Queries about Tax Reclaim
 

Looking for some advice on the following:

I have a non-EU passport and a UK passport. If I purchase something in the EU, can I reclaim the tax on it using my non-EU passport?

There is a constraint that the goods must leave the EU by the end of the third month after purchase. How does this actually get checked? For example, if my flight home is to London from the EU, but I plan to take the goods outside of the EU a few weeks later.

Thanks!

You'd apply for the refund when you leave the EU. Assuming you do that before the UK does the same at the end of March, that would be when you leave Britain.

You'd need to show the goods at the airport when you depart the EU and get the invoices stamped, this is how it "gets checked".
However if you reside in the EU then you're not eligible for VAT refund, I don't know if UK customs can check your residency status, in NL they can.
https://www.heathrow.com/file_source...leaflet_EN.pdf

In NL they can check the BRP (Population Registrar), if you are registered at an NL address or not, they also explicitly tell you that if you have deregistered recently (i.e. in the case that you are leaving the Netherlands) you should bring a proof that you have done so.

Just to clarify, you reclaim the VAT when you exit the european customs and VAT area.

There are places inside the EU, that are outside the VAT area.
And there are places which are not part of the EU that are part of the VAT area.

Also, passports have little to do with it. As you could eaily be a non-EU citizen who is living in the VAT area, or an EU citizens who is living outside it.
- If someone moves to another country, you don't get a different passport.
It is a question of the customs officers being satisfied.

Also, note that the reclaim procedure mechanics / process does differ in different countries.