Value Added Tax Refunds

[dalovindj]

Finally, I can use the SDMB for work purposes!!!

My manager wants to get a refund for the VAT (Value Added Tax), that he was charged on a recent trip to Germany. How is this done. Using google, I have found a few services that offer to do it for $100 or so, but is it possible for an individual to fill ou the required forms themselves?

Can anyone point me in the right direction to find out.

I believe I did find a couple of facts so far. You must have been on a buisiness trip. You need IRS form 6166 and reciepts must have the tax seperately listed on receipts.

Any help greatly appreciated. I'm wading through the IRS's website, and it kind of sucks.

Da Lovin' Dj

[johnson]

I think the best bet is to go to the country (figuratively) in which the tax was paid. Frankly, I'm surprised to hear that the IRS gives refunds for taxes paid to other countries. Are you sure you've read it correctly? In any case, I'm relatively certain that the tax is refundable by the country which collected it (in most of Europe, anyway), so long as you can demonstrate that you've taken the goods out of the country. I'd make the German tax department the next stop on your Internet itinerary.

[Augusto]

IRS will not refund the taxes that you have payed else where. However, if you apply for the U.S Residency Certificate (Form-6166) you you may be reimburced in the country where you have paid the tax, provided there is a double taxation treaty and that country.

The certificatation process can take anywhere up to 10 weeks in some cases, provided all the information is submitted correctly.

Furthermore, some countries are more linient than others and do not require apostille on the Certificate however, in most cases Apostlle is needed. Better check in advance.

You may order the Certificattion for Multiple countries with a single request. However, you will most likelly need an apostille for each Form since you will be submitting it in different countries. I highly doubt that the foreign authorities will simply look at it and return the apostilleed form back to you the same instant.

In order to be eligeble for the Certificattion you must pay taxe in U.S or have a valid proof of exemption from doing so.

[Omar Little]

http://www.bzst.bund.de/003_menue_li...ten/index.html

German website for obtaining VAT refunds for non-EU visitors. You may need to translate the site to english.

Your boss could have done this himself at that airport in Germany before leaving the country. There is a tax authorities booth that you can present your receipts and showing your appropriate documentation, US passport, airline boarding pass, etc. And they would have processed his refund claim on the spot.

[md2000]

Yes, some European airports (Italy comes to mind) there is a place to claim these refunds just before you check your bags so they can match the goods to the rceipts and then see that they are being taken out of country because the baggage is checked.

[suranyi]

I'm not sure it can be done if he didn't file the paperwork at the airport tax booth before he left Germany. That's the normal procedure.