VAT Return

[sotiris]

If anyone is planning on claiming the VAT refund at the Barcelona airport, make sure you allow enough time. You do this before you go through the security check.

 

First, you have to go to the counter in the far corner of the airport (to the left of the security screening) to get your form stamped. Be sure you have the items with you because they might want to see what you're claiming.

 

Then you have to go downstairs to a bank in another corner with your passport and the stamped form to get your money back. There was quite a line at the bank with people wanting to exchange money and those wanting the VAT refund.

[QueScaisJe]

El Corte Ingles (a large Spanish department store) gives you a postage paid self-addressed envelope with the IVA-refund form. You still need to get the form stamped at the airport, then just pop it all into the nearby mailbox. Fast and easy: we received our refund on our very next credit-card billing.

[riffatsea]

Do any of you know the amount you have to spend in order to get the VAT back?? I know it has to be over a certain amount but don't know the no.

[Krickett]

This is interesting, the first time I have heard of this, good news:)

Does anyone know if you can claim this, if you are leaving via a cruise ship and not the airport?

Thx Kar

[CHUANJO]

The amount to get you vat back is 90,25 euros.

[texancruzer]

OH YES.... allow PLENTY of time in the Barcelona airport. We stayed overnight after disembarking our cruise so we would have plenty of time to catch our flight....... got to the airport in plenty of time........ EXCEPT the line to check in was out the door :eek: We stood in line for over 2 hours..... good thing the plane was delayed..... but then had to run thru security and to the gate thereby missing the checkpoint for the stamp needed for our VAT return. Figured it was cheaper to not get the VAT than to miss the plane and have to buy another ticket :( And we had done alot of shopping too !!!!! Love the Ponte Vecchio jewelry stores :D

 

PS: HEADS UP - We had checked-in at our hotel and printed boarding passes the night before.....but still had to check luggage. Once at the counter the clerk said she had to reprint boarding passes....that ours were no good. Don't know if this is all airlines - we used Continental.

[cberge]

PS: HEADS UP - We had checked-in at our hotel and printed boarding passes the night before.....but still had to check luggage. Once at the counter the clerk said she had to reprint boarding passes....that ours were no good. Don't know if this is all airlines - we used Continental.

Generally speaking one cannot print out boarding passes in Europe for flights...they have to be done at the counter when you check in.You can print them out...they just won't take them.

[6rugrats]

Sometimes, if you have your passport with you (or a copy), you can have the store remove it at the time of purchase. How much you must spend depends on the country. The minimum purchase in each store must be €90.15 in Spain.

 

If you are leaving Spain by cruise ship, you will have to mail the paperwork in. Go to the customs office at the port and have them stamp your checks for you. If you aren't leaving Spain by plane, you can't cash the checks at the airport. Ask for a VAT reclaim envelope when you are shopping, and you mail your stamped checks in the envelope. Be advised it can take as long as three months to get your money back.

[texancruzer]

Sometimes, if you have your passport with you (or a copy), you can have the store remove it at the time of purchase.

 

Actually when we purchased some jewelry in Florence they did not charge us the VAT. Said that if the paperwork was not filed that they would have to charge our credit card at a later date for the tax.

 

Well, since we did not have time to get our stamps (see post above) and thus did not send in the paperwork.......about 6 weeks later we had a charge on our same credit card for the VAT tax.

 

SO - if they don't charge it to you and you don't fill out and send in the paperwork - it will come back to you :eek: