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Good afternoon, I'm currently serving the RAF Overseas in Cyprus and am looking at ordering a new laptop from PC Specialist (a UK company). My question is simple, am I eligible to buy this item without paying VAT (or claim back the VAT) given that I am getting it sent overseas. Thanks in advance!

Dheer
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ScottishTapWater
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1 Answers1

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If you are an UK citizen and resident, then no.

If you are an EU resident or non-EU resident then yes, but there are conditions.

Source

You can sometimes get VAT refunds on goods bought in the UK if you:

  • visit the UK but live outside the EU and are going back home
  • are an EU resident leaving the EU for 12 months or more
  • are a non-EU resident but work or study in the UK and are leaving the EU for 12 months or more

You can’t get a VAT refund for:

  • mail order goods, including internet sales
  • goods you’ve already used in the EU, such as perfume
  • service charges, eg hotel bills
  • new or used cars
  • goods worth more than £600 exported for business purposes
  • goods to be exported as freight
  • goods that need an export licence (except antiques)
  • unmounted gemstones
  • gold over 125g, 2.75 troy ounces or 10 tolas
  • a boat you plan to sail to a destination outside the EU

As bringing a laptop PCSpecialist is an online sale(I bought my desktop from them), I don't think you can claim VAT.

DumbCoder
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