UK residents are now eligible for tax-free shopping in France – LeShuttle (2024)

FAQs

UK residents are now eligible for tax-free shopping in France – LeShuttle? ›

Following Brexit on 1 January 2021, UK residents in England, Wales and Scotland (excluding Northern Ireland) are now eligible to shop tax free in the EU and can save up to 20% by claiming back the VAT on their purchases.

Who is eligible for tax free shopping in France? To get a VAT refund, you must be a resident in a non-EU country, such as the United Kingdom, at the time of purchase. You must also have been in France for less than 6 months and be at least 16 years old.

However, the good news is, after Brexit, residents of England, Scotland and Wales who are shopping in the EU are also eligible to shop tax-free, which means they can enjoy savings by reclaiming the VAT on purchases made on a majority of items such as fashion items, cosmetics, technology, jewellery, wine, and many more ...

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.

Under European law, you can reclaim Value-Added Tax (VAT) incurred in another Member State from that Member State. You do not have to be established in that Member State. This is done through the Electronic VAT Refund (EVR) system.

New tax-free shopping in France for UK residents

Following Brexit on 1 January 2021, UK residents in England, Wales and Scotland (excluding Northern Ireland) are now eligible to shop tax free in the EU and can save up to 20% by claiming back the VAT on their purchases.

All non-EU visitors to France, which now also includes British citizens, can benefit from VAT free shopping in France by claiming 20% tax back.

Anyone who is over 16 and has travelled to France for less than six months is eligible to claim a VAT refund on goods purchased during their stay in France. These VAT refunds are applicable to all residents of the UK (except for residents of Northern Ireland).

As a British tourist, travelling to Europe post-Brexit, you can claim a VAT refund on purchases made in the EU. So, if you're planning a trip to places like France, Italy or Spain, make sure you keep your receipts because you can finally benefit from tax-free shopping!

Can tourists claim VAT back in France? ›

If your primary residence is located in a non-EU country or a third country, the value-added tax (VAT) may be deducted from the price of your purchases in France. As a non-EU resident, if you purchase duty-free items in France to take back to your home country, you are eligible for reimbursem*nt of the VAT.

You will obtain a 12% VAT refund (excluding any foreign exchange fees) on purchases of over €100 made at a single store per transaction.

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.

Customs will approve your form if everything is in order. To get paid, either take your approved form to the VAT refund desk at the airport, or send it to the retailer or refund provider with evidence of where you're travelling to.

You will receive an invoice for the goods. 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.

The basic rule is that the goods must be consumed outside the EU. So eligible tax-free goods include: clothing, jewellery, fragrances and food and drink items. You can also buy some electronic items such as headphones or tablets.

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.