MEMBER INFORMATION: INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING A TAX-FREE VOUCHER

 

This is a regular sale for your store. The salesperson charges the full amount of the sale, including sales tax for the purchase. You still collect and pay the full tax amount to the proper taxing authority; your bookkeeping procedures remain the same.
  1. Ask for the visitor’s foreign passport or current official picture identification; record the passport or ID number and country of origin on the voucher. Canadians may substitute a driver’s license or birth certificate. Substitute the driver’s license or birth certificate number for the passport number. Sailors may substitute a sailor’s identification card, which contains the passport number, and seamen may use their shore pass.

  2. Complete the date issued (date the voucher is issued).

  3. Fill in the total amount of purchase including tax.
    Note: If the visitor purchases both eligible and non-eligible items, circle the goods on the sales receipt that are not eligible and mark “not eligible”. Then, if possible, deduct that amount from both the total purchase and the tax refund amount when filling out the voucher.

  4. Fill in the total amount of the taxes to be refunded. (The amount of tax will always include Louisiana State sales tax as well as the participating Parish tax.)

  5. Check off the appropriate classification of item(s) purchased. (see category list below) (This is important for recording buying trends in the market.)

CATEGORY LIST
Apparel and accessories

Baby clothes, men and boy’s apparel, women and girl’s apparel, shoes, scarves, hats ties, and costume jewelry, hair accessories, belts, etc
Electronics

Computers, computer supplies, small electronics, photo equipment and supplies, audio and video equipment, televisions, PDA’s etc.
Health and Beauty

Cosmetics, cologne, perfume, toiletries, prescriptions, prescription, eyeglasses, vitamins etc.
Fine Art, Fine Jewelry and Antiques

Paintings, sculptures, antique furniture, fine china, crystal and jewels
Entertainment

Videos, tapes, CD’s, DVD’s, video or computer games, gaming systems, books, toys, sporting goods, musical equipment and religious items
Office, House wares and Home Furnishings

Linens, tapestry, large and small household appliances, luggage, kitchenware, lawn furniture and equipment, dinnerware, cooking equipment and household decorations
Gifts, Souvenirs and novelties

Greeting cards, gadgets, and New Orleans memorabilia
Please note the following instructions:

  • DO NOT swap vouchers between stores. Each store has their own LTFS identification number and is responsible for their sales only.
  • You cannot issue a voucher for a sales receipt from another store because each store has its own State and Parish identification number.
  • Vouchers should be issued to the foreign passport holder and not to other family members.
  • There’s NO MINIMUM purchase requirement.

What is the procedure for returns and errors?

  • If a voucher error is made, the voucher must be VOIDED using the following procedure: Write VOID and the reason (i.e., error, return) across the front of the voucher.
  • VOUCHERS ARE NOT FREE. CARE SHOULD BE EXERCISED TO FILLING OUT THE VOUCHER CORRECTLY.
  • If an international visitor returns a purchase for which a tax refund voucher was issued, the retailer must ask for the sales receipt and voucher. Follow the standard VOID procedure for the voucher. If the customer made more than one purchase, circle the returned item on the sales receipt and note returned. After voiding the original voucher issue a new one for the corrected amount.
What if the international visitor does not understand me? Simply point to the instructional pages of the LTFS Guide where the program instructions are printed in seven languages. The retailer may obtain copies of bilingual instructions upon request from the Louisiana Tax Free Shopping administrative office.

How does the international visitor obtain a refund?
Note: The retailer is not responsible for providing the refund. This may be obtained through the steps outlined below. The following is provided as general information.

Obtaining a refund at the Refund Center:
To claim the tax refund, the LTFS international visitor must present the voucher and associated receipts, a passport and an international travel ticket. The visitor may be asked to show the merchandise.  The LTFS Refund Centers are located in the main lobby of the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport; on the 3rd level of Riverwalk Marketplace in downtown New Orleans; at the Main branches of Hibernia National bank in the cities of Shreveport and Lafayette.  If the refund amount is over $500, a check in U.S. dollars will be mailed to the visitor’s home address.

Obtaining a refund by mail:
The visitor may mail vouchers rather than stopping at the LTFS Refund Center. The visitor must mail the documents listed below to:

Louisiana Tax Free Shopping Refund Center
P.O. Box 20125
New Orleans, LA  70141
  • original refund voucher(s) and associated receipt(s),
  • a copy of the passport,
  • a copy of the international roundtrip travel ticket, a statement indicating the reason why the traveler did not claim the refund at the airport.
If you need more information on the program, request training or place an order for voucher books, contact the LTFS Administrative Office:
Louis Armstrong International Airport
900 Airline Hwy, Second Floor
Kenner, LA  70065
Office: (504) 467-0723
Fax: (504) 471-2777
E-mail: LTFS@bellsouth.net
Website: www.louisianataxfree.com


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