Yes, you can absolutely claim a VAT refund at most major international airports on your way out of the country. You must visit a customs desk or kiosk to get your forms stamped before checking in your baggage, as you may need to show the purchased items to customs agents.
In most cases, you'll present your refund documents at the airport on the way home (explained later). Some stores may offer to handle the process for you (if they provide this service, they likely have some sort of "Tax Free" sticker in the window).
Purchases in the checked-in baggage
🛫 At the Airport:
Present your original passport, tax invoices, completed refund forms, and purchased goods for customs inspection. After verification, the refund will be processed — either credited to your card or paid via a designated method, depending on the system in place at that airport.
You should contact the retailer or refund agent about claims for refunds of VAT. Revenue does not administer the Retail Export Scheme or give refunds directly to tourists. Retailers or refund agents can direct enquiries to their Revenue office.
If you are a non-resident visitor to Canada, you cannot claim a rebate of the GST/HST that you paid for purchases made in Canada.
Procedure upon departure from the European Union
When you leave the EU territory and prior to checking your luggage, you must present both your purchases and the VAT refund form to Customs.
The United States Government does not refund sales tax to foreign visitors. The foreign country in which you paid the Value Added Tax (VAT) is responsible for refunding the tax. Some countries won't refund after the fact, so check with the Foreign Embassies & Consulates office of the country you visited.
When it comes to claiming VAT on travel expenses, the key is knowing what's eligible and what's not. While you can reclaim VAT on things like hotel stays, car hire, and fuel for company vehicles, other costs—such as flights and train tickets—are zero-rated, meaning there's no VAT to reclaim.
Apply for a VAT refund
Your passport, boarding pass, and tax refund forms will be required. Additionally, you must carry the purchased items with you—preferably in their original packaging—along with the receipts or invoices.
A little bit late, but for anyone who might be interested, the state of California has very limited situations for when sales tax might be waived, and there's no refund for taxes paid at an airport, such as one might be able to get in some states or provinces.
You can receive a tax refund as a paper cheque, but the CRA notes that the fastest way to get your refund is by signing up for direct deposit. You can check the status of your refund by either phoning the CRA or accessing your CRA My Account online.
For a tax-refund passengers can then go to the desks of the companies authorised to carry out tax-refunds in the airport terminal, or they can choose to post the sales documentation using the pre-stamped envelope and place it in the post boxes situated beside the customs office in the extra-Schengen area after passport ...
VAT refunds let tourists get back Value Added Tax paid on goods they buy in countries like the EU, requiring forms from stores, proof of export (customs stamp at the airport before checking bags), and claiming the refund at airport desks, usually for unused items taken home, though the US doesn't offer this. The process involves getting an exemption form, keeping goods unused with tags on, getting customs to validate forms (often pre-security), and then processing the refund with operators like Global Blue, allowing for cash or credit card returns minus fees.
While it's important to have proper documentation for your VAT claims, there are instances where invoices or receipts might not be available. In such cases, HMRC may accept a claim for VAT if you can demonstrate the following: The purchase took place, supported by alternative documentary evidence.
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.
Common Tax Refunds UK Questions
To start a tax refund claim you will need the following information: Photo ID (driving license and passport) Or, if you only have one of these you can provide proof of address (bank statement, utility bill, or tax bill) P60 or payslip for each tax year you wish to claim for.
How to get paid a VAT refund. By completing your VAT Return online, HMRC will automatically calculate if you're due a VAT repayment for that accounting period. Once you submit your VAT Return, HMRC usually repays any VAT within 30 days. For more information, see HMRC's VAT Notice 700 guide.
How to claim a refund. To make a claim, you must: have spent $300 or more (including GST) with a single business at a store or a chain of stores covered by the same Australian Business Number (ABN) purchase goods no more than 60 days before departing Australia.
Main Reasons VAT Refunds Are Rejected (And How to Avoid Them)
When compared to the standard VAT rates of other countries within Europe, the countries where you pay the lowest VAT rates are Switzerland, Luxembourg and Turkey. For this reason, the VAT rate for your purchases from these countries will be low. This will mean a reduction in the VAT fees you receive back.
The goods must be taken out of the EU within 3 months of their purchase. The tourist must provide a stamped VAT refund document proving this. The value of the goods purchased must be above a certain minimum (set by each EU Member State). Retailers can either refund the VAT directly or use an intermediary.