Export facilities from John Lewis & Partners shops
Goods exported or carried personally out of the country may qualify for a tax refund
Tax-free shopping FAQs
Our tax-free shopping service allows customers from outside the European Union (EU) to claim back the Value Added Tax (VAT) on purchases from John Lewis & Partners. This service is arranged in partnership with Global Blue.
Exclusions
We no longer deliver to Greece, Hong Kong, Lithuania, New Zealand or Spain from our website.
Who can buy tax-free?
- Overseas buyers whose domicile or habitual residence is outside the European Union and intend to leave for a destination outside the EU within 3 months
- UK residents for whom we deliver goods to friends and family living outside the EU
- Where you buy or take delivery of the goods in the UK and take the goods yourself to a destination outside the EU using the retail export scheme, you need to declare the goods at the departure airport to have your export forms stamped in order to receive a VAT refund
- You should then declare the goods correctly on arrival into the country of destination and pay any local import taxes and duties at that time. These taxes and duties are not included in the price charged by us
What do I save?
Non-EU customers who personally carry the merchandise with them may reclaim the VAT included in the purchase price, minus an administrative charge applied by our partner, Global Blue.
Does VAT apply to all goods?
Most merchandise sold by John Lewis & Partners is subject to VAT. Exceptions include:
books
most food
children's clothes and shoes
What restrictions are there?
To take advantage of the VAT Retail Export scheme operated by Global Blue you must:
spend £75 or more in any John Lewis & Partners shop
travel to a country outside the European Union within 3 months of the first purchase date
Process:
When paying for your purchases, ask store staff for a Global Blue Tax Free Form
At the airport or port, go to the Customs desk and present your completed Tax Free Form, passport, receipts and purchases to get a stamp on your form. Goods must be kept available for inspection, unused and with the original receipts
Go to the nearby desk or office displaying a Global Blue logo. In some cases this will be a currency exchange
Present your stamped, completed Tax Free Form to receive the refund in cash or to your credit cards
Refund paid is the VAT minus Global Blue’s service fee