Just a heads up about customs and tax-return on Rolex

[Samui]

I was denied tax-return at customs upon exiting the schengen area because I was wearing the watch and the watch was not in its box. Apparently the items need to be new and not used in order to be eligable for tax return. I did not know this. This was a stupid mistake but it was also my first attempt at getting a tax return.

Not sure if this rule applies to every country but it certainly applies to Estonia. $3000 lesson learned

[MonBK]

How did you purchase and receive it?

Ad should pack it in a sealed package that you show upon exiting the country.

[MaxTG]

Ouch. That's good to know -- I would have made the same mistake.

I've never had this happen exiting Japan. The tax is suppressed at the point of sale, with an entry made in passport. I just show it on the way out, and they don't seem to mind its condition. Do you know if this an official rule everywhere, or just EU?

[MonBK]

In EU you inform the AD that you're buying it for export and they package it as such.

I've done it several times.

[tomj]

In Australia they don't seem to mind on the way out as long as you have the receipt with you (they even mention it on the website if I recall correctly).

Good catch for the Schengen area like you mention though - these things are always so hard to navigate :)

[scimps]

You can take it back to shop for packaging if you buy it within 3 months of export

Some offer to then have a courier fill out the paperwork in the airport and bring the watch to u at ur departure gate

[KarlS]

Thats odd and certainly not an issue in the UK. HMRC requires the properly completed form which reflects the watch being expoorted i.e. seriel numbers etc. In fact over GBP 50 000 it gos to a supervisor and they check teh seriel number to the VAT form not even the invoice. Thats all they care about is the watch being exported. Doesnt need to be in a box and I think can be exported 3-6 months after purchase

[Muzz]

They prefer it unworn and in the box in Vietnam. Serial numbers are checked against VAT invoices and on the watch itself.

[nachopc]

Originally Posted by Samui

I was denied tax-return at customs upon exiting the schengen area because I was wearing the watch and the watch was not in its box. Apparently the items need to be new and not used in order to be eligable for tax return. I did not know this. This was a stupid mistake but it was also my first attempt at getting a tax return.



Not sure if this rule applies to every country but it certainly applies to Estonia. $3000 lesson learned

Why no AD Rolex in Lituania, Latvia and Estonia????

[red29ant]

Originally Posted by MaxTG

Ouch. That's good to know -- I would have made the same mistake.

I've never had this happen exiting Japan. The tax is suppressed at the point of sale, with an entry made in passport. I just show it on the way out, and they don't seem to mind its condition. Do you know if this an official rule everywhere, or just EU?

New to me too.

[ROLEXELOR]

Hello! I'm from Spain but I live in Russia and I have kind of residence permit. I've bought some watches in Spain and even wearing them, never had a problem with the VAT refund. The only time I had a little bit of problem was when a police told me to take care with my next buy since they control the total amount of money I'm spending and watches that I buy, just to see that is not kind of a business. I just buy for myself, so no problem with that. There are couple ways that I know you can get the money back, but the one that works the best for me is the one that returns to me the total 21% VAT a week or two after muy purchase. I just need to get the stamp of the police in the invoice and send it back to the shop. The other one is an instantly VAT refund at the airport but the refund a 16% or so, since they keep some percentage.

[arcadelt]

The offset is that on you wrist you are likely to avoid tax as you arrive in your home country. Swings and roundabouts I'm afraid, so you need to do your research as to which circumstance provides you the bigger saving.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by nachopc

Why no AD Rolex in Lituania, Latvia and Estonia????

I'm wondering if the OP really bought this watch from a Rolex AD as according to Rolex.com there are no AD's there?

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by MonBK

I'm wondering if the OP really bought this watch from a Rolex AD as according to Rolex.com there are no AD's there?

I see the OP is back online, maybe we can get an answer?

[Samui]

Originally Posted by MonBK

I see the OP is back online, maybe we can get an answer?

Bought in Italy

[wcoldnav]

Not an issue in the UK, just did it this morning on my way through Heathrow.

[rabbithole88]

Not an issue in HK as there isn't any tax. In Korea the tax was deducted from the sales price, so there was no re-claim process.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Samui

Bought in Italy

Ok, thanks for the clarification.

[themast]

Out of curiosity, did you show them the box and receipt?

I have never been in this situation but I think a box, a receipt, and a bit of common sense would have worked.

This all being said, I am sorry for this happening to you.

[amh]

Originally Posted by themast

Out of curiosity, did you show them the box and receipt?

I have never been in this situation but I think a box, a receipt, and a bit of common sense would have worked.

This all being said, I am sorry for this happening to you.

Say you need to go to the restroom, put the watch back in the box, and come back to a different tax return booth. Done.

[Samui]

Originally Posted by amh

Say you need to go to the restroom, put the watch back in the box, and come back to a different tax return booth. Done.

There was only one customs point. I tried to put the watch back in its box but I was told there are cameras. Box and papers were all complete.


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[Gus2]

That's weird. My wife bought a Prada Purse in Florence and exiting through Barcelona the guy asked us to show the purse, she said "Here it is, I'm wearing it" and the guy stamped our forms and let us move on.

We spent a lot of money in Europe and nothing was on its original box. I was wearing the Ferragamo shoes I bought in Florence and my wife was also wearing some jewelry we bought over there. They didn't care. We would've lost probably around €4K in tax returns if they had demanded everything to be on its original packaging.

[Samui]

Originally Posted by Gus2

That's weird. My wife bought a Prada Purse in Florence and exiting through Barcelona the guy asked us to show the purse, she said "Here it is, I'm wearing it" and the guy stamped our forms and let us move on.

We spent a lot of money in Europe and nothing was on its original box. I was wearing the Ferragamo shoes I bought in Florence and my wife was also wearing some jewelry we bought over there. They didn't care. We would've lost probably around €4K in tax returns if they had demanded everything to be on its original packaging.

FML. I guess it depends on the country then. What I am scared of now is upon entering my country will the customs stop and ask for an import tax from me. That would be another $3000 out of pocket. Any ideas how I can avoid getting stopped and avoid paying this?



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[Eva123]

Official rules are that you should prove that you export goods. They should be new and not worn. IN most cases if you buy shoes or other not very high value items customs do not check very carefully. For example when I was leaving Lithuania my total tax return was around 300 eur. My luggage was full of goods. Customs just asked to see some items and put stamp.

When I bought Rolex in Italy customs asked me to show watch in box. I produced just showed the watch in a box - nobody were checking any serial numbers. Also, I have got full 22% VAT back (after 1 month VAT refund was transferred to my account).

You have to follow rules strictly. OP made expensive mistake. I guess next time he will learn that some customs treat rules very strictly.

[ernie2]

The custom agent was f-king with you. If you can show the watch, the box and the receipt, you should be fine. I was claiming all sorts of stuff at CDG paris and they didn't even bother to check. Just told me to put the forms in the box.

[Gus2]

Originally Posted by Eva123

When I bought Rolex in Italy customs asked me to show watch in box. I produced just showed the watch in a box - nobody were checking any serial numbers. Also, I have got full 22% VAT back (after 1 month VAT refund was transferred to my account).

How is that possible? I'm looking at buying a new YM in the UK where the VAT is 20% and after the "Administrative Fee" it says that I can expect 12%-13% but nothing near the full 20%.

How did you get full VAT?

[Gus2]

Originally Posted by Samui

FML. I guess it depends on the country then. What I am scared of now is upon entering my country will the customs stop and ask for an import tax from me. That would be another $3000 out of pocket. Any ideas how I can avoid getting stopped and avoid paying this?

I'm not sure, I guess you can always just walk into the country without declaring it but I've read several posts on this forum advising people against doing that.

I will say that the customs tax is nothing near the rate of the VAT tax. Here in the US I paid around $200 in taxes for a $17K Cellini I bought in Florence.

I think the highest rate they have is 6%-7% so you won't be out another 3K.

[DCheeta]

This happened to us also. My wife was wearing a pair of shoes that we had purchased in Munich, and while departing Milan we were told that they had to be new, unworn and in the original package in order to get the VAT back. The tons of other stuff that we (and by "we" I mean my wife) bought in Milan was no problem, as it all conformed to the rule. Lesson learned.

[GMT13]

Coming from someone who travels constantly and buys stuff everywhere...the Customs agent is correct. Never wear the item(s) you are trying to get VAT back on with the customs official. It may work some places but not all. I have also learned this way.

Going home, you could argue that you didn't buy it in a different county because you don't have a passport stamp, don't have a receipt because it's old, lost the booklet and warranty card, and like to travel with the box for safe keeping....just saying...

And for whoever claimed full VAT vs partial, all depends on the broker (ex: global blue) and how the point of sale is setup.

[GB-man]

Thanks for the heads up. I did not know this