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One of the best things about visiting France is the shopping. But what makes the experience even better is the possibility of getting some money back at the end of your trip through a VAT refund.

If you’re a non-EU resident, you may be eligible to reclaim part of the sales tax in France. The process might seem complicated, but rest assured, it’s not.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the VAT refund in France, from how the system works to where to claim your refund.

What is VAT?

VAT (TVA in French) is a value added tax that’s applied to most goods and services. You can think of it as France’s version of sales tax, although it’s structured differently.

Instead of being added at the register (like in the United States), it’s already included in the price tag. So the price you see is the price you pay.

Fortunately, international visitors can take advantage of a VAT refund program in France and other countries in the European Union, allowing you to reclaim the tax on items you take home. This makes shopping in France even more tempting. The process is officially called détaxe or tax refund in French.

The standard VAT rate is 20%. Reduced rates of 10% and 5.5% apply to certain products (such as food, books, art, pharmacy goods and some transport).

Designer handbags, fine jewelry, and high-end cosmetics all fall under the 20% bracket, which is why they’re so popular for refunds.

How much is the VAT refund in France?

The headline rate of VAT in France is 20%, but you don’t get the full amount back. Most tax-free shopping in France is handled by third-party operators like Global Blue and Planet (formerly Premier Tax Free), which charge fees, which explains why your VAT tax refund is usually between 12-15% of your purchase.

Here’s an example to clarify: you spend €1,000 at Louis Vuitton. The VAT portion included in the retail price is €166.67. After filing for the refund and having the administrative charges deducted, you receive back around €120–€130. Not 20%, but also not a bad amount!

Who qualifies for a VAT refund?

To be eligible for a VAT refund, you must:

Be a resident of a non-European Union country
Have been in France for less than six months
Be at least 16 years old
Have your passport with you at the time of your purchase

How to Get a VAT Refund in France

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to claim your VAT refund in France:

Step 1: Shop

To qualify for a VAT refund in France, your purchases must total at least €100.01 from the same store on the same day. You can reach this threshold with one big-ticket item (like a luxury handbag) or several smaller purchases. It doesn’t matter, as long as the receipt adds up.

Not every store offers VAT refunds, so always ask before you buy. Here are some of the best stores for tax free shopping in France:

Galeries Lafayette (department store)
Printemps Haussmann (department store)
Le Bon Marché (department store)
La Vallée Village (luxury outlet mall)
Louis Vuitton
Chanel
Goyard
Disneyland Paris

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Step 2: Ask for a Refund Form

When you make a purchase, request a tax refund form (détaxe form) from the store. It must be completed and signed by both you and the retailer, so double-check that there are no empty fields before leaving.

Always carry your passport while shopping, as stores are required to verify that you are a non-EU resident before issuing the refund documents. Keep both the refund form and your original receipts, since you’ll need them later.

Step 3: Validate with Customs

Before leaving the EU, you must validate your tax-free forms with French Customs. This is an absolutely essential step. Without it, your VAT refund won’t be processed.

On your departure day, head to the customs or tax refund office at the airport before checking in your luggage and going through security. Complete your forms in advance and allow extra time, especially during busy travel periods. I would suggest getting to the airport at least an hour earlier than usual to process your VAT refund paperwork. Sometimes lines are short, sometimes long.

Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Orly, Nice Côte d’Azur, and other major airports and train stations all have customs offices or PABLO kiosks for validation.

Be sure to bring your passport, receipts, tax refund form, and all purchased goods (unused and in your carry-on, as customs may inspect them).

The easiest way to validate your tax-free form is at a PABLO terminal. Many airports and train stations have PABLO kiosks for fast, self-service validation. They typically say “Détaxe” and ”Tax Refund”.

If your tax refund form has a barcode and PABLO logo, simply scan it at the kiosk. Follow the on-screen instructions and select your preferred refund method. Credit card refunds are usually the best option because you’ll get a slightly higher percentage than cash.

If you run into any issues, head to the customs counter. It may be due to missing information or a random control to check your goods and invoices. Explain the issue and request manual validation by a customs officer.

Et voilà, you’re done!

Step 4: Receive Your Refund

Once validated, you should receive your refund within a few weeks, sometimes up to 90 days. It will be credited back to the same credit card used for the purchase.

Important: All validations must be completed before the end of the third month following your purchase to qualify for the refund.

How to Claim a VAT Refund via an App

Besides the traditional in-store paper method, you can claim your VAT back using apps like Wevat or ZappTax, which let you manage tax-free shopping digitally.

There are many benefits of using an app:

You can combine multiple invoices from different shops into a single claim and bypass the €100 minimum per transaction rule. You only need to spend a total of over €100 across all your purchases during your trip in France.
You typically get higher refunds.
It works at any store that issues an invoice (even if they don’t officially offer tax-free shopping).
Many apps allow refunds for online purchases.

If you choose to use a VAT refund app, you don’t need to show your passport at checkout or request a traditional refund form. Instead, simply ask for a facture (invoice in French) addressed to your chosen app provider, like Wevat or Airvat.

The app then combines all your invoices into a single digital refund form, which you can scan at a PABLO kiosk.

Here is how to claim a VAT refund through Wevat:

Step 1: Sign Up

Before shopping, download the Wevat app and sign up for an account. The app will guide you through eligibility requirements for VAT refunds.

Step 2: Request an Invoice

After each purchase, ask the store to issue an invoice addressed to Wevat. No tax refund form is needed with this method.

Then, add your invoice(s) in the Wevat app.

Step 3: Generate a Digital Refund Form

You will verify your identity by scanning your passport and taking a selfie. Once your total spending exceeds €100, you can generate a digital refund form.

Step 4: Validate at the Airport

Even when using an app, you must validate your forms before departure. Many apps, including Wevat, work with PABLO terminals, so you can instantly validate.

After validation, your refund will be processed to your chosen payment method.

FAQs

Does the VAT tax refund only apply to France?

No. Most EU countries offer a VAT refund to non-EU residents. However, each country has its own rules, minimum purchase amounts, and refund operators.

Tax-free shopping is currently available in the following European countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Guernsey, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey.

The United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) closed its VAT refund scheme at the end of 2020.

What if I shopped in another EU country?

If you’ve shopped in multiple EU countries, you can have your VAT refund forms validated at any EU exit point, not just the country where you made the purchase. Let’s say you travel from France to Belgium to Germany, you would file your VAT paperwork at the German airport before exiting the EU.

Can I get a tax refund for online shopping in France?

Generally, VAT refund France online purchase options are limited. To claim a refund, items usually must be bought in-store and physically exported. Some stores offer “click & collect” options in France that allow tax-free refunds if picked up in person. However, if you decide to claim your VAT refund through an app, many services like Wevat will accept online purchases for tax refunds.

Do I need to bring my passport when I go shopping, or can I use a copy?

You must present your original passport in-store. Stores are required to verify that you are a non-EU resident before issuing the tax refund form. Copies or digital versions are not accepted.

What if I forgot to submit the VAT refund form?

If you leave France without validating your tax refund form, you generally cannot claim your refund.

However, under certain conditions, you may request a retroactive certification from the customs office with territorial jurisdiction, but only if one of the following prevented you from completing the procedure at departure:

PABLO terminal out of service
Temporary interruption of service
Customs office closed

Simply forgetting or not allocating enough time at the airport does not qualify. Oversights such as late arrival, forgetting to present your items, or traveler carelessness will forfeit your right to request a VAT refund. The French consulate cannot intervene in these cases.

Final Thoughts

The VAT refund France process may feel overwhelming at first, but it’s often worth the effort if you’re planning to shop ‘til you drop. I’ll leave you with a few final tips for shopping in France:

Plan your shopping. If there’s a must-have item on your list, think ahead about bundling smaller purchases to reach the €100.01 minimum. Department stores are perfect for this since you can combine multiple items and brands in one visit.
Keep documents organized. Clip receipts and tax forms together so everything is in one place and easy to access at customs.
Take advantage of French pharmacies. VAT refunds apply here too! Rates may be slightly lower, but combined with my exclusive discount at Monge Pharmacie, you can enjoy some nice savings.
Validate early. Especially at Paris airports, as lines for customs can be longer. Give yourself extra time to complete your VAT refund validation.

Have you ever claimed a VAT refund in France? Share your experience or any tips you’ve picked up!

How to Claim a VAT Refund in France

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