What items are VAT exempt in the UK?

Can I get back import duties and VAT (UK) if I return items bought from the US?

• I went impulse shopping on the net recently, and some things I could live without. Have been considering returning them for a refund. Not considering return costs, can I claim back the VAT and import duties paid on them and if so how do I go about it, do I talk to UPS the courier? If that is possible and savings in taxes and duties outweigh the cost of returning, I will be doing that.

• Answer:

  That's a good question, unfortunately I've just spent more than 10min on the HMRC website and will have to hand the rest of the research to you : http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageOnlineServices_ShowContent&id=HMCE_PROD_008606&propertyType=document Or if you're a phone person, VAT Helpline, phone 0845 010 8500 or 0845 010 9000.