VAT Refunds
Value Added Tax is also know as VAT. VAT is a tax added to the sale price of most goods and services. The business selling the goods adds the VAT on to the to the sale price. In some circumstances it is possible to reclaim a VAT Refund if you are an individual and if you are VAT registered business.
On this page you will find information about:
VAT Refund for Business
If your business is registered for VAT, you can claim VAT back on most purchases that you make for work purposes. You need to keep the invoices and receipts for all purchases, and the invoices must come from a business that is registered for VAT.
When you submit your VAT return, you should include your claim for VAT back. HMRC will check this claim, and will usually respond within 30 days.
If your business supplies only VAT-exempt goods or services, you cannot usually claim back VAT. If some of your products are VAT-exempt, you may only be eligible for part of your VAT back.
If you operate a business based overseas, and you are making purchases on UK goods for business purposes, you can only apply for a VAT refund on goods worth less than £600. This only applies if you are not VAT-registered in the UK, and you do not make or sell goods or services here (unless VAT has already been paid by someone else on the materials you use in your UK manufacturing). If you operate a business overseas you can usually claim back VAT on hotel rooms, travels costs and meals bought in the UK, provided these are for your own personal use. In these cases you need to complete a VAT65a form (available from HMRC).
VAT Refund for the Individual
If you are visiting the UK from outside the EU, you may be eligible to reclaim VAT on purchases of goods that you take out of the country.
To do this you need to take the goods out of the country within three months of their purchase, and present a completed VAT 407 refund form (or equivalent) to Customs officials. You can only claim back goods bought from shops or businesses that offer Tax Free Shopping, and you should request a VAT 407 refund form at the point of purchase. There are some goods that are not eligible for a VAT refund, including motor vehicles, gold and gems, and all freight or postage exports.
VAT Refund if you live in the EU
If you are expecting to be leaving the EU for 12 months or more it is possible that you can reclaim a VAT refund.
To be eligible you must:
Remain outside the EU for 12 months or more.
Reside in a country outside the EU.
The goods that you are wanting to reclaim a VAT refund on have to be taken outside the EU by the end of the third month after the month the goods have been purchased.
Complete a VAT refund form.
Declared to customs officials the goods and showed corresponding receipts.
Live outside the EU.
The goods that you are wanting to reclaim a VAT refund on have to be taken outside the EU by the end of the third month after the month the goods have been purchased.
Complete a VAT refund form.
Declared to customs officials the goods and showed corresponding receipts.
VAT Refund if you work or study in the UK but live outside the EU
If you are expecting to be leaving the EU for 12 months or more it is possible that you can reclaim a VAT refund.
To be eligible you must:
Remain outside the EU for 12 months or more.
Reside in a country outside the EU.
The goods that you are wanting to reclaim a VAT refund on have to be taken outside the EU by the end of the third month after the month the goods have been purchased.
Complete a VAT refund form.
Declared to customs officials the goods and showed corresponding receipts.
For further Tax Refund information, please follow the links below:
Tax Refunds by Employment
Healthcare Worker Tax Rebates includes:
Can I Claim Tax Relief for Professional Fees?
Can I Claim Tax Relief for the Cost of Shoes and Tights?
What about Tax Relief for Laundry Costs?
Can I claim Tax Relief for Business Mileage?
Can I claim Tax Relief for Specialist Equipment?Nurse Tax Refunds includes:
Nurse Tax relief for the cost of laundering of Uniform
Nurse Tax relief for the cost of shoes and tights
Nurse Tax relief for professional fees – RCN Tax, Unison Tax, NMC Tax
Nurse Tax Relief for use of own car or public transport for work purposesTeacher Tax Refunds includes:
Teacher Tax Relief for professional fees – NUT tax relief, NASUWT tax relief.
Teacher Tax Relief Books and Journals
Teacher Tax Relief for specialist clothing
Teacher Tax Relief for Equipment Purchased for Work Use
Teacher Tax Relief for qualifying travelling expenses- Tax Relief for Washing of Uniform includes:
Am I Eligible for Uniform Tax Relief for Washing Uniform?
What am I actually claiming back?
How much will I get from a Uniform Tax Relief claim?
Can I claim for any other Tax Relief? Mechanic Tax Claim Refunds includes:
Tool Tax relief– What are Flat Rate Expenses?
Tool Tax relief– What are Capital Allowances?
What About Tax Relief for Specialist Clothing?Tax Claim Refunds for Trades / Construction Industry Workers under PAYE includes:
Can I claim Tax Relief for Business Mileage?
Can I Claim Tax Relief for other using Public Transport?
What about Accommodation and Subsistence?
Tool Tax Refund: What are Flat Rate Expenses
Tool Tax Refund – What are Capital Allowances?
Can I Claim Tax Relief for Specialist Clothing?Doctor Tax Refunds includes:
Doctors Tax relief for professional fees
Doctors tax relief for Professional Indemnity Insurance
Doctor Tax Relief for business use of car
Tools and equipment purchased for work usePolice Tax Refunds includes:
Police Officers Tax Relief for the Cost Of Laundering Uniform
Police Tax Relief for the cost of Police Federation Fees
Police Tax Relief for Business use of own car or public transport for work purposesStudent Tax Refund includes:
If I am a student can I claim a Student Tax Refund?
What About if I work during the Summer?
Tax Refunds for Expenses
Business Mileage Tax Refunds includes:
What is Business Mileage?
What counts as a Temporary Workplace?
What are the Business Mileage Rate Allowances?
Travel Expenses – Can I claim any further Tax Relief?Travel Expenses Tax Refunds includes:
When can I claim tax relief (business mileage) for travel to a temporary workplace?
When can I claim tax relief (business mileage) for travelling to work in different locations?
If I use public transport can I claim tax relief for a travel card?
When can I claim tax relief for Subsistence and accommodation?
Do I need to use the cheapest transport or accommodation to claim tax relief?
Travel Expenses – How much can I claim?Subsistence Expenses Tax Refunds includes:
What Is Subsistence?
What Is A Temporary Workplace?
Do I Need Records?
My Employer Reimburses Me Can I Still Claim?Tools for Work Use Tax Refunds includes:
Tools Tax – When am I Eligible for Tax Relief on Tools, Equipment and Specialist Clothing?
Tools Tax – What are Flat Rate Expenses?
Tax relief for tools – What are Capital Allowances?
What About Tax Relief for Specialist Clothing?
Tax Refunds for Tax Code
Income Tax Code Refund includes:
How do I know if my tax code is wrong?
How do I reclaim a Tax Code Tax Refund?
Tax Refunds for Left The UK
Left or Leaving the UK Tax Claim Refunds includes:
When am I entitled to leaving the UK tax back?
How much UK tax back can I receive?
Do I need to complete Tax Claim Forms when leaving the UK?
Do I need to complete a Self Assessment Tax Return?UK Non Resident Tax Refunds includes:
What is Non-Resident Status?
What is a Double Taxation Agreement?
What sort of UK Income is eligible for tax relief?
How do I apply for UK Non-Resident Tax Relief?
Do I need to Complete a Self Assessment Form?UK Non Resident Landlords Tax Refunds includes:
What is the UK Non Resident Landlord Scheme?
What if the property is administered by Letting Agents?
Can I claim Tax Relief for Property Expenses?
How does the Non Resident Landlord Scheme affect my Tax payments?
Do I need to complete a Self Assessment Tax Return?
How does other income affect my tax allowance?Seafarers Tax Refund includes:
What is Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction?
Who can claim SED?
What information do I need?
How do I claim?
CIS Tax Refunds
CIS Tax Refunds includes:
What is a CIS Tax Refund?
How do I get a CIS Tax Refund?
What is the average CIS Tax Refund?
Should I fill in my Tax Return myself or use an Accountant?
CIS Tax Refunds – important to know
Other Tax Refunds
Car Tax Refund includes:
Can I get a refund on my Car Tax/Vehicle Tax?Council Tax Rebate includes:
Can I claim a Council Tax rebate?Gift Aid includes:
What is Gift Aid?
What kind of Donations Apply to Gift Aid?
Gift Aid Claim Tax Refund!
How Do I make a Gift Aid Claim?NI Refund includes:
For the Employed
Missing National Insurance Years
National Insurance Refund if you have left the UK
Class 1 National Insurance and the State Pension Scheme
National Insurance Refund for the Self Employed
