8.25% california sales tax refund for notebook pruchase by foreigner buyer in SFO airport?
Answer:
The previous 2 answers are correct. The tax is imposed upon the transaction that has taken place in CA. There are no refunds of sales taxes like some countries allow refunds of VAT taxes paid on items exported. To escape the sales tax, you should have had the vendor ship the item to your foreign address.
I'm not 100% certain, but I don't think you can -- the sales tax is a state and local tax on all items sold within their jurisdiction, regardless of who bought them. For example, someone from Oregon (which has no sales tax) cannot get a refund of sales tax on something they bought in California.
You might be able to get a refund of any customs duties paid since you are now removing the item from the US -- this is assuming it was made outside the US -- but you will have to pay duties when you arrive in your home country (unless the item was made there). Contact the Customs Department for information on this.
I'm sorry to say the tax is not refundable. Sadly, many less-than-honest retailers wanting to make a sale will tell visitors that they can get their sales tax back at the airport. It is a tax assessed by the individual states for items that are delivered within the state. California specifically does not recognize whether a purchaser is a resident or a visitor. As long as the money and the merchadise changed hands in the state, they keep the money.
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