Tax back on purchases??

I have recently returned to Ireland from a holiday in New York where I purchased quite a lot of items! My querry is: I paid tax on all of my purchases and I would like to know if I can claim this tax back seeing as I am not an American tax-payer? I have kept all of my receipts and await help!

You may have been able to reclaim US tax paid, but probably would have to have a form stamped by US customs on leaving the country. might be of some use. These guys process tax refunds for tourists (for a fee of course).

In many countries tax on purchases over a certain value can be reclaimed by visitors but to do this you generally have to process the claim or at least register it in the shop where the purchase was made and then at customs at the point of departure. If you have not done this then I doubt that you can reclaim taxes. Just be grateful that you presumably didn't get charged Irish taxes/duties on bringing the items into Ireland as strictly should be the case for items above a certain value which should be declared.

Post crossed with previous one.