If you don't block your sensitive information yourself we will do it for you before saving the copy of your passport permanently to our system. We never share the original copy of your passport (these are deleted after blocking) and we only share the blocked versions of your documents if the retailer or tax administration requires them.
| Details you can block | date of birth, place of birth, sex, height, social security number, photo, signature, date of issue, name of spouse (unless you have an invoice for which you used your spouse's surname) |
| Details that should stay visible | passport number, name, country, expiration date |
Example:
If you export items in your hand luggage via airplane, car or train, your items must be exported before the end of the 3rd month after the month of purchase. For example; if you buy items in January, they must be exported before the end of April. After your items have been exported on time, you can submit your claim until the end of the 5th year, after the year of purchase.
The expiration period after getting proof of export varies per country. Check the guidelines in the overview below.
AU Austria 3 years / 1095 days
BE Belgium* 3 years / 1095 days
BG Bulgaria 5 years / 1825 days
CR Croatia 5 years / 1825 days
CY Cyprus 5 years / 1825 days
CZ Czech Rpblk 5 years / 1825 days
DE Germany 4 years / 1825 days
DK Denmark 1 year / 365 days
ES Spain 5 years / 1825 days
ET Estonia 5 years / 1825 days
FI Finland 5 months / 150 days
FR France 6 months / 180 days
GR Greece 90 days
HU Hungary 5 years / 1825 days
IR Ireland 5 years / 1825 days
IT Italy 3 months / 90 days
LI Lithuania 5 years / 1825 days
LU Luxembourg 5 years / 1825 days
LV Latvia 5 years / 1825 days
MT Malta 5 years / 1825 days
NL Netherlands 5 years / 1825 days
PL Poland 7 months / 210 days
PT Portugal 5 years / 1825 days
RO Roemania 5 years / 1825 days
SE Sweden 1 year / 365 days
SK Slovakia 5 years / 1825 days
SV Slovenia 5 years / 1825 days
UK United Kingdom 1 year / 365 days,
NOTE: all receipts/invoices from UK businesses issued after 1 January 2021 can no longer be submitted for a VAT refund. However, receipts/invoices from (web)retailers that have delivered outside the UK (via ocean freighter or courier) can still be submitted. Read More
*Stamped receipts for purchases made in Belgium are valid until December 31st of the third year after purchase date.
Where can I submit my payment details? /
You can submit you payment details in your account.
After you have submitted your payment details, we'll ask you to confirm them again when you submit a payment request. find out how to request payment here.
Yes, you can submit claims for items bought online.
There are different online shopping and delivery situations that will determine which procedures you must follow to claim back the VAT:
Don't worry! In most cases you don't need to send original documents by post.
As an exception, we might ask for your originals if:
Your receipt status will show wether you need to send originals by post.
Our address for postal mail can be found here.
If you submit a claim for items that have been exported via ocean freighter you don't need to send your original documents to our office in the post. You can submit all your documents digitally.
Your shipping company submits and receives digital export documents from harbour customs. These export documents are sufficient to prove that your goods have been exported to a country outside the EU.
Please keep any original receipts safe at home until after the store has processed your claim.
Yes, you can submit a claim for goods that have been exported by a shipping company oversees.
You can read about what documents you will need to provide here.
A detailed guide on how to register your claim in your account can be found here.
No. If you are a NATO employee you don't have to send your original documents to our office in the post. You may submit your claims digitally.
Am I eligible for a VAT refund? /| N | You're a non-EU resident and you purchase items in the EU for personal use in your non-EU homecountry |
| E | You export the goods to your non-EU homecountry before the end of the third month, after the month of purchase |
| M | You spend a minimum amount per store, per day |
| S | You receive a stamp from customs on a valid receipt (or other digital export confirmation) Digital export documents are always accepted if you export via courier (DHL, FedEX, UPS) or ocean freighter |
Other eligible groups include:
For more information about tax-free shopping in the EU: https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/guide-vat-refund-visitors-eu_en
| Customs desk locations |
|
| Opening hours | Desk open from 06:00 – 22:00 Customs officers are present at the airport 24/7 If the desk is closed, you can contact customs via the numbers mentioned above (also displayed on the customs desk). A customs officer will come down to the desk to stamp your receipts. |
| Contact |
|
1. Go to the login page via our website or app and select the white/grey button 'Click here to reset your password'. It's located towards the bottom of the page.
2. On the next page, fill in the email address you used to create an account and click the button 'Send password reset code'
3. On the next page you can enter your 'Reset code'. IMPORTANT: Please leave this page open. Your reset code is sent to you by email. Go to your inbox, find our email which contains your reset code. Copy your code.
4. Go back to the page you left open and fill in your code to enter a new password.
Which documents do I need to bring to customs? - Airplane, car, train /
To get a customs stamp you will need to show/provide customs:
* In case you have a EU-passport, you will need show a visa or residence permit for a non-EU country
This article applies to NATO military employees stationed in the Netherlands, buying at Dutch stores. If you're stationed inside the Netherlands and buying from stores located outside the Netherlands (but inside the EU), please follow instructions here. To request a VAT refund, please follow the steps below:
At the moment of purchase, ask for a Customs Tax Invoice
Store employees are required to fill in your CTI. A minimum purchase amount of €45 (per CTI) applies.
After visiting the store and receiving a CTI, go to your NATO base administration for a wet stamp / seal of approval.
Create an account via our app or website
On your account page, set your 'account type' to the correct NATO base; Brunssum
On your receipt page, register your receipt and Customs Tax Invoice
When this process has been completed, we’ll check your documents and contact the store for your refund. You’ll be notified by email when a store has processed your claim. After receiving notification, payment can be requested by logging in to your account.
Additional remarks:
Claims may be submitted digitally
Original documents must be kept safe at home until after the store has processed your claim
VAT forms can be requested from stores via email
Did you make a purchase online? Or were you not able to get a CTI in-store for other reasons? You may request a CTI from the store via email. After forms have been filled in and sent to you by email, they must be printed and brought to your NATO base administration for a wet stamp / seal of approval.
You can only buy at licensed stores
Only stores with a licence to sell to JFC NATO military staff are able to provide this type of invoice. Your NATO base administration can provide a list of licensed stores.
Each country has an import free threshold. This threshold varies per country. If your purchase amount exceeds this threshold, you will be required to declare your goods and pay import duties upon arrival in your country of destination.
The thresholds of most countries can be found here.
For more specific information on import duties for the country you are exporting too, please visit their government website for more information.
Declaring goods is a responsibility every traveler has, whether the VAT is reclaimed or not. Once you leave the EU, it is up to customs in your non-EU home country to check that travellers declare their goods.
After completing this process we'll keep you updated by email automatically. We'll provide a time-frame for your refund and we'll notify you when your VAT has come in from the store. Information about payment methods can be found here.
Please read our full privacy statement here.
Where is the vatfree.com mailbox at the airport? /
Vatfree.com does not have special tax-free mailboxes at the airport. If we have asked you to mail your documents and you want to do so from the airport, please use a mailbox of the national regular postal service. Regular mailboxes and shops from national postal services can be found at different locations at the airport. If you are having difficulty finding a mailbox please ask an airport employee to point you in the right direction.
At Schiphol, Amsterdam airport you can use the orange mailboxes. There is an orange mailbox located across the hall from customs.
Don't forget to include your contact details and registration numbers. Use a proper envelope and a postal stamp.
Instead of wasting paper and trees, and to cut costs for lower service fees, we prefer to work completely digitally. We therefore don't have desks and mailboxes at the airport. In return, our partner stores generally no longer require you to submit original documents via post which means less hassle for you! They therefor no longer provide envelopes in-store.
Before sending mail:
Address for regular mail / national postal services | Address for courier mail (DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.) |
| vatfree.com att: Web P.O. Box 37234 1030 AE Amsterdam The Netherlands | vatfree.com / Smeenk |
Transaction costs can be 0 to 2 EUR, depending on the payment method you choose:
⚠️ Creditcard (Visa and Mastercard): 2 EUR + our payment in EUR might be converted to the main currency of your card or USD, subject to your Banks' and Visa/Mastercard policies on international transactions
⚠️ PayPal: 2 EUR
✅ European SEPA/IBAN: no transaction costs
✅ Alipay: no transaction costs
✅ WeChat: no transaction costs
To avoid paying transaction costs you can:
💡 Use European SEPA/IBAN, Alipay and WeChat as your payment method
💡 Wait until all stores have paid your refunds so you only pay the transaction fee once
Information about our Service Fee for can be found here.
If customs is closed:
Please note that without a stamp from customs, we can't process your claim. No stamp = No refund. The tax-administration does not allow us to process claims without proof of export from customs, no matter what the reason was if you were not able to get a stamp. Processing a claim without a stamp can result in high fines for our company and the store. We kindly ask for your understanding in this matter.
Most stores guarantee a VAT refund and process your claim in a timely manner.
For some stores it can take a bit more time and we might need to take legal action to retrieve your VAT.
The coloured logos in our shopping guide tell you if a store refunds VAT on first request and in a timely manner.
More than 55.000 stores have already refunded VAT via Vatfree.com, so there’s more than enough choice for you to shop tax-free, hassle free, in the neighbourhood and online.
| Creditcard (VISA and Mastercard) | European IBAN/SEPA | PayPal | Alipay | |
| €2 transaction costs
If you have a multi-currency card, our payment in EUR may be subject to conversion to the main currency of your card | No transaction costs | €2 transaction costs | No transaction costs | No transaction costs |
Supporting Visa and Mastercard ! Russian accounts are not accepted until further notice due to current sanctions ! | Please check whether your country and bank account are supported for the SEPA/IBAN payment method. A list of supported EU countries can be found here. | Your PayPal account must be set to accept Euro payments. ! Russian accounts are not accepted until further notice due to current sanctions ! |
The account you use for refund does not have to be equal to the account you used to pay.
The coloured logos in our shopping guide tell you if a store refunds VAT on first request and in a timely manner. Most stores guarantee a VAT refund and process your claim in a timely manner. For some stores it can take a bit more time and we might need to take legal action to retrieve your VAT. More than 55.000 stores have already refunded VAT via Vatfree.com, so there’s more than enough choice for you to shop tax-free, hassle free, in the neighbourhood and online.
If you leave the EU by car, you can get a customs stamp at a EU/non-EU border control office. Get a stamp at the last EU-country, when you cross the border out of the EU.
What if a store is not listed or listed as 'new' in your shopping guide? /
If the store where you shopped is not listed or has a white logo in our guide, this means that they have never refunded VAT via vatfree.com before. Feel free to register the new store and your receipt. We'll then continue to contact them and negotiate a refund on your behalf. If they don't want to cooperate we won't charge a fee.
We advise you to contact new stores directly first. Cc us in your message to the store so we can assist. A short message is sufficient, just to let them know you wish to submit a claim via vatfree.com. New stores are often more willing to cooperate if you let them know personally beforehand that you want to submit a claim.
If you are/were not able to get a stamp:
Please note that without a stamp from customs, we can't process your claim. No stamp = No refund. The tax-administration does not allow us to process claims without proof of export from customs, no matter what the reason was if you were not able to get a stamp. Processing a claim without a stamp can result in high fines for our company and the store. We kindly ask for your understanding in this matter.
How do I know you have received my receipts? /When we have received and processed your original stamped receipts at our office, we will notify you in the message center of the app and by email.
You can also keep an eye on the status of your receipts by logging in to your account and going to the 'my receipts' page. When we have received and processed your original receipts, your receipt status will change from 'waiting for originals' to 'waiting for visual validation'. This means we are in the process of checking and approving your receipt.
Before sending mail:
Address for regular mail / national postal services | Address for courier mail (DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.) |
| vatfree.com att: Web P.O. Box 37234 1030 AE Amsterdam The Netherlands | vatfree.com / Smeenk |
In every invoice email we send you, you can find a link to your personal store portal. In your personal shop portal you can find an overview of all your open and paid invoices.
On every invoice page you will find two PDF files:
1. Your invoice
2. Image scans of your customers original receipts and their tax-free forms
We advise you to bookmark your shop portal so you can access your documents at all times.
Tax-free forms can be downloaded here:
Information leaflets and window stickers can be ordered free of cost via email:
Please provide your store name and address. As soon as we have received your request your order will be packed and mailed or dropped off at your store.
Many shops will print a different warranty receipt that it is not part of the purchase receipt. If you don't receive a second warranty receipt from the store, please make a copy/photo of the receipt or have a copy of the receipt stamped at EU-Customs so you can keep the original (customs will only stamp a copy if you can show them the original at the same time).
What is your service fee? /✅ Use our Refund Calculator to see exactly how much you'll get back.
At vatfree.com, we charge a service fee of 28% of the VAT on your purchase receipt, with a minimum of €2,50 and a maximum of €80,- per receipt.
| Example1 | Example 2 | |
| Total purchase amount (incl. VAT) | €121,- | €2500,- |
| VAT amount | €21,- | €433,88 |
| Service fee (28% of the VAT, max. €80,-) | €5,88- | €80,- |
| Refund | €15,12 | €353,88 |
Please note; additional transaction costs might be charged depending on which payment option you choose.
We guarantee the highest refund in the market as our service fees are the lowest. And we're proud of it! If you find a lower service fee somewhere else, let us know and we will adjust the refund amount for you.
We work on a no-cure no-pay basis; we only charge a fee if our work pays off and the store refunds your VAT. If the store does not want to cooperate we won't charge a fee.
Do I need to use a postal stamp? /Yes, please always use a postal stamp on your envelope.
You can find our address here.
International students and expats living in the EU /If you're an international student or expat staying in the EU for six months or less, you are eligible for a VAT refund.
If you are staying in the EU longer than six months you can get a refund when you permanently leave the EU. To get a VAT refund you need to de-register from city hall. You will receive a confirmation of your de-registration for customs, to get proof of export.
Please note;
We can not return your original receipt or forward it to another company.
Please only send your receipts in the post if the app tells you to do so. Not sure? Contact us: [email protected].
Before you send your receipts in the post, please check our shopping guide first to determine wether a store will cooperate with refunding your VAT via vatfree.com.
Our terms and conditions (article 8) and our shopping guide mention that we are unable to return or forward original receipts to customers, uncooperative stores or competitors. This would become very costly and time consuming, especially since we do not charge a service fee for receipts and the corresponding VAT amount in when they are not refunded by the store.
If you need your receipt for warranty reasons, ask the store to print a copy of the receipt which you can use for that purpose. Often they will provide this automatically during purchase. Always ask to be sure.
Information about your payment date can be found here.
We do not pay you automatically. When your refund has been paid by the store, we'll inform you via email and the app. The payment option will become available after a store has processed your claim.
You can request payment via the 'My receipts' page in your account. Select the green 'Payout refunds' button to start the payment process. 
✅ Use our Refund Calculator to see exactly how much you'll get back.
At vatfree.com, we charge a service fee of 28% of the VAT on your purchase receipt, with a minimum of €2,50 and a maximum of €80,- per receipt.
| Example1 | Example 2 | |
| Total purchase amount (incl. VAT) | €121,- | €2500,- |
| VAT amount | €21,- | €433,88 |
| Service fee (28% of the VAT, max. €80,-) | €5,88- | €80,- |
| Refund | €15,12 | €353,88 |
Please note; additional transaction costs might be charged depending on which payment option you choose.
We guarantee the highest refund in the market as our service fees are the lowest. And we're proud of it! If you find a lower service fee somewhere else, let us know and we will adjust the refund amount for you.
We work on a no-cure no-pay basis; we only charge a fee if our work pays off and the store refunds your VAT. If the store does not want to cooperate we won't charge a fee.
Please note that without a stamp from customs, we can't process your claim. No stamp = No refund. The tax-administration does not allow us to process claims without proof of export from customs, no matter what the reason was if you were not able to get a stamp. Processing a claim without a stamp can result in high fines for our company and the store. We kindly ask for your understanding in this matter.
Can I work with vatfree.com if I am already partnered with a different tax-free company? /Yes, you can, and we encourage you to do so, for compliance purposes and to improve your customer journey. EU law states a 0% VAT rate applies to exported goods. Customers working for NATO and certain other EU institutions are also exempt. VAT should be refunded directly to the customer or his/her representative. You may promote a tax-free company in-store, but you may not impose the use of this company as a condition for refunding VAT. Respecting customers’ freedom of choice and removing disproportionate barriers to obtain a VAT refund contributes to a positive customer journey, strengthens your Brands’ competitive position in the market and ensures you stay compliant with EU law.
What are the requirements for purchase receipts? /In most EU countries, you must provide a proper invoice to Customs to get proof of export, and to the store to get back the VAT.
The following information must be visible on your invoice from the store:
Most stores can provide a proper invoice if you ask for it. Some stores will give you a Tax-Free receipt or Tax-Free form with all the above details included. Tax-Free receipts and Tax-Free forms are valid replacements of a proper invoice and are accepted by all Customs departments in the EU.
If the store can't print a proper invoice and doesn't have Tax-Free receipts or forms, you can download one here. Attach it to your purchase documents from the store when you go to Customs.
Please check our country guide to see the Customs rules per EU country.
In general, we can not process receipts if the minimum spend threshold has not been met.
There is one exception:
If you have multiple receipts, from the same store and same day, you are allowed to combine your receipt with a low purchase amount with your other receipt from the same store and same day. The total purchase amount of the receipts combined must be higher than the minimum spend amount.
European Union tax law states that a 0% VAT rate applies to exported goods. NATO employees and persons working for exempt EU institutions benefit from 0% VAT rates as well. If you meet all the requirements and export has been confirmed by customs, the store should refund the VAT which was paid when you purchased the goods.
Unfortunately, some stores don't cooperate. Either because they don't understand the regulation, the administrative procedures involved or because they have an exclusive contract with a different tax-free company. These reasons are legally invalid for rejection of your claim.
If a store doesn't want to cooperate, there are 2 things you can do:
Having proof of export/VAT exemption provided by a customs or tax department is a legal requirement for submitting and processing VAT refund claims. This requirement has been set by EU government(s) and is enforced by tax administrations in all EU countries.
Please note that without proof of export provided by a customs or tax department, we can't process your claim. No proof of export = No refund. Tax administrations do not allow us and stores to process claims without proof of export, no matter what the circumstances were. Processing a claim without proof of export from customs can result in high fines for our company and the store. We kindly ask for your understanding in this matter.
What documents do I need for items exported via ocean freighter? /Your name and an invoice/order/transaction number from the store is mandatory information and must be included on your documents. Without this information we can't process your claim.
Tip: Contact your shipper and ask them to include this information on your customs documents. They don't always do so automatically. To help them avoid making mistakes, send a list of store names and invoice/order/transaction numbers.
If the above mentioned details are not visible on your customs documents, you can submit the following documents from your shipper as support:
Where can I get a customs stamp? - Train /
Information about Amsterdam Central Station can be found here.
The locations of customs desks and officers can vary per train station and are frequently subject to change.
Customs can be present;
Please contact the station and customer support of your train operator well in advance before your departure date to find out where you have to go to get a stamp. We also accept stamps from your non-EU station of arrival and European embassies.
Please note; without a stamp from customs we can't process your claim.
I receive an error while trying to upload documents in the app. What now? /If you're having trouble uploading images/documents to the app you can try the following:
If you wish to submit your receipts for a VAT refund from Schiphol airport, please deposit your envelope with original stamped receipts in the orange mailbox located across the hall from customs. This is a mailbox belonging to the Dutch national postal (Postnl) service. If (in departure hall 3) you deposit your envelope with receipts in this mailbox, your receipts will arrive at our office in safe and good order.
Read more on our page about Schiphol How do I register a new store in your shopping guide? /If the store where you shopped is not listed or has a white logo in our guide, this means that they have never refunded VAT via vatfree.com before. Feel free to register the new store (instructions below) and your receipt. We'll contact them and negotiate a refund on your behalf. If they don't want to cooperate we won't charge a fee.
We advise you to contact new stores directly first. Cc us in your message to the store so we can assist. A short message is sufficient, just to let them know you wish to submit a claim via vatfree.com. New stores are often more willing to cooperate if you let them know personally beforehand that you want to submit a claim.
You need to be logged in to your account to add a new store to our system. When logged in, follow the steps below:
Congratulations! You've added the store to our shopping guide!
How long before my receipts arrive at your office? /Mail is delivered to our office once a week. Afterward, it can take up to two weeks to register all receipts we have received. Therefore, it can sometimes take up to three (3) weeks in total before your receipts are marked as 'received' in your account.
When we have received and processed your original receipts, we'll notify you by email and the messages page in the app.
You can also keep an eye on the receipt status, on your receipt page. When we have received and processed your originals, your receipt status will change from 'waiting for originals' to 'waiting for visual validation'. This means we're in the process of checking and approving your documents.
If you still haven't heard from us 3 weeks after your receipts should have arrived, please let us know via [email protected].
No, you do not need to use your own bank account to receive your refund. You can also use the bank account of a family member or friend, or you can donate your refund to an NGO.
Can you donate my refund to an NGO? /Yes, we are more than happy to transfer your refund as a donation to an NGO like the Red Cross, Wildlife Protection (WNF) or a project of your choice.
If you are interested in donating, you can simply fill in the details below during the request of your payment. To donate to a project of your choice, find their bank details online and submit them during the request of your payment.
Red Cross:
Wildlife Protection WNF (Wereld Natuur Fonds):
This depends on the store. Each store has different payment processes and terms.
The average processing time is 30 days. Some stores pay within a day, others within 1 week, 14 days, 30 days, 60 days and a few even ask for 90 days.
As soon as we have received, checked and approved your documents, your expected refund date will become visible on your receipt page.
The expected refund date on your receipt page is a is a prediction based on the average amount of days it has taken a particular store to process claims in the past. Payments can come in earlier and later than expected.
If a store has not paid within 2 weeks after the expected refund date, feel free to ask us for an update via [email protected].
As soon as we have received your VAT we'll notify you by email automatically.
You can find out how to request payment here.
Don't worry! In most cases you don't need to send original documents by post.
There are some exceptions.
Check your receipt status on your receipt page. Is your receipt status 'waiting for original'? Then we need to receive your originals by post. If you're not sure whether your receipt needs to be posted, please contact us by email ([email protected]).
Always make photos/scans of your receipts before you send them in the post.
Our address for postal mail can be found here.
Vatfree.com does not have special tax-free mailboxes at the airport. If we have asked you to mail your documents and you want to do so from the airport, please use a mailbox of the national regular postal service. Mailboxes of regular postal services can be found at different locations at the airport. If you are having difficulty finding a mailbox please ask an airport employee to point you in the right direction.
At Schiphol, Amsterdam airport you can use the orange mailboxes. There is an orange mailbox located across the hall from customs.
Don't forget to include your contact details and registration numbers. Use a proper envelope and a postal stamp.
Instead of wasting paper and trees, and to cut costs for lower service fees, we prefer to work completely digitally. We therefore don't have desks and mailboxes at the airport. In return, our partner stores generally no longer require you to submit original documents via post which means less hassle for you! They therefor no longer provide envelopes in-store.
What if I don't want to share a copy of my passport? /The Dutch tax administration obligates us to store a copy of your passport. If we do not store a copy of your passport we (and the store) risk receiving large fines due to an incomplete administration. We kindly ask for your understanding in this matter.
If you don't want to share a copy of your passport we can make an exception for you if you file a complaint against the Dutch tax administration. You can file a complaint here. Don't forget to send us your complaint form by email ([email protected]) so we can verify your account.
Filing a complaint against the tax administration does not effect you as a traveller to the Netherlands or Europe. It is standard and accepted procedure.
Don't want to file a complaint against the tax administration? Check out our guide on how to safely share the copy of your passport. We give you tips on how to block your sensitive information. This makes identity theft with the copy of your passport extremely difficult and unlikely to occur.
Becoming a vatfree.com retail partner doesn't cost you a thing! We don't ask a registration fee and our core services are free.
Free services include:
Paid services include:
Registering to become a vatfree.com retail partner is easy and in most cases for free. You can do so by filling in our online registration form here.
Have any questions? Don't hesitate to contact us for more information:
Email - [email protected]
Telephone - +31 (0) 88 828 37 33
What is your service fee for my customers? /
At vatfree.com, we charge a service fee of 28% of the VAT on your purchase receipt, with a minimum of €2,50 and a maximum of €80,- per receipt.
Our service fee's are the lowest in the market and we are proud of it! If you find lower service fee's for your customers somewhere else, let us know and we'll lower our service fee's for you!
For questions about your invoice, please contact:
Email | [email protected]
Telephone | +31 (0) 88 828 37 33
How do I know my customer has exported his/her goods? /Vatfree.com receives and verifies all required documents for confirmation that your customer is eligible to shop tax-free and that the export has been confirmed by Customs.
Customers are eligible for a VAT refund if:
If a customer is eligible, customs provide confirmation of export in the form of a stamp or digital export documents.
Customs checks:
Vatfree.com checks:
If all criteria have been met and export of the goods have been confirmed by both Customs and Vatfree.com, we can send you a request for VAT refund.
Which bank accounts can be submitted for the IBAN/SEPA payment method? /IBAN/SEPA bank accounts from the below mentioned countries can be submitted for our IBAN/SEPA payment method. If your country is not included in the below mentioned list, please select a different payment method.
Country |
| Currency |
|---|---|---|
Belgium |
| EUR |
Bulgaria |
| BGN |
Cyprus |
| EUR |
Denmark |
| DKK |
Germany |
| EUR |
Estonia |
| EUR |
Finland |
| EUR |
France, including French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion |
| EUR |
Greece |
| EUR |
Guernsey |
| GBP |
Hungary |
| HUF |
Ireland |
| EUR |
Iceland |
| ISK |
Isle of Man |
| GBP |
Itally |
| EUR |
Jersey |
| GBP |
Croatia |
| HRK |
latvia |
| EUR |
Liechtenstein |
| CHF |
Lithuania |
| EUR |
Luxembourg |
| EUR |
Malta |
| EUR |
Monaco |
| EUR |
Netherlands |
| EUR |
Norway |
| NOK |
Austria |
| EUR |
Poland |
| PLN |
Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira |
| EUR |
Romania |
| RON |
San Marino |
| EUR |
Slovenia |
| EUR |
Slovakia |
| EUR |
Spain, including the Canary Islands, Ceuta en Melilla |
| EUR |
Czech Republic |
| CZK |
Sweden |
| SEK |
Switzerland |
| CHF |
Yes, you can. Information and instructions for admin and VAT-return / tax-administrative processes can be found here:
| Netherlands | |
| Ireland |
The delivery address of your customers items is irrelevant for a VAT refund. Relevant for refunding VAT is proof of export to a country outside the EU or the presence of a certificate of VAT exemption bij an authorised government body.
If the export of the goods and your customers non-EU residency has been checked by customs, you are allowed by the tax administration to refund VAT.
You can read more about export and customs procedures here.
In most European countries, there is a minimum spend requirement for receipts, to be eligible for a VAT refund. This minimum spend threshold differs per country. You can check the list of EU-countries with their minimum spend thresholds below to determine if your receipt can be submitted for a VAT refund:
| Country | Minimum spend threshold in local currency | |
| Belgium | 125,01 EUR | |
| Bulgaria | 0 | |
| Cyprus | 50,- CYP | |
| Denmark | 300,- DDK | |
| Germany | 50,- EUR | |
| Estonia | 38,- EUR | |
| Finland | 40,- EUR | |
| France | 100 EUR | |
| Greece | 50,- EUR | |
| Hungary | 50000 HUF | |
| Ireland | - | |
| Italy | 70 EUR | |
| Croatia | 740 HRK | |
| Latvia | 30,26 LVL | |
| Lithuania | 200,- LTL | |
| Luxembourg | 74,- EUR | |
| Malta | - | |
| The Netherlands | 50,- EUR | |
| Austria | 75,01 EUR | |
| Poland | 200,- PLN | |
| Portugal | 60,- EUR | |
| Romania | 250,- RON | |
| Slovakia | 175,- EUR | |
| Slovenia | 50,- EUR | |
| Spain | 90,50 EUR | |
| Czech Republic | - | |
| Sweden | 200,- SEK |
The tax administration obliges us to store a copy of your passport. Without the copy of your passport we are not allowed to process your claim. After we have received and checked the copy of your passport we are allowed to continue processing your claim.
You can read about how to safely share a copy of your passport and how we protect your identity here.
Please note; if you have a EU passport, you are also required to provide a copy of your visa for the non-EU country you are living in. If you don't have a visa you can upload another document issued by a non-EU government proving your long-stay residence; residence permits, work permits, ID cards etc are accepted instead of visas.
1. Go to 'Me' on your home screen
2. Go to 'Settings' in your 'Me' screen
3. Go to 'Security setting' on your 'Settings' page
4. Check your phone number on your 'Security setting' page. Your phone number is your Alipay ID.
You can find out which documents you need to submit here.
In your account, please register your claim as items that have been exported by a shipping company (ocean freighter). Follow the steps below:
1. Go to the 'My receipts' page in your account
2. Click the green button 'Add new receipt'
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the blue text 'Click here to start the CARGO process'
4. Select the icon 'By a shipping company'
Information and instructions for admin and VAT-return / tax-administrative processes can be found here:
| Netherlands | |
| Ireland |
Madrid Barajas Airport, Spain /
| Customs system |
|
| Minimum Spend threshold | 0 / no minimum for Spanish stores Minimum spend threshold's for other countries can be found here |
| Customs locations and opening hours | Terminal T1, Floor 1 (Check-in) Open from 07.00 - 22.00 Terminal T4 Satellite, Floor 2 (Boarding area) Open 24 hours Terminal T4, Floor 2 (Departures) Open from 07.00 - 22.00 |
| Contact details | Information points (staff members with green jackets)Phone: +34 91 321 10 00 / +34 902 404 704 Email: [email protected] |
| Required documentation for customs |
|
| Customs system | In France, you can get proof of export at digital Tax-Free (Détaxe) machines. The machine will ask you to scan the Tax-Free form which you received from the store. You can find these machines at every international airport in France. They’re usually located before check-in, in international departure halls. If the Tax-Free machine is not working or you’re departing from another EU country, go to a manual Customs desk for an export stamp. You can ask an airport employee to point you in the right direction. |
| Minimum Spend threshold | EUR 100 per store per day Minimum spend threshold's for other countries can be found here |
| Customs locations and opening hours | Terminal 1 (CDGVAL Level, Hall 6) |
| Contact details | Phone: +33 172 407 850 |
| Required for French customs |
|
CUSTOMS SYSTEM:
Manual
MINIMUM SPEND THRESHOLD:
£30 per store per day for UK stores
Minimum spend threshold's for other countries can be found here
CUSTOMS LOCATIONS:
There are Travelex refund desks in every terminal,
at check-in and after security in the departure halls.
Follow the
‘VAT refunds’ signs. If you don’t know which way to go, just ask one
of Heathrow’s purple-uniformed multilingual
Passenger Ambassadors.
Terminal 2
Check-in: Level 5, check-in zone A
Departures: Level 5, between the shops called 'Hamleys' and 'Dixons Travel'
Terminal 3
Check-in: Ground floor, between check-in zone D and E
Departures: Level 1, between the shops called 'WHSmith' and 'World Duty Free'
Terminal 4
Check-in: Level 2. Two refund desks. 1. between check-in zone D and E. 2. via the lift at check-in zone G
Departures: Level 2, next to the shop 'WHSmith' and the restaurant 'Caviar House & Prunier Seafood Bar'
Terminal 5
Check-in: Level 3, check-in zone G
Departures: Level 2. Two refund desks. 1. Next to 'The Harry Potter Shop'. 2. Between the shops 'Dixons Travel' and 'WHSmith'
Find detailed maps here.
CONTACT DETAILS:
+44 845 872 7627
TIPS:
Don't forget to bring a tax free form to get your customs stamp
The refund desks in the departure halls are usually less busy and have shorter queues
To skip queues you can also book an appointment in advance (£15)
GOOD TO KNOW:
Travelex will stamp your form on behalf of UK customs and will collect it from you. They will forward your documents to our company in the post.
Ask customs if you can make photo's of your stamped form and receipts for safety reasons, in case something happens with the post.
DOWNLOAD:
Tax-free formulier
REGULAR CASH REGISTER SYSTEM
STORES USING THE VATFREE.COM POS APP (POPr)
STORES USING THE VATFREE.COM IN-STORE APP (POPr light)
Customer Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, you can submit tax-free forms and receipts from other tax-free companies, like Global Blue, Innova Tax-Free, Premiere Taxfree, Planet Payment, Easy Taxfree and so on.
Most stores offer customers freedom of choice. They might give you a tax-free form or receipt from a specific tax-free company, but they allow you to submit it anywhere (also Vatfree.com).
Thats fair, since you’re the one paying the service fee 🙂
Unfortunately, some stores don’t want to process claims if you don’t use the tax-free company promoted in-store. In these cases, we might have to take legal action to retrieve your VAT.
Tip: before you go shopping or submit a claim, check our shopping guide to find out if a store refunds VAT on first request via Vatfree.com.
Tax-free forms and receipts are part of your purchase documents. If you received these from the store, don't forget to upload copies when submitting a claim in your account.
Yes! As of 1-1-2021 you are eligible for a VAT refund when shopping in the EU. Welcome to vatfree.com!
When importing goods into the UK, you might need to pay import duties.
You can import goods up to £390 (or up to £270 if you arrive by private plane or boat). If you go over this allowance you pay tax and duty on the total value of the goods, not just the value above the allowance. You may have to pay import VAT and customs duty if you exceed your allowance.
For more information, including about alcohol and tobacco imports, please read this article here.
Where can I find a copy of my customer's passport? /Vatfree.com can share copies of your customer's ID documents on request. Requests for ID documents can be submitted via [email protected].
Vatfree.com can only share your customer's ID documents if you need them to process a VAT refund claim or in case of fiscal checks by the tax administration. We advise you to only request ID documents in case of fiscal checks. Vatfree.com stores your customers ID document copies in a safe digital environment that protects their privacy.
Passport information that is required by the tax administration to process a VAT refund claim (name, country, passport number) is shared with you automatically on your customer's digital tax free form. You can find your customer's digital tax free form in your invoice portal.
Please note that, in line with GDPR privacy laws, we are obligated to block sensitive details (photo, social security number, signature).
Where can I find my invoice? /Invoices are sent to you via email. In every invoice email you can find a link to your personal invoice portal. Your invoice portal shows an overview of all your open and paid invoices and includes your customers information and documents.
On every invoice page you can find two PDF files:
In accordance with privacy laws and regulations, your customers ID documents are not included in your invoice portal. These are stored in a safe environment and can be sent to you on request: [email protected].
If your goods have been exported via air courier (DHL, FedEx, PostNL etc) please register your receipt as a 'cargo' receipt.
Information about required export documents can be found here.
1. Add a receipt and choose the option 'register a CARGO receipt'
2. After filling in your receipt details, choose the option 'By post, sent by the (online) shop'
3. Upload your 'Confirmation of shipment' and 'POD'. You can find more information about these documents here.
Currently the customs desk at Schiphol airport is still operating as usual.
Location: departure hall 3, before the check in desks and passport control.
Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00
If there is nobody at the desk during opening hours you can call the following number: +31881583900
If you visit the customs after opening hours, you can call the night shift. A customs officer will come down to the customs desk to stamp you receipts. Please call 15 minutes in advance. This service is available 24/7.
Telephone number for the night shift: +31881583440
You can also go to customs at the airport in your non-EU homecountry of arrival.
Some individuals are currently stuck in the EU due to the Coronavirus outbreak and this prevents them from getting the customs stamp on time.
Currently it is not yet clear wether customs and tax administrations will provide exceptions for these cases. We have contacted the Dutch customs and tax administration and they are aware of the situation. The issue will be discussed internally.
Currently you are advised to go to customs at your earliest convenience, also if you are already late, and explain your situation to the customs officer. If you have a flight itinerary that shows a booked and missed flight due to flight restrictions please bring this with you to customs.
Are you unable to print Vatfree.com tax-free receipts or are you experiencing other problems with your vatfree.com POS application?
Please contact us:
To upload a copy of your passport, you need to be logged in to your account. You can upload a copy of your passport on your account page.
When you are logged in via the app and on your account page, scroll down to upload a copy of your passport:
When you are logged in via the website and on your account page, you can upload a copy of your passport on the right side of the page:
First, check the email we sent you to let you know your receipt has been rejected. In this email we let you know why your receipt has been rejected and what you can do to fix it.
If your receipt can be re-opened for submission you will see a blue button on your receipt page 're-open receipt for submission'. Click this button to re-open your receipt, to add any missing documents.
If you do not see any button to re-open your receipt for submission, let us know by email and we will check if we can help you further.
You can add a copy of your boarding pass when you're registering a receipt. You will see an option to upload the copy of your boarding pass. You can also upload a copy of your flight itinerary instead.
Make sure your name and date of exit from the EU are clearly visible.
No. Companies can not submit VAT refund claims via vatfree.com. If you want to submit a VAT refund claim via vatfree.com you can only do so as a private person.
The tax administration does not allow us to process business claims. To comply fully with tax-administration requirements we therefor can not process receipts and invoices showing company names and/or VAT numbers (other than those of the seller).
Are you buying for a European business? More information about VAT refunds for European businesses can be found here:
You may also contact your local tax-administration, tax-advisor and/or accountant for help and information about how to submit a claim.
Why vatfree.com? /Our mission is to help travellers easily shop tax-free at stores and brands that love them back.
To do that we offer the easiest online and mobile service, to the most diverse group of customers, for the highest refund guaranteed.
Why mobile? With airports requesting travellers to show up at least three hours before their flight, and safety procedures taking up a lot of time, most travellers have little time left to arrange getting a Customs validation stamp on their receipts. Standing in line at Customs may take up to half an hour or more. Being required to then stand in line at a desk for a cash refund, can increase the time of this entire process to an hour or more. Time is spare so we built the first ever tax-free shopping app in 2016, so travellers can finalise the refund claim once they find a spare moment, on the plane home or in the comfort of their own house.
Why diverse? We are the first and only tax-free shopping service founded by travellers, specifically for travellers, with a main focus on travellers' needs. Our service therefore ranges from helping a range of travellers from tourists, cruise passengers, military staff, expats and international students. We also are able to help travellers get back VAT over shopping made online, offline, cross border, over purchases charged with low as well as high VAT rates at shops that are either listed in our shopping guide as well as not listed and new to us.
Why the highest refund guaranteed? The most common feedback we get from travellers is that they feel uncomfortable being subjected to high fees for claiming back Value Added Tax they are entitled to. Especially after having to go through so much effort to arrange the refund. We get that. Regulation states that when exporting goods to a non-EU country, you do not have to pay VAT. For travellers to claim back the initial paid VAT, they have to stand in line at Customs, before flying back home, to get proof of the export. This can be quite stressful, take up quite some time and in some occasions even lead to missing out if queues are long and you have to catch a plane. Once the stamp is collected, the only way to claim back VAT is to contact the shop. If the shop is unwilling to cooperate, charges high fees (with or without a tax-free partner) or just takes a long time to process it all, this leads to disappointment and a feeling of dispair. Traditional tax-free shopping companies charge fees varying from 35% to 50% of the VAT amount and are only an option if shops are affiliated. We decided to use today's technology to create an open platform for all shops to easily join, without necessary contracts, and to minimise costs in such a way that we can continue to offer the highest possible refund. Our service fee starts at €2,50 per receipt with a maximum of €80. With this we hope to have helped retailers and shops as well as we believe a happy customer is a customer for life.
We would love you to join us and list your shop(s) in our shopping guide free of charge: click here to join.
Whether you need a Tax-Free form depends on the Customs rules of the EU country you're departing from. Different rules apply in different countries.
Good to know:
✅ Check our country guide to see the Customs rules per EU country
✅ In most EU countries, Customs requires an invoice which meets the requirements for a VAT refund
✅ Many stores will give you a Tax-Free receipt or Tax-Free form as a replacement of an invoice.
Tax-Free receipts and Tax-Free forms are valid replacements and are accepted by all Customs departments in the EU
✅ If the store can't print a proper invoice and doesn't have Tax-Free receipts or forms, you can download one here.
Attach it to your purchase documents from the store.
⚠️ Received Tax-Free receipts and Tax-Free forms from a different Tax Refund company (other than Vatfree.com)?
Check our shopping guide to confirm you can submit them via Vatfree.com
⚠️ In Spain and France, Customs want a Tax-Free form issued specifically by the store.
The VAT is refunded by the Tax Refund Operator visible on the form. You can't print your own Tax-Free form.
Without a form from the store, you can't get back the VAT.
At Amsterdam Central Station, you can get a stamp when going though security/passport control on the Eurostar Amsterdam-London platform 15b.
After arriving on platform 15b, go to the Eurostar Departures building on the far end of the platform for a ticket check. After your ticket has been checked you can get a customs stamp at security/passport check. Ask an employee to point you in the right direction.
We advise you to be present at platform 15b around 60 minutes before departure. Ticket checks close 30 minutes before departure.
Our service is fully digital which means we can't pay your refund in cash.
You can find our list of payment options here.
If you are a member of a diplomatic mission or consular post based in the EU, you need a certificate of VAT exemption (151 form) to get a VAT refund. Please contact your institution's tax department for more information about where to get a form.
| Customs system |
|
| Minimum Spend threshold | €50,- per store per day Minimum spend threshold's for other countries can be found here |
| Customs locations and opening hours | Departure hall 3 (before check-in and security) |
| Contact details | Phone: +31881583900 (during the day - 06:00 - 22:30) |
| Required documentation for customs |
|
Please pay attention to your layover time. If you have a layover of 2 hours or more at another EU airport before exiting the EU, customs at Schiphol will not stamp your receipts. They will redirect you to customs at your layover destination.
Short layover (1 - 2 hours)
Customs will stamp your receipts at Schiphol if the layover at your next EU airport is no longer than 2 hours.
Long layover ( 3 hours or more)
If the layover at your next EU airport is 3 hours or longer, customs at Schiphol will redirect you to customs there.
You can get a stamp at Schiphol airport if your luggage can be checked in to your final non-EU destination directly. Go to customs before checking in your luggage. A customs employee will accompany you to check in your goods and luggage before stamping your receipts.
If the online store delivers your items to an address inside the EU first, and after that you export the items via ocean freighter yourself:
After, we'll provide a time-frame for your refund and notify you when your VAT has come in from the store.
Information about payment methods can be found here.
ONLINE → store delivers to EU address → you export via airplane, car or train /If the online store delivers your items to an address inside the EU and you export the items yourself, via airplane, train or car:
After completing this process we'll keep you updated by email automatically. We'll provide a time-frame for your refund and we'll notify you when your VAT has come in from the store. Information about payment methods can be found here.
ONLINE → store delivers directly to non-EU address → exported via ocean freighter /If the online store organised delivery and export of your items to an address outside the EU:
After completing this process we'll keep you updated by email automatically. We'll provide a time-frame for your refund and we'll notify you when your VAT has come in from the store. Information about payment methods can be found here.
ONLINE → store delivers directly to non-EU address → exported via courier (DHL, UPS, FedEX etc) /If the online store delivers your items to an address inside the EU first and you then export the items yourself via courier like DHL, UPS, FedEX or another postal forwarding company;
After completing this process we'll keep you updated by email automatically. We'll provide a time-frame for your refund and we'll notify you when your VAT has come in from the store. Information about payment methods can be found here.
What documents do I need for items exported by air (DHL, FedEx, PostNL etc) /Your shipping documents must be issued by your shipping company and show sufficient information about your purchase from the store:
| DOCUMENT | MANDAORY INFORMATION |
Air Waybill (AWB) or Commercial Invoice |
When creating an AWB and invoice for your shipment, you can include the transaction nr. from the store in the sections 'shipment details' and 'full description of goods' |
Proof of Delivery (POD) |
|
You are eligible for a VAT refund if you meet the NEMS-requirements:
N: you are a non-EU resident and purchase goods in the EU for personal use in your non-EU homecountry
E: you export the goods to your home country before the end of the third month after the month of purchase
M: you spend a minimum amount per shop, per day
S: you have received a stamp from customs on your receipt, either at EU-customs or at a customs office upon arrival in your home country
Please note; there are also requirements for purchase receipts.
You can connect to our digital refund system if your point-of-sales provider is connected with vatfree.com. The cash register POS connections with vatfree.com include:
Contact your cash register POS partner to set it up. Some might charge a small fee for setup and/or monthly data management.
Is your cash register POS partner not included? Send us an email address of your contact person. We'll get in touch with them to set it up.
As an alternative to our app for POS, you can also use our In-Store app for iOs and Android, free of charge!
Yes, you can, but most stores won't process your individual claim. Many stores that do process individual claims charge a fee, just like vatfree.com. Why? Because, in order to process VAT refund claims submitted by consumers, stores need to carry out administrative procedures that are more complicated than usual. They also need secure environments to store customer's data and ID documents. Many stores don't know how to do this themselves and don't want to invest time and money into internalising the required know-how. Instead, they prefer to outsource this administration to (you guessed it); tax-free providers like vatfree.com. Processing claims submitted via vatfree.com isn't only easier for stores, it's also easier for you. After all, it takes a lot of your precious time to submit claims to each individual store and keep track of all that communication. Vatfree.com offers the highest refund in the market. So why not outsource your admin to us, instead of doing it all yourself!
Why do I pay a service fee? /Service fees are standard in the tax-free market.
Most stores outsource VAT refund procedures to companies like vatfree.com. Why?
To process a VAT refund claim stores and companies need to:
For most stores and companies the costs of human resources and information infrastructure required for these processes are too high in light of the small % of customers requesting back VAT. Most stores therefore outsource this process to VAT refund companies like vatfree.com.
These processes require funds from our side too and this is reflected in our fees. Because we are specialised in these processes our fees are still lower than the fees of many stores that process refunds directly.
One of our top goals is to lower service fee's dramatically and get them close to zero. We know you have the right to receive a full refund and we aim to offer our customers close to full refunds in the future. We plan to do that through digitalisation so manual administrative checks are no longer needed. Developing the tech requires funds and getting all stores and customs departments on board takes time. We're working on it!
In the mean time, we try to offer the lowest service fee's as possible and we're proud of that. If you find a lower fee somewhere else, please let us know. We'll adjust our service fee's for you.
This article applies to NATO military employees stationed in the Netherlands that have bought items in stores outside the Netherlands (but inside the EU)
To submit a VAT refund claim, please follow the steps below:
Get a purchase receipt or invoice from the store
Print and fill a 'VAT and Excise Duty Exemption Certificate 151', two (2) times. One (1) for yourself and one (1) for the tax office. The tax office will not make copies; you have to have both copies with you. Download: GENERAL 151 FORM
Box 1: Fill in YOUR name & YOUR Netherlands' residence address (ignore Brunssum address)
Box 5: Fill in the store details, description of your items (like on your purchase invoice) and item amounts excluding VAT
Box 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7: will be completed and stamped by an employee at the tax office.
Download our app or create an account via our website and register your receipt. We’ll ask you to upload copies of your documents.
When this process has been completed, we’ll check your documents and contact the store for your refund. You’ll be notified by email when a store has processed your claim. After receiving notification, payment can be requested by logging in to your account.
Additional remarks:
If you are stationed in the Netherlands and buying at Dutch stores, please follow instructions here.
To submit a VAT refund claim, please follow the steps below:
Get a purchase receipt or invoice from the store
Print and fill a 'VAT and Excise Duty Exemption Certificate 151', two times.
One (1) for yourself and one (1) for your NATO base admin/tax office. The tax office will not make copies; you have to have both copies with you.
Box 1: Fill in YOUR name & YOUR residential address in the EU
Box 5: Fill in the store details, description of your items (like on your purchase invoice) and item amounts excluding VAT
Box 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7: will be completed and stamped by an employee at your NATO base admin/tax office.
Download our app or create an account via our website and register your receipt. We’ll ask you to upload copies of your documents.
When this process has been completed, we’ll check your documents and contact the store for your refund. You’ll be notified by email when a store has processed your claim. After receiving notification, payment can be requested by logging in to your account.
Additional remarks:
Which documents are required from you will depend on the country and the base you are stationed in/at. Please confirm with your NATO base tax office for more information about the required documents.
| NATO BASE/COMMAND | REQUIRED DOCUMENTS |
JFC Brunssum, Netherlands |
Detailed instructions here |
Most other NATO bases in the EU (please contact your NATO base tax office to confirm) |
|
To submit a claim for items exported by post (DHL, FedEx, PostNL etc) you don't need a stamp from customs. Instead you'll need to provide three (3) documents. The 'commercial invoice' is one (1) of them.
EXAMPLE:
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Information about other required documents can be found here.
A Proof of Delivery (POD) is a document which the receiver signs when a shipment is delivered in good order and condition. The POD usually contains:
The POD can be found on your shippers website by using your tracking number. Track your shipment to download your POD here;
EXAMPLE:
For shipments from the Netherlands to countries outside the EU, we advise you to contact Morends Logistics.
Morends is a professional logistics company offering international shipping via sea freighter and air courier (DHL, UPS, FedEx, etc). They will provide all the required documents for export via ocean and air.
Please contact Morends for information about shipping costs. Shipping costs are to be paid separately to Morends and are not included in the Vatfree.com service fee.
You can find your receipt status in your account by going to your 'my receipts' page and selecting a receipt. The status of your claim is visible in the receipt summary:
| Refund Status | Meaning |
| Waiting for customs stamp | You still need to mark your receipt as ‘stamped by customs’. Select your receipt → upload a photo of your receipt with the customs stamp visible → click the blue button ‘stamped by customs’ |
| Waiting for traveller verification | We still need copies of your ID documents before we can continue processing your claim, or your ID documents are still being checked. You can upload your ID documents on your account page. Your ID documents will be checked within 24 hours. |
| Send original receipt by post | We need to receive your original receipt by post in order to process your claim. You can find our postal address here. |
| Waiting for visual validation | We have received and accepted your receipt. It’s now being checked by a member of our staff. Your receipt will be checked within 24 hours. |
| Waiting for double-check | Your receipt needs to be double-checked by a member of our staff. Your receipt will be checked within 24 hours. |
| Rejected | Your receipt can (currently) not be processed for a VAT refund claim. We will let you know why your receipt was rejected via email. The reject reason will also be visible under the receipt status in your account. Go to your 'my receipts' page and select the receipt to see the reject reason. |
| Waiting for shop validation | The store where you bought your items is new in our system or needs to be updated because it hasn't received a claim in a very long time. We’re in the process of contacting them to receive information about how to submit your claim to their administration. |
| Ready for invoicing | Your account and receipt details have been checked and approved. We’re ready to send your claim to the store. We send invoices for VAT refund claims to stores two (2) times a month. |
| Waiting for payment from shop | We’ve sent your claim to the store for processing. Most stores process claims within 30 business days. You can find your expected payment date in your account. |
| Paid by shop | The store has processed your claim and transferred the VAT to vatfree.com. You can now request payment. |
| Payout requested | We’ve received your payment request. The amount will be transferred to your account during our first upcoming payment-run. You’ll receive a notification via email when payment has been transferred to your account. |
| Fully paid | We’ve transferred your refund amount to your account. You should have received an email from us to let you know that we've paid. |
Depreciated | If your receipt has the status 'depreciated' this means your claim has expired in our system and can no longer be paid (due to bookkeeping and accounting reasons). Claims expire in our system if you do not request payment within 2 years after the store has processed your claim. Please keep a close eye on your email inbox and the receipt status in your account. As soon as a store has processed your claim we let you know automatically via email (and in your account) that you can log in to request payment. Please request payment on time so your claim does not expire. |
Yes. Officially, purchased items must be presented to customs in their original packaging. If, for whatever reason, you need to use your purchases before leaving the EU (like a new phone or laptop) please bring the original packaging with you to customs.
We advise you to always leave price tags on clothing and to leave food items in their original packaging until after you have arrived back in your non-EU homecountry.
Germany 🇩🇪 /Standard VAT rate: 19%
Low VAT rate: 7% on some foods, books (excluding books whose content is harmful to minors), e-books, audiobooks, newspapers and periodicals (except those containing content harmful to minors and/or more than 50% advertising)
Minimum spend amount: EUR 50 in the same store on the same day
Time limit to export: before the end of the 3rd month, after the month of purchase
Ask in the store: an invoice, Tax-Free form, or Tax-Free receipt: showing your name, non-EU address and passport number.
Required for Germany Customs:
Passport
If you have an EU passport; other proof of residence outside the EU
Boarding pass
Purchased items
Standard VAT rate: 20%
Low VAT rate: 10% on some foods, some works of art, collectors items
Low VAT rate: 5.5% on medicines, some pharmaceutical goods, books, magazines
Minimum spend amount: EUR 100 in the same store on the same day
Time limit to export: before the end of the 3rd month, after the month of purchase
Ask in the store: in France, you must receive a Tax-Free form from the store. If you don’t receive a Tax-Free form in-store, you can’t get back the VAT. Your VAT is refunded by the Tax-Free company visible on the form.
Required for French Customs:
French stores: Tax-Free form issued by the French store (don't forget to ask the store when purchasing your goods)
Stores from other EU countries: standard tax-free form
Passport
If you have an EU passport; other proof of residence outside the EU
Boarding pass
Purchased items
Purchase invoice/receipt
If the Customs machine is not working or you’re departing from another EU country, go to a manual Customs desk for an export stamp. You can ask an airport employee to point you in the right direction.
Standard VAT rate: 21%
Low VAT rate: 6% - food and books
Minimum spend amount: EUR 125,01 in the same store on the same day
Time limit to export: before the end of the 3rd month, after the month of purchase
Ask in the store: an invoice, Tax-Free receipt or Tax-Free form showing your name, non-EU address and passport number. If the store can't provide this, you can download and print a standard Tax-Free form yourself to add to the purchase documents from the store.
Required for Belgian Customs:
Passport
If you have an EU passport; other proof of residence outside the EU
Boarding pass
Purchased items
Standard VAT rate: 21%
Low VAT rate: 10% on food and some optical products
Low VAT rate: 4% on medicines, pharmaceutical goods, books, magazines
Minimum spend amount: EUR 0 - no minimum
Time limit to export: before the end of the 3rd month, after the month of purchase
Ask in the store: in Spain, when you go shopping, you must bring your passport to get a DIVA Tax-Free form from the store. If you don’t receive a Tax-Free from in-store, you can’t get back the VAT. Your VAT is refunded by the Tax-Free company visible on the form.
Required for Spanish Customs:
Spanish stores: DIVA Tax-Free form issued by the store (don't forget to ask for the formwhen purchasing your goods)
Stores from other EU countries: standard tax-free form
Any other purchase receipts and documents received from the stores
Passport
If you have an EU passport; other proof of residence outside the EU
Boarding pass
Purchased items
If the Customs machine is not working or you’re departing from another EU country, go to a manual Customs desk for an export stamp. You can ask an airport employee to point you in the right direction. Issues with getting a customs stamp in Spain? File a complaint here.
Don't forget to bring your passport when you go shopping. You'll need to show it to the store to get a DIVA Tax-Free form.
Standard VAT rate: 22%
Low VAT rate: 10% - food (meat and other food items)
Low VAT rate: 5% - herbs (basil, oregano and sage)
Low VAT rate: 4% - milk, fruit, vegetables, bread and prescription glasses
Minimum spend amount: €70 per invoice or in the same store on the same day
Time limit to export: before the end of the 3rd month, after the month of purchase
Required documentation for customs:
Standard VAT rate: 24%
Standard VAT rate on Chios, Kos, Mytilini and Samos Islands: 17%
Low VAT rate: 13% - fresh food, some basic foods, infant and child nutrition, diapers, child seats
Minimum spend amount: €50 per invoice or in the same store on the same day
Time limit to export: before the end of the 3rd month, after the month of purchase
Required documentation for customs:
Standard VAT rate mainland: 23%
Standard VAT rate Madeira: 22%
Standard VAT rate Azores: 18%
Low VAT rate: 13% - wine, musical instruments
Low VAT rate: 6% - medicines, books, optical lenses
Minimum spend amount mainland 23%: €61,50 per invoice or in the same store on the same day
Minimum spend amount mainland 13%: €56,50 per invoice or in the same store on the same day
Minimum spend amount mainland 6%: €53 per invoice or in the same store on the same day
Minimum spend amount Madeira 22%: €61 per invoice or in the same store on the same day
Minimum spend amount Azores 18%: €59 per invoice or in the same store on the same day
Time limit to export: before the end of the 3rd month, after the month of purchase
Required documentation for customs:
Standard VAT rate: 20%
Low VAT rate: 13% - wine
Low VAT rate: 10% - food, books and pharmaceutical products
Minimum spend amount: €75,01 per invoice or in the same store on the same day Time limit to export: before the end of the 3rd month, after the month of purchase
Ask in the store: an invoice, Tax-Free form, or Tax-Free receipt: showing your name, non-EU address and passport number
Bring to Austrian Customs:
Purchased items
Passport
If you have an EU passport; other proof of residence outside the EU
Boarding pass
Tip: Austrian Customs want to see an invoice, Tax-Free form, or Tax-Free receipt: showing your name, non-EU address and passport number.
If you did not receive this from the store, you need to download and print a Tax-Free form for customs yourself. Some airports in Austria, like the one in Vienna, have digital customs systems. View the airport guides below for more information.
Airports:
Customs Guide Vienna Airport
Customs Guide Salzburg Airport
Standard VAT rate: 25%
Minimum spend amount: 300.01 DKK on the same day and in the same store
Time limit to export: before the end of the 3rd month, after the month of purchase
Required documentation for customs:
Standard VAT rate: 23%
Low VAT rate: 13% - food supplements
Minimum spend amount: €75 per invoice or in the same store on the same day
Time limit to export: before the end of the 3rd month, after the month of purchase
Required documentation for customs:
Your account needs to be verified so we can start processing your claims. You can verify your account by submitting all required fields (*) on your account page.
In some cases (non-EU residents, EU-based diplomats, exports via ocean freighter) you are required to upload a copy of your identity documents. You can find out how to safely share a copy of your identity document here.
After you have submitted all required details they will be checked by a member of your team. You will receive a confirmation via email when your account has been verified.
Choose a situation below for more information about where to get proof of export / VAT exemption:
| Customs system | Manual, customs stamp |
| Minimum Spend threshold | €50 per invoice/receipt |
| Customs locations and opening hours | On the way to your gate, after passport control, 24/7. |
| Contact details | Phone: +49 180 6372 4636 Email: [email protected] For immediate assistance at the airport you can also use an InfoGate. |
| Required documentation for German customs and German stores |
|
| More information | Frankfurt airport website - VAT refunds |
| Customs system | Manual, customs stamp |
| Minimum Spend threshold | €50 per invoice/receipt |
| Customs locations and opening hours | All Munich airport customs locations and opening hours can be found here. |
| Contact details | Phone: +49 89 975 00 Email: [email protected] |
| Required documentation for German customs and German stores |
|
| More information | Munich airport website - Customs Offices |
| Customs system | Manual, customs stamp |
| Minimum Spend threshold | €50 per invoice/receipt |
| Customs locations and opening hours | Next to check-in counter 190. |
| Contact details | Phone: +492114216666 Email: [email protected] |
| Required documentation for German customs and German stores |
|
| More information | Düsseldorf airport website - VAT refunds |
| Customs system | Manual, customs stamp |
| Minimum Spend threshold | €50 per invoice/receipt |
| Customs locations and opening hours | Terminal 1, check-in island 7 Transfer passengers leaving the EU can go to the customs office in the gallery in the main hall if they did not receive a customs certificate at their departure airport. |
| Contact details | Phone: +49 30 6091 6091 0 Email: [email protected] |
| Required documentation for German customs and German stores |
|
| More information | Berlin Brandenburg airport website - VAT refunds |
EU law states certain types of customers are exempt from paying VAT over items bought in the EU. Local national laws on VAT and exemptions are based on and correspond to EU law.
For more information about corresponding national laws in your EU country, please contact us via [email protected].
The list below includes customers and situations in which vatfree.com can help:
| Situation, customers and items exempt | Law |
| Items transported to a destination outside the EU by or on behalf of the vendor | Article 146(1)(a) VAT Directive |
| Items transported to a destination outside the EU by or on behalf of the customer | Article 146(1)(b) VAT Directive |
| Items transported to a destination outside the EU by a non-EU resident in their personal luggage | Article 147 VAT Directive |
| Items bought by staff of an embassy, permanent representation, consulate and other international bodies and their members | Article 151(1)(a)(b) VAT Directive |
| Armed forces of a NATO country and the civilian staff accompanying them | Article 151(1)(c) and (d) VAT Directive |
| Customs system |
|
| Minimum Spend threshold | 0 / no minimum for Spanish stores Minimum spend threshold's for other countries can be found here |
| Customs locations and opening hours | Terminal T1, Floor 3 (Check-in hall) |
| Contact details | Phone: +34 91 321 10 00 Email: [email protected] |
| Required documentation for customs |
|
| More Information | Barcelona airport website - VAT refunds |
| Customs system |
|
| Minimum Spend threshold | 0 / no minimum for Spanish stores Minimum spend threshold's for other countries can be found here |
| Customs locations and opening hours | Terminal T3, Floor 1 (Check-in hall) |
| Contact details | Phone: +34 952 792 935 Email: [email protected] |
| Required documentation for customs |
|
| More Information |
If the online store delivers your items to an address inside the EU first and you then export the items yourself via courier like DHL, UPS, FedEX or another postal forwarding company;
After completing this process we'll keep you updated by email automatically. We'll provide a time-frame for your refund and we'll notify you when your VAT has come in from the store. Information about payment methods can be found here.
Where can I submit a payment request? /You can request payment via the 'Receipts' page in your account. On your Receipts page, select the green 'Payout refunds' button to start the payment process.
The payment option will become available after a store has processed your claim.
Information about your payment date can be found here.
Due to current sanctions the PayPal and Creditcard payment options are no longer available for Russian accounts. Payments to Russian creditcard accounts and PayPal accounts connected to Russian cards will be blocked and sent back to our bank. If you live in Russia please choose a different payment option or use the creditcard or PayPal account of a family member or friend based in a country other than Russia.
I can’t see the 'payout refunds' payment button in my account, now what? /You can find out where you should be able to find the payment button here.
If we sent you an email to let you know the store has processed your claim but you can't find the payment button when logged into your account, the following might be happening:
| You logged into a duplicate account | Go to your receipts page and check if your claim is visible there. If your claim isn't visible you might have logged into your other account (created a long time ago with a different email address or social button). Check the email we sent you to determine to which of your accounts it was sent. You need to use that account/login method to log into the correct account and see your claim and the payment button. If you used the correct email address/login method but still can't see your claim, please contact us via [email protected]. We might need to merge your accounts if you have more than 1 so you can see all your claims in one place. |
| The store reversed payment | If your claim is visible on the 'my receipts' page in your account and you received an email about payment your receipt status should be 'paid by shop' (the store has processed your claim). If you received an email from us to let you know the store has paid, but your receipt status is still 'waiting for payment from shop', this means payment from the store was reversed or there is another payment issue playing in the background. Please contact us via [email protected]. |
We need the store name and address to find the store's contact details and the correct department to send your VAT refund claim for payment.
If you remember the store name and address please let us know via [email protected].
If you don't remember the store name and/or address you can check your payments in your banking system. The name of the store might be visible in the transaction details. Search on/around the purchase date and the amount mentioned on your receipt. Let us know the store name via [email protected].
If you haven't received proof of export yet and because you don't have a receipt with store name and address (officially required information), we advise you to bring a tax-free form to customs. You can also contact the store and ask for an official invoice.
If your customs stamp is a bit or very unclear/smudged you can upload a copy of your boarding pass/flight itinerary as extra proof for the store that your items were exported. Your name and exit date from the EU (corresponding to the date on your customs stamp) should be clearly visible.
Eindhoven, The Netherlands /| Customs system |
|
| Minimum Spend threshold | €50,- per store per day Minimum spend threshold's for other countries can be found here |
| Customs locations and opening hours | The customs desk at Eindhoven Airport is located on 1ste floor. Before check-in and passport control, in the main hall, take the elevator up to the 1ste floor. When arriving on the first floor with the elevator, turn right. At the end of the hall you can find the customs desk. The yellow signs will point you in the right direction. |
| Contact details | Eindhoven Airport general contact number: +35227000767 (a customer service agent can connect you to the customs department) |
| Required documentation for customs |
|
| Customs system |
|
| Minimum Spend threshold | €50,- per store per day Minimum spend threshold's for other countries can be found here |
| Customs locations and opening hours | The customs desk at Rotterdam Airport is located on 1ste floor. When arriving via the main entrance of the airport, turn right and take the stairs up. Signs will direct you to the customs desk. If you're not sure, please ask an airport employee to point you in the right direction Customs officers are present at the airport 24/7 If the desk is closed, you can contact customs via the numbers displayed on the customs desk (and below). A customs officer will come down to the desk to stamp your receipts. If you can not find the number, please ask an airport employee for help. |
| Contact details | Rotterdam Airport general contact number: +35227000767 Rotterdam Airport Customs: +31881538300 |
| Required documentation for customs |
|
Please note that the expected refund date in your account is an approximation and not guaranteed.
If your payment has not come in within 2 weeks after the expected refund date in your account and you have not heard from us yet, please contact us via [email protected]
In general, reasons for payment delays can be the following and will vary depending on the partnership status of the store:
Due to VISA and MasterCard (CreditCard) processes which lie out of our control, our payment in euro's might be subject to conversion to the default currency of your card. These processes are determined by VISA and MasterCard, not vatfree.com. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this might cause and kindly ask for your understanding if this is the case.
If you want to avoid conversion, please choose a different payment option:
| Customs system | Manual, customs stamp |
| Minimum Spend threshold | €125 per invoice/receipt |
| Customs locations and opening hours | In the departure hall, follow the icon below to report to customs.
This customs office is open every day, including weekends, from 7 am to 10 pm. Want to drop by at another time? Then head to the customs office in the Arrivals Hall. This is located next to the passenger exit. Ring the bell and a customs officer will be able to assist you further. For transfer passengers, you can find customs in the Gates B commercial area. |
| Contact details | Phone: +32 2 753 77 53 |
| Required documentation for Belgium customs and Belgium stores |
|
| More information | Brussels Airport website - VAT refunds |
Items must be exported via ocean freighter before the end of the 3rd month, after the month of purchase.
The Netherlands 🇳🇱 /Standard VAT rate: 21%
Low VAT rate: 9% on food and drink, agricultural products and services, medicines, books, daily newspapers and magazines.
Minimum spend amount: EUR 50 in the same store on the same day
Time limit to export: before the end of the 3rd month, after the month of purchase
Ask in the store: A normal receipt, invoice, Tax-Free receipt or Tax-Free form showing your name, non-EU address and passport number, details from the store, products, purchase and VAT amount. If the store can't provide this, you can print a standard tax-free form yourself.
Required for Dutch Customs:
Passport
If you have an EU passport; other proof of residence outside the EU
Boarding pass
Purchased items
Standard VAT rate: 20%
Low VAT rate: 9%
Minimum spend amount: BGN 300, per invoice or in the same store on the same day Time limit to export: before the end of the 3rd month, after the month of purchase
Ask in the store: an invoice showing you name, non-EU address and passport number
Bring to Bulgarian Customs:
Purchased items
Passport
If you have an EU passport; other proof of residence outside the EU
Boarding pass
Tip: Bulgarian Customs want to see an invoice from the store + a Tax-Free form. If you did not receive this from the store, you need to download and print a Tax-Free form for customs yourself.
