If you live outside the Euporean Union (EU) and plan to take the goods back home by the last day of the 3rd month after the one in which you made the purchase, you may be qualified to claim VAT refund. For example, if you bought an iPad in the UK on 4th April, you will have to leave EU by 31st July to be able to claim the VAT (i.e. Value Added Tax) back.

You have to make your purchase from shops that have Tax Free logos as not all shops in the UK offer Tax free shopping. Let the shop assistant aware that you want to use Tax Free Shopping scheme before making any payment. Usually the shop assistant of a tax free shop will explain how to get the refund and what the charge will be. They will also ask you to sign the refund form.

You will need to take the receipts, the forms and the goods to the VAT refund points at the airports. Most major airports in the Uk have VAT refund service before and after check-in．For jewelries or electronics that have value over 250 pounds will have to processed after check-in.　

You can also have VAT refund before heading to airports, for more, check here.