Tax Free: how to get the money back on purchases abroad

What is a Tax Free

Tax Free - is a return to a system of value added tax from the purchase, which makes a foreigner.

Value added tax is included in the final cost of goods. The money is transferred to the seller in the state budget, from which are distributed to various social programs. Foreigners are not involved in the social mechanisms of the country, and therefore exempt from tax. This right is not made out by means of discounts, and a refund of overpaid money after leaving the country.

How much can you save

The amount of return of money depends on the size of the value added tax, established in the country where they purchased. The minimum proportion is 8%, This is the size of the Tax Free installed in Japan. The most generous in the list of countries providing Tax Free, Hungary remains: the default is returned 27% of the price.

In this case, the amount returned to the reality may be considerably less than that for which expects a tourist. Money is usually returned by a third-party organization with which the store is concluded contract. The service mediator will leave part of the funds themselves. The largest companies working with Tax Free, - Planet, Global Blue, Innova Tax Free.

What to buy to get the Tax Free

In most countries, you can return the tax when buying clothes, shoes, household and electronic appliances, watches and jewelry.

In this online shopping, books, food, medicine, souvenirs and services can not be subject to the regulations on the VAT refund to foreigners.

How to get Tax Free

To make a purchase

On the door or window of the shop, which provides checks to return Tax Free, placed corresponding sticker. The information is usually in English, so it does not need to be a polyglot in order to understand it.

On the label it will also include the name of the company, through which you will execute a return.

Contents checks Tax Free

To return Tax Free is necessary that the seller has issued special checks. In any country, they can request a keyword or Tax Free voucher Tax Free form. This document is attached to a standard cash voucher. For registration papers will need a passport or a photocopy. Make sure that all the personal data were transferred in the form is correct, as mistakes can be grounds for refusal to refund the tax.

In every country in the lowest amount for which checks are issued Tax Free. For example, in Germany it is 25 euros in France - 175 euro, in Ukraine - 50 euros in the UK - £ 30 in Argentina - 70 Argentine pesos, in Japan - 5000 yen.

Shopping for that amount should be issued one check. In large shopping centers sometimes have special departments that collect data about your purchases from different stores in one common document.

Food and non-food goods you can not make a single check.

Put a stamp on the customs

When leaving the country, where they were to make a purchase, you need to put at the customs stamp on the export of things. For this service the employees have to submit receipts and goods in packaging, no signs of use. To be more convincing, you can save the branded bags stores.

EU member states are considered a single area, so put a mark on the export should be in the country through which you leave the EU.

The stamp is affixed to a special office at the customs, look for it stands at the plate or Tax Free office or VAT Refund. If it is to check-in counters, just contact him and get the appropriate print. Sometimes the customs clearance office Tax Free is located behind the reception desk. In this case, redistribute the country acquired items in your hand luggage, to have something to confirm the purchase.

We have checks its expiration date, during which you need to put them on the customs stamp. More often than not get printed on the documents to be within three months from the date of purchase. In Switzerland, Norway, Morocco, the term reduced to one month.

get money

VAT return in kind in three ways:

1. In the airport

With checks, which put customs stamp, please contact the Tax Refund office intermediary company, which is listed in your documents. The required amount may be given in cash or transfer to the card, the data you provide.

For the issuance of the tax in cash the company can keep the percentage by means of the card will come with no deductions. Some companies have installed in airports a special mailbox where you can omit the check of the customs stamp and a credit card number to which the money will come.

2. When crossing the border by land way

Tax Refund office may be located at the checkpoint. In this case, you need to get a stamp from the staff departments, and then apply for a refund.

3. via e-mail

Send a check with a stamp of customs intermediary company by email. The address must be indicated on the document. Do not forget to write in the form of a credit card number. Money will come at the expense of the average in 1-2 months.

4. In the bank

In some cases, you can return the money in a bank, which cooperates with the intermediary in the payment of Tax Free. Global Blue gives money in Kaliningrad, Moscow and St. Petersburg through the bank "Intesa" Pskov - through "AKB Slavia"; Innova Tax Free - through SMPbank in Moscow, Chelyabinsk, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Yekaterinburg. Full list of financial institutions that issue money can be seen on the website of his agent.

In rare cases, you may return the tax in the store immediately after purchase. However, then you definitely need to be mailed a check Tax Free at the customs stamp, otherwise issued by the amount written off from your card.

Why can refuse to return tax

1. Tax Free Form is filled with errors.
2. You did not put on the customs stamp on the export items of the country, where to buy them.
3. Date on the cash register receipt and the Tax Free form do not match. This rule is not respected in all countries. For example, in Spain summed purchase committed in one store on different days.
4. According to the instructions, you can apply for a VAT with a check that is affixed customs stamp in a period of three months (Belgium, Greece, Morocco and so on) to infinity (the Netherlands, Lithuania, Lebanon). In practice, it is better not to delay treatment for the money, otherwise you can get a waiver.