US Customs Declaration - What next? archived

Hey kibbegirl, welcome home, glad you had a great vacation. But... we MISS you!!! We haven't seen you in AGES!

I think you are supposed to file for the tax rebate before you left Italy. I've seen kiosks in major airports where you turn in your receipts. You show the receipt and the item and they process your refund. The customs person that is checking your passport doesn't deal with overseas purchases which is why you were waved through. TS has told me to not say anything to customs beyond 'good morning' unless specifically asked. That is, no small talk or offering of information.

You are talking about a VAT refund right? It looks like having the US Custom folks sign your refund form is "optional".
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/78/kw/VAT%20refund/session/L3RpbWUvMTQwODU0NDI5MC9zaWQvSlhFOUxqKmw%3D

Anytime I have ever received a VAT tax refund, it has been done at the airport before leaving the country in which I purchased the item. US Customs has nothing to do with it.

That's my problem. None of this, VAT, or otherwise was explained and no information was offered. It wasn't like I skirted the issue. I asked and not a single person I spoke to said, "Oh yeah, go here." Nothing. I'm looking stuff up online and still don't have a concrete answer.

This is from the Rick Steve's website:

Don’t count on it. My readers have reported that, even when following all of the instructions carefully, sometimes the VAT refund just doesn’t pan out. (For example, they have all the paperwork ready when they get to the airport — but can’t find the customs official to process it.) These problems seem most prevalent in Italy. Your best odds are to buy from a merchant who knows how to deal with the red tape for you — but even that is not infallible.
Only you can decide whether VAT refunds are worth the trouble. As for me, my favorite trip souvenirs are my photos, journal, and memories. These are priceless — and exempt from taxes and red tape.

vat is a scam by the govt i have never received my money even with all paperwork done properly, i think there are now business set up in italy where they give you cents on the dollar to process it for you, guess that gives you a reason to go back!

I just reread the original post...Kibbegirl you were supposed to have your receipt and VAT form validated by an official at the Italian airport. I think once you leave the country without getting the forms validated, it may be too late.

I have always received my money. It isn't a scam. In some countries, you get it right away at the airport. The only issue I ever had was the refund desk hours when I was leaving on a super- early. I think the problem was you were asking at the wrong airport. The VAT refund desk is on the exiting country side. It should have been processed it Italy, not the US.

And I don't think you can mail it now. I think something ( some sort of stamp) has to occur at the exiting country. Once you have that stamp or signature, you either find the desk to process it at the exiting country airport or you mail it in.

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/vat-refunds

Bring your paperwork and purchases to the airport or border crossing, and arrive early. Assuming you left the store with your purchase, receipt, and VAT paperwork (but no refund), you’ll need to get the refund processed before going home.

Get your documents stamped at customs. At your point of departure, find the local customs office, and be prepared to stand in line. In smaller airports, ports, and less-trafficked border crossings, finding the right customs agent can be tough. If you run out of time and have to leave without the stamp, you’re out of luck. At customs, an export officer will stamp your documents and may ask you to present your unused goods to verify that you are, indeed, exporting your purchase

Collect the cash — sooner or later. Once you get your form stamped by customs, it takes one more step to get your money back. If your purchases were bought from a merchant who works with a refund service such as Global Blue or Premier Tax Free, find their offices inside the airport. These services take a cut of your refund (about 4 percent), but save you further fuss and delay. Present your stamped document, and they’ll likely give you your refund in cash, right then and there. Otherwise, they’ll credit the refund to your credit card (within two billing cycles). Other services may require you to mail the documents — either from home, or more quickly, just before leaving the country (using a postage-free, pre-addressed envelope — just drop it in a mailbox after getting your customs stamp). Then you wait. It could take months.

Don’t count on it. My readers have reported that, even when following all of the instructions carefully, sometimes the VAT refund just doesn’t pan out. (For example, they have all the paperwork ready when they get to the airport — but can’t find the customs official to process it.)

These problems seem most prevalent in Italy.

Kibbe- The process as stated above is how you do it. Without an EU stamp, PRIOR to leaving, you're basically SOL.

Two long-shot options: 1) If substantial enough, or if you may be there for other reasons, you've got six months (I think it's six) to bring the goods back in, then out again. 2) Call the Italian Consulate in NYC. Explain the situation. Offer to bring the goods (after all, the whole point is that they leave the EU to qualify you for the refund in the first place), receipts, forms and passport. Beg and charm. You may get them to stamp the form for you. Then mail it into Ireland and wait.

Kibbe--Ctrzaska is correct--it is supposed to be postmarked before you leave the EU. I wouldn't feel too bad about it though--I have gotten the refunds about 50% of the time.

Bigger issue is when do I get to admire your big purchase??

In the voice of Florida Evans from "Good Times"...."Damn! Damn! Damn!"
But the purchase was FABULOUS!

What was it and can we see pics? Years ago in the Prada store in Italy they had a counter where you could custom- design your own boots. Color, style, stitching, fit. They were so beautiful. I hemmed and hawed and didn't get them because of the price. I think about those boots at least once a week 8 yrs later! Glad you went for it!

It's a delicious Bottega Veneta bag. I'll suck it up.
Will post a photo later. Having issues with my iPhoto transfer from phone to Mac.

There is a company TEVEA that will handle VAT refunds for a surcharge - and they now accept a 'paid' invoice/receipt in PDF form (if you can get the vendor to send you a PDF). We use them for business, I've never used for personal, but might be worth looking into if the VAT was substantial. www.tevea-international.com

Oooohhh...I'll look into TEVEA. BUT...my receipt isn't stamped I'll give it a try.

Try it. All you have to lose is the time it takes to create and send the pdf.

I did reach out to them. Waiting to hear back. I've reached out to a few and still waiting for responses. If the answer is "no can do" by several in the know, then it's a lesson learned.

Still saying your best bet is the Italian consulate.

If it doesn't work out, and having had direct experience lugging back several unavailable-in-the-US bags from Europe, you can take comfort in two things: 1) the refund after fees won't be as much as you think and 2) you'll forget about it after the first compliment. Enjoy the basketweave.