Shipped to Jersey. Charged UK VAT? Ask for it back.
Some UK shops still add VAT to orders delivered to Jersey. They can refund it, and it costs them nothing. We send and follow up the requests, and charge nothing if nothing comes back.
- Free to join
- Nothing to pay upfront
- No refund, no fee
Independent service. Not affiliated with the Government of Jersey, Revenue Jersey, HMRC or any retailer. Not tax advice.
Refund calculator
VAT is 1/6 of a VAT-inclusive price: a £120 order includes £20 VAT. Retailers decide whether to refund. We can only ask where your receipt shows UK VAT.
- Garden furniture £480 · VAT £80.00
- Paddleboard £540 · VAT £90.00
- Coffee machine £330 · VAT £55.00
- Sofa £1,140 · VAT £190.00
- Wetsuit £180 · VAT £30.00
- Laptop £1,200 · VAT £200.00
- Bathroom tiles £720 · VAT £120.00
- Headphones £249 · VAT £41.50
- Running shoes £96 · VAT £16.00
- Power tools £315 · VAT £52.50
- Bedding set £150 · VAT £25.00
- Car parts £84 · VAT £14.00
How it works
You send the orders. We do the checking, the writing and the following up.
Send us your orders
Forward your order emails to us, or upload receipts. We never ask for access to your inbox.
We check each order
We show you what’s claimable, before you commit to anything.
You confirm
You choose which orders to claim. Nothing is sent to a retailer without your OK.
We send and follow up
We send the request to the retailer with your written authority, and follow it up.
The retailer decides
If it refunds, the money goes directly to your original payment method. We never hold your money.
Will my order count?
One question decides it: does the receipt show UK VAT on goods delivered directly to Jersey?
Usually claimable
- The receipt shows a UK VAT amount, often “VAT 20%”.
- The goods were delivered directly to a Jersey address.
- The order was placed in the last four years.
- It was bought from a UK seller, large or small.
Not claimable
- The VAT was removed at checkout.
- Jersey GST was charged instead of VAT.
- “Same price as the UK”, with 0% VAT shown.
- Delivered to a UK or forwarding address.
- Items with no UK VAT, like most food, books and children’s clothes.
Older orders are less likely to be refunded. Some retailers only adjust recent orders.
Same price as the UK, but 0% VAT shown?
Some shops remove the VAT for Jersey orders but keep the UK price. With 0% VAT on the receipt there’s nothing to ask for. We’ll tell you when an order falls into this group, so you’re not left wondering.
Receipt showing VAT
✓ £80.00 to ask for
Same price, 0% VAT
✕ Nothing to claim
No refund, no fee.
Joining costs nothing, and neither does sending us orders. Our fee is 30% of the VAT the retailer refunds, billed monthly, and only after the retailer confirms in writing that the refund has been issued.
- No sign-up fee and nothing to pay upfront
- If a retailer can’t show the refund was issued, we refund our fee
- Refunds can take a few weeks, depending on the retailer
- You can ask retailers for a VAT refund yourself, free of charge
Worked example: garden furniture
Questions
Something we haven’t covered? Email hello@vatback.je.
Why do shops charge UK VAT on orders to Jersey?
Goods sent from the UK to Jersey can be zero-rated as exports, but retailers aren’t obliged to do it, and many haven’t set it up. So some orders carry UK VAT that could have been zero-rated. A retailer that refunds you can usually recover the VAT through its own VAT return.
Do you need access to my email?
No. You forward the order emails you choose, or upload them.
Why is the VAT 1/6 of the price, not 20%?
VAT is added on top of the pre-VAT price. On a £120 order, £100 is the goods and £20 is VAT, which is 1/6 of what you paid.
Can’t HMRC or Jersey Customs refund me directly?
No. Only the seller can correct VAT with HMRC, so any refund has to come from the retailer. Jersey Customs can’t refund UK VAT.
Will every retailer refund?
No. Retailers decide whether to refund. Some decline, some take a while, and some only adjust recent orders. We send and follow up your requests, but we can’t promise an outcome.
What if the refund never arrives?
We only charge once the retailer confirms in writing that it has been issued, and if they can’t show it was, we refund our fee.
Why isn’t my order claimable?
Usually because Jersey GST was charged instead, the VAT was removed at checkout, the shop has a same-price policy with 0% VAT shown, or the order was delivered to a UK or forwarding address.
How far back can I claim?
Retailers can correct VAT with HMRC for up to four years, so orders from that period can be requested. Older orders are less likely to be refunded.
Do you ever hold my money?
No. Any refund goes straight from the retailer to your original payment method. We bill our fee separately, once the retailer confirms the refund.
How do you contact retailers?
On your behalf, with your written authority, and only for orders you’ve confirmed. Every request makes clear it’s for you as the customer. We never impersonate you or answer your account security questions.
What about Guernsey, Alderney and Sark?
VATBACK is for Jersey. If you’re in Guernsey, Alderney or Sark, tick the box on the form and we’ll tell you if it comes there.
Join the waitlist. It’s free.
Joining costs nothing and doesn’t commit you to anything.
- Add your emailIt takes under a minute.
- We email you once, at launchNo newsletters, and we never share your details.
- Send your first ordersWe’ll tell you exactly how.