Smartax NetworkTM has developed a sophisticated and secure system called TAXTRAXTM. Through this system Ushop Tax Free are able to offer a hassle free tax refund service to eligible travellers. Smartax NetworkTM uses the most innovative technologies to bring together a more stream lined system that will increase customer loyalty, manageability and a quicker refunding process.
Eligible travellers are residents of non European Union countries.
EU residents who are domiciled in a non EU country and do not intend to return to live, work, or study in the EU for a minimum period of twelve months may also be able to claim refunds.
Overseas visitors studying or working in the EU are only eligible to purchase goods under the refund scheme in the last 4 months of their stay in the EU.
In all cases, it is the responsibility of the traveller to provide evidence of non EU residency when registering for a tax free shopping card, and when claiming their refund.
Residents of the following countries are not currently eligible to use the scheme:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (including Monaco), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy (excluding the Vatican City), Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal (including Azores and Madeira), Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom (including Isle of Man but excluding Channel Islands)
Our system is web-based and is not reliant on the hardware. Please contact your hardware support.
If your internet connection is not working, you will need to complete a manual form or alternatively ask the customer to return at a later time with their receipts when the transaction can be put through manually once your internet connection has been re-established.
They will need to get their forms printed before leaving the UK. Once stamped by Customs at their departure point from the EU, the forms can be mailed back to us for a credit card refund, or alternatively the forms can be kept until the customer re-visits the UK, when they can get cash refund.
One of the benefits of using Ushop Tax Free as your refunding agent is that we use the Smartax Network to run the scheme. This means that your customers can have their forms printed at any of the Smartax Network appointed refund points, or alternatively they can print their own forms by logging into their tax free shopping account.
A list of Smartax Network refund points is available at www.smartaxrefund.com
All refund points using the Smartax Network should be able to offer a cash refund service. If this is not possible for whatever reason, the customer will need to post their forms back to us and we will arrange for their refund to be paid directly to their credit card account, bank account, or cheque sent to their home address.
All personal data is held securely by Smartax Network on behalf of Ushop Tax Free Smartax Network is registered with and conforms to all UK and EU data protection agencies strict guidelines and holds all customer data on behalf of the refund agents. The data is securely held and is not shared with any other third parties.
Absolutely no retailer information or customer purchase details are shared with any other retailers. In this regard the Smartax Network system is no different from your current credit card merchant accounts.
Smartax Network servers are located in secure locations in the UK and are professionally managed by experienced service staff. The database is backed up routinely as per Smartax Network guidelines.
By using Ushop Tax Free, your company will benefit from extensive marketing to promote your tax free shopping scheme, thus potentially increasing your exposure to eligible consumers and sales.
Your company will earn valuable commission on all tax free sales made to your eligible consumers.
Through your head office login you can see immediately how much tax free sales your company has made, as well as the amount of commissions your company has earned.
Our partnership with Smartax Network enables your customers to obtain cash refunds at allocated cash refund points and we also offer cheque and credit card refunds.
Ushop Tax Free will provide you with a unique login name and password when you register. You can then change your log in details at any time.
We will reset your password on request.
Smartax Network has developed a sophisticated and secure system called TAXTRAX. Through this system Ushop Tax Free are able to offer a hassle free tax refund service to eligible travellers. Smartax Network uses the most innovative technologies to bring together a more stream lined system that will increase customer loyalty, manageability and a quicker refunding process.
Eligible travellers are residents of non European Union countries.
EU residents who are domiciled in a non EU country and do not intend to return to live, work, or study in the EU for a minimum period of twelve months may also be able to claim refunds.
Overseas visitors studying or working in the EU are only eligible to purchase goods under the refund scheme in the last 4 months of their stay in the EU.
In all cases, it is the responsibility of the traveller to provide evidence of non EU residency when registering for a tax free shopping card, and when claiming their refund.
Residents of the following countries are not currently eligible to use the scheme:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (including Monaco), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy (excluding the Vatican City), Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal (including Azores and Madeira), Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom (including Isle of Man but excluding Channel Islands).
Smartax Network is the technology provider to refunding agent companies such as Ushop Tax Free which allows the eligible consumer to use one tax free refund card at subscribing membership retailer points regardless of who the retailer has chosen as their tax refund agent.
Your personal information is used to qualify your eligibility to claim sales tax refunds, and is stored securely in Smartax Network’s database. The Smartax Network database is as secure as the leading credit card companies.>
Smartax Network has strict guidelines, protocols, and procedures to make sure that the information held in our servers is secure and only available to the authorised parities.
Only Ushop Tax Free and Smartax Network can access your personal information.
Speed - The speed of transaction at busy airport locations and at the retail point will ease stress and time compared to the current paper based system. Smartax Network system will ease congestion and will allow more people to claim their refund.
Accuracy - The Smartax Network which Ushop Tax Free uses is designed to enable you to check your tax free eligible purchases, refund amounts, and trace any queries arising from any disputes or discrepancies online.
Security - Your information is held securely on our servers instead of you carrying paper forms which can be lost or stolen and would leave you open to ID theft and other such issues..
We follow the published legislations of the countries in which you made your purchases and will only hold information for the length of time the relevant Custom’s authorities dictate.
Yes. Further more you can access your account and update your personal details for things like change of passport number or change of address.
As the Ushop Tax Free card is Smartax Network enabled, you can use it where-ever you see the Smartax Network logo at participating member retailers.
A list of member retailers is available at www.smartaxrefund.com
We only collect the relevant details required by law to allow you to make a VAT refund claim.
On your exit from the European Union the appointed refund agents will print your forms and will direct you to the nearest customs office where you can get your forms stamped. You can then choose to return to Ushop Tax Free to have your refund in cash or ask for the refund to be sent on your credit card.
There are a number of costs associated with providing you with a tax refund service. These costs can only be recovered by charging an administration fee.
You can log in to update your personal profile through the Ushop Tax Free website. Your login name is your card number and the password is your passport number. When you login the first time you can change your password to something that is more memorable to you.
Make sure you have all the goods you are claiming a refund for, together with the original retailers receipts readily available for inspection at Customs when making your claim. You will also need to have your passport and flight ticket ready for inspection at the same time.
Visit our website and login through Existing Customer pages.
We set this as default to your passport number. Only you know your passport number. Once you have logged in to your account, you can change your password if you so wish.
This is fourteen digit numbers on your card.
Yes, if you have access to the internet and printer. But we would only advise you to do this if you were travelling from a location where we don’t have refund points.
No, you must not allow anyone else to use your card or make purchases on your behalf.
Yes, you must only declare the purchases you are exporting. You can either remove the items before printing or cross them out on the paper form before you declare this to customs. IT IS A SERIOUS OFFENCE TO MAKE A FALSE DECLARATION.
Yes. But you must provide the passport number so the shop keeper can adjust your record of purchase.
Don’t worry this can happen. Your personal and purchase details are securely held on our servers.
We have designed our cards to be anonymous so even if your card is lost or stolen you will not lose your personal details or your purchase details. To replace your card please pick up another card at any participating retailer and contact our customer service department who will be more than happy to transfer all your personal and purchase details to your new card.
In order for us to replace or re issue you a new card we only need to have your name and passport number.
The refund agents can retrieve your details provided you meet our security check and have the passport you registered with available.
Yes, through login pages on our website or participating websites.
You can login yourself and update your profile or call our customer service number during office hours and we will be happy to assist.
You can also send us an email request.