IRISH shoppers could save hundreds of euros on luxury goods in Britain under a new plan to offer overseas visitors tax-free perks.
But the scheme that aims to give a 20 per cent discount will be limited to England, Scotland and Wales – ruling out a mega-savings option for cross-border shopping in Ireland.
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The UK government said it would consult on introducing a new tax-free shopping scheme for Great Britain and would modernize the one in place in Northern Ireland.
Under a proposal put forward by UK chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, non-UK visitors to Britain will be able to claim Vat refunds on goods they buy in shops if they are taking them home in their personal baggage.
He said: “Britain welcomes millions of tourists every year, and I want our high streets and airports, our ports and our shopping centers, to feel the economic benefit. So we have decided to introduce VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors.”
A previous tax-free shopping was abolished at the end of 2020.
The move – which effectively brings tax free shopping from the airport onto the British high street – could result in massive savings on some of the most popular luxury items
If the plans go ahead, Irish people traveling to Britain could see savings of hundreds on popular items such as smartphones, laptops, and gaming consoles as well as designer clothes, handbags and jewellery.
Discussing the potential savings on social media, tech expert Adrian Weckler said hundreds could be saved on popular Apple electronic items.
An iPhone 14 Pro would be as cheap as €980 in England, compared to €1,339 here, while a MacBook Air M2 would only cost €1,170 compared to the set price of €1,529 in Ireland.
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A saving of €66 could also be made on AirPods Pro, which cost €299 here.
For those who favor android phones, a Samsung Flip 4 will cost roughly €933 in England, compared to €1,139 here.
Adrian said: “Expect London’s Apple Stores to be mobbed. (All EU travelers to Britain can benefit.)”
The benefits won’t be available on cross-border shopping as Northern Ireland and the Republic will remain part of the same Vat regime.
Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI said it was “a missed opportunity”.
He added: “We were looking for an overall Vat cut which wasn’t in [the plan]. If it was designed to help High Street businesses, it’s a disappointment.”
It is unclear whether when the measure will be introduced with some suggestions that it could be 2024 until it is implemented.
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