How to get sales tax refund for iPhone purchased in Austria?

Hi there :) I have experience with this!

So there are three different places to buy an iPhone.

From an offline Apple Store

From an online Apple Store (apple.com)

From an Apple authorized reseller

For the first and the third option, when you visit the store make sure to bring your passport with you. When making the payment, make sure to tell the staff or the cashier that you want to get a VAT refund. They will print out all the necessary documents for you. With all these documents, when you leave the EU you go to the customs and get a stamp on the paper confirming that the good has been exported. The form will have instructions on how to send in the form and get a refund. Apple Stores in Europe normally partner up with Global Blue, a VAT refund agency, and they probably have a office at the airport and will give you the refund there. Otherwise, you can send it to the provided address via mail or whatever the instructions say. Authorized resellers may or may not offer this service and if they do it can be provided by a different agent. Keep in mind that these VAT refund service companies charge a commission so you won't get the full VAT back.

For the second option, when you buy an Apple product on apple.com, make sure that you put your name correctly when you place the order so that the name on the invoice matches the name on your passport. After receiving the device, print out the invoice and get that invoice stamped at customs. Scan the paper and send it to vat.refunds@apple.com together with a copy of your passport and a document that can prove that you don't live in the EU. Things like internet bill or utility bill that has your name on it should work in most cases. Once approved, you will get the VAT back to the card you used when buying the device.

IMPORTANT: YOU SHOULDN'T OPEN THE BOX UNTIL YOU GET THE STAMP. So you can buy it in the EU, but you cannot use it in the EU. Only after getting the stamp, you may open up the box and start using your new device.

We are volunteer end users here for technical support and tax matters are far "above our pay grade." Either ask Apple or ask Austrian taxing or import/export authorities.

If you plan to buy an iPhone in one country and with it return to Austria, note that Apple may only recognize warranty service in the country in which the device was purchased. Documentation:

Legal - Hardware Warranties - Apple

aysegul193 wrote:

Hello, can i ask tax refund percentages of apple product in Austria if i buy an iphone from an apple store? and how can i apply to get refund.

You wood have to ask the authorities in Austria.

Sorry, but if you buy an iPhone in the US, Apple will not give you any tax forms because they do not allow exports and because in the US, every state has a different sales tax and that is determined by the delkivery address. And, since Apple does not send products to foreign countries = no sales tax refund. Spark 1999's answer may apply if you in the EU, but certainly not if you buy in the US.

And, if you buy in the US but wish to use it elsewhere, please note: Apple may restrict the warranty coverage to the country of purchase (US). You may not have warranty coverage in the EU.

spark_1999 wrote:

Hi there :) I have experience with this!

So there are three different places to buy an iPhone.

From an offline Apple Store

From an online Apple Store (apple.com)

From an Apple authorized reseller

For the first and the third option, when you visit the store make sure to bring your passport with you. When making the payment, make sure to tell the staff or the cashier that you want to get a VAT refund. They will print out all the necessary documents for you. With all these documents, when you leave the EU you go to the customs and get a stamp on the paper confirming that the good has been exported. The form will have instructions on how to send in the form and get a refund. Apple Stores in Europe normally partner up with Global Blue, a VAT refund agency, and they probably have a office at the airport and will give you the refund there. Otherwise, you can send it to the provided address via mail or whatever the instructions say. Authorized resellers may or may not offer this service and if they do it can be provided by a different agent. Keep in mind that these VAT refund service companies charge a commission so you won't get the full VAT back.

For the second option, when you buy an Apple product on apple.com, make sure that you put your name correctly when you place the order so that the name on the invoice matches the name on your passport. After receiving the device, print out the invoice and get that invoice stamped at customs. Scan the paper and send it to vat.refunds@apple.com together with a copy of your passport and a document that can prove that you don't live in the EU. Things like internet bill or utility bill that has your name on it should work in most cases. Once approved, you will get the VAT back to the card you used when buying the device.

IMPORTANT: YOU SHOULDN'T OPEN THE BOX UNTIL YOU GET THE STAMP. So you can buy it in the EU, but you cannot use it in the EU. Only after getting the stamp, you may open up the box and start using your new device.

I understand that the original poster is buying in a country outside of Austria then returning to Austria. When buying in the US you pay the applicable taxes for the location of purchase. The cashier will not print any documentation etc.