Any Canadian PR's/Citizens out there that have any experience of claiming back VAT from the UK after a holiday there? Can it be done? If so, how long does it take and what's the procedure?

Thanks peeps

Yep do it all the time when I shop in M&S and Debenhams. You go to the customer service department and tell them you want to claim back your VAT. You need your receipts, best to do it when you have finished shopping, your passport and your proof of residence (like PR card)

They fill in a form and take a whopping admin fee. You take the form to Customs when you go through security at the airport and they issue you with your refund. You can then go to Travelex and pick up the cash.

I hope that is what you are talking about?

Thanks fish

What about VAT on other stuff though - such as car hire/Hotel stays etc? Had any experience with that?

Yep...me too. I get the money paid directly into my UK bank account...so it's there for me to spend on my next visit.

It's just a question of remembering to drop the documents off at the VAT office. I fly from Manchester normally before 10 am...the office is usually closed then...so I just drop them through the letterbox.

I haven't had experience of claiming tax back on hotels in the UK, sorry.

I've never thought of car rental and hotels and to be honest I have no idea. Not all stores participate in the VAT refund scheme...usually only the large dept. stores. You have to spend a minium amount before you can make a claim...this amount differs from store to store...usually between 50/75 GBP.

The UK scheme IIRC is not like the late lamented Canadian scheme where you could claim HSt back on hotels etc. In the UK it's just goods that you physically take out of the country with you.

All the details here: http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsP...HMCE_CL_001212

Thank you for the link. That's interesting 'cos in my reply above I put it was the store that makes the refund not Customs and Excise. I deleted the sentence 'cos I wasn't 100% sure...I had been told this by someone at M & S years ago.

One thing to note...you must take all your receipts at the same time to the store's customer service dept. for them to fill out the necessary paperwork. You don't get a form every time you make a purchase. I usually wait until a day or so before I return to the US and take my receipts in then. M&S, BHS and Debenhams definitely participate in the scheme. You don't get all the VAT back...you only get a percentage then the store take a handling fee. If you spend less that 100GBP at a store you will only receive a few pounds back...which is not really worth the hassle IMO.

Thanks for that AX, damn shame, eh? Thieving bassa's!

This is interesting though 'cos we've got a hotel booked on rewards points (so you'd think a nice little "freebie"), but the small print says "VAT @17.5% not included". Hubs says, "Oh no problem, we can claim that back!" I thought I'd look into it first and when I do the math - the VAT alone would cost more than alternate accomodation would including the VAT!!

Phoned the Hotel and they said "No VAT is payable, sir". I'm very wary 'cos it's what's on paper that'll get you every time!