If someone told you it’s possible to claim back some money which you had spent while shopping in Paris, would you? Surprisingly enough most think it’s too much effort to fill in a few forms before you leave the country for a French VAT tax refund.
What is French VAT TAX
VAT Tax is actually paid in over 140 countries around the world and is similar to GST or Sales Tax. In English VAT stands for (Value Added Tax) in French it’s translated to (Taxe Sur La Valeur Ajouttée) VTA.
This tax is usually included in the price on the label and is not added once at the cash register. The VAT tax can range from around 2% for medicine and drugs to 33% for luxury goods at this current point in time. It’s typically added onto goods and services to raise money which will helps fund the French government’s budget needs.
Who Can Claim VAT TAX Refund
In order to be eligible for a VAT tax refund there are a few requirements that must be met.
- Spend more than 175€ in the same store, same day
- Can’t be a member of the European Union
- Older than 15 years of age
- Acquire a valid Customs stamp upon departure of the EU
- Within 3 months of purchase your items should be exported
- Residing in France for less than 6 months
What Items Can You Claim
Refunds can only be claimed on goods which are a retail purchase and they must not be acquired for commercial reasons. Here is a list of goods which are excluded from the VAT refund;
- Items which have already had the VAT tax removed for promotional reasons
- Manufactured tobaccos
- Petroleum Products
- Postage stamps
- Weapons
- Cultural items
- Private means of transport
How To Claim VAT TAX
As with most things in France there is a little bit of paperwork involved. Once you have made your purchase of more than 175 euros you will need to acquire a VAT “Detaxe” Form. Most stores will have a copy of this form however it is possible to get a copy at the French airport from where you are exiting the EU.
Large retailers such as Galleries Lafayette and Printemps have a designated VAT refund desk or office’s where you can acquire and process the Detaxe form. Processing your transaction at a refund counter means that you can get money back immediately if all eligibility requirements have been met. You will still need it stamped by customs and put in the mailbox within 6 months of purchase or possibly face a fine. Here is a list of many shops and malls in Paris which offer duty free shopping and tax refund counters.
Steps to take to acquire a refund without the stores mentioned above are;
- After a purchase of 175€ or more acquire the VAT refund form and keep the sales receipt.
- Before airport check in, complete the form and have it stamped by a customs officer at one of the airport locations listed below.
- Find a post box in the airport and send off the de-tax form
- WAIT, WAIT, WAIT… you can expect a check via mail or direct deposit into a chosen bank account however France takes a lot of time to process anything.
- Train stations may not have a customs office so you will have to use third party companies such as Global Refund or Premier Tax Free to claim your refund. These companies will take pre-determined commission of your refund.
Paris Airport VAT Refund Office
Charles de Gaulle Airport
Terminal 1: CDGVAL level, hall 6
Terminal 2A: Departures level, gate 5
Terminal 2C: Departures level, gate 4
Terminal 2E: Departures level, gate 8
Terminal 2F: Arrivals level
Terminal 3: Departures level, airside
Orly Airport
West Terminal: Arrivals level, gate E
South Terminal : Departures level, gate G
Forgot To Lodge The Form?
If you forgot to lodge your VAT refund form before you left Paris then you will have to send a request to for tax refund to the “French Customs Ataché” within 6 months of your purchase.
For most travellers this step will not be worth the time and effort it takes to acquire a refund. The application involves a trip to the French consulate for an attestation of merchandise, a letter with good reasons why you did not lodge the form before leaving France, a retail export form, copy of boarding pass and appropriate identification. All of this may not be worth the trouble of possibly getting a few dollars in returns.
Food For Thought – Customs
Be wary of customs regulations and required taxes which should be paid for purchases over a certain denomination in country that you are returning too. Each country is different, for example the USA has a 3% tax on goods which were purchased outside of the country and valued at more than $1000 USD. (This tax denomination may change over time and is only a ballpark figure for general purposes.)
With all that said and done only you can decide if a VAT tax refund is worth the effort of dealing with the rigmarole of French paperwork. A 175€ purchase may possibly warrant a refund of 21€ if you’re lucky.
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FAQs
You can easily obtain an electronic duty-free slip by using the Pablo terminals at the airports. For an immediate VAT refund, you should present all your documents at the tax refund desk at the airport, the port or the train station from which you are departing.
How do I claim tax back at Paris airport? ›
For goods purchased in France, you should go to a PABLO kiosk located by the Customs office at your airport terminal and scan your tax refund form. For goods purchased outside France, you should go directly to a Customs officer to get your tax refund form physically stamped.
How to claim VAT back in France? ›
Claiming your tax refund is fast and secure
PABLO kiosks and customs offices are all located within our Calais Terminal Building. PABLO is the electronic VAT refund processing system for France. You can use the PABLO kiosks in our Calais Terminal to validate your tax refund forms if purchases have been made in France.
Can I claim VAT refund after leaving Europe? ›
You must show the invoice, the refund form, the goods and any other necessary documents to the customs officers of the last EU country you leave. The customs officers must stamp the form as proof of export. Without the stamp, you will not obtain the refund.
Is VAT refund before or after security? ›
At other airports, a single VAT desk handles the whole thing. Many customs offices are located before airport security; check before going through security.
How do I get my tax refund when I leave Paris? ›
You can easily obtain an electronic duty-free slip by using the Pablo terminals at the airports. For an immediate VAT refund, you should present all your documents at the tax refund desk at the airport, the port or the train station from which you are departing.
How much is the VAT refund for Louis Vuitton in Paris? ›
You will obtain a 12% VAT refund (excluding any foreign exchange fees) on purchases of over €100 made at a single store per transaction.
Do you need to show items for VAT refund? ›
The goods, new and unused, must be available for possible inspection by the Customs (so do not put them in your checked baggage). The amount of each invoice must be at least 154.94 € (including VAT). VAT refund for goods purchased in Italy can be requested within 3 months from the invoice date.
Can I claim my VAT refund online? ›
How to claim your VAT refund. You must claim your VAT refund online, via the authorities in the country where your business is based. If you are eligible for a refund, the authorities will pass on your claim to the authorities in the other country.
What qualifies for VAT refund? ›
So it's usually high-ticket items, like jewelry or fine clothing, that qualify for a VAT refund, not a paperback novel or suntan lotion. There are also a number of goods and services that are not eligible for refunds, including hotel rooms and meals.
Paris Gare du Nord Eurostar station
Once you arrive at the Gare du Nord Eurostar station, you'll need to enter ticket gates first, go through customs and security checks, then you'll see tax refund kiosks with obvious détaxe signs. If you can't find the kiosks, just ask the staff to direct you to the tax-refund kiosks.
Where is the highest VAT refund in Europe? ›
The 5 Countries with the Highest VAT Rates
- Hungary - 27%
- Croatia - 25%
- Denmark - 25%
- Norway - 25%
- Sweden - 25%
To reclaim VAT as a business, you need to submit a VAT return to HMRC every three months. This will show how much VAT you've charged to customers and how much you've paid.
How to claim a tax refund at Charles de Gaulle airport? ›
Where to claim VAT Refund. Proceed at a tax refund desk when you arrive at the airport for your return journey. Do this before checking in your baggage, before security, and ensure you have the items and documents with you for inspection. French Customs tax refund desks (Détaxe) are open during flight operation hours.
How to claim VAT at Paris train station? ›
When you arrive at the Gare du Nord Eurostar station, you'll need to enter the ticket gates first, go through customs and security checks, then you'll see the tax refund kiosks with obvious détaxe signs. If you can't find the kiosks, just ask the staff to direct you to the tax-refund.
When should I file my VAT return? ›
The deadline for submitting VAT returns and making payment is usually one calendar month and seven days after the end of your VAT 'accounting period'. The accounting period is the period covered by the VAT return and is ordinarily three months in length.
How to get tax refund in Paris Eurostar? ›
You will need to show your purchases, receipt, passport and completed VAT refund form in your name to customs officers at the station to get your VAT refund form stamped. The customs office can be found after passport and luggage checks in Paris Gare du Nord, Lille Europe, and Brussels-Midi/Zuid.
What is the best way to get your tax refund? ›
The best and fastest way to get your tax refund is to have it electronically deposited for free into your financial account. The IRS program is called direct deposit. You can use it to deposit your refund into one, two or even three accounts.
How to claim Global Blue tax refund? ›
Use our app to find stores with Global Blue tax refunds. Show your passport instore and ask for tax free. As you head home, validate your Tax Free Form with the validation kiosks at departure or at Customs. Save time by adding your credit card to our app and we'll pay you automatically.
What is the tourist tax in Paris? ›
Practical info. The amount of the tourist tax varies from **€0.65 (for 1- and 2-star campsites) to **€14.95 (for palaces) per person and per night. This amount must be displayed in the accommodation and must appear on the invoice issued but is not always included in the price of the accommodation.
