VAT refund in France for tourists: tax-free shopping in 2024
France is known as the world capital of fashion, art and haute cuisine. Many luxury Items produced in France are cheaper to buy here than abroad. Every year, the country attracts thousands of tourists who come for tax-free shopping in France.
What is the VAT tax refund in France
When making purchases in France, foreign tourists pay the included value added tax (VAT), which can later be refunded when leaving the country by the tax-free procedure.
Any tourist who is not a resident of France can apply for tax free. Each purchase must cost more than 100.01 euros. You will receive a cash refund of up to 1,000 euros.
To make a refund, you must meet the following conditions:
- Not to be an EU citizen.
- Stay in France as a tourist maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period.
- To be over 16 years old.
Rate of VAT tax refund in France for tourists
The standard percentage of value added to all goods in France is 20%. The exception is a number of goods at a reduced rate, such as medicines, food, books, etc., to which the rate of 10 and 5.5% is applied.
How to get VAT refund in France
You can get a tax refund at shopping centres marked with a special tax-free sign. You can also check directly at the store’s cash desk whether it participates in the tax refund system.
- Receiving a tax refund form when making a purchase. It is necessary to ask the salesperson to fill out a special form where the customer’s data, the product, the purchase amount and the store’s data are entered. The form can be of two types: with the PABLO logo (managed by the salesperson through the PABLO app) or without a logo (managed through a tax refund operator). The purchase receipt must also be attached to the form.
- Passing through customs control. To validate the tax form, it is necessary to scan it in the PABLO validation kiosk (named DETAXE). If the tax form was not created by the PABLO system or the place of leaving the EU is not France, it is necessary to affix customs stamps at the airport customs service.
- Receiving a refund. It is possible to receive a refund directly at the airport — through Tax Free Cash Refund kiosks. You need to find kiosks with the name of the tax refund company indicated on your form: Premier Tax Free, Global Blue, Innova Tax Free, etc. A refund to the card is also possible: in this case, it is necessary to seal the form and send it to the tax refund company — by mail or e-mail. In the latter case, the tax refund is credited to the card within 2–3 months.
Please note that PABLO kiosks are only available in some cities of France. When leaving the EU through a city that does not have a kiosk, you must contact the customs service to affix a seal.
For which goods VAT cannot be refunded in France
- weapon;
- medicines;
- tobacco;
- postage stamps;
- vehicles;
- services;
- cultural relics over 50 years old.
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