Med cruise tax refund questions

[kuwithn]

I booked a 7-night Med cruise from Barcelona on May 21st 2022. I just realized that there will be VAT added to everything we buy onboard since all the ports are EU ports. As non-EU residents, we can get tax refunds. But I have some questions about the procedure of tax refund. Can someone with experiences on tax refunds on a cruise help me out? Thanks a lot.
1. When you buy souvenirs at onboard shops, you are considered shop in Spain, right? So Spain VAT rates and tax refund policy apply to purchases made onboard, right?
2. When you buy things at ports, Italy or France VAT rates and tax refund policy apply to purchases, right?
3. Will there be a cast member onboard helping guests with all the refunds issues?

 

[hrhdhd]

1. Yes, if memory serves.
2. Yes.
3. I doubt it. You will turn in your paperwork and show receipts if required at the airport when you leave the EU, so the ship's staff wouldn't have knowledge of refunds.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Claiming Back VAT in Barcelona

When a European citizen buys any goods within the EU they pay an automatic tax called VAT (which stands for Value Added Tax, otherwise known as IVA in Spain). This tax is invisible to the customer they simply pay the price of the item that is displayed in the shops. However most items have a VAT component which amounts to 21% in Spain excluding some special items which have a 10% VAT tax rate.

In Barcelona the majority of the shops have signed up with the Tax-Free Shopping Service (approximately 90%) This service is designed to make it really easy to claim back the VAT tax you pay on items purchased in Spain. Many shops run the TAX-FREE service but do not display the TAX-FREE SHOPPING logo in their windows, and as a result, many non-EU customers end up paying 21% more than they should.

Once you know the shop runs the tax-free service you can purchase your items and then request the TAX refund cheques which the shop will fill out for you. They will then present you with a cheque for your tax refund which you take with you to the airport. You collect these cheques from every shop that you visit when you purchase goods.

How to claim the TAX back

When you arrive at the airport you must present you tax refund cheques at customs BEFORE you check your bags in. Customs may request to check the items before they stamp your cheques. Once your cheques have been stamped by customs, you can cash your cheques at any Bureau de Change in your chosen currency.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Claiming Back VAT in Barcelona

When a European citizen buys any goods within the EU they pay an automatic tax called VAT (which stands for Value Added Tax, otherwise known as IVA in Spain). This tax is invisible to the customer they simply pay the price of the item that is displayed in the shops. However most items have a VAT component which amounts to 21% in Spain excluding some special items which have a 10% VAT tax rate.

In Barcelona the majority of the shops have signed up with the Tax-Free Shopping Service (approximately 90%) This service is designed to make it really easy to claim back the VAT tax you pay on items purchased in Spain. Many shops run the TAX-FREE service but do not display the TAX-FREE SHOPPING logo in their windows, and as a result, many non-EU customers end up paying 21% more than they should.

Once you know the shop runs the tax-free service you can purchase your items and then request the TAX refund cheques which the shop will fill out for you. They will then present you with a cheque for your tax refund which you take with you to the airport. You collect these cheques from every shop that you visit when you purchase goods.

How to claim the TAX back

When you arrive at the airport you must present you tax refund cheques at customs BEFORE you check your bags in. Customs may request to check the items before they stamp your cheques. Once your cheques have been stamped by customs, you can cash your cheques at any Bureau de Change in your chosen currency.

Thanks @BadPinkTink! Do you know if the same is true in Italy? We're doing a week pre-stay in Rome before the 12 night.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Thanks @BadPinkTink! Do you know if the same is true in Italy? We're doing a week pre-stay in Rome before the 12 night.

Most likely, as VAT is an EU tax, so its basically the same in all EU countries. The things to remember is to ask in the shop before you pay if they are part of the VAT tax back scheme. Then you need to keep all the forms and receipts and complete the process at the airport.

You should do the VAT claim when you leave each country, so if you are doing pre cruise days say in France and then going to Italy for the cruise, you should do the VAT claim at the French airport for items you bought in France.

Not all shops will be part of the scheme, in Ireland its really only in areas which get a high percentage of American tourists.

 

[hrhdhd]

Note that there's a minimum purchase amount at a single store to qualify. In Italy, it's €155. And you get only some of the 22% VAT back, not all. And the refund company gets a portion as a fee.

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/vat-rates-in-europe

 

[hrhdhd]

You should do the VAT claim when you leave each country, so if you are doing pre cruise days say in France and then going to Italy for the cruise, you should do the VAT claim at the French airport for items you bought in France.

You can get the refund only when you depart the EU because the items must be exported. You make one claim at the airport where you depart the EU.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

You can get the refund only when you depart the EU because the items must be exported. You make one claim at the airport where you depart the EU.

Regardless of the country of purchase? So I buy stuff in Italy, Greece, France & Spain and when we fly out of BCN we do the paperwork in Spain?

 

[hrhdhd]

Regardless of the country of purchase? So I buy stuff in Italy, Greece, France & Spain and when we fly out of BCN we do the paperwork in Spain?

You will get paperwork along the way. Everything gets presented (tax-free paperwork, receipts, and the stuff you bought) at the customs officer at BCN. Once you have the stamp from that office, you head to the refund desk.

Be sure to leave time for this process. Sometimes the lines are long or the customs guy wanders off for a coffee break.