You may be able to get a tax refund on airline tickets

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Ran across this news article

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/money/you-may-be-in-line-for-a-refund-from-the-airlines

 

[kksmom92]

Interesting! Why am I nervous to call Delta to see if I can get a refund? If anyone does call.. please let me know how it goes.

 

[peemagg]

Thanks for that info. I just went and applied for the 9 tickets we bought in June. That 7.5% equals out to about $14.95 per ticket.

 

[cemeb4dk]

I tried looking on AA website and found the info and the refund page. But it said the reservation must be cancelled in order to get refund. I have non refundable tickets. So I stopped there and tried calling their customer service line and got the typical, press this number and so on, and when I finally got to the dept I needed, the machine told me they were experiencing high call volumes and could not take my call and disconnected me. By looking at my tickets I paid $35 in taxes each ticket times 3 tickets, so thats $105 possibly due back to me. I am not sure if all the tax is refundable or not.

If anyone has luck with AA please share.

 

[brenda1966]

This is something to follow for sure. Frontier airlines website said to put your claim for a refund through the IRS. I don't see any info on Southwest's web site yet.

 

[smitch425]

I have also read an article that says "if you bought your ticket on or AFTER July 23." The above article says "before". Which is it???

 

[mom2brooke76]

I have also read an article that says "if you bought your ticket on or AFTER July 23." The above article says "before". Which is it???

This is from the IRS site:


Q. If I travel on or after July 23, 2011, and I purchased my ticket on or before July 22, 2011, am I entitled to a refund for the federal air transportation excise taxes that I paid when I purchased the ticket? If so, will my airline refund the tax to me?

A. Passengers who paid for tickets on or before July 22, 2011, for travel beginning on or after July 23, 2011, may be entitled to a refund of the tax. Airlines are permitted to refund the tax to the passenger, just as they do in the ordinary course of business when issuing refunds for unused refundable tickets (including the associated taxes). Because the airlines and travel service providers already have the information about passenger ticket purchases and travel, and in many cases have payment card information that may facilitate streamlined refunds, the IRS has asked the airlines to provide refunds to eligible passengers when requested. However, passengers who are unable to obtain a refund from the airline may obtain a refund by submitting a claim to the IRS. Because the IRS has no information about passenger ticket purchases or travel dates, travelers who are unable to obtain a refund from the airline will be required to submit proof of taxes paid and travel dates to the IRS under procedures that are under development. The IRS will provide additional guidance at a later date.

 

[peemagg]

I have requested a refund from Delta and haven't heard anything yet. I will see what happens.

 

[mom2brooke76]

I'm guessing the airlines are just starting to try and get used to handling this seeing that the only people that can claim it are those that have flown in the past 6 days. Hopefully it will be easier as time goes on. I leave on a flight tomorrow and get back 8/2. I'll see how Southwest handles it.

 

[poohbear2]

I have requested a refund from Delta and haven't heard anything yet. I will see what happens.

Did you call Delta or e-mail them? I purchase on the last day but I haven't had a chance to call them.

 

[tlenzendorf]

I am flying SW. My flight costs went down and I rebooked. Then this happened and the go flight is the same cost, so I just cancelled and rebooked and now have the $15/person as a credit(on top of the rest of my credits). I still have to figure out the return ticket tax as that flight went up and then figure out how to get the tax back if the price doesn't come back down.

 

[mom2brooke76]

Let me make sure I understand this correctly (I think I do, but just double checking ):

I have several flights coming up that were purchased prior to July 22. If I'm right, I must complete a flight before I can request the refund of the taxes. Right? If so, Southwest is going to be tired of hearing from me!

 

[ccgirl]

From Jet Blue's website:

Dear JetBlue Customers,

As you know, the laws authorizing the airline ticket tax and other aviation-related taxes expired at midnight, Friday, July 22, 2011. These federal passengers air transportation excise taxes are collected by JetBlue at the time of purchase and then paid to the IRS. Customers who purchased tickets on JetBlue on or before July 22, 2011, for travel beginning on or after July 23, 2011 may be entitled to a refund of these federal taxes paid.

Because these taxes are collected by JetBlue on behalf of the federal government and remitted to the IRS, Customers may obtain a refund for federal taxes paid on qualifying flights by submitting a claim directly to the IRS. We regret that we are unable to honor any refund requests at this time.

If you would like to request a copy of your receipt to include in your refund claim to the IRS, please email us at: dearjetblue@jetblue.com with your full name and confirmation number. Please also include "Expired Tax Refund Request" in the subject line of your email. We will review your request and provide an e-receipt with which you may submit to the IRS for the tax refund. Please allow 3 to 5 business days for processing.

For more information, visit the IRS FAQ's page at http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0..id=242812.00.html?portlet=6

Please continue to check back on jetblue.com for further updates.

 

[tlenzendorf]

Q. If I purchase my ticket at a time when the tax is not in effect but I travel after the tax is reinstated, will I be subject to tax?

A. That depends on how such travel is treated in any legislation reinstating the tax. The legislation could either impose tax on all travel occurring after its enactment or provide an exemption for passengers who purchased tickets during the period when the tax was not in effect.

Q. If I travel on or after July 23, 2011, and I purchased my ticket on or before July 22, 2011, am I entitled to a refund for the federal air transportation excise taxes that I paid when I purchased the ticket? If so, will my airline refund the tax to me?

Passengers who paid for tickets on or before July 22, 2011, for travel beginning on or after July 23, 2011, may be entitled to a refund of the tax. Airlines are permitted to refund the tax to the passenger, just as they do in the ordinary course of business when issuing refunds for unused refundable tickets (including the associated taxes). Because the airlines and travel service providers already have the information about passenger ticket purchases and travel, and in many cases have payment card information that may facilitate streamlined refunds, the IRS has asked the airlines to provide refunds to eligible passengers when requested. However, passengers who are unable to obtain a refund from the airline may obtain a refund by submitting a claim to the IRS. Because the IRS has no information about passenger ticket purchases or travel dates, travelers who are unable to obtain a refund from the airline will be required to submit proof of taxes paid and travel dates to the IRS under procedures that are under development. The IRS will provide additional guidance at a later date.

What I'm reading is if they put the tax back into effect and you've gotten a refund but your travel hasn't occured yet you may have to pay the taxes again if they don't allow the exemption. Also that the IRS wants the airlines to give the refunds. Maybe call the airline back in another week and ask about the refund for those that were told to contact the IRS?

 

[mom2brooke76]

I just came across this article that states that JetBlue is the only major airline that is offering a refund. All others are referring customers to the IRS:

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/irs-requests-airlines-refund-fliers-tax-holiday/story?id=14179965

 

[ccgirl]

I just came across this article that states that JetBlue is the only major airline that is offering a refund. All others are referring customers to the IRS:

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/irs-requests-airlines-refund-fliers-tax-holiday/story?id=14179965

Doesn't seem to be the case any longer. I went on Jet Blue's website and they have a link right on the home page:

Because these taxes are collected by JetBlue on behalf of the federal government and remitted to the IRS, Customers may obtain a refund for federal taxes paid on qualifying flights by submitting a claim directly to the IRS. We regret that we are unable to honor any refund requests at this time.

 

[bbwhos]

I just called Southwest, they are referring people to IRS.Gov which the IRS says they basically aren't ready to handle this yet ...

"Q. If I travel on or after July 23, 2011, and I purchased my ticket on or before July 22, 2011, am I entitled to a refund for the federal air transportation excise taxes that I paid when I purchased the ticket? If so, will my airline refund the tax to me?

A. Passengers who paid for tickets on or before July 22, 2011, for travel beginning on or after July 23, 2011, may be entitled to a refund of the tax. Airlines are permitted to refund the tax to the passenger, just as they do in the ordinary course of business when issuing refunds for unused refundable tickets (including the associated taxes). Because the airlines and travel service providers already have the information about passenger ticket purchases and travel, and in many cases have payment card information that may facilitate streamlined refunds, the IRS has asked the airlines to provide refunds to eligible passengers when requested. However, passengers who are unable to obtain a refund from the airline may obtain a refund by submitting a claim to the IRS. Because the IRS has no information about passenger ticket purchases or travel dates, travelers who are unable to obtain a refund from the airline will be required to submit proof of taxes paid and travel dates to the IRS under procedures that are under development. The IRS will provide additional guidance at a later date."

 

[tlenzendorf]

If you have SW and your flight prices are the same(or lower) and you don't mind having a credit, just cancel/change flights and rebook. Your refund will show up as a credit. That's what we did.

 

[bbwhos]

If you have SW and your flight prices are the same(or lower) and you don't mind having a credit, just cancel/change flights and rebook. Your refund will show up as a credit. That's what we did.

I had that thought but our flights are higher, at least right now. I don't mind filing with IRS as long as they don't take forever ... give them a couple pennies in interest, seems like they might need it right now.

Wish the car rental tax would expire!

 

[tlenzendorf]

Wish the car rental tax would expire!

No doubt, we are somewhere in between $80-110 in car rental taxes and fees Haven't figured it out yet since we are using FF miles.