In France, tourists from outside the EU can get a VAT (Value Added Tax) refund, typically around 10-15% of the purchase price, not the full 20% standard VAT, due to processing fees. You must spend over €100 in one store, get a tax-free form (détaxe form) at purchase, and validate it at a PABLO terminal at your EU exit point before leaving the EU, with goods exported within three months.
You can get back part of the VAT paid in France as a non-EU tourist. Actual refund is 10–15% of the total price, due to how VAT is calculated and fees. Spend more than €100.01 to qualify for a VAT refund. Validate your tax-free form at customs before departure.
How do I get a VAT refund in France? To obtain a VAT refund, you must be a non-EU resident and spend at least 100 €. With the traditional way, you have to shop this amount in a single store on the same day. At the moment of purchase, request a “tax-free form” from the vendor.
European Countries with the Highest and Lowest VAT Rates
The VAT is one sixth of the purchase so if you purchased an item worth €2000, the VAT would be €333. However, when you make a VAT refund claim, the store and/or the agency you use to process the claim, such as GlobalBlue, take a cut of your refund. So you should expect to receive back between €200 and €250.
Yes — luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, and others are typically cheaper in France than in the U.S., for three main reasons: 🇫🇷 1. Lower Base Prices in Euros France is home to many luxury brands (LV, Chanel, Dior), so their retail prices in Europe are generally lower.
in 3 easy steps
Add purchase invoices from your French shopping in a single tap. Generate a digital tax-free form and scan the barcode at Wevat supported departure points before you leave France. Select your preferred currency and method to receive your refund within 3 months.
The tax introduced by François Hollande as the 75% tax is in fact an additional employer contribution of 50% which when existing social security charges are added reaches 75%.
Who Can Claim a VAT Refund? In the USA, the opportunity to claim a VAT refund is generally reserved for foreign businesses and tourists who have incurred VAT on eligible expenses within VAT-imposing countries. US businesses may also seek VAT refunds from their business expenses in these countries.
For any significant purchase, even at a boutique shop, it's always worth asking about a VAT refund. The precise details of getting your money back will depend on how a particular shop organizes its refund process. In most cases, you'll present your refund documents at the airport on the way home (explained later).
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.
Receive a tax exemption form
You must get a VAT refund form and sign this, with the vendor, at item purchase. Usually, the vendor has these forms available and will know what to do. In case there is any doubt, just know that both you and the vendor must sign the same form.
The standard VAT rate in France is 20%. There are also reduced VAT rates of 10% and 5.5%, and a super-reduced VAT rate of 2.1%. The French super-reduced rate is the lowest in the EU, and includes TV licences, certain pharmaceutical products, certain newspapers and periodicals, and admission to certain cultural events.
It's a nice amount, but it's important to understand what you can do with it and how far it goes. It's also good to know that this amount can vary depending on your personal situation, such as your place of residence, family composition, and lifestyle.
How can you get VAT back in France?
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.
France VAT Refund Rate
Standard VAT in France is 20%, but after administrative fees, the refund amount a shopper receives is slightly lower. Nevertheless, this reduction provides a meaningful incentive for tourists shopping in Paris, especially on high-value luxury items.
First, ensure your items are eligible: They must be new and unused or unworn. The idea is that the goods are for "export," not for use on your trip. And there is typically a minimum amount you have to spend in a store to qualify — as of November 2023, the minimum in the EU is 175 Euros.
How much is the tax refund in France? The VAT refund represents between 10% and 15% of the total price of your purchases, after deduction of service charges. For example, for a luxury bag costing €500, you can get up to €75 back.
When the UK left the EU on 1 January 2021, France imposed a higher rate of 17.2% on British citizens owning French second homes. This significantly increased the tax burden for Brits and encouraged many to sell their properties.
A VAT refund lets VAT-registered UK businesses reclaim VAT paid on eligible business expenses, usually at the standard 20% rate. You must be VAT registered (or eligible under the overseas VAT Refund Scheme) and have valid VAT invoices to make a successful claim.
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.
The time limit for customs approval is three months after the month of purchase for a credit card refund, or 21 days from the date of purchase for an immediate refund. There is a minimum spend of €100.01 in France to be eligible for tax-free shopping. Other EU countries have different minimum spends.