Are you eligible to claim

a VAT refund?
You are eligible for a VAT refund if:
• You normally live outside of the EU
• If you live outside of the EU and you are working / studying in the
UK, you may still be eligible if you can prove you are leaving the EU
for more than 12 months
• EU residents may also qualify if you leave the UK for a destination
outside of the EU and do not return to the EU within 12 months.
In all cases you must:
• Be able to prove that you belong to one of the categories
above by showing the customs official your passport, visa
or other documents
• Take the goods outside of the EU by the end of the fourth calendar
month after purchase (eg: goods bought on 1 or 31 January would
have to be exported by 30 April).
Are you eligible to claim a VAT* refund?
If you live outside the European Union you can reclaim UK sales tax (VAT)
for many things you buy while visiting Britain. The VAT rate is currently
20% so you could make substantial savings.

You can claim for anything you buy
from a participating retailers which
has VAT included in the price, except
for the following:
• Services (eg hotel bills)†
• Goods bought online or by mail order
• Unmounted gemstones
• Consumable goods you’ve already
started using
• Goods that need an export licence
(except antiques)
• Goods worth over £600, being
exported for business purposes
• Goods to be exported as freight.

How do I claim?
1 When you purchase goods, inform the retailer immediately that
Get a VAT you wish to reclaim VAT. The retailer will give you a VAT Refund
refund form Form to complete and sign.

2
Complete Please ensure you complete the VAT Return Form (sample shown).
the form

3 To reclaim VAT on goods that need to be packed into your check

in baggage, go to Customs before Security. They will check and
Go to Customs
before stamp your VAT Refund Form. To collect your refund visit a VAT
Security refund desk.

If you’re claiming for jewellery or electrical items worth over

4 £250 and the item can be placed in your hand luggage, you
Go to Customs must visit Customs after Security, where they will check and
after
stamp your VAT Refund Form. To collect your refund visit a
Security
VAT refund desk.

5 It depends on the kind of VAT form you’ve been given.

Some only permit a refund to your credit card, or by cheque
Collect
your refund sent to your home. Others allow a cash refund (there may
be a fee to pay), which can be paid in a different currency.

For further details and opening times, visit heathrow.com/VAT

Sample VAT Return Form
Enter your Add your passport Name of the Your permanent
full name or identity number Country which address (not in
issued the passport the UK or EU)
or ID number

Full Name Permanent Address - not in the EU

Mrs Joanne Smith 1111 21st St

Upper East Side
Passport or ID Number NYC
123456789
County
Washington
Issued by the Government of

United States of America

Bank / Credit card account number Expiry date (MM / YY)

5 5 1 3 4 5 2 5 8 7 6 9 8 5 1 8 1 1

Customer declaration
The information on the is correct.
I am:
• Not a resident in the EU
• A non-EU resident studying or working in the UK who intends to leave the
EU for a minimum of 12 months, or
• An EU resident who intends to leave the EU for a minimum of 12 months.
I intend to export the goods listed in part B of this form from the EU by the last
day of the third month following todays date.

I arrived in the EU on (DD/MM/YYYY)

1 1 2 0 1 1 Signature J.Smith

I will leave the EU on (DD/MM/YYYY) Date (DD/MM/YYYY)

0 3 0 3 2 0 1 2 1 0 2 0 1 1

My final destination is (for example Japan, Turkey, USA)

USA
I am exporting all of the goods (listed in part B) from the EU. I will delete and goods listed in
part B that I decide to leave in the EU before I present this form to customs.
This form must be fully completed. You must produce this form and the goods to customs at
the point of departure from the EU. The form must be stamped by customs in the EU.

Your final The date you arrived Account details Make sure
destination in the EU, and your (bank or credit card) the form
(outside departure date and expiry date (for is signed
the EU) non-cash refunds only) and dated
 Further information
If you have further questions about the VAT refund scheme, visit
hmrc.gov.uk/taxfreeshopping or call the VAT helpline on 0845 010 9000.

Bureau de change

Check-in
Terminal 1
After Security
Security Departures
9

Public areas
1

Irish baggage reclaim Terminal 1

Passenger areas
Customs Departures

1 Boots 3
2 VAT refunds
UK baggage arrivals

2 American Express
bureau de change Customs
5
Commercial exports 8
3 reclaim
UK baggage Outsize baggage
1

Cash declarations
Customs enquiries Departures
and Zone Y From check-in

4 Up to
Travelex
lounges
4

VAT refunds
Up to
Star Alliance, Departures
5 Travelex
British Airways /
BMI UK and
bureau From check-in
Ireland Lounge
de change To Security
1
Security VAT refunds
6 WHSmith Zone Y
3
2 4

7 Rolling Luggage 5

6 To Security
8 World Duty Free 7

9 Travelex VAT refunds,

bureau de change
and cash machines Before Security
Check-in

*In the UK, Value Added Tax (VAT) is charged on many goods
and services. Tax Free Shopping allows travellers leaving the
heathrow.com European Union (EU) to get a VAT refund on goods they buy
© Heathrow Airport Limited 2013 here and take home. It cannot be used for services.
TRI v1 0113 †With the exception of business passengers.
Further information
If you have further questions about the VAT refund scheme, visit
hmrc.gov.uk/taxfreeshopping or call the VAT helpline on 0845 010 9000.

Bureau de change

Check-in
1
Terminal 3
Security 1 7

Customs 1 8

Public areas
VAT refunds 9
10
2 3
Passenger areas 4
5
6
6 6

1 World Duty Free

Down to 9 From
check-in
2 WHSmith Check-In
after Security
After Security
3 Rolling Luggage Departures
4 Glorious Britain
Stairs and escalators
up to departures
5 Perfume Gallery
Stairs and escalators
6 World of Whiskies up to departures Customs
7 Thomas Pink Stairs and escalators
Red phone in Zone C
Customs enquiries
up to departures Commercial export
8 Sunglass Hut
Stairs and escalators Before Security
9 Gucci
Entrance
up to departures
Check-in
Stairs and escalators
10 Hermès up to departures

11 Travelex VAT refunds VAT refunds Escalators up

11 to departures
Opposite the entrance
to Zone D – the entrance
is outside the courtyard

Entrance

29

22
23 27 28 13
22 26
*In the UK, Value Added Tax (VAT) is charged on many goods 30

and services.
21 Tax Free Shopping allows travellers leaving the
heathrow.com European
20
Union (EU) to get
25
a VAT refund
25 on goods they buy
© Heathrow Airport Limited 2013 here
18
19 and take home. It cannot be used for 32 services.
DO NOT USE
24 31
TRI v1 0113 11
3433
†With the exception of business passengers.
35
Stairs and escalators to
9 Terminals 1, 2, 4 & 5 36
10 (4 & 5 by train) and
Further information
If you have further questions about the VAT refund scheme, visit
hmrc.gov.uk/taxfreeshopping or call the VAT helpline on 0845 010 9000.
Bureau de change

Check-in

Lifts 2
3
Terminal 4
Security 3

Public areas 4
After Security
Passenger areas Departures
5
6

1 Travelex VAT refunds From

check-in
7
2 Harrods and Harrods Boutiques

3 World DutyCheck-in
Free Customs
Customs
zone B Check-in VAT refunds
VAT refunds
zone C
4 Harrods and Harrods Boutiques
Check-in To departures
zone A
6 Toilets
5 Harrods - Signature Store
11 10
and Food Hall
Customs
6 Sunglass Hut Commercial exports
12 Cash declarations
8 Customs enquiries
7 WHSmith
7
12
Entrance
(Level 2 Before Security)
Check-in
Entrance
Check-in
Use lifts
zoneopposite
G Zone G, close
to Hilton
4 entrance for Level 1
VAT refunds
Level 1
Before Security
VAT refunds
Office on Level 1

*In the UK, Value Added Tax (VAT) is charged on many goods
and services. Tax Free Shopping allows travellers leaving the
heathrow.com European Union (EU) to get a VAT refund on goods they buy
© Heathrow Airport Limited 2013 here and take home. It cannot be used for services.
TRI v1 0113 †With the exception of business passengers.
Further information
If you have further questions about the VAT refund scheme, visit
hmrc.gov.uk/taxfreeshopping or call the VAT helpline on 0845 010 9000.

Bureau de change

Check-in
Terminal 5A
Security
7

Public areas 6 After Security

Passenger areas
Customs 5
Departures
VAT refunds
1 Excess Baggage

2 Travelex VAT refunds 8

3 Rolling luggage From check-in

4 WHSmith

5 Boots
Customs
6 Dixons ADD+ Commecial exports
Cash declarations
Departures
7 Harrods VAT refunds
Department Store
To departures
1
8 British Airways 2 Before Security – South
Galleries lounge south Check-in
Entrance
3
3
4

Entrance

Entrance

*In the UK, Value Added Tax (VAT) is charged on many goods
and services. Tax Free Shopping allows travellers leaving the
heathrow.com European Union (EU) to get a VAT refund on goods they buy
© Heathrow Airport Limited 2013 here and take home. It cannot be used for services.
TRI v1 0113 †With the exception of business passengers.