Sincere apologies if this has already been answered but despite several searches I haven't been able to find a thread dealing with my specific question.
When we lived near Zürich my wife and I frequently shopped in Germany and claimed back the MwSt. Now that we live further from the border we don't travel there as often and we're wondering how long the retailers allow for the MwSt to be reclaimed. We currently have the forms and receipts from shopping in Waldshut-Tiengen a couple of months ago, specifically in Lidl and Kaufland.
Does anyone know how long Lidl and Kaufland honour the repayments?
Many thanks and, once again, apologies if this has been previously answered.
It's not a question of forms and receipts, but you should have had them stamped by German customs when you left Germany with the goods. Assuming you did, you can then send the forms back to the retailer who should credit your credit card or bank.
I have in the back of mind that the retailer needs it back within 90 days of the date of sale?
Hello Pirate, thank you for your prompt reply. We always get the forms stamped when returning to CH and then take them back to the retailers on the next trip to D so that the MwSt can be netted off the next purchase. It's definitely longer than 90 days to do this because we've left it longer on many occasions. My wife thought it might be three months but isn't sure and we don't want to make a trip just to get the money back. Best wishes, M.
I've found an old receipt and went back to Kaufland ~6 months after, no issues there...
Hello Spinal, that's what I was hoping to hear. Many thanks, M.
Just be careful how you store the receipts. I found they go blank/white if exposed to heat or light after a while...
It's six months officially but I've been back well over six months to several places without a problem.
Thank you, I can wait for the price of diesel to fall before going!
I'll just add that my wife contacted Kaufland and asked them how long they'll honour the tax refund. They said three years. We'll ask in the store next time we go.
With an older diesel, you can put vegetable oil in the tank... bought in bulk in DE, you can get it for just over a euro a litre...