To avoid paying VAT twice, especially in cross-border e-commerce or travel, ensure the seller uses the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) for EU sales, request tax-free forms when shopping abroad, and check that carriers do not charge import VAT on items already taxed at checkout. If charged twice, contact the retailer for a refund or use official channels (like HMRC Form VAT652) to reclaim overpaid tax.
If you have multiple items on a VAT invoice, the ex-VAT prices are multiplied and added up, then the VAT applied on the invoice total.
Some countries won't refund after the fact, so check with the Foreign Embassies & Consulates office of the country you visited. Also. the United States does not participate in the VAT tax refund, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers are not mandated to stamp VAT tax forms.
At the Merchant
Note that you're not supposed to use your purchased goods before you leave Europe. (Some retailers, particularly those in Scandinavia, will staple and seal the shopping bag to keep you from cheating.) If the store ships your purchase to your home, you won't be charged the value-added tax.
To deregister for VAT by post, you must complete form VAT7. You will need to fill in this form online, print it, and send it to HMRC at the address shown at the end of the form. If HMRC approves your application, you will receive a formal confirmation notice through the post.
Let the shop know you're interested in a VAT refund. You'll need to provide proof of your "visitor" status—usually your passport, though you may have to show your airline ticket, as well—and fill out some paperwork.
Products that shouldn't be taxed are considered to be exempt from VAT. Businesses, charities, and other types of organisations can also be considered to be exempt from VAT. A business is VAT-exempt if they only sell VAT-exempt products, or if they're not involved with taxable 'business activities'.
VAT rates vary by EU country, typically set above a minimum of 15%, and can include reduced rates for certain goods and services. Implications for U.S. Consumers and Businesses: American travelers pay VAT included in listed prices in Europe but can reclaim it on certain purchases when leaving the EU.
Luxembourg has currently the lowest VAT rate with a VAT rate of 17%. Each EU member state decides on the percentage of VAT (Value added tax) tax on the of goods and services. This tax is meant to be applied on the added value that the specific business adds to the service or goods.
The United States does not have a Value Added Tax (VAT) at either the federal or the state level. Sales and use taxation in the US is operated independently by each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Sales taxes are administered by every state except Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon.
(You are considered an exporting tourist when you purchase goods and take them with you home, therefore becoming eligible for a refund of the VAT that you paid during the purchase.)
Yes, US citizens must pay VAT when purchasing goods and services in the UK, just like any other consumer. The standard VAT rate in the UK applies, which is currently 20%. However, if US citizens are exporting goods back to the US, they may be eligible for a VAT refund on those purchases under certain conditions.
There are 3 different rates of VAT that can be added to products. Which one applies depends on the goods and services, and how they're used. Most goods and services are charged at the standard rate of 20%. You should charge this rate unless the goods or services are classed as reduced or zero-rated.
Here, we explore the most common VAT mistakes business owners make and how to avoid them.
In 2022, the United Kingdom was ranked 16th out of the 38 OECD countries in terms of the tax-to-GDP ratio. 1. In this note, the country with the highest level or share is ranked first and the country with the lowest level or share is ranked 38th. Equal to the OECD average from value-added taxes.
Among European OECD countries, the average statutory top personal income tax rate lies at 42.8 percent in 2025. Denmark (55.9 percent), France (55.4 percent), and Austria (55 percent) have the highest top rates. Hungary (15 percent), Estonia (22 percent), and the Czech Republic (23 percent) have the lowest top rates.
For instance, you can expect a higher VAT refund in Hungary because the country currently has the highest VAT rate in Europe with a standard rate of 27%4. Conversely, Luxembourg has the lowest standard VAT rate, which is at 17%5. So, you might see a smaller VAT refund percentage in Luxembourg.
France: 20% Italy: 22% Spain: 21% Luxembourg: 17% (the lowest in the EU)
To request a refund, claimants must send an electronic refund claim to their own national tax authorities, who will confirm the claimant's identity, VAT identification number and the validity of the claim. The request will then be forwarded to the Member State where VAT was incurred.
Claiming back VAT involves completing a VAT Return – usually each quarter. If completing the VAT Return form online on HMRC's website, you must enter how much VAT your business was charged in that three-month accounting period for goods and services you are able to claim VAT on. This is known as input VAT.
The US lacks a federal VAT system due to its federalist system of government, which delegates tax management responsibilities to individual states. Implementing a centralized, nation-level VAT system in the US would require significant efforts to unify diverse tax systems.
Healthcare: Medical services, hospital care, and the supply of certain medical products may also be exempt from VAT. Financial services: Many financial services, like insurance and banking, are VAT-exempt. Charitable activities: Donations and activities carried out by registered charities may be exempt from VAT.