VAT Refund

[kyborg99]

sorry members/ moderators for this unsolicited post
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my parents are over visiting me.

They can claim VAT refund on the way back for purchases in the last 3 months, a few questions though:
- HMRC website tell me what they can not claim, but is does not say what they can
- can they claim VAT on my grocery bills?
- does everyone does it -or limited shops?
- do we need a special receipt or simple VAT receipt will do?
- they r planning to buy phone, camera, tv, Spam Spam as well - can they get VAT refund on these - if yes, can they buy from online deals?

assist please

appreciated

[Lucapooka]

Where is your Tier 1 (Gen) immigration question for discussion?

[mulderpf]

sorry members/ moderators for this unsolicited post
----------------------------------------------------------
my parents are over visiting me.

They can claim VAT refund on the way back for purchases in the last 3 months, a few questions though:
- HMRC website tell me what they can not claim, but is does not say what they can
- can they claim VAT on my grocery bills?
- does everyone does it -or limited shops?
- do we need a special receipt or simple VAT receipt will do?
- they r planning to buy phone, camera, tv, Spam Spam as well - can they get VAT refund on these - if yes, can they buy from online deals?

assist please

appreciated

Firstly, why do you think that they would be able to claim VAT back on your groceries?

It's only for limited shops who operate the VAT-free for export scheme (or whatever it's called). When they buy anything, they need to state that want to claim back the VAT and they then need to fill in a form for this that the shop will give them - it needs to be filled out at the point of purchase. They would need to take the form and the products that they want to claim back the VAT on to the airport with them and get customs to stamp their forms. (So you cannot claim it for bread that you have already eaten, because you wouldn't be able to show this to a customs officer). When they get home, they then post the form to get their refund.

So a search on VAT free shopping for visitors to the UK. I'm sure there are lots of guides on it.