Claim VAT back on Dixons Tax Free shop at airports!

Silly question, but could you buy this when coming back into the UK ?
My partner is already out in Ibiza atm, but she will be coming back on saturday.. could she go in and buy me a 360 then ?

Business related xbox 360... hmm.....

A 360? For "business use".

ha!!

Surely you're not suggesting that when Dixons have "TAX FREE" shopping that they are really collecting TAX from their customers as part of those "TAX FREE prices for everyone" ?

I thought Dixons and their staff would never mislead UK customers

MKD

Lol, could be used to keep clients / customers entertained while sitting in waiting room

If you are travelling outside of the EU, it is tax free and you cannot reclaim the tax. If you need to reclaim tax, ask them to ship your item out to you. Then it counts as a UK purchase and tax is paid again.

is accurate. You get the tax reduced (which equates to a 15% saving) when you're travelling in the EU. If you go outside, then the government reduces it.

Dixons Tax Free are an excellent company, owned by Dixons but run separately from the high street stores. You'll find that the staff in the DTF stores are much better than the high street because of the turnover and importance of the Tax Free shops.

err ... 17.5% off 100.00 is not 17.50


did you make that up?

I meant you can get it (effectively) vat free just by flying and purchasing at the airport..
IF you have a business then you could claim another 17.5% of the price paid using the usual procedure.

So I'm talking about the general layman could save 17.5% on the cost by purchasing it at the airport.

Ah 360 for business use? Well you do need an area to keep clients kids entertained don't you!

I spent a number of years as a freelance training consultant and of course all trainers need projectors and plasma TVs for presentations

I did get a VAT inspection but they didn't bat an eyelid at it. I am sure there are bigger fish in the ocean to chase!

Good tip though about also claiming VAT back from Dixons if i ever VAT register again i will use this info! Thx!

It's a little known fact, that you can claim back 17.5% VAT on 'tax-free' purchases at UK airports!

Obviously to claim back the tax, you need to be VAT registered and the purchase should be for business purposes only!

it doesnt matter whether you are buying from dixons stansted or ebuyer if the item is a business purchase you can claim the vat back.

So these tax free stores, what tax are you saving? I thought it was VAT, therefore this wouldn't apply. As buju says, you can claim back the VAT from any VAT registered company.

I THINK that was the real point of the original posting - that despite the branding as "TAX FREE prices for everyone" Dixons Tax Free are apparently are NOT selling tax free - at least if you are travelling within the EU from another posting - and hence the OP was really drawing attention that (some) purchases DID include Value Added TAX - that registered enterprises could be entitled to reclaim - if you realised and asked for the relevant purchase receipt.

So it is a money saving tip really rather than a deal.

Dixon's 'Tax Free' stores are not really tax free. They actually reduce the prices by about 15% so they appear to be close to tax free. Look at the receipt next time you buy, it''s a bog-standard UK receipt with a VAT number on it. Dixons started this 'non-scam' when the EU banned 'duty free' shops within the EU - they didn't want to lose the marketing edge. Airport branches used to be the only part of Dixons where you could pick up a decent bargain, especially if you claimed back the VAT as well. That said, in the last few years their so-called 'duty-free' prices have been creeping up to close to High Street prices, apart from a few loss-leaders.

Two points: Dixons assistants don't give a monkey's if you buy on the way out or the way back as long as they make a sale. However most UK airports that I have been through do not let arriving passengers through the main lounge where the shops like Dixons are - you might get a 'perfume and booze' outlet but it's pointless buying there because the prices aren't really tax free and you can get better bargains in Tesco. Dixons at Heathrow Terminal One used to be the best bet for buying on arrival but that branch has closed now.

Secondly, if you are the sort of person who thinks it worth reclaiming £30 or so on an Xbox ( and Xboxes are media streamers too - almost every small business can justify one) then you should look into the Flat Rate scheme where you don't have to itemise every VAT purchase but pay a set percentage of the VAT amount you invoice for. The percentage is based on your field or occupation. For sole or small traders It can mean practically zero paperwork, and can be extremely cost-effective especially when you factor in the time not spent faffing around with receipts from Dixons.

I bought a MacBook & a Nokia hands free set last year on my way out to Singapore for a few days but only picked it up from the shop on my return. Yes, there is no access. But I talked to the very helpful chaps on the shop floor and they were kind enough to give me their number to call after I had come out with my luggage and one of the chaps came around with my stuff. No problems there!
Only problem - the MacBook broke down just a few weeks after its 1 year warranty ran out, and Apple'Care' have been very reluctant to perform a very expensive repair.