france tourist refund

VATRefund.Org

Defending your rights to a VAT refund

Complete Guide to VAT Refund for Visitors in France

Are you planning a trip to France and wondering how to claim a VAT refund on your purchases? As a visitor to France, you may be eligible to buy goods tax-free and get a refund on the Value Added Tax (VAT) you paid during your stay. This guide will walk you through the process of obtaining a VAT refund step by step, making your shopping experience in France even more enjoyable (cheaper).

Country VAT rates

20% Standard VAT rate

10% Medicines and pharmaceutical

5.5% Food and books

2.1% Reduced rate for certain products and services

Minimum spend 100,01 euro . (or combined invoices, use an app!)

VAT Refund Calculator for France

Vat refund guide for france.

See French Customs Flyer (English)

1. Check Your Eligibility: Ensure that you are eligible for the VAT refund . To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a non-EU resident.
• Have spent less than six months in the EU.
• Be at least 16 years old.
• Make purchases for personal use, not for commercial purposes.

2. Carry Your Passport or non-EU-resident card

Always carry your passport with you while shopping. Your passport will be needed as proof that you are a non-EU resident eligible for the VAT refund.

3. Check vendor for VAT Form capabilities, Request an Invoice & VAT Tax Refund Document

While making your purchase, ensure you get an itemized invoice from the store. The invoice should include details such as the store’s name, your purchases, the total amount paid, and the VAT amount.

Ask the store for thea VAT Tax Refund document, also known as a tax-free form. This form will be crucial for processing your VAT refund. The form must be signed by both the retailer and you.

Before You Check-in your luggage/departure:

6. Stamp/Validate your VAT Refund form at a Customs Office at the place you are leaving the European Union.

If France is not your last country in Europe you go to before going back home, stamp your tax form in the country you will leave from . May it be Italy, Spain or another EU member state.

(Most Customs Offices / PABLO are found before the passport control . So go there before you check in your luggage, so you can show your bought items).

Before departing France, stamp your VAT refund document at a customs office at the airport or train station. These days, most forms go through an electronic machine and system called ‘Pablo’. You will only have to scan your form (or digital form or helping app) and you are done!

Keep the items with you when passing the customs office for your tax exemption stamp. You may be subjected to a test if you actually are taking the claimed items with you abroad. In case you cannot show them, a refund will not be given and you risk getting a fine .

Understanding Tax Refund Calculations

Understanding how tax refunds are calculated is crucial. While it might seem that a 20% VAT refund would result in a 20% reimbursement from your purchase, it’s not quite that simple. The calculation follows this pattern: Starting with 100 Euro + 20% equals 120 Euro. However, 120 Euro – 20% doesn’t equal 120 Euro. Instead, it’s 120 Euro – 16.66% which equals 100 Euro.

Keep in mind that the tax refund amount will be further reduced after accounting for administration fees.

7. Anticipate Your Refund

You can expect to receive your VAT refund within the next 30 to 90 days, up to 6 months in case of the holiday season (June-August). The refund will be credited to the same credit card you used for the eligible purchases.

8. Enjoy Your Savings !

Once you receive your VAT refund, enjoy the extra savings from your tax-free shopping in France!

Happy shopping and bon voyage!

Understanding the VAT Tax Refund Process

Steps for obtaining vat tax refund.

Start Your Shopping Spree! Spend €100.01 or More at a Single Store or Department Store Request an Invoice for Your Purchase Get a VAT Tax Refund Document Ensure You Carry Your Passport Stamp your Tax document Before Leaving France/EU Validate Your Tax Refund Documents at the Airport, Train Station or Port of departure Keep Your Purchases Accessible for Customs Inspection Anticipate Your Refund! Within the Next 30 – 90 Days, Receive Your Refund on the Original Credit Card Used for Purchase. It can take up to six months when you submit during summer.

From the French Customs ‘ website:

If you travel by international train

You must have the tax refund slips stamped during the trip or at the border station (on leaving the European Union) by the customs service.

If you are traveling on a ship or an international road vehicle

You must have the tax refund slips endorsed by the customs services at the last port or at the road exit point from the European Union.

If you leave the European Union via a Member State other than France

After checking, the customs service of this Member State will return the document to you.

Locations of French Customs PABLO VAT Stamp terminals:

Location of Pablo terminals deployed in the french country (pdf)

Question & Answers

Q&A: VAT Refund in France

Who is eligible for a VAT refund in France? Non-EU residents who have spent less than six months in the EU, are at least 16 years old, and make purchases for personal use (not commercial purposes) are eligible for a VAT refund in France.

How much VAT refund can I expect to receive? On average, you can expect a 12% refund on your eligible purchases (with a commercial VAt refund processor). However, certain items such as pharmacy goods offer a 10% refund, and food and books provide a 5.5% refund.

What is the minimum purchase amount required to qualify for a VAT refund? The minimum purchase amount to qualify for a VAT refund varies, but it is usually around €175. Some stores may have different minimum spend requirements, so it’s best to check with them beforehand.

How do I request a VAT refund form? When making a qualifying purchase at a store displaying the “Tax-Free Shopping” or “Detaxe” logo, ask the cashier for the VAT refund form and present your passport as proof of eligibility.

Where do I get the VAT refund form stamped? Before leaving France, you must get the VAT refund form stamped by the customs authorities. You can do this at the airport or at designated customs offices in major cities. See locations .

Can I get an immediate refund at the store? Some large department stores offer on-the-spot refunds at a slightly lower rate (around 10.8%). However, for the standard refund process, it may take several weeks to months to receive the refund.

Do I need to keep my purchases accessible? Yes, it’s essential to keep the purchased items with you and accessible, as customs officers may want to verify them when you request the VAT refund.

Can I use a VAT refund app for the process? Yes, there are VAT refund apps available that allow you to process the refund digitally from your mobile phone. This can help consolidate purchases from different shops and avoid the minimum spend restriction per transaction.

Can I claim a VAT refund if I have a layover in another EU country? No, you must process the VAT refund in the country you leave from, not where the layover occurs.

What if I forget to submit the VAT refund form at the airport? If you forget to submit the VAT refund form at the airport, you can still request a refund by following specific steps and submitting the necessary documents to the French Customs authorities within six months of purchase.

How To Get VAT Refund When Shopping In France For Tourists: Full Guide

By: Author Christine Rogador

Posted on January 23, 2024

If you’re a tourist shopping in France, it’s possible to get a VAT refund on your purchases. This full guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to navigate the process and claim your refund successfully. Don’t miss out on saving money during your visit to France!

Shopping in France provides several options to indulge in premium brands, high-quality goods, and one-of-a-kind items.

One of the benefits of shopping in France for non-European Union (EU) visitors is the ability to reclaim Value Added Tax (VAT) on purchases, which allows them to save money.

Understanding the VAT return process might enhance your buying experience. Here’s a detailed guide on getting a VAT refund while shopping in France.

Things you'll find in this article

Who is Eligible for a VAT Refund in France?

Individuals who do not qualify for a vat refund in france, who is considered a visitor or tourist, step 1. spend more than €100 in vat-refund eligible stores, step 2: request a vat tax refund form, step 3: validate your refund form, step 4: drop your form in the refund mailbox, step 5: receive your refund, receive your vat refund via an app, select your language, scan the bar code, wait for customs approval then claim your money, if you’re unable to complete the vat refund formalities before leaving france, taxable transactions by nature, taxable transactions by legal provision, taxable transactions by option, things that may result in the refusal of your request for a customs stamp, shop at participating retailers, always ask and validate the form, specify the method of refund, what if france is not my last departure point from the eu, can i obtain a refund right away at the store, how much does it cost to get a vat refund in france, how do i claim my tax refund at paris airport, how long does it take to get a vat refund in france, what items are exempt from vat in france.

Not everyone is eligible, and the procedure might be difficult to navigate. To throw some light on this, let’s look at who qualifies for a VAT refund in France and how to apply for one.

To be eligible for a VAT refund, you must:

• You must be at least 16 years old.
• At the time of purchase, you must be a citizen of a non-EU country.
• Been in France for about six months.

In France, the typical VAT rate is 20%. France will repay you between 12% and 12% of the money that you spend on items subject to ordinary VAT rates during your vacation. The minimum purchasing amount is 100 EUR.

• Residents of an EU State.
• People who are leaving the EU to work in a non-EU nation or territory.
• Individuals who are relocating to France or the European Union.
• Students who spend six months or longer per year in France or the European Union.
• Beneficiaries of French social security seeking a VAT refund for partially or completely reimbursable pharmaceutical items.

A ‘visitor,’ according to the Taxation and Customs Union of the European Commission , is somebody who stays permanently or regularly in a nation outside the EU. The address on your passport or other identifying document will be considered your permanent or habitual residence.

In certain nations, you may also qualify as a ‘visitor’ if you are in an EU country for a specific reason but your permanent residence is outside the EU and you do not expect to return to the EU shortly. VAT refunds are also available to EU nationals permanently residing in non-EU countries.

Step-by-Step Guide to Receive a VAT Refund in-Store

The procedure of requesting a VAT refund may appear overwhelming at first. This step-by-step guidance is intended to simplify the procedure and ensure that you can recover VAT on qualified purchases promptly.

Look for businesses that participate in VAT refund programs. When you arrive at the store, inquire ahead of time whether this service is available. These are frequently tourist-oriented shops with extensive signs stating their involvement in VAT refund programs.

Tourist-related retail purchases are eligible; commercial-related ones are not. Some commodities are not eligible for VAT refunds owing to their nature.

Tobacco products, petroleum products, firearms, cultural assets, and commodities susceptible to particular procedures are examples of things that do not qualify for a VAT refund.

Stores that give VAT refunds frequently do it with the assistance of a tax-free partner. If you present your passport at the checkout process, the sales clerk will offer you a VAT refund form from the store’s designated agent.

Prepare to receive 30-50% less VAT refunded after several deductions, which are not usually stated, because both the business and the third-party tax refund provider make a fee on your transaction.

Because various retailers have different VAT refund partners, you may receive several tax refund forms. You must follow the procedures provided by each operator to authenticate your tax claim and obtain your VAT refund.

Before departing France, you must authenticate your Refund Form at your last departure point. Electronic détaxe kiosks, often known as “PABLO” kiosks, may now scan and authenticate your forms in a couple of minutes. Here is a list of PABLO Kiosk Terminals in France.

If this is not an option, you must locate the local customs office by looking for the détaxe signage at the place of departure and get a printed copy of your refund form properly stamped for it to be verified.

Make sure your items are in your carry-on for the customs inspector to inspect. This must be done before the end of the third month after the month in which your purchase was made.

These verified paper forms must then be submitted, along with the original receipts, to the authorized refund mailbox.

Then you will get your refund back in the way you specified when you submit the tax refund papers in the shop. If you wish to verify the status of a conventional tax refund, you can send an email to the firm.

You will get your refund on the exact credit card you used to purchase the goods within the next 20 to 90 days.

Other than collecting your tax refunds in-store, you may also get your VAT refunded through an app such as Skiptax , Wevat , or Airvat tax refund.

The biggest advantage of adopting a digital approach is that you get a higher amount back, and it works for any business that issues an invoice. Furthermore, there is no set minimum spending per shop.

During your vacation to France, you just need to spend more than €100 on total purchases. You also do not need to produce your passport when requesting a refund form. Rather, before you pay, request an invoice sent to the VAT App.

The program sums submitted invoices into one digital refund form, which you can simply scan at a PABLO tax refund kiosk for the nearest airport or rail station before returning home.

You should get your reimbursement immediately once your form has been verified. That’s all there is to it. Meanwhile, you may take your purchases home to enjoy and use while you wait for funds to be put back into your account.

How PABLO Tax Refund Kiosk Works

PABLO is a mechanism designed to make tax refunds easier for travelers visiting France.

PABLO kiosks may be located at several airports, allowing travelers to recover value-added tax (VAT) on qualified purchases made during their stay, whether you’re experiencing the splendor of Paris or basking in the charm of Provence.

PABLO kiosks are commonly found near Customs offices in French international airports as well as border crossings.

The first step when you approach the PABLO Tax Refund Kiosk is to pick your favorite language.

This insignificant decision has enormous ramifications since it sets the tone for the whole VAT refund procedure.  Choose one of the eight languages available on the touch screen.

Using the reader, scan the bar code on your form. Scanning the barcode on the Tax-Free Shopping Form at the kiosk is critical. This step is critical in confirming the data and starting the refund procedure.

A green screen will emerge with the message “OK, form valid”: this electronic approval is equivalent to a Customs stamp, and the process has been approved. If a red screen displays, follow the directions that appear on the screen.

Once your form has been examined and approved, you can get a refund directly at a payment window if one is available at the exit point you are departing from, or you may ask for a refund via bank transfer; you should notify the store of your choice of method when purchasing the goods.

Don’t worry, you can still get a VAT refund. To seek a refund, you have to get a receipt from your country’s Customs agency demonstrating that you paid the tax and VAT on the products purchased.

To receive a stamp or certificate indicating that the items have been viewed, provide a copy of the export authorization form and the products bought to the French embassy or consulate in your nation of residence.

Submit your regularization request to the Customs office at the French port of departure around six months from the date of acquisition. You must include the following with your request:

• A letter describing why you were unsuccessful in completing the VAT refund procedures before departing France or the EU. The message must also specify the date and time of your departure from France.
• Customs receipt from your nation, or a certificate/export sales form stamped by the French embassy or consulate.
• A duplicate of an official document demonstrating that you are not a resident of the EU.
• Your plane ticket.

Taxable Transactions in France

Understanding taxable transactions is critical for complying with French tax regulations while conducting a company or engaging in transactions inside the country.

According to the French Government , transactions are classified based on their nature, legal conditions, and alternative options, with each having its tax effects.

The selling of commodities, the supply of services, and the transfer of assets are all examples of transactions that may be taxed. The value-added tax (VAT) is an important factor to consider when purchasing products and services.

VAT rates vary depending on the kind of products or services delivered. Any transportable commodities supply, service provision, or intra-community purchase that:

• Contains the buyer’s purchase of a counterpart.
• falls under the purview of an economic activity.
• Is performed by a person who engages in a regular and independent commercial activity.

Aside from the intrinsic character of transactions, French tax rules specify which transactions are taxed depending on legislative criteria.

These laws cover a wide range of actions and situations. These are the transactions that are subject to VAT under the law. These, in particular, are:

• Deliveries of goods and services to oneself.
• Transactions involving the transfer of buildings performed within the last five years.

In some cases, French taxpayers have the option of selecting specific tax regimes or structures that might impact the taxation of their transactions.

Certain individuals who are not subject to VAT are permitted to levy VAT on their transactions. This is true for:

• Those who rent unfurnished industrial and commercial space.
• Companies that typically qualify for VAT exemption but seek to opt out of this.
• Local governments for some services, and regional governments for the selling of construction plots.
• Farmers who are exempt from obligatory VAT.

Requests for customs stamps are often denied, creating discomfort and even impeding corporate operations.

Understanding the issues that may lead to such petitions being denied is critical for individuals and enterprises involved in global commerce.

According to the Customs Service of France , there are various reasons why your request for a customs stamp may be denied.

• You lack the necessary supporting documentation.
• You do not offer your purchases along with the VAT refund form.
• The goods for which you have asked for a VAT refund are not personal.
• The VAT refund form provided by the vendor does not comply with current rules.
• Your VAT refund form’s validity time has ended.
• The VAT refund form provided by the shop is not signed.
• The individual whose name is displayed on the form is not you.

Tips When Getting a VAT Refund when Shopping in France as a Tourist

There’s an added bonus for savvy shoppers: the ability to get a VAT refund on qualified purchases. Here are three important tips to help you with your VAT refund when buying in France.

Prioritize establishments linked with tax return schemes while engaging in shopping therapy. Look for stores that have “Tax-Free Shopping” or “Detaxe” signage. These businesses are members of VAT refund networks and will supply you with the documents you need to recover VAT.

Ensure that the store provides you with a VAT refund form (also known as a tax-free form) that details your purchase. This paperwork is required to process your refund at the airport before leaving France.

The key to a successful VAT refund is accurate paperwork. Request a completed VAT refund form from the shop after completing a purchase.

On the form, essential information such as your name, passport number, bought products, VAT amount, and store data should be thoroughly noted.

Before leaving France, get your VAT refund paperwork validated at the airport. Present your goods, receipts, and passport for scrutiny at the customs office or authorized tax refund counters.

Customs agents will stamp the documents, confirming that the things are leaving the country and confirming your entitlement for a refund.

The VAT refund process differs depending on the tax refund plan selected and the method chosen (cash refund at the airport, credit card reimbursement, or direct deposit).

While cash refunds are accessible at designated airport counters, credit card reimbursements sometimes require the submission of verified documents by mail or online.

Remember that VAT refund requests must be filed within three months of the purchase date. As a result, conclude your refund processes as soon as possible before this deadline to ensure a seamless reimbursement.

If France isn’t your last point of departure from the EU, or if you are not leaving from one of France’s primary international airports, you will have to obtain a manual customs stamp on a printed duplicate of the tax-free form because there will be no Pablo “détaxe” kiosk that can read the barcode.

Follow the instructions provided by the VAT refund operator who supplied the paperwork for the shop’s tax-free forms. Typically, this entails dropping the original paperwork into a letter box at the airport or mailing it to the agent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some popular shopping centers provide somewhat lower-rate on-the-spot refunds. However, the typical refund process might take many weeks to months to complete.

France will repay you between 12% and 12% of whatever you spend on items subject to ordinary VAT rates during your vacation. The minimum purchasing amount is 100 EUR.

When you get to the airport for your return flight, go to the tax refund counter. Do this before checking in your luggage and going through security, and make sure you have the necessary goods and paperwork on hand for examination. During flight operations hours, French Customs tax refund desks remain accessible.

For a credit card refund, the time restriction is 3 months following the month of buying, or 23 days from the day the item was bought for an instant refund.

Exports of products are generally free from VAT. The VAT on your imports needs to be submitted to French Customs when the products reach clearance at the border, which means that foreign goods are subject to taxation at the same rate as French goods.

Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.

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How To Apply For The EU-VAT Refund In France

Want to get money back when you make a purchase in France? Yes, you can and it’s easy. It’s the European Union VAT (Value-Added Tax or TVA in French) that you’ll get as long as you know the rules and follow the procedures. 

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I get a small commission at no extra charge to you. It helps support the running of this website and I do appreciate your help.*

Here’s the best news: in August 2021, the minimum amount of your purchase decreased from 175 € to 100 €. While the typical tax is 20%, the average refund is 12%. It could be higher or lower, depending on the purchase.

Qualifying To Get The Euro VAT Tax Refund

In order to qualify for the VAT refund:

• You must purchase merchandise in the European Union and export it (ie. you’re traveling home, outside the EU) within 3 months after the date of purchase.
• The purchase must be over 100 € in the same store on the same day.
• You must not be a resident of the European Union (EU). 
• You must be 16 years of age or older.
• At the time of purchase, you must provide proof that you live in a non-EU country (ie. passport—the actual one, not a copy)
• Only retail purchases are eligible (ie. items tourists would buy). 
• Only certain stores have tax-free shopping. Usually, they have a sign indicating that they do, so be sure to ask first before buying. Supermarkets, convenience stores, and restaurants, for example, would not qualify.
• When you are at the retail store, you need to tell the cashier that you will be applying for the VAT refund.
• The retailer will complete a Détaxe form and request that you provide information from your passport. It is signed by the retailer and you. 
• Some stores, like Galeries Lafayette require you to go to a different floor where they have a booth that deals just with refunds.

How To Get Your Refund

Option #1: Immediate Refund

Some stores (usually high-end ones) will actually give you the refund immediately, but often it’s at a lower rate than you would get if you took option #2.

Option #2: Apply For The Refund At The Airport

Do this when you are to leave the European Union and BEFORE you go through customs. Give yourself extra time in case there’s a lineup. At the airport (or train station), you must have the form, receipt, AND your purchase in hand. Do NOT pack it in your luggage. You might need to show your purchase if there is an inspection by customs. Head to the Tax Refund area (Détaxe)

(a) Mailing In Your Form

• there will have a Pablo machine that scans the bar code on your form. The barcode scanning is the equivalent to having your form physically stamped by customs. 
• the machine will tell you if everything is OK and if it is, you just have to put the receipt and form in the envelope and deposit it in the Détaxe mailbox located in the Tax Refund area. This mailbox is only for tax refunds.
• Wait up to three months for the refund on your credit card (or depending on how you paid, it might also be a cheque).

(b) Getting Your Refund Immediately

There may be an opportunity to get reimbursed immediately at a Détaxe counter. You show all your paperwork to the customs officer—your passport, the form, and boarding pass and get the form stamped. You might need to show your purchases as well. Then head to a company on-site, such as Global Blue, that gives cash refunds. However, you will get less money back than if you mailed it in as they take a cut of your refund.

If you’re looking for more money-saving tips, check out the list on this page: Advice And Money Saving Tips

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Bonsoir J’ai acheté une voiture en Allemagne et je l’ai sortie du port de Marseille vers l algérie. Mais je n’ai pas fourni de certificat EX A pour récupérer la valeur ajoutée. Ce certificat n’a pas été scanné. Existe-t-il un moyen de récupérer la valeur ajoutée ? Merci ?

Malheureusement, je ne sais pas quoi faire. Il est peut-être trop tard. Vous pouvez contacter Global Blue, l’une des principales sociétés de remboursement d’impôts. bonne chance. Unfortunately I am not sure what to do. It might be too late. You could contact Global Blue, one of the major tax refund companies. good luck.

How to get your maximum VAT refund when traveling abroad

While a European vacation is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience, it can be expensive.

That's why savvy travelers have various strategies in place to save money on flights, hotels and rental cars (hopefully by reading some of TPG's great money-saving advice ).

One of the most overlooked ways travelers miss out on saving money is by forgetting to apply for a VAT refund.

VAT is a Value Added Tax . Let's say, for example, you just went on a shopping spree in Rome or splurged on gifts at the El Corte Ingles department store near Las Ramblas in Barcelona. You more than likely paid VAT on your purchases, but the good news is that visitors to the European Union can often get a refund on that tax. Think of it as the traveler's tax break.

Despite the obvious savings that can come with VAT refunds, the amount of money Americans leave on the table each year in unclaimed refunds is estimated to be in the billions. Don't be one of those travelers.

Getting your VAT refund is worth the time and effort it takes, especially if you're traveling within the EU .

The rules surrounding VAT refunds have somewhat changed in recent years, so it's important to read up on the latest rules (including the U.K.'s discontinuation of VAT refunds for international visitors since Brexit). Here's everything you need to know about getting your maximum VAT refund when traveling in Europe.

What is a VAT?

VATs and goods and services taxes (GSTs) are common worldwide; more than 160 countries have them.

In the EU, the VAT is similar to the sales taxes imposed in the U.S., but there are also some big differences. One of the biggest: VAT rates are much higher than those you pay in state and local sales taxes in the U.S.

The EU's minimum standard VAT rate is 15% — far more than the combined state and local sales tax rates you'll find anywhere in the U.S. However, the average standard VAT rate in the EU currently sits around 21%. All EU countries have standard VAT rates above the 15% threshold; Luxembourg has the lowest rate at 16%, and Hungary has the highest at 27%.

"The VAT is a major income revenue for the tax authorities in Europe," said Britta Eriksson, a VAT expert and CEO of Euro VAT Refund , a Los Angeles-based company that helps companies manage VAT in their overseas operations. "[VAT] represents almost as much as the income tax in terms of revenue for the government."

Many EU countries offer lower VAT rates on certain goods. Sweden, for example, has a standard VAT rate of 25%. However, for some food items, restaurant services and even hotels, a reduced VAT of 12% is offered.

France has reduced the VAT on certain agricultural products and even some cultural events to 5.5%. In other nations, items such as books, newspapers, and bike and shoe repairs receive a reduced VAT rate of only 6%.

As you can see, these "special rates" vary from country to country, so make sure you do your homework before your trip. The EU also exempts some goods and services from VAT; some exemptions include educational services, financial services and medical care.

What are the refund rules?

Prices in the EU always have the VAT included. If you're visiting an EU country, you'll generally have to pay the price of an item, VAT and all, and get your refund after the fact.

There are several requirements to follow to claim your refund. For instance, you must take your new item or items home within three months of the purchase. VAT refunds are not available for large items like cars. EU visitors also cannot get a VAT refund for services like hotel stays and meals.

Some countries require that your purchase exceeds a certain amount to be eligible for a VAT refund. Like the VAT rates, this minimum purchase amount varies from country to country.

For example, in France, the minimum amount is now 100.01 euros (about $107) for the total amount of purchases you buy on the same day in the same shop. In Belgium, the minimum is 50 euros (about $54); in Spain, there is no minimum purchase amount to claim a VAT refund.

One important thing to note is that you can only claim a VAT refund on new items. Your merchandise must be new and still in its packaging when you leave Europe. The goods can't be unpacked, consumed or worn. If you want to claim your refund, you should pack away whatever you purchase and wait until you get home to open it.

Getting your refund

Thousands of European stores do what they can to accommodate tourists seeking refunds and will usually have signs in the window reading "tax-free" or "VAT-free" shop.

As you pay for your item, inform the clerk that you're an EU visitor and intend to get a VAT refund. The store will have some paperwork for you to fill out. Have your passport ready to prove your visitor status. You may also need to show your airline ticket as proof you're leaving Europe in the allotted time in order to claim a VAT refund.

Some stores will refund your VAT, but in most cases, you'll likely have to take your refund forms and get your refund processed elsewhere.

Many stores work with third-party agencies, such as Global Blue or Planet , to process VAT refunds, and these agencies usually have facilities in major cities where you can take your completed forms and get your refund.

When purchasing your items, check to see if your merchant is partnered with these agencies.

On departure day, be sure to take your receipts, the refund forms the shops filled out, the items you bought and all your other travel documents with you to the airport so that you can present everything to customs.

If you're touring multiple EU countries during your trip, you'll complete this process at the last EU country you visit. That means if you visit France and Italy before ending your trip in Spain, you will apply for the VAT refund on your purchases in Spain.

Customs may inspect your purchases, so make sure they're available and not in your checked baggage. Also, make sure the goods are unused and unworn.

If all goes well, the customs office will stamp your refund forms. If either the store or one of the third-party refund agencies has already given you your refund, you'll have to mail this stamped form back to them to prove you left Europe within the mandated three-month period. Otherwise, you risk having your refund canceled and your credit card charged for the VAT you owe.

If you haven't done so already, you can also get your refund at the airport. The big refund agencies have facilities at all the major EU airports, sometimes at a currency exchange. Just show them your stamped customs forms and your passport to get your refund, minus a fee.

No VAT refund in the UK

Before we share some advice on getting your VAT refunds, we want to remind everyone that the U.K. no longer has VAT-free shopping for international tourists. In fact, Great Britain is now the only European country that doesn't offer the savings opportunity for international visitors.

The VAT retail export scheme was eliminated when the U.K. exited the EU in 2021. It resumed briefly before being axed, supposedly for good, in 2022.

Although there's some optimism that VAT refunds could return to Britain in the future — the U.K.'s tourism industry is lobbying for its return — it's not an option for now.

While VAT refunds are no longer available in England, Scotland and Wales, you can still claim refunds if you're visiting Northern Ireland. There are also several exceptions and rules to know; for example, it doesn't apply to services like hotel bills. You can find the list of restrictions here . You should also be aware that some merchants and refund companies in Northern Ireland charge a fee for using tax-free shopping. Still, if you're planning a visit, you could save some money on your shopping.

Tips for maximizing your savings with a VAT refund

Here are some do's and don'ts for getting your VAT refunds.

Research the country

Before your trip, look up the VAT rules for the country you're visiting and check the standard and reduced VAT rates, as well as the minimum purchase points.

As we mentioned earlier, the rates and rules of what qualifies for a VAT refund can vary depending on where you visit, so make sure you're aware before you get there.

Remember that many countries outside the EU also charge a VAT, and their refund policies can differ greatly from what you'll find in Europe.

Research the store

Stores aren't required to provide VAT refund assistance of any kind.

"If you have a store that doesn't have this program, then getting a refund is very complicated," Eriksson warned.

Keep an eye out for stores displaying "tax-free" or "VAT-free" signs. Ask the store employees which third-party agencies they partner with for refunds. Also, ask how they process refunds and what fees they charge. As we noted above, some retailers in some countries may charge a fee to visitors using tax-free shopping.

Allow extra airport time for your refunds

Don't expect to be the only traveler at the airport seeking a VAT refund before heading home. Expect to wait in line for a bit. Plan ahead and give yourself extra time at the airport, as the line can be long.

If you're strapped for time after leaving customs, some agencies will let you drop your stamped forms in one of their mailboxes, and they'll issue your refund later.

Consider shipping your purchases home to avoid VAT entirely

If you don't want to deal with any of this stuff, Eriksson suggests another option.

"You can also have the store ship [your items] to you directly," she said. "Then, they won't charge you VAT."

But there's a catch.

"You still have to pay for the freight," Erikkson added.

Shipping costs from Europe to anywhere in the U.S. can get wildly expensive. So, you have to weigh that shipping cost against the VAT and the time and effort it would take to get your refund to decide if it's worth it.

Make sure the refund is worth the trouble

"If you buy expensive clothing and china, then it's absolutely worth it," Eriksson said.

While many VAT countries have purchase minimums for refunds, in others, any purchase a visitor makes qualifies, no matter how small. So, you should ask yourself if it's worth applying for a VAT refund for that cheap tchotchke you bought as a souvenir.

Bottom line

All this talk of forms, looking for signs, standing in line and getting stamped can take the impulse out of your impulse buy. However, it could save you a lot of money in the long run.

If you pay attention and budget your time wisely, you might get back enough money through VAT refunds to help pay for your next visit across the Atlantic.

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Explainer: How to get a tax refund for items bought on visit to France

Since the uk left the eu, british citizens with second homes in france – or just on tourist visits – can obtain vat refunds on some purchases made in the country.

Non-EU residents are entitled to VAT refunds ( la détaxe ) on some purchases made in the EU, and since Brexit, this also applies to permanent British residents.

In France, VAT ( taxe sur la valeur ajoutée , TVA) is applied at 20% on most items – but only 2.1% on newspapers, for example – and it is possible to get this money back as you leave the country.

Read more: Did you know?: VAT was invented in France

This only applies to people whose usual place of residence is outside the EU, and who are staying in France/the EU for no more than six months. You can show your passport as evidence of this.

Firstly, you must:

Ask the shop assistant if they provide a détaxe service, although there will often be a sign reading ‘tax-free’ or ‘VAT-free’ if it is offered.

Ask what the value of the purchase needs to be in order to apply for a refund, and whether all the goods you intend to buy are included. Ask if you will get 100% of the tax back or if there is a deduction for an administration fee.

Government website entreprendre.service-public.fr (which is aimed at informing businesses) states that as a national standard qualifying items must come to a total of €100 or more (including tax).

It states these qualifying purchases of €100 or more should be carried out over no more than a period of three consecutive days beginning on the first day of shopping and should be bought in shops of the same brand or the same group of brands, which are situated in a single town or shopping centre (this is so as to meet the threshold to obtain the détaxe; this would not stop you renewing the process several times during the same trip).

However, confusingly, the Douanes service advises that to qualify, purchases of €100 or more should be made on the same day, in the same shop. We would therefore recommend asking in the shop how much they expect you to spend.

What type of product is eligible?

Goods covered by the possibility of a tax refund are generally items that can fit in your luggage, so it would not apply to something like a car.

They will usually be ‘touristy’ items, such as clothes and sunglasses, souvenirs etc.You cannot buy more than 15 of the exact same item and benefit, and excluded items include tobacco as well as valuable art and antiques.

How do I go about getting the refund?

The shop assistant will ask for proof that you are a visitor to the EU, so you will need to carry your non-EU passport or ID card with you, and ideally proof of address as well.

You will be given a form to fill in, a section of which will be completed by the assistant.

If you cannot obtain the item tax-free directly in the shop, then you can obtain a refund as you leave the country at the airport or other travel terminal (the refund still ultimately comes via the retailer, not from the French state).

If the latter is the case, the shop will give you an invoice for your purchases, which you must show, along with the refund form and the goods to the customs officials at the desk, and they will give you a stamp. This must be obtained in order for the refund to be processed.

You will then be able to claim the refund immediately, or send off your form to an address given to you by the shop. Exact instructions on the procedure to follow should be provided by the shop.

Note that some airports, ports and international train stations also have automatic ‘Pablo’’ terminals where you can scan in a barcode in order to validate your refund forms. In which case VAT can be either reimbursed directly at a desk or in the form of a bank transfer.

It is possible to obtain the refund even if you leave via another EU country, not France.

Things to bear in mind

It should be noted that you should not use your purchases before you complete the VAT refund process: you should not be wearing a watch you have bought, for example.

You should also be aware that your goods must leave the EU by the end of the third month after you buy them in order to qualify for a VAT refund.

This process is really aimed at tourists, not, eg. people staying six months at their second home on a visa, though we have not identified any specific rule that would ban the latter from using it.

In the latter case, however, you would have to take care to stay less than six months in total and bear in mind the rule about the third month.

Note that some shops will take an administrative fee for having carried out the service, and this will be deducted from the refund amount you receive.

You can visit other EU countries with goods bought in France and continue to collect VAT refund forms, but they must all be stamped by a customs officer at the point of exit from the EU, rather than the border between member states.

Note that VAT can also also be an issue when bringing French-bought items back to the UK, in this case UK import VAT.

When returning to the UK, travellers have a personal allowance of £390 of goods purchased in France which is exempt from VAT, but if the goods you are bringing in are over that limit they may be subject to import VAT and (if they cannot be shown to have been made in the EU) customs duties.

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VAT refunds

How to get a VAT refund for cross-border transactions 

If you have paid VAT for a transaction in an EU Member State where you do not reside, you may be eligible for a VAT refund in certain circumstances. 

Note: This page deals only with refunds for cross-border transactions. For ‘standard’ VAT refunds in which both vendor and customer are in the same country, please consult that Member State’s national tax authority .  

There are 3 types of VAT refunds for cross-border transactions: 

Cross-border VAT refunds to EU businesses 

EU businesses that incur VAT in connection with their activities in a Member State where they do not habitually supply goods or services (and are thus not required to register there for VAT) are nevertheless entitled to obtain a refund from the Member State where they incurred the VAT.    To qualify for a VAT refund, during the refund period a business must NOT have: 

• been based in the refunding EU Member State, or 
• supplied goods or services there, except 
• exempted transport and ancillary services (Articles 144, 146, 148, 149, 151, 153, 159 or 160 of the VAT Directive ), or 
• supplies to customers liable for payment of the related VAT under the reverse-charge mechanism (Articles 194-197 or 199 of the VAT Directive ) 

The claimant's home Member State will not forward the claim to the refunding Member State if the claimant: 

• is not a taxable person for VAT purposes 
• only makes exempt supplies without right of deduction 
• is covered by the special scheme for small businesses 
• is covered by the flat-rate scheme for farmers 

To request a refund, claimants must send an electronic refund claim to their own national tax authorities, who will confirm the claimant's identity, VAT identification number and the validity of the claim. The request will then be forwarded to the Member State where VAT was incurred. If tax authorities are late in making the refund, claimants are paid interest. 

For more information on the refund procedure, see the Summary of VAT refund procedure . 

For the full rules, see Directive 2008/9/EC and Implementing Regulation 79/2012 . 

More information

Links to country-specific information .

• Country-specific VAT guides (Vademecums) - limitations on the right to deduct VAT 
• VAT refunds - country guide (Vademecums) - variations in the VAT refund rules in each Member State 
• EU Member States using the business activity codes contained in Commission Regulation 79/2012  

Links to other VAT guides 

• Information requirements in EU country of refund  
• eLearning modules on VAT refund  
• Contact points of the competent national authorities  

VAT refunds to non-EU businesses

Non-EU businesses that incur VAT in connection with their activities in an EU Member State where they do not habitually supply goods or services (and are thus not required to register for VAT) are nevertheless entitled to obtain a refund from the EU Member State where they incurred the VAT.    To qualify for a VAT refund, during the refund period a business must NOT have: 

• been based in any Member State, or 
• supplied goods or services in the EU Member State where they incurred VAT, except 
• exempted transport and ancillary services (Articles 144, 146, 148, 149, 151, 153, 159 or 160 of the VAT Directive ), or 
• services to customers liable for payment of the related VAT under the reverse-charge mechanism (Articles 194, 196 or 199 of the VAT Directive ) 

In addition, any EU Member State may: 

• refuse to refund VAT in this way if the claimant’s country/territory does not grant reciprocal refund rights for VAT or similar to businesses based in that Member State 
• impose restrictions on the type of expenditure that qualify for refunds 
• insist that the claimant appoint a tax representative 

For the full rules of this refund procedure, see Directive 86/560/EEC  

VAT refunds to non-EU travellers

VAT refunds for goods sold to non-EU tourists who bring them out of the EU in their personal luggage may be requested to EU retailers or specialised intermediaries, particularly in the following cases: 

• Tourists whose permanent address or habitual residence (as stated in their passport or other recognised identity document) is not in the EU 
• EU nationals living outside the EU (who can prove this with a residence permit or similar) 

The following conditions apply: 

• The customer must provide proof of residence outside the EU (e.g. non-EU passport or residence permit). 
• The goods must be taken out of the EU within 3 months of their purchase. The tourist must provide a stamped VAT refund document proving this. 
• The value of the goods purchased must be above a certain minimum (set by each EU Member State). 
• Retailers can either refund the VAT directly or use an intermediary. One of these parties may charge a fee , which may be withheld from the refunded VAT amount. 

More on VAT refunds for non-EU tourists on the Your Europe portal  

Legal texts 

• Council Directive 2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax 
• Council Directive 2008/9/EC of 12 February 2008 laying down detailed rules for the refund of value added tax, provided for in Directive 2006/112/EC, to taxable persons not established in the Member State of refund but established in another Member State 
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 79/2012 of 31 January 2012 laying down detailed rules for implementing certain provisions of Council Regulation (EU) No 904/2010 concerning administrative cooperation and combating fraud in the field of value added tax 
• Thirteenth Council Directive 86/560/EEC of 17 November 1986 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to turnover taxes - Arrangements for the refund of value added tax to taxable persons not established in Community territory 

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Shop ’till you Drop: Guide to Getting your VAT back in France

One of the best things about visiting France is the shopping. AND, if you happen to be a non-European Union resident, you can shop ‘till you drop for less by claiming back your sales tax. Since this concept doesn’t exist in the United States, Americans can find the process quite confusing. Thus, I’ve put together this guide to getting your VAT back in France.

What is VAT?

Value Added Tax {VAT} is known as Taxe Sur La Valeur Ajoutée {TVA} in French, and is added to everything purchased. The standard rate on purchased goods is 20% in France. Therefore, taking the time to claim your VAT is a worthwhile endeavor.

VAT Refund Eligibility in France

Sadly, since I live in Paris, I’m not eligible for this tax refund { detaxe} . However, if you’re a visitor to France who is either going home or to a non-EU country then you’re eligible for a VAT refund . You’ve also got to be over the age of 15, be staying in France less than six months, and have the goods outside of the EU within three months.

Purchases Eligible for VAT Refund in France

Personal retail purchases of €100.01 or more are eligible for a VAT refund. Purchases must be made on the same day in the same store. You can buy several items or just one thing, as long as the receipt amounts to more than €100.01. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that the receipts must from the same day, so shop wisely. Not every shop offers VAT refunds, so make sure to ask before breaking out your credit card. Also, don’t think you’ll just come to France and buy a yacht or car. A good rule of thumb is that purchases should fit into your suitcase.

Though, at some stores like Galeries Lafayette, purchases from certain brands can’t be combined with purchases made from the rest of the store. For instance, imagine that you buy a €1000 bag from Louis Vuitton and a €75 pair of New Balance shoes from another part of Galeries Lafayette. You are eligible to receive VAT back on the bag, but not the shoes, since the shoes don’t reach the €100.01 threshold, and the price can’t be combined with the purchase from Louis Vuitton {they prepare their own tax forms}. You may, however, add €25.01 worth of socks to your haul and be able to claim the VAT back for the shoes and socks.

How much VAT is Refunded in France?

Of the 20% VAT, you’ll receive approximately 12% of that tax back. Why isn’t it the full percentage? There’s an administrative charge for getting your VAT back in France. Hey, something is better than nothing!

Claim your VAT at the Airport

Always ask for the Detax e form before leaving the store and keep it with your original receipt. Given the hecticness of the airport, I’d suggest having the form completed prior to arriving, if not already done by the store. Make sure to give yourself extra time at the airport if you’re getting your VAT back in France. You’ll start this procedure before checking your bags and before security. Have the Detaxe form, receipts, and purchased goods handy.

For the quickest option, use the self-service PABLO machines to validate the tax return. This is only available if your form has a PABLO logo at the top. You should receive the refund back to your credit card in about four weeks. If you’d like an immediate refund in cash, that service is available at a Travelex counter. Keep in mind that they will charge a small fee, plus give you the refund at their exchange rate, if you choose something other than Euros.

Claim your VAT in-Store

Stores like Galeries Lafayette are making the process easier than ever for getting your VAT back in France. At the Galeries Lafayette Haussmann store , head to the tax refund desk on the ground floor, near the Rolex shop. Make sure to have your original receipts, as well as your passport, then choose your method of repayment. You may choose cash, even if you paid with a credit card. However, you’ll need to insert your credit card into the kiosk in case there is an issue with your claim later. The cash option refunds 10.8% of your purchases, and you must leave the EU within 21 days. Should you choose a credit card refund, you’ll receive 12% of your purchase price. You’ll receive the credit in about four weeks, but you have 90 days to leave the EU.

The Galeries Lafayette staff will prepare your tax refund form. You’ll then receive a copy of the form, which will need to be validated at any PABLO kiosk upon departure of France. There is no need to send anything back to Galeries Lafayette, as the computer systems are connected. If you’re not departing the EU from France, then you’ll need to take the forms, receipt, passport, and purchased goods to the customs desk of your EU departure city.

And when you thought Galeries Lafayette couldn’t make it any easier to get your VAT back, they did. Instead of waiting in line, let the Lineberty app do it for you. Utilize Galeries Lafayette’s free wi-fi and download Lineberty. Choose your queue; take a digital number; continue to shop, until Lineberty let’s you know it’s your turn. Finally, show your phone to the receptionist and you’re ready to start getting your VAT back. There is a team of people that speak a multitude of languages there to prepare your VAT forms and help you decide if you should request cash or credit reimbursement. Then, you’ll head to one of the kiosks and scan your form. If you choose cash, the money will come directly from the kiosk like an ATM. At that point, you’ll follow the same airport departure procedure.

Claim your VAT via an App

The department store concept originated in Paris, as did many of the most legendary designers. Paris very well has the best shopping in the world. The city is always on the forefront of the next big thing when it comes to design and style, so bringing an empty suitcase is as essential as a scarf and comfortable, stylish pair of shoes. With some planning and knowledge, you can fill that empty suitcase for less, by claiming back your sales tax.

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48 Comments

This is valuable intel, Leah. Thank you so much for the research put into this post!

Leah Walker

You’re welcome…I sure wish I was eligible to get my VAT back. But if I can’t, then I hope others will!

Thank you so much for this info!! What if you didn’t validate at Pablo in the airport and are now back in the states? Is there anyway to get that money back? We nearly missed our flight so I wasn’t able to do it at the airport. Oops.

Ohhh…that’s a question I’m not 100% certain about. I’m sure it’s happened before and the Internet has an answer. I’d be curious to know as well. Sorry I don’t know!

You still can get 20% VAT return, you just need to do the forms yourself. When you buy high end items the clerk will ask you would you like cash (10 percent something) or back on your credit (13 percent), which they will give you auto-filled forms to just drop off, and the store receives a kickback.

If you want to the full 20 percent VAT you will just need to do all the forms yourself at the airport

I am here in Paris now. Sept 2018

Fatih Motor

Have you ever done this progress before ? They say me that its not possible refund full vat .

Is that also applied to smartphones?

I made a purchase more than 4 weeks ago, but still did not get the tax free refund into my card. Could you please advise whether the tax free refund will be paid in 4 weeks after purchasing or in 4 weeks after submitting the tax free form at the airport?

It’s usually paid within four weeks. I’d give it another week just in case.

Alpa Bhungalia

To confirm: If you take care of the all of the VAT procedures at GL, then one doesn’t need to do anything at the airport?

No, you have to scan the form that you were given at GL at the airport kiosk.

Hi! I am heading to Paris in a couple of weeks and was wondering if there is a max spending limit for the VAT? Also, is this VAT limited to one day of purchase or from your entire stay? (I understand you have to have a minimum of 175EUR for your purchase in one location and not combined from various locations to be eligible for the VAT). Thank you!!

I do not believe there is a max spending limit on qualified goods. The VAT refund applies to your entire stay. Though, you do have 90 days to leave the EU from the time of purchase.

Do we get to keep the receipt if we were to purchased from LV or Chanel after VAT?

Yes, you will have the original receipt.

John Crawford

How do you check status??

Great article, very helpful. But wondering do I need to keep shoes in their boxes? Or can they be wrapped or just be in the dust bag? Same for bags?

They should be unworn. You don’t have to have the box.

Do I still get my VAT back if I depart from Netherlands? How does this work? I’m flying home from the Netherlands. Only traveling to France by train.

You claim it from the European country of departure.

Hi Leah! I am curious how this applies to online purchases made in France? I just bought a Garmin watch via Amazon.Fr and am curious how to go about the VAT process – any ideas?

That’s a very good question. I’m not sure that VAT applies to online purchases. Is it being shipped out of France? If so, was VAT charged?

Hi LEAH…Thanks for the information…does apple store in Paris offer VAT refund?

Lillian Lee

Hi Leah. I am sending a friend to airport 1 day prior to my departure. Can I scan all my forms even I have leave France. Just to kill the que line

I’m not sure, but scanning your document takes no time.

Hi, I’m traveling to Paris via train and then back to London. From London I’ll be heading back home to the US. I will make a purchase at the LV store in Paris. I was told that I can get a tax refund. Since I’m leaving the EU from London, how will I get my tax refund from Paris? Will the LV store give me the info I need or do I need a custom stamp from Paris airport??

You will submit your tax forms that LV gives you in your departure city in the EU. In this case, it’s London, depending on when you’re in London. As you might know, the UK is leaving the EU very soon.

Hi Leah, i’m planning to travel from Paris to London in May 2020. If UK leaving EU very soon, does it mean I need to claim the VAT in Paris before heading to London? Please advice. Thanks

You’ll claim your VAT from the last EU departure city (London) until 1 January 2021. So, if you did this same trip in 2021, you’d claim in France instead of the UK.

Hi I have a question. I bought a bag at Paris GL and done all the process but no one ever tell me that I have to scan the form that were given at GL at the airport kiosk. Can you advise?

You have to scan the form. That’s the only way that they know the item has left the EU.

Hi. Can you give me an example of the return you will get if I paid $1200 for a purse?

You get 12% on average.

Karol Valenzuela

I read a comment saying someone had received the full 20% of the VAT on designer goods do you know if that is possible? Btw thank you for replying after 2 years after the article. Much love from US.

It depends on the shop as to the percentage. For instance, Audemars Piguet gives back 20%.

Quick question, I am a student in the UK (US citizen), with Brexit now can UK residents go to Paris and now claim VAT after they shop since the UK is no longer a part of the EU?

Not until January 1, 2021.

Marjory A Nemeth

Please can you get VAT if you ship item back to US from Paris store?

erika escobiñas

Hi Leah, for my friends that wanted to visit EU from Asia and Middle east do they still need to declare the goods (i.e LV) once they have arrived at their local airport? or only in EU airport before departing?

It is up to each individual country as to the declaration rules.

Interesting website, thank you! What if you purchased something that the store did not want to provide a tax return form for? I’ve purchased something too big to fly out of Paris with and since it will instead have to be shipped to me, the store would not give me a tax form. They have said that if I’m unable to leave with the item, I’m not eligible for getting the VAT back. Any advice?

Yuki loh chastel

Thanks so much for in important information. I have a little question. If I am stay more than a year in France and plan to back malaysia for 2 months holiday. Will I still get the Vax refund? ( my husband is a French citizen & I am still holding malaysia passport

You and the items need to leave the EU within 90 days of the purchase. Also, you cannot be an EU tax resident to get the VAT back.

very helpful website. may i ask is the item purchased in duty free store at the airport without the 20% VAT already? also, if i purchased something within 90 days (before i arrive in the EU), and pick up the item in store, would i be eligible to get VAT refund for the items if i leave the EU within 90days of online purchase?

Yes, duty free shops in the airport do not have the VAT. The 90 days begin when the full purchase is made.

I purchased a Louis Vuitton bag and I went to Chanel and purchased a pair of sunglasses that cost 430 euros. I got a VAT form filled out at the ground floor by the VAT agents for the sunglasses and a VAT form filled out by Louis Vuitton sales agent. Both the bag and sunglasses were bought on the same day. Can I submit BOTH VAT forms the day I arrive at the airport to head back to the United States?

Yes, you can.

Leslie Berich

Bonjour Leah:

I found your VAT information so helpful, merci beaucoup! Next week, I’m so fortunate to be leaving for a 5 week vacation in the South of France concluding in Monte Carlo! We’re flying in & out of Nice airport, so knowing that the VAT reimbursement systems are there is so useful! I, also, adore Paris, how nice to be living there (your payment if VAT excluded!) I’ve signed up for your newsletters as love traveling in Europe. Looking forward to more great tips!

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Tax refund information for private individuals

As a visitor to France you can claim a tax refund (for value added tax, or VAT) on eligible goods you take home.

I. Who is eligible?

You qualify for a tax refund if:

• you are a resident of a "third-country" (not belonging to the European Union) such as Australia, Canada or the United States. Others falling into this category include: Andorra, the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, the Channel Islands, the Faroe Islands, the French Overseas territories of French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis & Futuna, the French territorial collectivities of Mayotte and Saint-Pierre & Miquelon, San Marino and the Vatican City.
• you were 15 years old or over when you purchased the goods.
• you are visiting France for a period of less than six months.

You do not qualify for a tax refund if:

• you are a resident of the European Union (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (including the French overseas departments of Guadeloupe, Guiana, Martinique and La Réunion); Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, including the Isle of Man).
• you live in France more than six months in a year (e.g. as a diplomatic agent or member of the administrative and technical staff of an Embassy, as a student, a trainee, an immigrant worker, etc.).

II. What are considered eligible goods?

Goods must meet these requirements to be eligible:

• the value of purchases from any single store, tax included, must exceed €175;
• all the goods must be taken back with you, in your carry-on luggage, when you leave France;
• all tax refunds must be claimed within six months of purchasing the goods.

There is no refund for tax you paid on:

• food products and beverages;
• tobacco products;
• firearms (except smooth-bore sporting and hunting guns and small hand-guns for target-shooting or for exhibition purposes);
• unset precious stones;
• cultural property;
• automobiles, motorcycles, boats, planes, as well as their parts and accessories (but the following items are eligible: car radios, cassette players, as well as sports items such as bicycles and windsurfing boards);
• purchases of a commercial nature (e.g. in such quantities that it is reasonable to believe they are not intended for your personal use).

III. How to get your tax refund?

At the store:.

You should verify with the store, prior to your purchase, that it participates in the tax-free scheme (not all stores do).

If so, you will have to prove that you are not a resident of the European Union and that you are 15 years old or over. This may be done, if you are not a French citizen, by showing any kind of legal identification in use in your country or, if you are a French national, by showing a consular ID or any other official document attesting that you are not a resident of the European Union.

You will then be issued a Retail Export Form ("bordereau de détaxe") that you must sign and which must be endorsed by Customs within three months of the purchase, when you leave the European Union.

Note: Effective 1 January 2014, all VAT refund forms will be issued using the PABLO system. The form will bear a Pablo logo, indicating that it can be validated in an automated Pablo kiosk at certain French ports of entry.

At customs:

• if you are leaving the European Union from a French port of entry:

You are likely to see an automated Pablo kiosk. Insert your détaxe form(s) one at a time into the slot, and wait for the screen to indicate that the form has been validated ("OK Bordereau validé"). The system will automatically notify the store where your goods were purchased, and your refund will then be processed. You do not need to mail anything to the store when Pablo has validated your form.

In the event that a Pablo kiosk is not available (or not working), you should present the Retail Export Form as well as the goods purchased under the tax-free scheme to a Customs agent. They will retain a copy of the form and you will be handed back a copy, endorsed by Customs, which you are advised to retain in case of any possible dispute with the store.

• if you are leaving the European Union from a port of entry in another Member State (outside France):

You should make sure that the local Customs Service endorses the Retail Export Form and gives them back to you. Upon arrival in your country, you should mail a copy of the form to the French store and keep the "customer" copy in case of any possible dispute with the store.

WARNING! Do not forget to keep the goods with you at all times when you apply for Customs endorsement of the Retail Export Form at the point of departure from the European Union. Customs officers may want to check them.

You should allow ample time (for instance, at least two hours before the time required for checking-in at the airport) to apply for Customs endorsement of the Retail Export Form. At Paris (CDG and Orly) or at Nice-Côte d'Azur Airports, for example, there may be long lines of travelers waiting to get this endorsement, especially during the tourist season.

If you fail to get through this formality before you leave the European Union, it will be burdensome – and expensive – for you to claim the tax refund when you are back home (see further on).

You should receive, in a reasonable time frame, the amount of refunded tax directly from the store, paid according to your instructions, given on the Retail Export Form (check mailed to your address, bank transfer to your checking account or to your credit card account, etc.). If you don't receive your tax refund, you have to contact the store and not the French Customs.

Some stores may deduct the tax from the price of goods when you purchase them. They do so under their own responsibility and you are still required to apply for Customs endorsement of your Retail Export Form upon leaving the European Union, even if you did not pay tax on the goods.

Question: May I still claim the tax refund if the Retail Export Form has not been endorsed by Customs upon my leaving the European Union?

You may. The process is time-consuming; it may turn out to be more expensive than the amount of tax refund that you are claiming.

Within 6 months after the date of purchase of your goods, you must address a tax refund request to:

Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects Fiscalité, transports et politiques fiscales communautaires (bureau F1) 11, rue des Deux Communes 93558 Montreuil France

This request MUST be supported by the following documents:

• A copy of your passport;
• A copy of your travel ticket or your boarding pass;
• An "attestation de présentation des marchandises" issued by a French Consulate. In order to get this document you must go to the Consulate with the goods you bought, your passport and your plane ticket – OR – The U.S. Customs or Canadian Customs declaration you made for those goods when entering your country;
• A letter with exhaustive explanations of the reasons why you were not able to get your form stamped when leaving France; AND
• The Retail Export Form.

If your application is adjudicated as justified, you will be mailed an endorsed "customer" copy of the Retail Export Form. The Customs will mail the other copy to the store, which will, in turn, refund you the VAT.

French Consulate-General Locations

Consulat général de France à Sydney Level 26, St. Martins Tower 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia Phone: (02) 9268 2400 ; Fax: (1) 506-858-8169 Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Monday - Friday; closed on French & Australian holidays .

Moncton & Halifax NB; NS; PEI; Qc & NF east of 60° longitude

Consulat général de France à Moncton & Halifax 777, rue Main Street, Suite 800 Moncton NB, E1C 1E9 Phone: (1) 506-857-4191 ; Fax: (1) 506-858-8169

Montreal South-western part of Qc

Consulat général de France à Montréal Consulat Général de France à Montréal 1501 Mc Gill Collège, 10ème étage Bureau 1000 Montréal QC H3A 3M8 Phone: (1) 514 878-4385 ; Fax: (1) 514-878-3981

Ottawa The Ontarian part of the national capital

Service consulaire de l'ambassade de France au Canada 42, promenade Sussex Ottawa ON, K1M 2C9 Phone: (1) 613-789-1795 ; Fax: (1) 613-562-3735

Quebec Northern and Eastern (but only west of 60° longitude) parts of Qc NF west of 60° longitude

Consulat général de France à Québec Maison Kent 25, rue Saint-Louis, Québec Qc, G1R 3Y8 Phone: (1) 418-266-2500 ; Fax: (1) 418-266-2515

Toronto ON (except Ottawa); MB; SK; NW

Consulat général de France à Toronto 2 Bloor Street East, Suite 2200 Toronto ON M4W 1A8 Phone: (1) 416-847-1900 ; Fax: (1) 416-847-1901

Vancouver BC; AB; YT

Consulat général de France à Vancouver 1130 West Pender Street, Suite # 1100 Vancouver BC, V6E 4A4 Phone: (1) 604-681-4345 ; Fax: (1) 604-681-4287

NEW ZEALAND

Embassy of France in Wellington Levels 12 and 13, Sovereign House 34-42 Manners Street (P.O. Box 11-343) Wellington 6142 New Zealand Phone: +64 04-384-2555 ; Fax: +64 04-384-2577. The Consulate only accepts calls in the afternoon between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. E-mail: [email protected] (Consulate) Hours: 9:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., Monday - Friday; closed on weekends and French & New Zealand holidays .

UNITED STATES

Atlanta AL; GA; MS; NC; SC; TN

Consulat général de France à Atlanta 3475 Piedmont Road NE, Suite #1840 Atlanta, GA 30305 Phone: (1) 404-495-1660 ; Fax: (1) 404-880-9408

Boston ME; MA; NH; RI; VT

Consulat général de France à Boston Park Square Building, Suite #750 31 Saint James Avenue Boston, MA 02116 Phone: (1) 617-542-7374 ; Fax: (1) 617-542-8054

Chicago IA; IL; IN; KS; KY; MI; MN; MO; NB; ND; SD; WI

Consulat général de France à Chicago 205 North Michigan Avenue, Suite #3700 Chicago, IL 60611 Phone: (1) 312-327-5200 ; Fax: (1) 312-327-5201

Houston AR; OK; TX

Consulat général de France à Houston 777 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite #600 Houston, TX 77056 Phone: (1) 713-528-2799 ; Fax: (1) 713-528-2911

Los Angeles AZ; South CA; CO; NM; South NV

Consulat général de France à Los Angeles 10390 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 115 & 410 Los Angeles, CA 90024 Phone: (1) 310-235-3200 ; Fax: (1) 310-312-0704

Miami FL; PR; USVIalso: Anguilla (UK); Bahamas; BVI (UK); Cayman Islands (UK); Montserrat (UK); Turks & Caicos (UK)

Consulat général de France à Miami 1 Biscayne Tower, Suite #1710 2 South Biscayne Boulevard Miami, FL 33131 Phone: (1) 305-372-9798 ; Fax: (1) 305-372-9549

New Orleans LA

Consulat général de France à la Nouvelle-Orléans 1340 Poydras Street, Suite #1710 New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (1) 504-523-5772 ; Fax: (1) 504-523-5725

New York CT; NJ; NY; also: Bermuda (UK)

Consulat général de France à New York 934 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10021 Phone: (1) 212-606-3688 ; Fax: (1) 212-606-3620

San Francisco AK; North CA; HI; North NV; OR; UT; WA; WY also: AS; FSM; Guam; Marshall Islands; Northern Mariana Islands; Palau

Consulat général de France à San Francisco 540 Bush Street San Francisco, CA 94108 Phone: (1) 415-397-4330 ; Fax: (1) 415-433-8357

Washington D.C. DE; MD; OH; PA; VA; WV

Consulat général de France à Washington 4101 Reservoir Road, NW Washington, DC 20007 Phone: (1) 202-944-6195 ; Fax: (1) 202-944-6148

Source: Embassy of France in Washington

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Sale tax-free to tourists

Verified 01 January 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister), Ministry of Finance

Justification to prove a company. It is either an extract from the Trade and businesses Register (TBR) or Kbis extract, or an extract from the National company Register (NRE).

New Caledonia (special status) - French Polynesia - Saint Barthélemy - Saint Martin - Saint Pierre and Miquelon - French Southern and Antarctic Territories (special status) - Wallis and Futuna

The sale in tax-free form is an exemption from value added tax (VAT) on the price of goods purchased by people passing through France. This exemption is subject to conditions. The trader who wishes to apply the tax refund must first apply for authorization from the tax authorities. The buyer cannot require the seller to apply the tax refund.

Prior authorization of tax refund operators

What is the application for approval.

In order to be able to apply the VAT rebate on the price of goods purchased by persons in France, the trader must have an authorization from the tax authorities.

Who should apply for approval?

The request for approval is addressed to the General Directorate of Customs and Indirect Taxes (DGDDI).

The application for approval must be accompanied by the following supporting documents:

• Proof of registration less than 3 months old and bearing the value added tax identification number of the trader
• Accounting entries attesting to the applicant's financial situation enabling it to meet its commitments
• Proof that the applicant has not defaulted on payment to the tax and customs authorities in the 3 years preceding his application
• Electronic export sales note data issued by the seller or its affiliated sellers
• Bulletin No. 3 of the criminal record of company representatives

To make this request, you must fill in an approval form which must be sent with the supporting documents by mail or by registered letter with request for notice of receipt.

VAT tax: application for authorization

Who shall I contact

"Numéro d'urgence:" Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Taxes (DGDDI) Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Taxes (DGDDI)

Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Taxes

FID2 Office - Transport and European Taxation

11 rue des deux communes

93558 Montreuil cedex

[email protected]

DGDDI has 30 days from receipt of the application to make a decision.

In the event of acceptance, the decision shall be taken after a study of the supporting documents by the administration.

In the event of a refusal, the applicant may submit his observations to the DGDDI within 30 days. The administration will have to give a final opinion which will close the application for approval.

Approval shall be granted for a period of 3 years. It shall be renewable at least three months before the expiry date.

Warning  

If the applicant has been established for less than 3 months, his financial situation will be assessed on the basis of the information available at the time of the application.

Which products are concerned?

All tourist goods sold for transport outside the European Union (EU), in the personal luggage of the buyer, are concerned.

Perfume, chocolate, crockery, alcohol

Purchase must match a retail sale . Thus, a purchase for professional use, corresponding to a wholesale commercial supply, cannot be exempted.

A product purchased for consumption in France cannot benefit from the tax refund.

The amount of purchases TTC : titleContent must be greater than €100 and they must have been made no more than over a period of three consecutive days from the first day of purchase. They must be in signs located in the same city and identified by a single intra-Community VAT number , or in the shops of the same shopping center.

When leaving the territory, the presentation of the goods is mandatory. Failure to present the goods cancels the tax refund and may result in a fine.

Certain services and goods are excluded from the tax-free allowance: manufactured tobacco, weapons, ammunition, cultural goods, private vehicles, petroleum products, for example.

The trader who offers the tax-free allowance to his customers can put an "Electronic Tax-Free" sticker on the window of his shop. To make the request, write to [email protected] mentioning the postal address of the business.

Who can benefit from the tax rebate?

The tax refund can be granted to the purchaser who meets the following 3 conditions:

• He's got his habitual residence abroad (outside the European Union) on the date of purchase
• He has 16 yrs minimum
• He is visiting France for a period of time less than 6 months .

The buyer must be able to justify these conditions.

People who reside in a French overseas collectivity , in an ultramarine territory of another European country, in Andorra, San Marino or the Vatican, may also benefit from the tax refund.

The purchasers excluded from the scheme are members of diplomatic missions, consular posts and international organizations in France, residents of Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Mayotte, Réunion and Monaco.

goods must be removed from the EU before the end of 3 e months after the date of purchase.

Persons residing in the United Kingdom, except those residing in Northern Ireland, may benefit from a VAT exemption.

What is the tax refund procedure?

The seller may grant the tax refund at any of the following times:

• At the time of purchase (the sale is made without tax, with VAT already deducted)
• After the purchase (the sale is made TTC : titleContent and VAT is refunded to the purchaser).

The seller should:

• Inform the buyer of the procedure
• Indicate to the buyer the amount of VAT and the net amount that will be refunded if he levies management fees
• Verify the buyer's non-resident status by asking him to present a supporting document (for example, tourist visa, passport or residence card for foreigners, consular card or residence permit registered in the passport of the French or Europeans established abroad).

Editing the voucher at the time of purchase

The seller must submit an export sales note with a bar code identifying the buyer no later than 3 days after the date of purchase.

The trader has 2 possibilities:

• Either he does call to a tax refund operator responsible for the procedure (reimbursement management, provision of forms dedicated to the fallback procedure, etc.).
• Either he edit the slip itself via the Pablo I app and give it to the buyer.

PABLO-I Teleprocedure

The waybill must contain following information  :

• Buyer (surname, first name, country of residence and passport number)
• Retailer store (full name, address, VAT number)
• Tax rebate operator, if necessary.

Validation on leaving the EU

When leaving France, the buyer must validate the bar code at a Pablo kiosk, located in ports, international airports and border stations.

Once the voucher has been validated electronically, the sale is definitively exempt from VAT.

The electronic validation of the voucher allows the trader to be informed in real time of the release of the goods and to promptly refund the VAT to the customer, unless the sale has already taken place without tax (HT).

The customer thus does not need to send the second sheet of the voucher to the seller in order to be reimbursed.

What is the fallback procedure?

The retailer's shop is authorized to use the paper copy of the voucher cerfa no. 10096 , provided that the grounds for appeal are stated therein. The only 3 possible reasons are the general unavailability of the Pablo interface, the failure of the computer tools allowing the transmission of the vouchers or the interruption of the Internet connection.

The buyer must send this slip by post to the store or tax refund operator, within 6 months of the purchase.

The application for adjustment must also contain the following information:

• Any document proving the buyer's habitual residence
• Proof of export of goods
• Original slip
• Copy of the ticket

The buyer must also indicate the reasons for the inability to comply with the formalities and the date of departure from the European Union.

Please note

the online version of the sales note is a specimen, provided for information purposes only. A package of printed materials must be purchased from an authorized printer.

Sales slips: list of approved printers

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

"Numéro d'urgence:" Customs Service Info Customs Service Info

To obtain customs information concerning export, import, customs forms, transport and border crossing, exemptions...

By telephone

  0 800 94 40 40

Open from Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6pm

Toll-free number, local call price

Outside metropolis or from the foreigner, dial +33 1 72 40 78 50

Access to contact form

• Customs companies Advisory Units (Regional Economic Action Poles)
• Customs services in France and Europe

Statute and miscellaneous references

General Tax Code: Article 262

Circular of 10 December 2021 on the export sales note procedure (PDF - 1.3 MB)

Bofip n°BOI-VAT-FIELD-30-30-10 relating to the sale in VAT rebate

Online services and forms

Export Sales Note

Price calculator excluding tax (excluding tax) or all taxes included (including tax)

Search tools

All taxes included

• FAQ Northern Ireland (UK)
• For Retailers

Tax Refund in France for Tourists

Save over 13% in any online or physical store!

How does it work?

1. request invoices.

2. Upload Invoices

Take full clear pictures of your Airvat invoices each time you make a purchase in any online or physical store. We will combine all of your Airvat invoices from different stores into a single digital tax-free form.

3. Generate Barcode

Finished shopping? Generate your Airvat tax refund form in the app before your departure. Make sure that you have all your shopping items still unused and ready for a Customs inspection.

4. Validate your refund

Scan Airvat tax-free form’s barcode from your phone at any self-service Customs kiosks located in French international airports and train stations, including Calais Eurotunnel and ferry port.

5. Get paid electronically

No more lost or missing refunds! Select how you wish to be paid and track the status of your refund in the app. We will never charge your card - our peace of mind guarantee!

Cheaper and easier VAT refunds!

Get more tax back

No minimum spend, hidden fees, or foreign currency charges

Works in any store

Receive over 13% cash back in any online or physical store

Simple digital process

Combine all your shopping from different stores into one refund claim

VAT refund calculator

Use our VAT refund calculator to see how much you can save as a tourist on your tax-free shopping in France or Northern Ireland (UK). Learn more here about how your VAT refund is calculated .

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VAT refunds

If your non-French company does not carry out transactions that are liable for VAT in France, it may, under certain conditions, be refunded VAT connected with business expenses incurred in France.

Foreign businesses established in the European Union

The terms and conditions stipulated in Council Directive 2008/9/EC of 12 February 2008 concerning foreign businesses established in the European Union have been enacted into French law in Articles 240-0 M to 242-0 Z ter of Annex II to the French General Tax Code (CGI).

If you have a foreign business established in a Member State of the European Union, to obtain a VAT refund you must:

file your claim using the electronic means placed at your disposal by the State in which you are established, in accordance with the provisions of Council Directive 2008/9/EC of 12 February 2008. For more information on how to file a claim, please contact the tax authorities in your Member State of establishment.

submit by electronic means scanned originals of the invoices or importation documents. Submission is mandatory when the taxable amount on an invoice is €1,000 or more (or €250 in the case of fuel). Scanned invoices must appear in the same order as their line-by-line entry.

comply with the refund time periods and minimums. Claims may not encompass a period greater than one calendar year (€50 minimum) or shorter than three calendar months (€400 minimum). Claims may not straddle two calendar years. In practice, you may file a maximum of four claims, each for a minimum time period of three calendar months, plus a supplementary annual claim.

file your claim by 30 September of the calendar year following the refund period. You may file claims prior to this date in order to speed up the processing of your claim.

supply your banking details in the form of IBAN and BIC codes.

You may be represented by a representative of your choice. In this case, the original mandate (see model in notice 3560 A) must be sent by mail to the VAT Refund Department (SR-TVA).

Foreign companies established outside the European Union

The refund conditions for VAT payable in France by foreign companies established outside the European Union are set out in Directive 86/560/EEC of 17 November 1986 (Thirteenth Directive).

The terms and conditions have been enacted into French law in Articles 242-0 Z quater to 242-0 Z decies of Annex II to the French General Tax Code.

Decree 2021-507 of 27 April 2021 amends Article 242-0 Z septies of Annex II to the French General Tax Code by specifying the new conditions for filing VAT refund claims by professionals which are not established in an EU Member State.

Companies involved

Refunds of this type are reserved for taxable persons established outside the European Union that do not have a permanent establishment in France and that do not supply goods or provide services that are liable for VAT in France.

“Taxable person” means any individual or entity that, in an independent manner, supplies goods or provides services related to a business activity in its State of establishment.

The expenses for which VAT refunds are claimed must be required for the business activity of the foreign taxable person.

New conditions for filing VAT refund claims and supporting documents

Since 1 July 2021, VAT refund claims filed by tax representatives on behalf of taxable persons established in a country outside the EU must be submitted online.

Supporting documents (bank details, invoices and importation documents when the taxable amount is €1,000 or more or €250 for fuel expenses) must be sent electronically in support of claims.

Online filing of VAT refund claims pursuant to the Thirteenth European Directive has been available since 1 July 2021 .

If the tax representative already has a professional account , the service will be accessible from the secure messaging system in their account on impots.gouv.fr .

Messagerie (Messaging system)

Ecrire (Write)

TVA et taxes annexes (VAT and related taxes)

Demande de remboursement de TVA par un assujetti établi dans un pays hors Union Européenne ( 13ème directive 86-560-CEE, art. 271-V- d du CGI) (VAT refund claim by a taxable person not established in Community territory (Thirteenth Council Directive 86/560/EEC, Art. 271-V-d of the French General Tax Code))

Otherwise, a request should be made to sign up for the service.

More information on signing up for the secure messaging system can be found in the FOCUS fact sheet at the following link: Messagerie des professionnels (Business m ailboxes ).

If the tax representative does not yet have a professional account , they must set one up in either in basic or expert mode on impots.gouv.fr before applying to sign up for the secure messaging system.

Further information on setting up a professional account and signing up for services can be found in the following fact sheets: Setting up a professional account in basic mode and signing up for services / Créer un espace professionnel expert (Setting up a professional account in expert mode) / Demander une adhésion aux services en ligne (mode exper t) (Request to sign up for online services (expert mode)) / Messagerie des professionnels (Business m ailboxes )

When a service has been signed up for, an activation code is sent by mail to the tax representative’s address for correspondence that is in the managing department’s records and, automatically, to their business address. The validity of the address for correspondence provided to the Public Finances Directorate General (DGFiP) should be checked and any requests for changes should be referred to the managing Business Tax Department. “

The code, which is valid for 60 days, enables the service to be activated in the professional account. If it is not activated within 60 days, the signing up procedure will have to be repeated.

Mandatory wording on invoices

Expenses must be justified by correctly issued invoices that mention:

a unique number based on a continuous chronological sequence

your full name and address, as well as the name and address of your supplier

the supplier’s individual VAT identification number

the date the invoice was issued or delivered

any discounts, rebates or refunds

the quantity and precise name of the good or service being supplied or provided

the unit price net of tax, the amount of VAT owed and the legally applicable VAT rate

To obtain a VAT refund, the tax representative must:

file a refund claim, written in French and denominated in euros, using the secure messaging system in their professional account on impots.gouv.fr (with Internet Explorer or Firefox)

indicate the contact details (name, telephone number and email address) of a person that the department may contact if necessary

send scanned originals of the invoices or importation documents together with the refund claim

comply with refund minimums (€400 for quarterly claims and €50 for annual claims)

file the refund claim as from the first day of the month following the period for which the refund is being requested and until 30 June of the year following the year concerned by the claim

supply complete and accurate details of the recipient bank account, including the name of the bank, its full address (city and country), the name of the account holder and the references of the account to be credited. This will speed up your refund and help you avoid bank charges. For refunds to a French bank account, please provide a RIB ( relevé d’identité bancaire ).

Appointment of a tax representative

Foreign companies not established in an EU Member State which do not carry out transactions making them liable for VAT in France must appoint a tax representative, who must be a taxable person liable for VAT established in France, and who has been duly accredited by the tax authorities.

The appointment is formalised by a mandate, signed by the requesting company and its representative, and authorising this representative to carry out VAT refund claim procedures on the company’s behalf (see model in notice 3560-B).

Online directories and databases provide easy access to the contact details of tax representatives.

The representative must be accredited by the VAT Refund Department at the Non-Residents Tax Directorate , whose contact details are provided below.

To obtain accreditation, the representative must submit a written request to the department, together with a copy of their registration document ( extrait K-Bis ), their appointment by the company and their acceptance, and comply with the following conditions:

Commit to repaying any VAT that may have been unduly refunded

Have a clean tax record

The representative will be informed of whether their accreditation has been approved or denied in writing.

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MAJ 1 6 / 11 / 21

This Travel Hack Can Help You Save Hundreds of Dollars While Shopping Abroad

Go ahead . . . buy that expensive european designer bag. you may get some cash back thanks to this handy travel tip..

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When it comes to VAT refunds, the more you spend, the more you can get back.

Photo by AboutLife/Shutterstock

If you’ve never heard of the VAT refund, get ready to see some serious financial returns the next time you go shopping abroad. If you’re looking for the best price on a high-end item, you might be able to save thousands of dollars by waiting to buy it overseas. (Discount luxury shopping: It’s not an oxymoron.) Here’s the breakdown on how to save money with VAT.

What is VAT?

VAT—sometimes redundantly called VAT tax—stands for value-added tax. This tax is associated with shopping in the European Union, though more than 160 countries around the world use value-added taxation. It’s a sales tax paid by consumers (not businesses), and it doesn’t exist in the United States. Only visitors—including U.S. tourists—are able to qualify for a VAT refund.

Keep in mind, VAT is often factored into the price of a product (so a €100 dress with a 20 percent VAT rate might have a price tag of €120). Other times, it is listed on the receipt. Ask a sales associate wherever you’re shopping if it’s unclear.

The rate of VAT in Europe varies depending on where you’re visiting and shopping, and it ranges from 7.7 percent in Switzerland (technically not an E.U. country, and it’s set to increase its VAT to 8.1 percent in 2024) to 27 percent in Hungary. The average VAT rate in the E.U. is 21.3 percent , and the minimum in the E.U. is 15 percent. Deloitte provides a very useful country-by-country breakdown .

But rates can also vary depending on what you’re buying. For example, food and pharmaceutical products are typically taxed at a lower rate than leather goods like shoes and handbags.

Can you get a VAT refund in the U.K.?

It depends: Travelers were allowed to do so throughout the U.K. up until December 31, 2020, but Brexit put an end to VAT refunds. Currently, the only country in the region that offers VAT refunds to overseas visitors is Northern Ireland.

If you’re hoping to buy luxury goods in Europe—good news. You could qualify for a VAT refund.

Courtesy of Ira Komornik/Unsplash

What qualifies for a refund?

Almost all luxury goods—including clothes, shoes, cosmetics and skincare, jewelry, handbags, leather goods, and art—will have a value-added tax. Many items qualify for a VAT refund, but it’s important to note that only new goods (not used) can be claimed. Each transaction also has to be over a certain threshold, and this threshold varies by country. For instance, you have to spend over €100 per transaction in France to qualify for a VAT refund. This means you can buy several products at one store for a total of more than €100, but if you spread those same items out over multiple stores, you would not get to claim the refund. You can also make a single large purchase over €100 at many different stores and claim for each transaction.

Your items are supposed to be unused when you declare them. That said, you can typically get away with using your new handbag or coat. But you may want to hold off on breaking in those new leather slingbacks before you present them to customs. You also will want to ensure that items you are declaring are recent purchases because you must make your claim within three months of leaving the European Union.

Items that do not qualify for a VAT refund

• Vintage items —Those vintage Chanel clip-on earrings you bought from the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen? The (probably very good) price you paid is final. No refunds here.
• Goods purchased in the tax-free zones of airports —because there is nothing to refund
• Transactions that do not meet the minimum threshold
• Services —including hotel stays, restaurant meals, and tour guide fees—because these are experienced abroad and not brought home
• Anything you aren’t bringing back to the United States . The goods have to come home with you.
• Cars — unless the vehicle is being used exclusively for business purposes, in which case you can get up to 50 percent back on your VAT
• Alcohol and tobacco
• Counterfeit items —This may seem obvious, but a faux Dior tote does not qualify for VAT (and in France, purchasing a counterfeit is a criminal offense).

Keep in mind: Vintage items are not eligible for VAT refunds.

Photo by Kamil Macniak/Shutterstock

What you need to do while shopping

• Make sure you have your passport with you before you start shopping —you’ll have to provide proof that you are a visitor . If you’re shopping specifically to get a discount, ask the shop if it participates in VAT refunds and if it has a specific purchase-amount threshold. On occasion, smaller shops and boutiques do not participate, therefore you will not be able to get a VAT refund on that purchase. It’s best to know before you start shopping.
• Ask for paperwork at each place you shop —the sales assistant, cashier, or store manager should have information. Occasionally, stores can process a refund for you on site (called “instant refund”), but most use Global Blue, Premier TaxFree, or another third-party to handle the refund process. [Author’s note: I shopped at some of the largest stores in Paris—Le Bon Marché, Liberty, Louis Vuitton, Chanel—and was unable to get the instant refund at any of them.]
• Don’t leave the store without signed, official documents. Many department stores have a VAT office, such as Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in Paris. These offices will help you get your paperwork sorted. Staple your receipts to your forms, and keep them in a safe place so you can access them when you’re claiming your refund.
• Ask for a second receipt. You may want this for U.S. customs upon your arrival home.
• Try to group purchases at boutiques into one transaction , because you may get a higher rate of return. Don’t buy a bag at Hermès and then come back later to get a scarf. If you can, buy them both at the same time.

The VAT refund should be processed at your final port of departure when you’re leaving the E.U.

Courtesy of Unsplash/Getty Images

How to collect your refund

When you’re ready leave the E.U.—your last port of departure—make sure you have your goods ready to declare and your paperwork completed, then head to the airport well in advance of your flight. Keep in mind, if you’re traveling around multiple European countries, you do not go through this process each time you leave and go somewhere new within the continent (even if you’re going to a non-E.U. country, like Norway or Switzerland).

The refund process is completed on your final departure when you’re headed home. Your forms should have instructions on what steps to take (and where to go), but here’s what to do.

• Find a VAT counter. You’ll want to identify your options in advance of your flight so tracking them down is easier on the day of your travel— Moneycorp , Planet , and Global Blue are fairly common. Check your individual airport’s website for more information; some will have detailed instructions specific to their location.
• Some airports may offer a dropbox when there’s no one there to check your paperwork. This is relatively rare, but you may run into a situation where there’s no one at the counter to take your paperwork. Look for a drop box where you can take your completed paperwork for processing. The downside here is that it can add time to the process if anything is filled out incorrectly or information is missing. So make sure to double-check everything before making the drop.
• Once you’ve arrived at the counter, present your completed forms and paperwork alongside your passport and boarding pass to the employee. You may need to present certain purchased goods, particularly if they’re over €1,000. At this point, if you do have a larger purchase, you will likely be sent to the local customs office to have an officer see your goods and give you a customs stamp. If that step doesn’t apply to you, an employee will stamp your documents at the refund counter and either mail them off or hand them to you to drop into a mailbox.
• Choose your refund delivery method. You receive your refund either in cash or as a direct credit back on your credit card. Cash refunds are faster but typically have a higher fee. Credit card refunds can be slower but usually get more money back. Sometimes the refund is instant, sometimes it takes five days, sometimes it takes months. Keep your paperwork in case you have to track down your refund. If you haven’t received information in six weeks, it’s time to contact the agency.

Now for the less fun news: You do not get the full 15–20 percent VAT refunded. There are unavoidable processing fees that unfortunately cut into the final refund amount, but typically it’s a small charge. You can get an estimate on the Global Blue website of what your refund might be.

VAT is a value-added tax on goods purchased within the European Union.

Courtesy of Jacek Dylag/Unsplash

How this affects your travel home

• Consider adding at least two hours to your travel time when declaring your goods at an airport VAT counter.
• Repack your items into your checked bag after you present them for your refund.
• In addition, you have to declare your goods when you come back to the United States , and a customs officer may want to see your items if you’ve spent over $800. You may also have to pay duty, depending on the value of your purchase and the size of your party. The first $800 (per person) is tax free, the $1,000 after that is taxed at 3 percent, and beyond that the rate is variable.

Can I just go to the duty-free airport shops?

Yes, but often the products are only slightly discounted from what you’d see outside the terminal. You’ll save more money if you go through the VAT refund process.

Make sure to declare any goods purchased abroad that are worth over $800 to U.S. Customs.

Courtesy of Arturo Ray/Unsplash

How to maximize VAT savings

At this point you may be thinking that’s way too much effort for a few bucks. To that end, you’d be right—sometimes this is too much if the rate of return is small. The best way to maximize your VAT refund is on larger purchases like luxury items or a group of items at one store.

• Buy something made in the country you’re visiting. Purchasing a Louis Vuitton purse in France will save you a significant amount of money compared to buying the same purse in the United States.
• Travel with family. The United States allows $800 per person of duty-free goods. If you travel with a family of four, that’s $3,200 collectively of U.S. tax–free import.
• Don’t try to avoid U.S. customs tax authorities if your purchase is over $800. This is tax fraud, and you can be fined a major penalty and lose Global Entry status. Your VAT refund is connected to your passport number, so do yourself a favor and go through the process.
• Pay in euros or use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees so you don’t incur unnecessary charges.

Some travelers have managed to save substantial amounts on certain luxury goods. Others have had less success, despite following instructions to the letter. But if you’ve spent a lot on souvenirs in Europe, you’ll at least want to try to get that VAT back to offset the duty you’ll pay in the United States.

Is there any way to avoid paying the VAT?

Technically, yes. If a store offers home shipping services, you could opt to have your purchase sent directly to your place (thus saving precious packing space!). The shop won’t charge the VAT if you go this route. But there’s a catch: You’ll have to pay for the freight shipping, which can add up very quickly. So carefully weigh the pros and cons—what is the maximum shipping cost that will offset the inconvenience of dealing with the VAT refund paperwork?

This article originally appeared online in 2020; it was most recently updated on February 2, 2024 by Erika Owen, to include current information.

The Tax-Free Calculator for France

The standard VAT rate in France is 20 % . France will reimburse between 12 % and 12 % of the amount you spend during your trip on products subject to standard VAT rates. The minimum purchase threshold is 100 EUR .

On this page, by entering the amount you spent, you can find out approximately how much of a VAT refund you can get.

Note: Exact France tax-free refund calculations may vary according to the company you work with. Therefore, the values on this page are approximate.

Products Subject to Lower VAT Rates:

Items for which vat refunds do not apply:, who can benefit from tax-free shopping in france .

• If you have permanent residence in a non-EU country.
• If you are older than 16.
• France has higher minimum spending requirements than many other countries.

With Glocalzone, earn money while traveling to France !

Glocalzone is a platform that brings together shoppers looking to buy products abroad and travelers visiting there.

How are Tax-free Refunds Calculated in France ?

It can be difficult to figure out exactly how much you will be reimbursed in France and other countries that offer tax-free shopping. We have created this page in an effort to help you navigate this topic. First of all, to find out how much your tax-free refund will be, there are 2 things you need to know:

• The VAT rate in France
• The VAT status of the product you purchased

We will use an example to try to explain how much your tax-free refund will be. France applies a 20 % VAT rate to its products. In other words, of a 1200 EUR purchase, 200 EUR of that purchase actually go towards tax.Therefore, you should theoretically get 200 / 1200 or 16.7 % of your tax-free purchase back; however it is not possible to fully recover this entire amount.

Another thing you need to know when calculating your tax-free refund in France is that you need to work with an intermediary refund agent in order to get your tax-free payment. Although throughout Europe Planet Payment and Global Blue are the 2 most popular companies in this regard, other companies may mediate local or smaller tax-free transactions and can vary by country.

The commission these intermediary companies receive may also affect the amount you can get back. These companies usually deduct a percentage from the total refund you will receive. The higher the prices of the products you buy, the lower the deduction percentage will be.

Since the commission received by tax-free refund agents can vary from company to company, this page will help guide you in how to calculate tax-free refunds in France . The total amount you receive back will depend on the company, whether you want your refund in cash, and whether the payout credited to your account will be subject to currency conversions.

The Tax-free Guide to France : How to Get a Tax-free Refund

The 4 steps necessary in France to get tax back on your shopping:

• Choose stores that offer tax-free shopping.
• Have the necessary tax-free forms filled out at the store.
• Get your tax-free form verified by customs at the airport.
• Visit the airport offices of the tax refund company you work with.

Once you have completed these 4 steps, you will be able to receive your tax-free refund from France . Thus, you will get the products you bought in France for even less. Let's take a look at each of these steps more closely.

Choosing a Shop that is Tax-free

Generally when you shop large, global brands, these brands will have tax-free agreements and the paperwork should be no problem. Our suggestion in this regard is to ask whether it is possible to get a VAT refund when you enter the store. You can make the process easier by choosing stores with the words "Tax-free" located on their showcases.

Completing the Required Tax-free Form at the Store

At this stage, all you have to do is mention that you are a visitor from abroad and would like to benefit from tax-free shopping. The store clerk will prepare the necessary documents to be filled out in the store. All you will have to do is sign the documents.

Get Your Form Verified by Customs at the Airport in France

You must have your tax-free form approved by customs before you leave the country. The customs officer may want to check the products you purchased. According to tax-free regulations, all products bought in France need to remain unused until they have left the country. It may take some time to process your tax-free refund at the airport. Therefore, we recommend that you be at the airport a minimum of 1 hour in advance of your usual arrival time.

Visit the Airport Offices of the Tax Refund Company You Work With

After your tax-free form has been approved, you need to go to the office of the tax refund company you are working with to receive your tax-free refund. If you are departing from a large airport, you can simply locate their offices via either the company’s or the airport’s website.

Here you will need to fill out a form stating how you want to receive your tax-free refund payment. You can get it refunded to your credit card once you return to your country, or you can ask to receive cash at the airport by paying extra commission. Cash tax-free refunds are not available at all airports. However, if using a heavily-trafficked airport in France , you should be able to receive payment in cash.

Other Things to Know About Tax-free Refunds in France

Tax-free refunds are available to people traveling to France for touristic purposes. In other words, if you have a residence permit for the country you are visiting, getting a refund will not be possible.

There is a minimum purchase threshold you need to reach to get a tax-free refund. You cannot get tax-free reimbursement for expenses below this limit. The minimum purchase threshold is calculated per invoice. That is to say, if you make multiple separate purchases below the minimum threshold, even if the total exceeds the minimum threshold, you will not be able to get tax-free compensation.

Refunds for tax-free purchases in France are only valid for VAT. You can also deduct the VAT fees applied to the commission charged by your tax refund company.

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• If you applied on or after December 18, 2023, we will process your application for expedited service within 15 business days. 
• Our processing times  begin the day we get your application at a passport agency, or the day you request an upgrade from routine to expedited service. Processing times do not begin the day you submit your application. 
• A business day includes Mondays through Fridays, and does not include federal holidays. 

If a passport agency takes longer than 15 business days to process your expedited application, you can request a refund of the $60 expedited service fee. 

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• Passport execution (acceptance) fees
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• Expenses for missed travel

Request a refund if:

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• Include your full legal name  as it appears on your passport application. 
• Get your nine-digit application number  by checking the  Online Passport Status System . 
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• After you click  Submit , you should receive an automated email. Do not submit a second request for your refund because it will delay processing your original request.
• Once we receive your request, it will take us up to  6 weeks to process your refund. 

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If you changed your name, mailing address, or date of birth after you submitted your refund request, call us at  1-877-487-2778 .

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Sorry, there are no results matching your search., france: vat recovery for olympics operators with new expenses in france.

Incurring new expenses in France can lead to a variety of tax issues.

Economic operators may have the opportunity to participate in or organize specific events for the Olympic Games in Paris. Incurring new expenses in France can subsequently lead to a variety of tax issues, notably regarding value added tax (VAT) recovery in France.

Depending on the customer's place of establishment, three methods are available for reclaiming VAT:

• Refund procedure for European established companies
• Refund procedure for non-EU established companies
• Refund procedure for companies registered for VAT in France

Depending on the nature of the expenditure incurred, refunds are only possible under certain conditions

• Hotel and accommodation expenses
• Meals and entertainment expenses
• Fuel expenses (petrol and diesel)
• Transport of passengers’ expenses and other specific expenses
• Leasing of private cars, private jets, gifts and samples, etc.
• VAT margin scheme, etc.

For more information, contact a KPMG tax professional in France:

Anne-Sophie de Béchade | anne-sophiedebechade@kpmgavocats.fr

Anne-Laure Benoist | anne-laurebenoist@kpmgavocats.fr

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A day after 12 deaths, other migrants risk their lives trying to cross the english channel.

Associated Press

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

A boat thought to be with migrants is escorted by a vessel from the French Gendarmerie Nationale off the Wimereux beach, France, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. A boat carrying migrants ripped apart in the English Channel as they attempted to reach Britain from northern France on Tuesday, plunging dozens into the treacherous waterway and leaving 12 dead, authorities said. (AP Photo/Nicolas Garriga)

WIMEREUX – A day after 12 migrants died when their small inflatable ripped apart on a failed effort to cross the English Channel, several dozen others made another crossing attempt on a crowded vessel from northern France on Wednesday, as French patrol boats watched it labor through the seas.

That migrants were prepared to risk their lives so soon after a dozen others lost theirs trying to cross the busy waterway from France to Britain underscored the magnitude of the problem for the French and U.K. governments. It was the deadliest accident involving a migrant boat in the English Channel this year.

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The mayor of Wimereux, a French coastal town where Associated Press journalists filmed the crowded inflatable boat on Wednesday, pleaded for French and British officials to do more to limit the number of migrants attempting the often perilous journey.

“Unfortunately, every day is like this for us. The smugglers — a criminal network — continue with insistence to send people to their deaths in the channel. It really is unacceptable, scandalous. And it is high time that a lasting solution is found with Britain,” Mayor Jean-Luc Dubaële said by phone.

“Let's ask ourselves the question: Why do they want to go to Britain? Because something is drawing them there,” he said. “They can ask for asylum in France. (But) none ask for the right to asylum in France. They all want to go to Britain. So it is high time that we sit around a table with the new British government.”

Cross-Channel migration was a key focus in the U.K. general election in July, which the Labour Party won resoundingly to make its leader, Keir Starmer, the new prime minister.

A French prosecutor investigating Tuesday's sinking, Guirec Le Bras, said 10 of the 12 dead were women and six of the victims were minors. Many appeared to be Eritrean, he said. The inflatable boat sank about 5 kilometers (3 miles) off the French coast, he said. Maritime authorities said many aboard didn't have life vests.

Fishermen who recovered some of the dead said they were moved to tears.

“The bodies of two women were very young. That hurt me. I cried all day. I couldn’t stop," said 53-year-old Samba Sy Ndiaye, who works aboard the Murex, one of two fishing boats that assisted the French rescue effort.

Another crew member, Axel Baheu, said the body of one young woman – he guessed she was between 15 and 20 – had a telephone in a waterproof pouch around her neck. It started to ring as he was pulling her out of the water and checking for a pulse, he said.

“That was hard because you know full well that no one will ever answer," Baheu said.

His father, Jean Marie Baheu, said he saw another heavily laden migrant boat set off Wednesday in front of his house.

“When the weather is good and there’s no wind, there are departures every day,” he said. “At the beginning, you’d see 20, 30 people. Now, it’s minimum 70, 80.”

The inflatable boat the AP saw and filmed on Wednesday was carrying migrants, French maritime authorities confirmed. AP journalists estimated that 40 to 50 people were aboard.

Many wore life preservers. A patrol boat flying a French flag approached the inflatable at one point and the crew tossed more life vests — about half a dozen — to the migrants.

The English Channel's gray seas were comparatively calm, with small waves lapping the beach as people walked dogs on the sand.

Still, the inflatable appeared to make slow headway. Even though journalists filmed it for more than two hours, it remained clearly visible from shore, with the patrol vessel buzzing around it and a larger one shadowing it from farther away.

The French maritime agency that oversees that stretch of sea said the boats were monitoring the inflatable in case it ran into difficulty or people aboard requested assistance.

In a statement to the AP, the agency said that although maritime law forbids the use at sea of makeshift inflatables, it's too dangerous to force them back to shore when the boats are heavily laden.

“It's difficult to achieve with more than 50 people on board who are vehemently refusing to be rescued. The main risk is a stampede on board and then a capsizing, these boats being neither stable nor reliable. The risk of loss of human life being too high for an intervention under duress, the choice is made to prioritize the protection of the people on board and by simply monitoring from a distance the navigation capabilities of these boats,” the statement said.

“It is therefore more a question of ethics than of blind application of the law,” it added.

By the U.K. government's count, at least 21,720 migrants have managed to cross the English Channel so far this year. That's 3% more than at the same stage last year, but 19% lower than during the same period in 2022.

The boat that ripped apart on Tuesday, plunging 65 people into the sea, was one of several crossing attempts that day. British authorities said at least 317 migrants succeeded, arriving aboard five boats.

One of the first measures the new U.K. government immediately enacted was to scrap the previous Conservative government’s plan to send some migrants arriving in small boats to Rwanda rather than being allowed to seek asylum in Britain. Human rights groups criticized the plan.

Starmer called the plan a “gimmick” and wouldn't act as a deterrent. Instead, his government has opted to divert some of the money saved from ditching the program into setting up a strengthened border force to “smash” the criminal gangs behind the small-boat arrivals.

Leicester reported from Paris. Pan Pylas contributed to this report from London.

Follow AP’s coverage of migration issues at https://apnews.com/hub/migration

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

French Finance Ministry's Deficit Warning Adds to Macron's Political Headache

French Finance Ministry's Deficit Warning Adds to Macron's Political Headache

FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron participates in "Forum on Youth and Artificial Intelligence" with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, in Novi Sad, northern Serbia August 30, 2024. REUTERS/Djordje Kojadinovic

By Elizabeth Pineau and Leigh Thomas

PARIS (Reuters) -France could see its budget deficit spiral unexpectedly higher this year and next if extra savings are not found, the finance ministry warned in a letter to lawmakers, as the euro zone's second-biggest economy lurches deeper into political crisis.

The deteriorating finances, which have also put Paris into EU disciplinary proceedings, add to pressure on President Emmanuel Macron as he struggles to name a new government two months after snap elections led to a hung parliament.

The financial shortfall means any new government could face tough choices between cutting spending and hiking taxes or losing credibility with France's EU partners and financial markets.

The document sent to lawmakers on Monday by the finance ministry indicated that the public sector budget deficit risks reaching 5.6% of economic output this year, leftist lawmaker Eric Coquerel, who heads the finance committee in the National Assembly, said in a late-night post on X. The caretaker government had been targeting a deficit of 5.1%.

The deficit could reach as much as 6.2% in 2025, Coquerel added, citing treasury calculations that 60 billion euros in budget savings would be needed to reach the outgoing government's deficit target of 4.1% for next year.

Several key taxes including income, corporate and value added sales tax were all coming in weaker than expected. A security crisis in the French pacific island territory of New Caledonia and parliamentary snap elections this year caused additional expenses, he added.

Outgoing Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said it was an "absolute necessity" for France to push ahead with budget cuts and not let the deficit spiral out of control, according to one of the documents sent to lawmakers and seen by Reuters.

Coquerel pushed back, telling journalists that the situation was the result of successive tax cuts under Macron and could only be corrected by tax hikes rather than spending cuts.

Forecasting economic growth of 1% for both this year and next, Le Maire said 16.5 billion euros in spending had already been frozen for this year to offset the revenue shortfall and budget overruns.

"We've got to put an end to this policy of always counting on spending cuts," Coquerel hit back.

France has long fallen foul of EU rules requiring member states to keep budget deficits to less 3% of economic output, and Paris has not booked a surplus since 1974, three years before Macron was born. Its total debt of 110% of GDP also violates EU rules.

Under Macron, tax cuts on households, companies and capital income have reduced annual revenue by tens of billions of euros.

The caretaker government already froze 2025 spending last month at current levels in its provisional budget planning, although its successor is likely to rework the numbers, possibly drastically.

Macron is struggling to find a prime minister who would be compatible with both leftists and conservatives in parliament and who would not roll back pro-business reforms he has put in place since he was first elected in 2017.

If opposition parties are not satisfied with Macron's choice, they could vote a motion of no-confidence, potentially bringing down the new prime minister's government.

However, time is running short as the government is by law supposed to hand a draft budget to lawmakers to consider by October 2, although there might be wiggle room for a couple more weeks.

($1 = 0.9033 euros)

(Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau and Leigh Thomas; additional reporting by Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Toby Chopra and Peter Graff)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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Italy weighs sharp tourist tax rise in furore over impact of visitors

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Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

Italy is proposing a sharp increase in tourist taxes to help cash-strapped cities raise revenues and make visitors “more responsible” amid a growing public backlash against overtourism.

Hotel and travel industry associations are up in arms over the plan, which envisions a levy of up to €25 a night for the most expensive hotel rooms.

“The common objective must be to support growth, not slow it down,” Federalberghi, an association representing small- and medium-sized hotels, said in a statement.

Barbara Casillo, director of Confindustria Alberghi, which represents larger hotels and global chains, warned that Italy was already facing fierce competition from other European destinations and might lose out by increasing tourist taxes that she called “already very high”.

“If we scare travellers who come to us by giving the impression that we want to take what we can, we are not doing a good service to the country,” Casillo said in an interview. “We must be very careful.”

The tourism ministry — run by Daniela Santanchè of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party — said it was planning “a dialogue” with relevant industry bodies in September over the “possible proposal to modify the rules of the tourist tax ”.

“Not all taxes are a tax,” Santanchè wrote in a recent social media post. “In times of overtourism, we are debating this so that it really helps improve services and make tourists who pay it more responsible.”

Marina Lalli, president of Federturismo — which represents all types of tourism companies — complained that many cities already “illegally” use tourist tax revenues to plug budget holes. The current law requires cities to use such funds to pay for things directly relevant to out-of-town visitors — like multilingual signage and maintenance of tourist sites.

“When you go and fix your streets that are full of holes — and you pay with money you collect from tourist tax — is this really for tourists, or is this a normal, ordinary thing that you should do in your city?” she said.

The debate comes as Italy faces heavy pressure on its public finances, with its debt burden, according to IMF forecasts, set to reach nearly 140 per cent of GDP this year, and its annual debt servicing costs now almost equal to public education expenditure.

Italy’s travel industry has seen a strong rebound after the collapse triggered by Covid-19, with industry associations estimating 2023 foreign tourist arrivals at 65mn — on a par with pre-pandemic levels. 

But many Italians are up in arms at the fallout from overtourism , as historic city centres lose their traditional character and ever more urban apartments are converted into short-term holiday rentals. 

Italian cities can impose taxes for overnight stays by both foreign and Italian visitors, and these now typically range from €1-€5 per person per night, depending on the number of stars held by the hotel or guest house that collects them.

In 2019, before the pandemic, nearly 1,200 municipalities collected a total of €470mn in tourist taxes, according to the Bank of Italy. But collections rose to an estimated €775mn in 2023 after Meloni’s government decided to let the most popular city destinations — with annual out-of-town visitor numbers 20 times higher than the local population — raise their tourist taxes to up to €10 person per night.

This year, Venice has experimented with an entry fee for day trippers visiting its historic centre.

The government’s latest proposal, seen by the Financial Times, suggests increasing the tourist tax ceiling to €5 per room per night for a room under €100; €10 per night for rooms costing €100-€400; €15 for rooms priced at €400-€750; and €25 for rooms that are more than €750.

The rules also specify that the funds could support trash collection, drawing the travel industry’s ire.

“It’s very important to have a decent looking city — at least in the tourist areas — but it’s not just that we should use money from the tourists to fix things that happen in areas that tourists do not even go,” Federturismo’s Lalli said. 

But the proposal could be cheered by residents of fragile urban centres, now struggling to cope with overwhelming visitor numbers.

“Tourism strains the nature and the entire infrastructure of the city,” said Eike Schmidt, former director of Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, and now a member of its city council. “Italy is far from Bhutan, but it is absolutely correct to have bigger contributions from tourists.” 

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Help! United Canceled Our Trip to Paris. Or Did It?

A long-planned French getaway for three hit a snag when their airline reservation was mysteriously canceled, costing them almost $11,000. It turned out an unwanted travel agency was (partially) responsible.

By Seth Kugel

Dear Tripped Up,

Last Oct. 10, my wife, a friend and I arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport to fly to Paris on a trip we had originally planned for April but had to postpone. At the United Airlines check-in counter, agents told us our reservation had been canceled — by us! Even weirder, the same thing had happened three weeks earlier, when the airline sent us an email saying we had canceled our trip. That time, we called and insisted United reissue the reservation for the same price, which it did by giving us a travel voucher and instantly redeeming it. At the airport, though, we watched as supervisors got their supervisors involved, and we were eventually told that something about the voucher had raised questions about fraud. We missed our flight and bought last-minute tickets for that evening’s 11 p.m. United flight to Paris. Then that flight was canceled, though this time for everyone. Given the day’s stress and frustration, we gave up on the trip, had dinner and went to the airport Marriott before heading home the next morning. We believe United owes us for the cost of the last-minute flight ($4,475), a portion of the earlier canceled flight ($3,099), the cost of our transportation, hotel and meals that day ($1,178) and the money we lost on nonrefundable plans in France ($2,007). Can you help? Connie, Towson, Md.

Dear Connie,

Have you ever tried to solve a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle that someone put through a wood chipper? Me neither, but now I know how that might feel.

Still, I think I’ve got it — a trying tale not just about United, but of a Google search gone wrong, a badly timed shoulder injury, an accusation of fraud, a miscalculated credit card chargeback, unwarranted credit and a New Jersey-based travel agency with a bone to pick and an owner who answers to the name of “Alec Baldwin.”

This specific loony sequence of events is unlikely to befall other travelers, but other loony sequences will, and there are lessons to be learned here — because every party involved shares some blame.

It’s easiest to explain chronologically, so let’s turn back the clock to January 2023, when you reserved your original April flight on what you thought was a phone call with United. It wasn’t. Instead, a click you made on a Google ad led you to call a travel agency named The FareHub, which, you said, did nothing to disabuse you of the notion that you were speaking with United. ( I wrote about dubious travel websites earlier this month. ) The FareHub issued your tickets via email, in a format generic enough you didn’t notice the difference.

Only in March, when a member of your party hurt her shoulder and you called (the real) United to postpone the trip did you discover The FareHub was involved. It was a United agent who explained that two of the January charges on your credit card statement, to “United Air” and totaling $10,659, were not to United at all. (This might be a good time to remind everyone that we should all regularly examine our statements.)

The total was some $4,000 more than you thought it should be. But when you called back the number you now realized was The FareHub to question the charges, you said an agent hung up on you. You called United again and spoke to the fraud department, who suggested you contact Chase, your credit card issuer, to try to recover what you had lost.

This is the debacle’s inflection point. Following the United agent’s advice, you asked Chase for a chargeback on what you claimed were fraudulent charges and were refunded the full $10,659. But that wasn’t right: Even though The FareHub did perhaps overcharge you, the company did purchase you tickets.

The FareHub is a brand of a company named Viajar Solutions, which is based in New Jersey with a call center in India. The FareHub’s site describes itself as “a legitimate travel company that is based in USA.” Its online reviews are few, poor and reflect your experience almost precisely, and a Google spokesman told me that the site has been suspended for months from its Google Ads program for violating company policy on misrepresentation .

When I later contacted The FareHub, I was routed to Abhinav Rasgotra, who identified himself as the company director and insisted the full charges were correct. He also asked if I would refer to him in this story as “Alec Baldwin,” his nickname in the United States. I declined.

Chase would not comment on the record about this case, but typically credit card companies weigh evidence from both parties in deciding these requests; Mr. Rasgotra told me he would send me the evidence he sent to Chase, but has not. Regardless, given that you were still planning to take the trip, you should have requested only a partial chargeback, not the full amount. You say you later contacted Chase to say you had received too much.

When The FareHub saw the chargeback, representatives tried to contact you by phone in March and then sent an email suggesting they would take legal action. “As there is no response on the call,” it said, “we have forwarded this dispute case to our Legal Advisor Alec Baldwin.” You didn’t respond.

A United spokeswoman, Erin Jankowski, told me the airline was unaware you got the refund from Chase, which explains why you were issued electronic certificates — vouchers, for future travel — on May 20. They appear to have been for around $4,600, since, that same day, when you booked your new reservations for October, United only charged your credit card $3,099 out of the total $7,694.

So these new reservations were funded both by you and (from an accounting perspective, at least) by The FareHub. “They used our money,” Mr. Rasgotra said.

That is what led to those two mysterious cancellations: An enraged Mr. Rasgotra told me The FareHub canceled your flights to prevent you from spending their money.

It’s a bit unclear how The FareHub was able to do so, as you had booked the reservations directly through United. Mr. Rasgotra said The FareHub still had access to the new reservation, because the travel certificates United issued were connected to your original reservation and thus issued to The FareHub in your name. United had a different explanation involving a compromised MileagePlus account, but it doesn’t matter: One way or the other, on Sept. 20, The FareHub was able to cancel your October reservations.

That’s when you called to have United reissue those tickets, and the way the carrier did that was to issue yet another electronic travel certificate to you, for the total value of the tickets, $7,694, and then use that certificate to rebook the same flight for Oct. 10.

Once again, The FareHub could see this, and once again it canceled the reservation. But this time, United told me, The FareHub likely changed the email address associated with the reservation, which might explain why you arrived to the airport on Oct. 10 without knowing the reservation was canceled.

So who owes what to whom?

Let’s start with an easy one, that last-minute flight that you purchased on Oct. 10 for $4,475. It was canceled by the airline, and U.S. Department of Transportation rules are clear here. United owes you, and the carrier told me it has now reimbursed you that amount.

You also asked for $1,178 for the two rooms at the airport Marriott plus dinner and transportation. But lost in the back and forth was that United had already sent you a total of $900 for your expenses, which doesn’t cover the costs but, to me, seems reasonable.

Now for the $2,007 for those canceled plans in France: You’re out of luck. Airlines will reimburse passengers for travel expenses they missed out on only in the most extreme circumstances . Typically, that’s a job for travel insurance.

That leaves us with the $3,099 you charged to your card on May 20, to book your flights through the real United. That money, according to United, was subsequently used by The FareHub for other customers.

I wonder why United won’t take the blame for allowing that to happen and return you the $3,099, considering you never flew and the issue happened months after the carrier might have known that there were issues with The FareHub. United did not respond to my request for comment on this.

What can we learn from your debacle? It’s unfortunate that your Google search went astray, leading you to a poorly rated middleman that you didn’t want to use in the first place. The most obvious lesson is to take care to avoid sponsored links and click only on a company’s official website. But your inadvertent error kicked off a fiasco that also gives us an opportunity to consider chargebacks, and to issue a warning to anyone contacting their credit card company and declaring fraud.

Asking for chargebacks, particularly those for high amounts, should not be seen as a default strategy but as a nuclear option. So exhaust every conventional complaint weapon in your arsenal before you go there.

Why? Companies will stop negotiating with you directly once you get the credit card company involved; they consider chargebacks a declaration of war. They only work when the traveler is 100 percent correct. Therefore, be very sure you are right — that you understand your rights and have your math straight, asking for the precise amount you were overcharged. I have seen many occasions where this backfires, as nothing irks companies more than a chargeback, and like The FareHub, they often attempt to respond in kind.

If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to [email protected] .

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation.

Seth Kugel is the columnist for “ Tripped Up ,” an advice column that helps readers navigate the often confusing world of travel. More about Seth Kugel

Open Up Your World

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52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

D enver, Colo.: The city is undergoing a rebirth , with a newly refreshed Union Station and the gradual reopening of the mile-long, pedestrian-friendly 16th Street Mall to go along with views of the snow-capped Front Range.

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Stockholm-Helsinki Ferry:  The 16-hour trip between the two northern European cities is a festive summer ritual , with plenty of singing, gambling, limbo contests and maybe a bit too much to drink.

Swim in the Wild:  Looking to take a dip in or near a city center? Here are some European urban areas that have successfully opened up waterways for swimmers .

Travel | Travel Troubleshooter: Bank and cruise line…

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Travel | teen arraigned on attempted murder in shooting of san francisco 49ers rookie says he is very sorry, travel | travel troubleshooter: bank and cruise line argue over who is responsible for a refund.

I followed NCL’s instructions. But after I submitted my refund request, NCL told me that it had refunded it to my old credit card. I called Chase, and a representative promised to “research” my problem and send me a letter within 10-15 business days.

The Chase letter informed me that the $250 refund was returned to NCL. I ended up in a three-way call with Chase and NCL that devolved into an argument over who was responsible. It got so bad that the NCL representative said she was going to file a formal complaint against the Chase representative.

I don’t care who is responsible; I just want my money back. Can you help me?

— Linda Carnivale, Brooklyn Heights, Ohio

ANSWER: NCL is responsible for getting the money back to you. Full stop. The cruise line can argue with whomever it wants, but nothing will change this fact.

But first, a slight detour: I can’t believe a company like NCL is still writing checks in the 21st century. It should be able to get a new credit card number or just send the refund directly to your bank account. But a check? Come on.

You did an excellent job of keeping a paper trail of your case. It shows that NCL sent the money to Chase. It also shows that Chase never received the money. These emails are helpful when you’re trying to resolve a problem like this, because they will help the bank and cruise line sort things out. But at the risk of repeating myself, NCL needs to find a way to return your deposit, even though it’s missing.

I can understand how this ended up in a three-way phone call. It might have been the only way to solve the issue for NCL. But really, shouldn’t NCL have worked quietly behind-the-scenes to fix things with Chase instead of making you a character in this drama? I think so.

I list the names, numbers and emails of all the key executives on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org . You could have reached out to one of the NCL executives, and if this didn’t work, you could have tried a Chase manager.

I contacted NCL on your behalf. A cruise line representative said that your refund was delayed because you closed your credit card. (There was no mention of an intransigent bank.) NCL asked for your mailing address, then sent you an old-fashioned check for $250.

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy,  a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at [email protected] or get help by contacting him at elliottadvocacy.org/help/ . (c) 2024 Christopher Elliott Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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