Tax Free Shopping

Liberty offers a tax free shopping service, care of our VAT refund partners Global Blue, which you can benefit from if you;

• Live outside of the EU
• Have spent £50 or more at Liberty London (this can be across multiple transactions).
• Leave the EU within 3 months from the end of the month in which the purchase was made. 

For all tax refund enquiries, please go to Customer Services on 4 in store.

Please be aware that the following locations are also outside of the EU:

Channel Islands
Canary Islands
Gibraltar
Andorra
San Marino
Vatican City
Switzerland
Jersey
Guernsey
 

The following products are not eligible for VAT refunds:

Children's items.
Basic food
Books
Services and events such as piercings, Blink Brow Bar, Taylor Taylor, Ruffians and any beauty treatments.
Gift cards and coins.
Purchases which are not for personal use and which amount to over £600.

Common queries

What is the minimum spend to claim back my tax?

The minimum threshold for tax free shopping at Liberty London is £50, but this can be across multiple receipts.

Can I claim back my tax from other shops at Liberty?

No- we can only process a refund for purchases made at Liberty. If you have other receipts you can visit the Global Blue point on Oxford Street (Opposite Topshop).

What do I need to claim my tax back?

A customer must have a valid form of photo ID (passport, driving license or national ID card) and all of their sales receipts. We will also accept photographs of ID or photocopies.

Can I claim tax back on behalf of my friend/ family member?

No- the form must be processed in the name of the person travelling out of the EU in possession of the goods; a customer is unable to complete the form in-store on the behalf of someone else.

The only exception to this is if someone is the representative of a Royal Family and has both their own ID and the persons ID that they are shopping for.

I am traveling to another country before returning home- where should I claim my tax?

The refund is always claimed at the last travel destination in the EU before they return to their home country (so may not necessarily be claimed in the UK).

How long do I have to claim my tax back?

A customer has 3 months from the purchase date to claim a tax refund, and 3 months from the date that the refund form is issued. The 3 month validity period to claim tax free shopping is not done to the exact date but to the month i.e. if the first purchase was made on the 15.05.18 the customer has until 31.08.18 to claim the refund

What goods can I claim tax on?

The only goods sold in Liberty London that are not eligible for a tax refund are children’s clothes. This is because we do not add tax on to children’s products in the UK.

Do I need to show my purchases at the airport?

Customs may or may not ask the customer to present the goods that they are claiming the tax back on. Therefore we recommend that the customer take the goods with them and do not pack them in their suitcase. If they are asked, and are unable to present the goods, Global Blue reserve the right to reject the claim. However, the customs desk at larger airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick is before baggage drop- so the customer can present the goods and then pack them away.

How long does it take at the airport?

Queue times can vary, we advise leaving ½ hour extra travel time when claiming tax free shopping, however queues are considerably shorter airside than landside.

The queue for cash refunds is often longer than the card one.

I am an international student, can I claim my tax back? 

Customers who are international students can only claim tax free shopping on purchases made within 3 months of their course finishing and final departure from the EU.

If they present a passport as their photo ID please check the visa to confirm that it is expiring within 3 months.

Advise the customer that they must present a copy of their degree or a certification of graduation at the customs office along with a letter from the University administrator confirming that their course is complete and they have no retakes.