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UAE tourists praise tax refund scheme

Dubai - Federal Tax Authority (FTA) survey visitors about new tax refund scheme.

The inspection tours conducted by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) have revealed that customer satisfaction with the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme's electronic system is on the rise.
The authority had launched the scheme in two consecutive phases beginning on November 18, 2018, in collaboration with global systems operator Planet, covering, so far, 12 ports of entry to the UAE, comprising six airports, two sea ports, and four land ports.
GCC nationals, Asians and Europeans made up the bulk of beneficiaries from the scheme, with tourists leaving the UAE noting the speed with which their applications were completed and processed, asserting that the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme is one of the most advanced of its kind when compared with other countries that have implemented similar systems.
Mehjabeen Begum Rais from the UK, said: "The electronic system of the UAE's Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme is both accurate and easy to use. I was able to complete all of my procedures and reclaim the tax seamlessly and within minutes."
Meanwhile, Pradyuma Jadhu from India, noted: "Dealing with the system was very easy and the procedures are excellent. The way participating retailers are clearly labelled made it very easy to know which stores are implementing the Scheme by simply looking for the 'tax-free' logo."
"I was very impressed with the system here in the UAE. I was able to recover the tax I had paid for my purchases in about 30 seconds. The procedures are excellent, transparent and very accurate," Sanya Sohanz from the USA commented. 
"I was very impressed with the system; I think is excellent," said Nadezhda Gorkavtseva from Russia. "The tax recovery procedure is easy, and all participating stores that I visited provided thorough yet simple explanations and instructions."
FTA Director General Ali Al Bustani announced that the number of refund requests processed totalled 5,000 applications per day, submitted by tourists leaving the UAE from one of 12 air, land, and sea ports.
Tourists can recover taxes upon their departure from the UAE and at tax refund offices located at exit ports around the country. They can submit tax invoices for their purchases - bearing the tax refund sticker from outlets registered in the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme - along with their passports and credit cards.
No maximum amount was set for transferring refundable tax to a tourist's credit card account. If the refund is requested in cash, however, the maximum amount that can be transferred in one day is Dh10,000.