed directly by the retailed) when we left.

Cheers

Steve