No, you cannot get a VAT refund for Louis Vuitton purchases made in-store in London. The UK government ended the VAT Retail Export Scheme for tourists in January 2021. Purchases must be shipped directly to an address outside the UK to be tax-free, and in-store, tax-free, or duty-free shopping is no longer available.
There is no VAT refund in the UK, so don't buy in London or Scotland. France and the Netherlands have the same prices as they are EU countries. LV in France will give you 12% of the VAT back through Global Blue.
FAQ: London Tax Refund
No. London does not offer VAT tax refunds for tourists on in-store shopping. The UK ended the VAT Retail Export Scheme in 2021.
Luxury brands usually set their prices globally, which means that the same style of Louis Vuitton handbag costs the same no matter which country or city you are in.
However, as of January 1, 2021, the UK government discontinued the VAT refund scheme for tourists. For many visitors, this decision ended an era of cost-effective shopping in Britain. No longer can tourists claim refunds on the 20% VAT added to most items, which has left a noticeable gap for budget-conscious travelers.
The standard rate of VAT increased to 20% on 4 January 2011 (from 17.5%). Some things are exempt from VAT , such as postage stamps, financial and property transactions. The VAT rate businesses charge depends on their goods and services.
Bosses at Burberry have urged Rachel Reeves to reinstate a tax-free shopping scheme for tourists in the budget to “unlock further growth” and increase tourist spending.
From 1 January 2021, the UK government ended tax-free sales in airports, ports and Eurostar stations. This means you cannot buy tax-free goods such as electronics and clothing if you are travelling to non-EU countries. VAT refunds for overseas visitors in British shops have now been removed.
(You are considered an exporting tourist when you purchase goods and take them with you home, therefore becoming eligible for a refund of the VAT that you paid during the purchase.)
VAT -exclusive prices
To work out a price that excludes the standard rate of VAT (currently 20%) divide the price including VAT by 1.2. You bought a table and the total price including 20% VAT was £180. The price excluding VAT is £150. The amount you can claim back is the difference between the two numbers - £30.
Overview: LV is generally cheaper in Paris, thanks to lower base prices and the VAT refund.
Items purchased online from the website or via our Client Services can be returned to any Louis Vuitton store corresponding to your billing address country. Refunds may take up to 14 days to be processed, once the item has returned to our Quality Service Department.
Louis Vuitton has been operating in China for 30 years and nowadays the country is the main market for the French maison, boasting about 40 offline stores nationwide.
To avoid the UK's 60% tax trap (an effective 60% rate on income between £100k-£125k), the key is to reduce your adjusted net income back below £100,000 by making tax-efficient contributions, primarily via pension contributions, which reclaim your full £12,570 Personal Allowance, and also through salary sacrifice for benefits like childcare or cycle-to-work, and Gift Aid donations to charity.
You can't claim a deduction for the cost of buying or maintaining watches or timepieces, even if you require one as part of your job. This is a private expense.
The standard VAT rate is 20%. It applies to most goods and services. The reduced VAT rate is 5% — this applies to goods and services like some health products, fuel, heating and car seats for children. Zero-rated goods and services include most food, books and clothes for children.