Originally Posted by
Analise
This is how I will do it. I will carry with me the purchases I make. My entire trip will be in England -- no other countries. Is it one form for all purchases in all stores or one form per store per visit in case I return to the same store on the same or different days?
One form per store. You can not combine different stores onto a single form.
A single store should be able to merge multiple of their till recipts into a single VAT reclaim. However some stores are more familiar with doing this than others.
Some might refuse. Some might refuse if different days, etc. But I've had recipts from multiple days combined in some stores.
If you can, get it on a single form per store, as that saves you on the admin fees.
To clarify, the 30 minutes is what I will need to go to customs and Travelex after security? I want to avoid landside.
I'd allow 30 mins for a worst case myself at customs (at the airside departure lounge point). I've never taken more than 20 mins.
But as discussed earlier, I have skipped Travelex for processing on really bad days (mailed it back).
Thank you! Good to know. Will the address be on the forms that Customs stamps?
Yes the refund forms given to you by the form will have an address on them. Some stores will give you a prepaid envelope for them. (Even if they do, you can still present them at travelex (airside) to process the refund after customs have stamped it.)
I've heard of the VAT receipt. So I don't want that. Thank you for telling me. So I will specify the 'tax refund form'. If I get a salesperson who doesn't know the difference, I guess I will have to ask a manager.
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So a VAT reclaim form is synonymous with a VAT tax refund form?
"Tax reclaim form for tourists/visitors" - they should get the idea. If they give you something that just says 'VAT Recipt' that is NOT it.
What you want will say 'reclaim' on it somewhere, show an admin fee, and how much you should get back. It will have boxes for your entry date to the UK, exit date, passport number, address, etc...
The shop will certify part of the form. You then get customs to certify it further on departure.
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One thing I forgot, if you use the security lanes at T3, the fast track takes you out miles away from the airside reclaim desk. And it is only a little (if anything) faster.
So if you are doing it airside at T3, and qualify for fast track security, don't use it. Use normal security, as you exit from the search area (BEFORE you walk through the first shop), the customs point is on the left, the travelex bit is on the right. So go left to customs first.
[If you run out of time for travelex (big queue) but have the customs stamp (and have a paid envelope ready) there is a post box next to travelex.]