Tax-Free Shopping
Restore VAT RES and ESC scheme in the UK and extend to EU residents
Learn more about the benefits of tax-free shopping and the potential new EU market worth £10bn
Research and Briefings
AIR's 2023 Nov Evidence on the impact of ending tax-free shopping
You can read the briefing here.
Joint letter to the Chancellor by industry leaders
AIR, UKInbound, Tourism Alliance join to urge the Chancellor to restore tax-free shopping
You can read the letter here.
Briefing for New Government - July 2024
Why tax-free shopping is a quick growth measure
You can read the report here.
Briefing for the Financial Secretary - Apr 2024
Briefing prepared by AIR for a meeting with the Financial Secretary to the Treasury
You can read the briefing here.
In the News
Luxury, tax-free shopping should come back to London — Labour make it happen
The Standard, July 11th
“The data is clear. Research by the Association of International Retail shows that in addition to the £10 billion in tourism spend, the return of VAT-free shopping would help contribute to the wider economy — to the tune around £4 billion in GDP annually.”
Restore tourist tax break to boost retail, demands fashion body
The Times, 8th July 2024
The scrapping of VAT-free shopping for tourists is having a “significant impact” on British retail and hospitality, an influential trade body has warned.
The scrapping of VAT-free shopping for tourists is having a “significant impact” on British retail and hospitality, an influential trade body has warned.
Our Activities
AIR tells Rachel Reeves – use tax-free shopping to kick-start growth
July 5th
AIR’s TFS briefing for the Chancellor builds on the Government’s manifesto commitment on growth and shows how the Conservatives missed the opportunity of creating a new £10bn tourism market by ending tax-free shopping rather than extending it to visitors from the EU.
The briefing shows how the previous government's’ TFS costing forecasts have been discredited by all the new data.
Working with the new Government - update on AIR's activities with the new Parliament and Government
8th July 2024
The July AIR Wave highlights our activities before and after the election to promote tax-free shopping as a growth measure to the new Parliament and Labour Government.
2024 Autumn Budget submission guideline
Jul. 30, 2024AIR Wave: Tax-free shopping campaign update – July 2024
Jul. 19, 2024AIR’s letter to the Chancellor – “Kick-start growth by bringing back tax-free shopping”
Jul. 18, 2024CEO Paul Barnes’ letter to The Times on tax-free shopping
Jul. 09, 2024Helping to kick-start the economy – Tax-Free Shopping
Jul. 01, 2024Help us Bring Back Tax-Free Shopping
Paul Barnes - CEO
paul@internationalretail.co.uk
Pete Bowyer – Director/Labour Lead
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