In this article
If you live outside the European Union, you can claim back part of the sales tax (VAT) on goods you take home. On a handbag or a watch from Milan or Madrid it is real money – but only if you follow the steps in the right order.
At the shop
Ask for a tax-free form when you pay and show your passport. Each country sets a minimum amount per receipt, so it is usually better to buy several things in one shop on the same day than one small item in many shops. The refund company keeps a commission, which is why you get back less than the full VAT.
At the airport
This is where most refunds are lost. Before you check in your bags, go to the customs or tax-refund point with your forms, receipts, passport and the goods themselves. Customs may ask to see the items, so do not pack them deep in the suitcase you check in. In Spain many forms are validated at self-service kiosks in a few minutes.
Watch out: the stamp is given at the last airport in the EU you fly from. If you fly Rome – Paris – Doha, the forms are stamped in Paris, not in Rome. Leave enough time at the connection.
Cash or card?
The refund desk can pay in cash on the spot, but often in euros and with an extra fee. A refund to your credit card takes a few weeks but is usually higher. For large purchases, the card is the better choice.
Türkiye works differently
Türkiye is not in the EU and has its own tax-free system. The idea is the same – form at the shop, stamp when you leave the country – but Turkish forms cannot be stamped in another country, and EU forms cannot be stamped in Istanbul.
Keep everything together
One envelope for forms and receipts, kept in your hand luggage, avoids most problems. Take a photo of each form before you hand it in.
