European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 28, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Shop Europe save Money with the value added tax by Linda White travel editor As the buying Power of the Dollar slips getting tax refunds on items purchased while travelling in Europe becomes More attractive. Most european economic Community countries and some not in the dec have what is known As a value added tax. This tax is a form of indirect sales tax paid on products and services at each stage of production or distribution based on the value added at that stage and included in the Cost to the ultimate consumer. In Britain the tax is called vat in France it is Tva in Denmark it is moms in Germany it is . By any name it is hefty As much As 38 percent. And while the process of getting tax refunds can be a hassle the time consumed May be worthwhile especially for expensive products. Tax refund schemes vary from country to country but most do provide tax Relief for tourists. Sometimes the refund can be collected As the tourist leaves the country. In other cases the refund is mailed. Here is a run Down on How the refund plans work in most Western european countries. Austria the tax ranges from 32 percent on luxury goods to 20 percent on items such As food to 10 percent on books cards and some Art Obj Rev refunds Are 24 percent 17 percent and 9 percent respectively because of the handling Fer i he minimum total Purchase must be at  1,000 schillings about $55. Two refunding processes operate in Austria. Some stores use a commercial Agency called Heiming which charges an extra handling fee that n amount to As much As 114 schillings about $6 per item. Because of complaints about this fee the of amt the austrian automobile club has instituted its own service. A brochure in live languages including English is available from of amt Mehrwerth Steucy  Schubert ring 1-3, a 1015 Vienna Austria. It spells out exactly How to get the refund and warns shoppers that it handles refund forms Only with its own of amt heading. Don t get the wrong form. Stores which provide these forms often have the Bluc Andrj yellow sticker on their doors or windows. Form u-34 must be filled in completely and the invoice must be attached. The goods unused must be taken out of the country within four weeks of Purchase. When crossing the Border present the goods and the forms to the customs office. That Means putting them in carry on Luggage for plane trips. For train travel the opposite is True. The Only Way to have customs of the forms is to Send the items in checked Luggage. The Luggage office of the austrian Federal railway will acknowledge the exportation. The forms Are either presented at an of amt Clearing station at the Border the leaflet lists them with opening hours or mailed to of amt. The customer gives his Bank name and account number and the refund will be transferred to the account. Belgium the tax ranges from 18 to 25 percent. No explanatory Booklet is in print but refunds Are available from most major stores. The stores will fill out a form and stamp it and customs agents will stamp the form again at the Border when you show the goods. Mail the form to the shop and they will Send the refund. Denmark the tax called moms is 18.03 percent. Shops participating in the tax free service display a red Tat free Symbol in their doors or windows. Refunds Are available on purchases of More than 2,300 Kroner about $250including tax. A handling fee is charged. To get the refund get the special Export invoice from the shop and sign it. At the Border the customs officer will endorse the invoice when you show the goods. Mail it in a danish tax free letterbox at the Airport or at the Border crossing. At Copenhagen Kastrup Airport a tax free service office is located both in the Check in and transit Halls. Finland the tax is 16 percent on most goods refundable except for a 5 percent service charge. Shops offering the service display a tax free for tourists sign. To get the refund the customer must show his passport at the time of Purchase. The shop assistant then writes a tax free shopping Check which the customer must fill out on the Back. The Cash refund is paid in local currency upon leaving Finland even if the Purchase was made with a credit card. The Purchase must be unused and shown at the time the refund is made. The plan is available to All persons residing outside the nordic countries. Refunds Are available at major Airport transit Halls what s a bargain buy european Price including . European pric subtracting . Cafes United state including sate tax Burberry Raincoat men s style no. 70 with liner Burberry Raincoat men s style no. 57 without liner Burberry Raincoat women a the Francis with liner Burberry Raincoat women s. The Francis without liner Wedgwood China Bellefleur pattern 54-piece set Villeroy & Boch Petite Fleur pattern 5-piece place setting Rosenthal China Suomi patterns piece place setting Rosenthal Crystal Fuga pattern Burgundy Glass Rosenthal Crystal Fuga pattern White wine Glass Stormy weather Burberry a London $399 Burberry a London $392 Burberry a London $413 Burberry a London $378 harrods London $263 Nitzsche Darmstadt $27 Nitzsche. Darmstadt $28 not Zoche Darmstadt $13 Nitzsche Darmstadt $10 Nitzsche Darmstadt $128 Burberry s. London $353 Burberry a London $346 Burberry s. London $364 Burberry s. London $333 harrods. London $246 nit Zonne Darmstadt $24 Nitzsche Darmstadt $24 Nitzsche Darmstadt $11 Nitzsche Darmstadt $9 Nitzsche Darmstadt $112 Mildenhall Concession $377 Germany concessions $452 86 mail order Catalon $16 88 Catalon $92 Furberry s. New York City $452 Burberry a new York City $458 Burberry s new York City $484 Burberry s. New York City $411 Hempstead China Long Island $848 Bloom Londale a new York City $54 Bloomin Date s. New York City $68 Bloomingdale a new York City Bloomin Daja a new York City $29 the serendipity Dallas $212 i stripes Magazine november 2f, ims a