...and with the exchange rate at present you could find the purchase very expensive. It's good for us Brits buying from the US in $, but you folks from US buying £ is not attractive.
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Very good points but I believe Luis is from Brazil. BTW, the easiest way to get your VAT back works as follows:
1. Go to a larger retailer
2. Speak with the manager or financial person and ask if he would be willing to refund the VAT if you prove that the lens is exported from the EU. If not, return to point 1.
3. Pay with your creditcard and ask for an invoice with VAT specified
4. Pack the lens in carry on luggage. Put an open envelope in your carry-on luggage adresssed to the manager/financial person at the retailer.
5. Go to the airport, check in (to get your boarding pass) and go to the
customs office (i.e. NOT to the "VAT refund" desk). This is usually before you would go through security or through customs.
6. Show the lens with your boarding pass and passport to customs and get them to sign and stamp the original invoice with "exported".
7. Send the original, stamped invoice the the retailer whilst you're still in the airport and ask them to provide the VAT refund to your credit card on file.
8. Fly home and find the refund on your credit card statement.
This process never failed me on gear / clothing etc, and gives me more confidence that the standard VAT refund processing services ("Tax Free" whatever...) and it also saves the significant fees charged by these services.
Just my $0.02 (excl. VAT).
Mark
