Return to UK supplier - how to claim refund on VAT & Customs

mmc2010

Hello, I purchased a dress from the UK, paid VAT & customs to An Post. I now want to return the dress. How to I claim a refund on the VAT & customs I paid to An Post ( I bought through AddressPal). It says on their website that they don't refund VAT & Customs. But on the revenue site it says to contact An Post for customs refunds. If An Post don't refund, who does? Thanks very much in advance

ssmith6287

You wont get a refund until you get written confirmation that the goods have been returned. Even at that there is a chance you will need to pay UK VAT and Customs fees when sending back to the UK. Did the company give you a returns procedure

Tuttlinghorn

@mmc2010 did you find a way to get your VAT back? I'm in the exact same position ( apart from the dress bit 😉)

contradictory messages on both sites don't fill me with hope ...

Tuttlinghorn

for anyone else who might need this info in future :

How to claim a refund of Customs Duty and Value-Added Tax (VAT)

https://revenue.ie/en/customs/individuals/buying-online-personal/claim-refund.aspx

This page provides brief information on how to claim a refund of Customs Duty and Value-Added Tax (VAT) on goods bought online

the email address in An Post is

and it helps if you can quote the tracking number of the delivery you received AND the returned package (obvs this all only applies if you dealt with An Post)

this is in addition to the items listed on the Revenue website above.

mmc2010

Hi @Tuttlinghorn, apologies for the late response. The email address you quoted above was the one i used. The information they required was as follows below. It took a while to get it done but maybe turnaround times have improved in the meantime. Thanks

In order to request a refund from Irish Revenue, we need to present the below information, 

 

Copy of the original invoice from the retailer 

Proof of exporting (postage on returning item)       

Proof of refund or replacement from the retailer the item is going back to. (screenshot of transaction if refunded)