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mcampb9107
July 24th, 2011, 01:00 AM
I am still in the states didn't know if this is new or old but for the good of the group I am going to post it up.

http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/germany/tks-offering-vat-savings-on-monthly-bills-in-germany-1.149866

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Beginning in August, Defense Department personnel who qualify for the German value-added-tax relief program may use it to save 19 percent on their monthly Telepost Kabel-Service bills, according to military and corporate officials.


Customers must use a VAT form for each monthly bill, though people can submit to their local TKS store multiple forms in advance to cover a few months at a time, said Nikki Brown, a VAT employee on Kleber Kaserne in Kaiserslautern.


TKS’ main target audience is U.S. and British defense personnel assigned to Germany, said Alexander Wolter of the TKS corporate office in Kaiserslautern. He estimates the company has more than 30,000 American customers.


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“We are the only company in Germany offering this program,” Wolter said.
Deutsche Telekom, the largest telephone and Internet company in Germany, did not return a phone call or respond to an email Friday when asked if it might offer its U.S. clients a similar deal.


TKS launched a pilot program earlier this year. Brown said her mother was one of the customers randomly chosen to participate.
“There were a handful of people who got selected for the pilot program,” Brown said. “It’s a very easy process.”


In her mother’s case, she walked into a TKS branch store with three VAT forms to cover three months. Brown said her mother saved about 15 euros, or about $21.50. That excludes the cost of the VAT form, which is $4 for one, less if you purchase six or more, with 10 being the limit.


Brown said her mother received her VAT form customer copy in the mail each month. For more information, visit the TKS website, www.tkscable.com/vatfree.aspx.

JOFTAA
July 24th, 2011, 02:15 AM
While this seems like a nice idea on the surface, this is going to be a real pain in the ass for people. I would not want to leave my VAT forms with TKS because I would fear that they would lose them. Considering we are only allowed to have ten VAT forms, and they can only be replaced when they are turned in, each lost VAT form means one less to be able to use.

They should do this like the utility program. Just sign up for the program and be exempt from the VAT. This would be so much better than having to give TKS a bunch of VAT forms.

mcampb9107
July 24th, 2011, 02:24 AM
After going to the tks site you have these added topics, I would not want to leave my forms there either but I would do a one by one deal and outside of the mailing it back would try to resort to them maybe using an copy.

Getting Started

Simply submit a VAT form at your local TKSShop.

One VAT form is good for one monthly billing period.

Submit additional forms for tax-free coverage over multiple billing periods.

The exemption is automatically credited to your next invoice.

Qualifications

Exclusively for TKS customers that are DoD entitled personnel.

Exemption can be applied only to forthcoming invoices; a retroactive exemption on previously issued bills is not possible.

Available for TKS telephone and Internet services that normally contain 19% German value added tax (VAT).

VAT relief is not available for services from other providers or carriers, for example Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Kabel Deutschland, etc.


FAQ


Q: Can I get the VAT removed from my old bills?
A: Unfortunately no, it is not possible to obtain VAT relief on previously issued TKS bills.
Q: Is there a deadline for submitting VAT forms?
A: Yes, your VAT form must be received 1 month in advance of the next billing cycle.
Q: Is VAT relief available for my mobile phone services?
A: No, the TKS VAT relief program is exclusively available for “TKS brand” services, carriers such Vodafone and T-Mobile for example do not offer this benefit.
Q: Can I submit more than one VAT form at a time?
A: Yes. One VAT form is applied to one monthly invoice and there is no limit to how many are submitted. We recommend providing at least 3 VAT forms to ensure 3 months of continuous VAT relief.
Q: Do I have to submit my VAT forms in person?
A: Yes, please bring your VAT forms in person to your nearest TKSShop.
Q: Can I still pay my bills online?
A: Yes, the VAT will be automatically subtracted from your bill, therefore you may pay your bills in full the same way you always have.

Q: When do I get my copy of the VAT form back?
A: It will be mailed to you in the middle of the following month.







While this seems like a nice idea on the surface, this is going to be a real pain in the ass for people. I would not want to leave my VAT forms with TKS because I would fear that they would lose them. Considering we are only allowed to have ten VAT forms, and they can only be replaced when they are turned in, each lost VAT form means one less to be able to use.

They should do this like the utility program. Just sign up for the program and be exempt from the VAT. This would be so much better than having to give TKS a bunch of VAT forms.

Does any other phone or internet companies take VAT, I have read on the forums that the utility program does?

JOFTAA
July 24th, 2011, 02:58 AM
The bottom line is that I do not trust TKS to handle my VAT forms without losing them.

I can only imagine how many people are going to be lacking VAT forms due to them being mishandled.

mcampb9107
July 24th, 2011, 03:35 AM
I understand and fill the same way as stated it may be something they can do since it is applied at the store. It will have to be something we will have to see. If that propblem is worked out the that will be a nice savings. And would make them the cheapest over everyone else unless they offer the same.

JOFTAA
July 24th, 2011, 01:25 PM
Actually, Deutsche Telekom is cheaper. You can get faster Internet speeds and the same calling plans for a lot less, even with paying the VAT to DT.

TKS is quite expensive.

twinmama
July 25th, 2011, 12:16 AM
I'm excited. I have TKS and I pay in person at the KMC mall each month. So I'm just going to bring a VAT form in with me each time so I can keep track of them easier.

mcampb9107
July 25th, 2011, 01:39 AM
It doesn't go in effect until 1 Aug and it has to be received by the end of each month so, I guess you could go in anytime after that just keep us posted on how it works.

DakotaCowgirl
July 25th, 2011, 03:41 PM
We did the trial on the TKS vat form. It was very easy. The hardest thing was me remembering to bring in the form. Saving €10 each time was nice.

I just took it in when I paid my bill, they filled it out, put the vat number in their computer, and I got it back after it cycled through. Never had trouble.

Granted, we do have humans and every human makes mistakes.

JOFTAA
July 25th, 2011, 04:11 PM
In the past I have paid my bill online. That is convenient. Having to go to either The KMCC or Pulaski to pay is not convenient for me.

This means that unless it is convenient for you to go to their payment locations with a VAT form, you have to give them the VAT form in advance.

I suppose that for some, this is worth while. For me, it would be worth while if I knew for sure that I could get replacement VAT forms if TKS were to misplace them.