Duty-free Outside The Airports in The EU
Any traveller living in a country outside the EU VAT area is entitled to shop tax-free at participating shops in the EU. The traveller pays the VAT on goods in the shop in the usual way, and can request a refund when exporting the goods. To qualify, the traveller must:
- have residency in a non-EU country
- have a maximum stay of six months within the EU
- make purchases no more than three months prior to export
- obtain a form from the shop where he or she makes the purchase
- present the form, and in certain cases the goods, to a customs officer when leaving the EU, where they will be stamped
Only goods meant for personal use are eligible for the refund. The stamped forms and receipts can then be sent back to the retailers, or their agents, for a refund.
In most cases, a minimum purchase applies to use the tax-free shopping scheme. The actual amount of VAT reclaimable depends on the VAT rate applicable in the particular country to the goods purchased, and may be subject to a deduction for administration fees.
Read more about this topic: Duty-free Shop
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