Tax refund
In The Netherlands, prices include 21% value-added tax or VAT. This is like a sales tax, except that it’s included in the price you pay instead of being added at the cash register.
If you are a customer from a non-EU country, like nowadays the United Kingdom, you can claim a VAT refund. De Vakantiefietser will help you to get a refund for a purchase of a bicycle and your outdoor equipment. There are several ways:
1. Directly from De Vakantiefietser.
The digital way:
A. Download the App of the Dutch government NL Customs VAT and register yourself.
B. When you pay your bicycle and other stuff in the shop, we register your invoice on the website of the Dutch government. To be able to refund the VAT we need a copy of your ID and your bank details.
C. When you leave the Netherlands (i.e. border of airport), go to the customs office and turn on your GPS and Bluetooth.
D. Open the App NL Customs VAT and it will be registered that you leave the EU.
(This is the modern day equivalent of a old school stamp on the invoice.)
The classic way:
In case you leave the EU by train or a border crossing, get a classic customs stamp in the first country outside the EU and send us the original -stamped- invoice. Please include your bank details so we can transfer the VAT to your bankaccount.
At other EU airports or exit points you can get this stamp at the customs. But you have to do it before you check in your bike and/or equipment!
VAT refund transfer:
Whether you apply digitally or by post. We will refund the tax mount minus transfer costs to your specified bankaccount.
2. VATFree (great if you buy from more stores)
A. Download the VATfree app. In our shop you can scan our QR code and download our invoice.
B. When you are at an exit point in the Netherlands (i.e. border of airport), go to the customs office and turn on your GPS and Bluetooth.
C. Open the VATfree App and it will be registered that you leave the EU. Of course you can also download the App of the Dutch government: NL Customs VAT.
D. After the digital validation of your invoice. VATfree.com will then refund all your VAT purchases at once.
You can read more about VATfree on their website.
3. When we send the bike or when you have the bike picked up.
We can send the bike (quite expensive) or you can have the bike picked up. When we have proof that the bike is exported out of the EU we will transfer the VAT to your bankaccount.
Payment options if you buy a bike or equipment in our shop:
If you choose to buy a bicycle at De Vakantiefietser, payments can be made in several ways:
1. Cash: There are various ATM’s near, serving Visa and Mastercard. Watch out for charges and additional fees.
2. Bank Transfer: Transfer the money to us and pick up the bicycle when it is ready.
Banking details: SWIFT/BIC=ABNANL2A,
Bank accountnumber/IBAN=NL11ABN0516187317
3. PayPal: Transfer it to eric@vakantiefietser.nl. But you have to add 3%.
4. Creditcard: Creditcards are not very common in the Netherlands because we have to pay a high percentage. That is why we add 2%.
Small print:
– Officially you have to export your bicyle within three months after the date of purchase. When you leave the EU after three months, you can pay the bill later so the date can be changed to a later date.
– The VAT transfer is for new bicycles and not for second hand bicycles.
– Make a brief testride before we pack it in a box. So when you import it into your own country, you don’t have to pay import tax, because it is now a second hand bike:-)
