[quote=Eugene][quote]You don’t get to take a pass on sales taxes because you don’t live here and are taking the item out of the country.[/quote]
Actually, yes, you do.
[quote]I’ll tell the retailers that when I’m in the UK next month: “I don’t have to pay the VAT because I’m taking it out of the country”. I’ll see if they get as big of a laugh out of it as I do.[/quote]
You have to pay the VAT at the counter, but then it will be refunded to you in the airport.[/quote]
Funny, in trying to make a point…I used a bad example…but you ended up making it for me.
Because state sales tax is NOT a VAT it is not refundable like the VAT is.
Where can I get a tax refund for items purchase inside the U.S. before I return to my country? Top
Foreign visitors to the United States frequently confuse the California state sales tax with the value-added tax (VAT). The state sales tax is a small tax on purchases or services, calculated at the time of purchase, which individual states assess and which the U.S. federal government neither determines nor receives. The VAT, on the other hand, is a national tax commonly applied in foreign countries that is included in the actual sales price rather than at the time of purchase. The United States does not have a VAT and the federal government cannot refund state sales taxes.
State taxes are generally not charged to diplomats or employees of some international organizations who have been issued a tax-exemption card. This card must be presented at the time of purchase in order for sales taxes to be waived.
For additional information, please visit the U.S. Customs website.
