Getting a VAT refund on European shopping
Check eligibility in the shop and finish the export paperwork before departure. The refund is usually smaller than the headline VAT rate.
Ask about a tourist VAT refund before paying for an expensive purchase. Not every shopper qualifies, not every shop offers the service and the process must normally be completed when the goods leave the relevant tax territory.
Eligibility is commonly based on residence, not simply the passport you show. Use the rules of the country where you buy and the exit point where you will complete the export formalities.
Sort the paperwork in the shop
For France, the customs authority's PABLO guide explains eligibility and the export-sales form. It lists a purchase threshold above €100 in the same shop on the same day. That French threshold should not be applied to every European country.
Bring the identification the retailer requires and check the name, passport details and refund method on the form before leaving. Keep the form and receipt together. An ordinary receipt alone may not be enough.
Ask for the expected net refund after any service charge. If the saving is the main reason for buying, compare that amount with the price you could pay elsewhere.
VAT is part of the displayed price
With a hypothetical 20% VAT rate, a €120 tax-inclusive price contains €20 of VAT, not €24. The calculation is €120 ÷ 1.20 = €100 before VAT. Any refund-service fee can reduce the amount returned further.
That example explains the arithmetic only. It does not establish the tax rate or refund available on your purchase.
Keep the goods available at departure
Follow the customs process at the relevant exit from the EU, which may be different from the country where you shopped. Leave time before departure and keep the goods available for inspection. If they are going in checked luggage, find the customs procedure before handing over the bag.
French customs distinguishes export validation from the actual repayment: the retailer or refund operator handles the money. Retain evidence that validation succeeded and follow the provider's instructions if payment does not arrive.
Check import allowances at home too. Receiving an export VAT refund does not cancel the customs obligations where you bring the goods. For a journey through Switzerland, see the Swiss customs guide.