shopping EU tax refund

[little_st]

In February, I will take a MSC cruise and the final port of call is Southampton, England. I would like to know how to process the tax refund for the goods I purchased in Europe when the cruise leaves Europe. Thank you! 

[ski ww]

On our cruise in July the ship announced a day towards the end of the cruise to bring all your receipts and it was done on board.

[little_st]

22 hours ago, ski ww said:

On our cruise in July the ship announced a day towards the end of the cruise to bring all your receipts and it was done on board.

is it MSC ? 

[ski ww]

15 hours ago, little_st said:

is it MSC ? 

It was on a HAL cruise & local officials came on board at a stop near the end of the cruise and refunded the taxes.

[sleepingcat]

now that the UK is out of the EU, do UK citizens get tax refunds on stuff we buy? and if so, how do we get a refund. sadly havent been out of the UK recently to know this. any advice appreciated. And we are on SaGa S of D next week to Canaries...

[VMax1700]

5 hours ago, sleepingcat said:

now that the UK is out of the EU, do UK citizens get tax refunds on stuff we buy? and if so, how do we get a refund. sadly havent been out of the UK recently to know this. any advice appreciated. And we are on SaGa S of D next week to Canaries...

I don't know the answer to your question, but two points are:

There is no VAT/IVA in the Canaries, but a local consumer tax (IGIC) is charged.  It is usually only VAT that is reclaimable. The rate is only 7% and probably not worth the effort of trying to reclaim considering the probable low value of purchases you will make.

Secondly, the Canaries are not in the EU for tax purposes, so are outside the EU tax refund system.

[sleepingcat]

@vmax thanks for your reply, looks like I dont need to do anything. cheers

 

[Globaliser]

However, Ferrol (your port in mainland Spain), and also (AIUI) Madeira, are within the EU VAT zone.

[John Bull]

4 hours ago, Globaliser said:

However, Ferrol (your port in mainland Spain), and also (AIUI) Madeira, are within the EU VAT zone.

 

 

Yes, I can confirm that Madeira is in the EU tax regime, same as mainland Portugal.

 

JB 🙂

[sleepingcat]

Spurred on by this info I thought I would do a bit of research.  found this 

 

https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/guide-vat-refund-visitors-eu_en

 

If on a  cruise ship it's not at all clear how the process described would work, in our case theoretically I would need to find customs officers in Madeira to stamp all my receipts as that is the last port of call.  In practise it's not going to be worth the bother for the amounts involved. 

 

But the link maybe helpful to others. happy new year everyone!