Conference tallis::celt

    P.S. #2
    
    Delta Airlines tells me that if you use a major credit card, that
    the 10% VAT will automatically be removed from your statement when
    you receive it.
    
    JO'R

    Have the goods mailed home, and you won't pay VAT.  It's easier
    too because then you'll have less luggage.  (Ship things surface
    and they'll be home within two months after you buy them.)
    
    Otherwise, upon returning home to the US, you must get all the
    receipts together and send them back to Ireland to refund the VAT.
    
    I'm not sure about credit cards, does anyone else know?

    -g

Don't hold me to it, but they had made it easier, allegedly, by
having a desk at the airport to which you would go with all
your receipts for goods purchased, and where they would do
something to give the appropriate amount back.

If they do, don't accept a cheque, only take cash from the
Government *8->.

I can't see the credit card people refunding it to you,
as they would then have to claim it off the Irish Government.

Some shops will accept the fact that you've a return airplane
ticket on you and not charge you VAT.  I had this happen to
me in the China Showrooms for a piece of Waterford I was
buying for someone.  This was handy as mailing it back -
to save paying the VAT - cost more than the VAT refund was
worth !!


Best advice, check with the Irish Tourist Board (Bord F�ilte)
in O' Connell Street upon arriving.  Keep all receipts and
have them and your plane ticket handy at all times.


Enjoy your stay.

Bernard.

    
    
    	PAY THE TAX  !!!!
    
    
    	Ireland can use the money.
    
    
    
    
    
    keVin
                                  
    	

    
    I'll back keVin......
    
    	- Blob

       re .2:
       
       > Have the goods mailed home, and you won't pay VAT.  
       
       You'll avoid VAT, but you will have to pay U.S. Customs duty (as
       well as shipping charges).  You can bring ~$500 worth of goods
       back to the US duty-free, but only if you carry them with you when
       you enter the country. 
       
       --Mr Topaz

    Check out the conference at DELNI::0N_THE_ROAD, note #125
    for a discussion on the subject.
    
    Consensus seems to be: Collect receipts, claim at airport
    on departure (May need the retailer to supply you with
    some form or other to facilitate the process). Else, you
    can claim through the nearest consulate or embassy on returnn, but
    I sense that this may be difficult, complicatedor slow, or all of
    the above.
    
    Enjoy your holiday,
    
    Maith an Nollag dhuit!
    
    Mike
     

    Checked into it john, there is a desk at the airport, the merchant
    will give you another receipt if you use the credit card.  If you
    mail it back to the states, mark it UNSOLICITED GIFT and you've
    got it.  Kevin is daff, does he know where the VAT money goes??
    Some of it goes to house unwed mothers, who should have thought
    before the fact.  Just play it by ear.. Use you funds wisely,
    brown bread and rashers would suit me.
    
    Have a lovely time, and do let me know how your keeping.
    
    Maith an Nollag....
    Slan
    Kate.

    I thought I might receive a little criticism on this note.
    
    I understand where you're coming from.  I figure that I'm doing
    a great job bringing in money into the country as it is.  Anything that will
    assist me to continue to be able to afford trips to Ireland.
    
    If I was rich I would have bought the tickets today first class,
    etc.  Also, my wife was out of work for several months this year,
    etc.  Can you blame us for trying to get the most bang out of our
    buck??  Actually, I think we're pretty smart, the way we've planned
    this trip.
    
    Believe me, we're contributing plenty to the Irish economy and plan
    to continue for many, many years to come.....
    
    Regards,
    JO'R

    VAT (vat) n. A large vessel, as a tub or barrel, used to store
    or hold liquids [< OE foet]

    ....ref. to .8
    
         Please no moral editorials on the possible value of support
    for unwed mothers, and your perception of their qualification for
    that MINISCULE subsidy, (ref. Irish Budget Estimates for the last
    decade!).  One of the most significant differences, contrary to
    those recently discussed within this conference, between Ireland
    and the States is the attention, and creditibility placed upon what
    may be daringly called 'humanist' issues.  Long may it continue
    to be so. 

    
    
    	RE .8  
    
    	V.A.T. money is used to help unwed mothers and their chilren.
    
    	I'm shocked  !!!
    
          
    	They don't deserve any help or assistance ....  Right ??
    
    
    
    
    
    	keVin
    

Here I am, changing the subject again.  But some of those who
travel to Ireland also hit the Brith Isles, at least Scotland and
Wales, right?

The British VAT refund process is carefully designed to prevent you
from actually getting it back.  You've got to pay the VAT, collect
a form from the shopkeeper, get it signed at customs coming home,
then mail it back to the shopkeeper, who sends you a refund check.
Then try to find a bank in the US that will take checks in Pounds
Sterling - in the end it was too much trouble and I threw away the
check.  But at least this way the shopkeeper got the money, not the 
government.

But some of the pain can be avoided, if you use a credit card and the 
shopkeeper is willing to charge the purchase and the VAT separately.
You still have to get your form stamped and mail it back to the
shopkeeper, but then the shopkeeper simply cancels the VAT charge
against your credit card, and you are home free... so to speak.

	Enjoy,
	Larry

Re. 12.

keVin,

You either house them or marry them.

Can you see Charley J.  or any of the grate Irish politicians
doing that ??

Re letting Ireland keep the money.  I wonder how much of that
goes to pay the pensions for sitting politicians ??

I see they wouldn't agree to cut that budgetary cost recently !!

Bernard.  *8->

    Look kevin, in Killarney where I am from, the girls are waiting
    for someone to come around and get them out of there, what better
    way then government support, jaysus, you'd think they were thick.
    They know a good thing when they see it... We were farmers, and
    still are, they not having such a good time of it and go check
    the streets of Galway, the Vat has half my income, but wouldn't
    it be nice to see alittle more Vat contributions go to some of
    the boys in Macroom, Glencar and the thousands out of work in Cork
    City, (married with children).
    
    If your so concerned about unweds , Marry one.
    

       Might there not be another conference where a topic such as this
       might receive some lively discussion, where the personal
       references such as those made by the previously-youthful person in
       .15 would be more acceptable?  
       
       --Mr Topaz 

    You charmed me with the "youthful"
    
      we will move on...  John, Have a delightful trip, be safe
    
    Snakes left hand; kate

    
    To get your VAT back:
    1) get a special VAT reciept from the shop.
    2) Bring the items to customs as you are leaving the country
        if you have already checked in your baggage tough, you lose.
    3) If the shop you bought it in is in the tourist VAT scheme you
    	can then take the forms to the little booth in Shannon 
    	or
    	Mail the customs stamped forms to the shop and they send you
    	money, later, much later.
    
    Its a pain but 99.99999% of tax collected in Ireland goes to pay
    the interest on the national debt. 
    

A couple more questions on this topic, I'll be going to Ireland
next month for a few weeks. I'd like to avoid paying the VAT too,
can anyone tell me if the procedures mentioned in earlier notes have
changed at all since then. Also, what is the minimum you need to
spend to claim back VAT? Many places in Britain for example only
operate the scheme if you spend at least �50. Also, I'll be coming
back via Wales - what procedures do you need to do when bringing
goods into the UK from �ire, especially if you're claiming back
the VAT on them? What's the allowance for bringing VAT free goods
into the UK?

go raibh maith agaibh,

	Craig