Duty-free shopping at the airport does not actually exist

17-08-2015 22:58

Actually, he never buys anything at the airport, "but I was already looking for a tablet, and thought to be able to purchase a tax-free at the airport."

But when he wanted to settle was Tim Lai, known for his travel blog world flies over, still a surprise. Because Lai, who flew to America, thought to store discount a beautiful battle. "But after scanning my boarding pass was the same amount at the cashier as before. When I asked where my tax rebate was coolly told me that I did not get this at all. "

'ONE COUNTRY'
Lai, and other travelers going to destinations outside the European Union (EU) flies are after customs as a tax-free 'limbo'. They therefore do not need to carry paying VAT, in the case of electronics, jewelry, clothing and cosmetics is 21 percent. But who buys something at Schiphol will not notice it.

And that goes for big money. Last year did the duty-free shops at Schiphol 85 million to convert. On the purchases that travelers to destinations outside the EU did they have to pay any tax.

VICE VERSA
Schiphol denies that this is the case. Spokesman Lukas Burgering: "It's the other way around, both travelers within the EU, as those that go beyond, benefiting from significantly lower prices. That's because we pay taxes for those traveling within the EU. "That money at Schiphol there is earned because the stores have no tax to pay is absolutely not the case according to Burgering.

Then you would expect prices at Schiphol 21 percent lower than in the shops in the rest of the Netherlands. But a comparison of the prices on the site of See Buy Fly shows this quite disappointing. The advantageous offer cameras, tablets, and briefs, do not appear until slightly cheaper. Only perfume in the offer is "significantly" lower priced, as Schiphol that promises.

BRITAIN
The situation at Schiphol is similar to Britain, where a genuine boarding pass revolt has broken out in the media. To put an end to what they call a major VAT fraud on the islands, passengers refuse to show their boarding passes at airports. They no longer want to participate in the profit tax for particle of the shopkeeper without having itself from it.

According Burgering is not that the reason you're in the Netherlands always have to show your boarding pass when you buy something. "We do this because we are only allowed to sell to travelers. To make sure his or someone going by plane, and not working behind the customs, we have to scan the boarding pass. "

DRINK AND TOBACCO
Alcohol and tobacco again apply all other tax-free rules. Liquor is anyway no longer cheaper since it was banned in the EU to stunt with drink prices. For all travelers are therefore subject to the same tax rate. This is again not the case for tobacco. Cigarettes, tobacco and cigars are still old-fashioned sold with two different prices. Travelers outside the EU will receive their tax directly.

© metronieuws.nl/ Rens Oving