Is there a way to get a refund on the VAT from an item that’s bought from off shore?

I’m trying to buy a gift from Etsy (The item is on the USA) for a polish person. When i was about to pay i noticed a big tax (VAT) that was like half the price of the item.

I was doing some digging and found this:
https://wearecommunity.io/communities/financial-literacy/articles/1076

But it appears that it’s only for tourists who go physical ly to Poland.

As a person who does not live in the US when i buy from there and ship to my country i can get the sales tax refunded.

I was wondering if the same thing exists for the EU or Poland. Or if i would be better buying something from within the EU itself.

4 comments

  1. As far I know it’s impossible. There is some way to avoid paying VAT but it’s complicated, couple of my friends did that via their friends visiting US and just pack it into the baggage. But as I said it’s complicated and very timeconsuming because flight to US are not so popular.

  2. I’ve heard of people doing it from other EU countries. But not from the US

  3. I guess you need to read about “tax free” option. However it is multi step process and if said object isnt quite expensive, don’t bother and pay the VAT, as you will waste more time trying to cash out the tax by having to visit these specific centres… If you can even get there.

  4. Well, how tax-free works: it allows a person, who is not a resident of a country (Poland here) to return VAT when leaving the country.
    So idk how can it work. Go in Poland, buy here, return VAT on leaving, then send it by mail?
    BTW, seller also should allow it, since a seller needs to get paperwork done.

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