Tax is something we all have to pay on more or less every purchase we ever make. It is what fuels our economy and gives our government money so that they can run the country.

So tax is what makes our economy and more or less the whole capitalist system work by giving the government a slice of the profit from every transaction made in a store and every persons wage packet.

However, it is for these reasons that we all despise tax! Yes it allows our country to be run in a way that benefits everyone and yes, if nobody paid any tax then the chances are anarchy would break out, but even so, our money is being taken from us, so aren’t we entitled to at least have a little moan about it?

However if you are a citizen of a country outside the EU and you are visiting the UK (or one of the other qualifying countries within the EU) then there is a scheme in place that allows you to claim back tax that you pay on purchases from certain stores.

There are 5 steps you should take in order for you to claim back your tax, and they are:

1. Look for the sticker in shop windows indicating that they participate in the tax free shopping scheme.

2. Ask what the minimum spending amount is to qualify for the tax refund as this can change from shop to shop.

3. Once you’ve made your purchases and paid at least the minimum amount for your goods, ask for the tax refund cheque form behind the counter.

4. When you show your passport at customs on the way home, display the completed tax refund cheque form.

5. Either go to the tax refund office in the airport to claim your money back, or you can send the form off in the post and receive the money in cheque form or have it credited to your credit card.