Can I claim back tax for stuff bought in the US to export back to Europe?

manveruppd · 10 Oct 2009 at 15:34

I'm in the States for a quick business trip and i'm planning to buy a couple of things to bring back here (a graphics card for myself, a Macbook fr my sister). The good folks at the elctronics store told me there's an 8% sales tax on everything over here, but they didn't know whether I could get off paying it in any way.
Now, before Cyprus joined the EU, I remember that if I bought anything in the UK that I planned to take back to Cyprus, the store I bought it from would fill out a form for me which I could then present at customs and claim back VAT. Does anyone know if they've got some kind of similar system here? Should I try another store where the staff would be more knowledgeable? Or does uncle sam get to profit from my transaction no matter wht I do?

drew64 · 10 Oct 2009 at 15:38

http://www.usatourist.com/english/maillist/archive/0903.html#2

Question: Is there a way that I can get back the tax when I shop in the USA?

Answer: Sorry, that is not something that most states do, and each state in the USA has a different rate of sales tax. Louisiana has some shops displaying a "tax free for International Visitors" sticker and you can get tax refunds when you shop in them. Delaware has no sales tax. Compared to prices elsewhere in the world shopping in the USA is not very expensive.

manveruppd · 10 Oct 2009 at 15:50

Thanks for the quick reply drew, this forums is a proper fountain of knowledge!

philjohn · 10 Oct 2009 at 21:58

Remember you can only bring back £145 worth of stuff without being liable to pay import duty coming home.

Vonhelmet · 10 Oct 2009 at 22:26

Vat is heinously complex yo.

manveruppd · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:26

Philjohn, yeah, I got nabbed for import duty for some t-shirts I ordered by mail a while ago, I was really bitter about it - the UK has some of the most ridiculous and steep sales and import taxes in the world. I'm considering chucking away the boxes so I can try to claim that I brought it over from the UK with me!

fini · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:30

philjohn said:
Remember you can only bring back £145 worth of stuff without being liable to pay import duty coming home.

Although you can just post yourself the folded up box (if you're precious about packaging) and then wear the item etc through the trip. That way there is no way for them to know that it is new.

YOU SHOULD STILL DECLARE IT AS NOT DOING SO IS DISHONEST AND ILLEGAL.

manveruppd · 11 Oct 2009 at 19:05

Of course, I'm not advocating breaking the law, I just expressed an exasperation with how steep import duties are.
Incidentally, an employee at an electronics retailer told me you CAN get a partial refund on sales tax if you present your receipts at customs on your way out of the States. I'll have to check it out tomorrow.

Mad old tory · 11 Oct 2009 at 19:13

vonhelmet said:
Vat is heinously complex yo.

Hell yes, remember laughing as a tutor referring to VAT experts as very weird people and then thoroughly agreeing with him after two of the most exasperating and confusing days of my life learning about it.

Kutter · 11 Oct 2009 at 20:07

When i visit the in laws i dont bother taking much in the way of clothes and just buy them when i'm there. I've never bothered claiming back the sales tax, as the stuff is cheaper than the uk anyways.