Visitors from Great Britain

As of January 1st 2021, the United Kingdom is no longer a member of the European Union. This change now allows Residents from Great Britain (excluding Residents from Northern Ireland) to enjoy the benefits of Tax Free Shopping in Ireland.


Additional conditions and personal allowances apply to residents from Great Britain in relation to providing proof of export.


1

If visitors from Great Britain are departing from Dublin, Cork or Shannon Airport

Present your Horizon Card at the 24/7 Self-Service Horizon Kiosks (located at Dublin, Shannon and Cork Airports) or at our Horizon Tax-Free Refund desks (located at Dublin and Shannon Airports) prior to your departure from Ireland. Be sure to allow yourself ample time to visit the desk or kiosks and have your debit or credit card and passport ready for processing. Follow the steps as advised. Please ensure you enter the correct details as failure to do so can result in a delay in processing.


Transactions Between €75.00 - £390.00:

If you have spent between €75.00 and the equivalent of £390.00 (the exchange rate will vary on the day of your departure from Ireland) you are within your GB import duty allowance (personal allowance). No inspections or proof of importation is required. Once Irish Revenue officials approve your VAT claim(s) your VAT refund will be processed.

  • Inspection by Irish Revenue required
  • Inspection by HM Revenue & Customs required

Customers with Horizon Paper Voucher(s) can deposit them in the Horizon Drop Box (located beside the office in Dublin or Shannon Airports) or the Customs Post Box (located in Dublin, Shannon and Cork Airports). Please ensure the Horizon Paper voucher is fully completed before being deposited.


Transactions between £390.01 - €1,999.99:

If your total goods amount is between £390.01 - €1,999.99 you are required to pay GB import Taxes and Duties on the goods when you enter Great Britain. When you finish your VAT claim through the kiosk, a transaction receipt will be printed displaying the value of your goods. The receipt must be stamped by HM Revenue & Customs officials when entering Great Britain as it will act as proof of importation into Great Britain and the payment of relevant VAT and duties. The stamped receipt should then be posted back to Horizon Tax Free, Transit Lounge, Shannon Airport, Co. Clare, Ireland, to secure your VAT refund. Once posted back, Revenue will approve the VAT claim(s) for processing.

  • Inspection by Irish Revenue required
  • Inspection by HM Revenue & Customs required

Customers with Horizon Paper Voucher(s) should not deposit the voucher(s) on departure from Ireland as they will need to be stamped by HM Revenue & Customs officials. As the GB import duty allowance has been exceeded a receipt that import taxes & duties have been paid must be attached before posting the vouchers(s) back. Once the voucher(s) has been stamped, they can be posted back to Horizon Tax Free Shopping for processing.


Transactions over €2,000.00:

Present your Horizon Card at the Horizon Self-service kiosks and follow the steps as advised on screen. When you finalise your VAT claim(s) a transaction receipt displaying the total value of your goods will be printed along with a receipt for the transaction that is over €2,000. The receipts will need to be presented to Irish Revenue for inspection prior to departure. After Irish Revenue officials have completed an inspection and validation of the High Value item(s) they will stamp the receipts. The receipts also need to be stamped by HM Revenue & Customs officials when entering GB as it will act as proof of importation into GB and the payment of relevant taxes and duties. The stamped receipts should then be posted back to Horizon Tax Free, Transit Lounge, Shannon Airport, Co. Clare, Ireland to secure your VAT refund. Once posted back, Revenue will approve the VAT claim(s) for processing.

  • Inspection by Irish Revenue required
  • Inspection by HM Revenue & Customs required

Customers with Horizon Paper Voucher(s) should not deposit the voucher(s) on departure from Ireland. If one single item is over €2,000.00 customers must present the item for inspection by Irish Revenue officials prior to departure. As the GB import duty allowance has been exceeded a receipt that import taxes & duties have been paid must be attached before posting the vouchers(s) back. Once the voucher(s) has received the two required stamps, they can be posted back to Horizon Tax Free Shopping for processing.

2

If visitors from Great Britain are departing from regional airports or ferry ports

Transactions Between €75.00 - £390.00:

Log onto shoptaxfree.com, and follow the steps as advised. Finish the claim(s) and print the PDF form. The PDF must then be notarised (See Tip below). Once the PDF has been notarised, post the PDF back to Horizon Tax Free for processing.


Transactions Between £390.01 - €1,999.99:

Log onto shoptaxfree.com, and follow the steps as advised. Goods between these values are required to pay GB Import Taxes and Duties when you enter Great Britain and an inspection by HM Revenue & Customs. Finish the claim(s) and print the PDF. After the PDF has received the required stamp (see tip below) it can be posted back to Horizon Tax Free, Transit Lounge, Shannon Airport, Co. Clare, Ireland for processing.


Transactions over €2,000.00:

Log onto shoptaxfree.com, and follow the steps as advised. Goods with a value of €2,000.00 and over require EU Customs approval prior to departure from the EU and also subject to GB Import Tax & Duties on entry into Great Britain. Finish the claim(s) and print the PDF form. After the PDF has received the required stamps (See tip below) it can be posted back to Horizon Tax Free, Transit Lounge, Shannon Airport, Co. Clare, Ireland for processing.


Customers with Horizon Tax Free Shopping Paper Voucher(s) should return home with the voucher(s). If GB Import Duty allowance has been exceeded a receipt that import taxes & duties have been paid must be attached before posting the vouchers(s) back to Horizon Tax Free for processing. Customers should ensure they have received the appropriate notary stamp (see below) and have fully completed the voucher. Additional conditions apply to vouchers with a value of €2,000.00 or over. These vouchers require EU Customs approval prior to departure from the EU.

A Notary stamp can be obtained from a Notary public, Commissioner of Oaths, Justice of the Peace, Police Officer (badge number and precinct address must be included) or HM Revenue & Customs official.

GB visitors should also attach receipt of payment of duties to the PDF before posting.