Where do they return tax free? What is the easiest way to get Tax Free? Reimbursement of value added tax using GLOBAL BLUE company forms

When making purchases abroad, VTB clients can save personal funds and return up to 20% of the purchase price using the tax-free return service, including through VTB Bank. Getting your money back this way is not the easiest task, but it is quite doable, provided you follow a few simple recommendations.

What are tax-free checks?

First of all, you need to understand what tax free and tax free checks are.

Tax-free is a convenient VAT refund system. In other words - value added tax. This service is presented in one way or another in most countries. But VTB Bank clients often come across this service when traveling through European countries: Spain, Italy, France and many other popular tourist destinations.

The store where you make a purchase must be part of the tax-free system. Special stickers at the entrance to the store can indicate the interaction of the outlet with the VAT refund system. If you do not notice the identification mark, then do not hesitate to clarify this issue with the cashier or seller.
In order for the tax free refund procedure through VTB to become possible, you must make a purchase with one check for the minimum amount that will allow you to use this service.
The most key condition for successfully obtaining VTB tax free is a special tax free check.

A tax free check is a detailed check issued according to certain rules. Depending on the level of the store where you make the purchase, the receipt may be issued manually or printed through the cash register. You should carefully check the received receipt and keep it together with the receipt for payment for the goods until you receive the money at VTB issuing points. Otherwise, VTB clients will not be able to use this service.

How to properly issue a tax-free check?

When issuing a tax refund voucher, do not hesitate to monitor the process to ensure that the specified data matches the list of required information.

A well-drafted tax refund document must contain:

Full name of the buyer.
Country of registration (residence).
Code and series of a foreign passport.
Purchase amount in national currency.
Time to make a purchase.
Date of purchase.
Calculated refund amount.

Working in a special system, the store operator can quickly calculate the amount for which you can claim a refund through the VTB tax-free return system. After calculation, the figure is entered in a special field on the check.

When leaving the country of destination, do not forget to put a special stamp and present your passport, receipts and purchased goods to the customs officers.

Minimum amount to apply for tax free

Remember that the minimum threshold for purchases by check is individual in each country. Therefore, study this nuance before your trip. Below you can see the estimated minimum check amount for a number of countries:

How to return tax free?

There are several ways to return tax free. We recommend paying attention to the most popular of them:

Having arrived at the departure airport, you need to find a special window in the “Tax Free” sign. Often, such a window is located in remote areas of the airport. But it can be easily noticed, thanks to the queue of people wishing to issue a VAT refund. In some countries, the queue can reach several dozen people, so try to arrive at the airport early. We recommend that you check the opening hours, since the tax free window is not open 24/7 everywhere.

In modernized airports, you can increasingly find electronic terminals, thanks to which you can automatically credit the amount to your personal card in a couple of minutes.

Tax free in the host city

Some European countries practice tax refunds through a local bank branch. After making a purchase, you can check with the seller about the possibility of receiving money at the nearest branch. This method is one of the most convenient, since you do not worry about limited time and can always solve a possible problem on the spot.

Tax free via VTB

If for some reason you were unable to receive a tax free refund at the airport or you crossed the border by car, bus or train, do not worry. You can go through the tax free return procedure in Russia at VTB.

The most popular refund system is the Global Blue office. In Moscow, our clients will be able to issue a tax refund at VTB Bank branches at the following addresses:

VTB on the street Bolshaya Sukharevskaya, 14/7, no.2.
VTB on the street Avtozavodskaya, 6.
VTB on Pokrovka street, 28, building 1.
VTB on the street Marksistskaya, 5, building 1.
VTB on the street Bolshaya Molchanovka, 17/14, building 2.
VTB on the street Barclay, 7, building 1.

To receive a tax through VTB, you should contact one of the listed Moscow branches or a regional branch of VTB with a package of documents, which should contain:

Original receipt with customs mark.
Original cash receipt confirming payment for the goods. For some countries this item is not mandatory.
Passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation.
Foreign passport.

After completing and processing the application, you will be able to receive tax free at one of the VTB branches. VTB Bank does not charge a fee for cashing a check. However, there is a limit of 1500 euros for cash withdrawals. The same services are provided by Premier Tax free. The disadvantage of this company is the withdrawal of a small commission from each processed check.

Receiving a refund to your bank card account

The remote method of returning funds is popular. To use this service, you should contact a Global blue employee. Upon your request, the manager will issue a letterhead and a postal envelope in which you will need to enclose:

tax free receipts with a customs stamp;
a completed tax refund request form;
a form indicating contact details and bank details.

Having received an envelope with information, company employees will be able to return the tax free. In case of any questions or difficulties, you can be contacted at the specified telephone number or email address.

Deadlines for receiving tax free

There is no single approved period during which you will be able to receive your refund. The exact validity period of the checks is determined by the state in which you were shopping. Often the documents are valid for three months.

However, we do not recommend taking risks and delaying the return procedure. Thus, in Switzerland the validity of the voucher is only one month, and in Germany - three years. In some countries, like Spain or Austria, checks do not have an expiration date at all. But at the same time, the customs stamp is valid only for the first three months.

If the tax amount is less than one hundred euros, the refund occurs almost immediately. For requests for large amounts, please note that the application verification process can take from two to five business days. After which you can receive your money.

Of course, obtaining tax free has a number of subtleties. However, after going through this procedure once, you will be convinced that with a thorough approach, you will remain in a significant financial advantage.

Instructions

In order to apply for Tax-Free, purchases must be made only in those stores that have the appropriate one. If there is no icon, check with the seller whether the store issues Tax-Free checks.

In each country there is a minimum amount for Tax-Free registration. The lowest tariff is in Germany and is 25 euros. In Switzerland the tariff is the highest and is equal to 400 euros. All purchases must be paid for with one check. If you made purchases in a supermarket and purchased non-food and food products at the same time, then Tax-Free can be issued for each group separately. However, the amount of each group of goods must correspond to the minimum Tax-Free amount in a given country.

After making a purchase, you must ask the seller to issue Tax-Free. To do this, you must present your passport. The seller will issue you a receipt indicating the purchases, their cost and the refund amount. You will need to enter your last name, first name, passport details and your address and sign. A check is attached to the receipt form. In large shopping centers Tax-Free check is issued in central cash register or at a customer service office.

On the day of departure, you must arrive early in order to have time to return the money. When you arrive at the airport, check where the money refund point is. In some countries it is to the point of passport control, in others – beyond the line.

It is advisable to pack purchased goods with price tags in one place, as you may be asked to buy them.

If you are leaving the country by , then the money refund procedure can be completed at the station or in your compartment, when customs officers will check your documents at the border.

If you are traveling across several EU countries, you will need to have your receipt stamped when leaving the country where the purchases were made.

If you are traveling by ferry, you will need to go to your local customs office and show your purchases before boarding.

Traveling tourists need to present their purchases and receive a customs stamp on their receipt at the last border.

If you did not have time to apply for Tax-Free when leaving the EU, upon returning home, you need to contact the representative office of the country where the purchases were made and show them your passport, receipt and purchases. After receiving the customs stamp, you will need to contact the Europe Shopping representative. There you will get your cash back in the one you choose, but you will be charged a commission. Value added tax refund offices are located in all major airports, at train stations and highways.

The period between the purchase of goods and its export should not exceed three months.

Tourists traveling around Europe often see blue and white Tax Free stickers or Global Blue logo stickers in European store windows. If you make a literal translation, it will look like “no fees.”

It turns out that you can save money by shopping abroad? Tax Free or tax free is a system by which you can receive a refund of value added tax (VAT). The VAT amount is refunded on purchases made foreign citizens when on their way back they cross the borders of the country in which they were shopping.

Purchase of almost all goods: clothing, cosmetics, alcohol, food, shoes, household appliances, building materials, jewelry, etc. In tax free stores, tourists can save up to 20% of the purchase amount.

To use this system, you need to know how to apply for tax free. Light will be shed on the features and nuances of the system in this article.

What is the Tax Free system and who can use it?

The Tax Free system allows foreign guests of EU countries to return part of the cost of goods withdrawn during purchase in the form of value added tax. Obtaining tax free occurs when leaving the country where the goods were purchased.

Each individual country independently determines the conditions, volumes and terms of compensation and for what goods it is expected. To return tax free, you need to pay attention to the amount of the purchased product. In different European countries ah, its size is set separately.

You need to spend the following amount to get your tax refund:

Germany - 25 euros;
France – 175.01 euros;
Denmark – 300 kroons;
Poland – 200 zlotys;
Netherlands – 50 euros;
Austria - 75.01 euros;
Spain – 90.16 euros;
Lithuania – 55 euros;
Latvia - 44 euros;
Belgium - 125.01 euros;
Switzerland - 300 francs;
Czech Republic - 2001 CZK;
Finland - 40 euros;
Hungary - 54,001 forints;
Cyprus - 50 euros;
Estonia - 38.01 euros;
Croatia - 740 kn;
Italy - 154.94 euros;
UK - 30 pounds;
Greece - 120 euros;
Portugal - 61.35 euros;
Ireland - 30 euros;
Iceland - 6000 crowns;
Norway - 290 kroons;
Slovakia - 175 euros;
Slovenia - 50.01 euros;
Sweden - 200 CZK.

Due to the specifics of the store, this amount can be set uniformly for all purchases in the store or for a specific department, for example, for the household appliances department. It also happens that stores try in every possible way to avoid Tax-Free and in return can offer the buyer an additional discount. In some cases, it is advisable to take advantage of the discount immediately rather than issue a VAT refund.

Inexperienced travelers often make the same mistake. Tax free checks cannot be combined in different stores and on different days of travel. To apply for a VAT refund, you must make purchases for a minimum amount in one store within one day.

What are the rules for shopping in Tax Free stores?

Tourists trying to get tax free for the first time have many questions during the shopping process. In practice, the VAT refund procedure is very simple. When making purchases in Tax Free stores, a foreigner receives a special receipt, on which a special stamp will need to be affixed when leaving customs.

After the actual purchase, you can proceed to the process of processing return documents. This usually happens either at the ticket office or at a special point located at the information counter. It is important that at this moment the buyer has a foreign passport with him.

It is very important to ensure that the seller fills out your data correctly, namely, first and last name, passport number, place of residence and email address, which you can enter yourself. The entire list of purchased goods must also be indicated. If the space provided for this is not enough, you can attach a cash receipt or invoice. It is also necessary to record the amount of purchase, tax paid and the amount to be issued.

The store must provide the following details:

date of purchase;
number;
cashier's signature;
stamp of an authorized point of sale.

Labels on purchases and store tags must be in place and not lose their presentation until they are presented at customs when Tax Free is processed. Many people try to wear the purchased item right away and cut off the tags, but this is exactly what should not be done.

How do I get export confirmation from customs?

At customs, when processing a return, you must prepare your passport, a Tax Free store receipt and the product itself, and sometimes they may also require a sales receipt. When a tourist crosses several customs points in the European Union countries, it is necessary to apply for tax free at the checkpoint of the last country.

When going through passport control at the international airport, checks must be stamped. In some cases, this operation is carried out at the place of stay, for example, in a travel center or directly at a bank branch. Travelers who prefer to travel by car should avoid queuing through the green corridor.

Often at car checkpoints they will refuse to stamp your receipts. There are, of course, exceptions in countries that take measures to optimize document management. For example, in Poland special terminals have already been installed where you can quickly process all documents using a mobile device.

In some countries, the process of processing documents at customs has its own specifics. For example, in Sweden or the Netherlands there is a time limit according to which a stamp can only be affixed within 30 days from the date of purchase. In Sweden and Germany there is a restriction according to which a stamp is affixed only if the product is sealed and has not been used. Therefore, when going to a particular country, you should inquire about this point in advance.

Where and how to get tax free?

The most popular VAT refund systems are Global Blue and Premier Tax Free. There are also some local companies, for example, Innova Tax Free (Spain), Detaxe and Euro Free Shopping (France), New Tax Free (Italy). There are also companies that refund taxes paid for car rentals or when paying in hotels and restaurants.

How to return tax free? You can get money:

in cash at Tax Free Cash Refund points of issue in international airports, where money is returned directly in the transit zone beyond the control line;
using a special Tax Free box in the transit zone or in the waiting area, where you need to throw a sealed envelope with Tax Free documents and a customs mark, after which the money will be sent to bank card MasterCard, Visa, Amex, Diners, JCB and CUP, the number of which will be indicated by the tourist;
at partner banks operating in the tax refund system upon arrival home;
in a foreign partner bank during your next visit to this country;
in the stores themselves during your next visit, and it is not even necessary to issue a Tax Free check, but an ordinary store receipt with a customs mark is enough. Such a return system is practiced, for example, in the Netherlands, provided that the purchase amount is at least 50 euros and the return occurs no later than 30 days from the date of purchase.

Please note that in a number of countries, tax free return points are located in common halls, where you can receive money even before going through passport control. After the tourist passes it, he will not have the opportunity to return to the common room, and therefore not get his money.

Thus, having learned in advance all the nuances and features of the operation of Tax Free stores and the procedure for processing a VAT refund in a particular country, you can save your money and get back up to 20% of the cost of purchases.

You can calculate your tax refund with all fees using special calculators; search the Internet for the GlobalBlue calculator. A good and simple option is http://www.globalblue.ru/customer-services/tax-free-shopping/refund-calculator/

And one last thing. There are more and more stores where you can return tax free immediately. This is great, but tourists inspired by the discount then forget that tax free checks still need to be stamped at customs, sealed in envelopes and thrown into special boxes. If you do not do this, the stores will demand a return of the money received, because they have not received confirmation that the purchased goods have left the country. Be careful!

Through tax free, a certain part of the cost of the product is reimbursed. The reimbursement algorithm is the same in all states that are participants in the Tax Free system. The difference lies only in the interest rate, the validity period of the check document and the cost of acquisition, which provides grounds for receiving this type of compensation.

Table of contents:

The concept of "Tax Free"

Tax Free is a refund of indirect tax included in the price of a product or service and paid directly by the buyer in a situation where the purchase was made outside the home state. This is by no means a promotion or discount, contrary to popular belief. The basis of this procedure is pragmatic calculation.

States are interested in their products being actively exported. Without burdening foreigners with paying taxes, the state thereby stimulates citizens to make new acquisitions. This allows local production to grow without increasing the volume of surplus in the domestic market.

How to get Tax Free: return conditions

To return part of the amount from a product purchased in a foreign country, you need to prove the following:

the buyer does not have citizenship of the country in which the purchase took place, as well as refugee status, the right to officially reside and work in this country;
the period of stay in the country where the goods were purchased should not exceed three months;
the amount for which the entire purchase was made, i.e. the lower limit of its cost, which makes it possible to count on receiving Tax Free, is established by countries based on individual legislation.

note

Most states do not tax food, tobacco, alcohol, jewelry, cars, or printed materials. Returns are not provided for purchases of designated types of products.

The system providing for this VAT compensationTax Free Shopping, used in the European Union, as well as in 20 other countries of the world, in particular:

Belarus,
Britain,
Turkey,
South Korea,
in a number of other countries, to which Russia Not included.

Tax Free does not apply to purchases from online stores.

Stages of obtaining Tax Free

In order to be sure of the possibility of receiving part of the money back for it when purchasing a product, you need to pay attention to the following: those stores that are partners of the system have a special inscription on the door.

The algorithm for registering and receiving tax free in this case is as follows.

First stage. At the time of payment for the purchase, the seller must issue a special receipt confirming the right to Tax Free. Inside the paper, the full name of the buyer, the state and city in which the particular citizen lives are written in Latin letters, the date of purchase and its total cost are indicated.

note

For this procedure, the buyer must provide his or her passport.

Sometimes sellers only fill out the date and amount fields. In such conditions, the remaining items have to be filled out by the buyer himself in accordance with the data of his passport.

Purchased products must be kept in the same condition in which they were purchased until the buyer receives a refund. This applies to tags, labels, packaging, seals and other things.

Second phase. The tax refund procedure begins before returning to your home state, at the place of departure.

Important fact

This process may take a long time. NIt is strongly recommended to arrive at the departure point in advance.

Having arrived at the place (airport or train station), you need to go through the customs point. If the purchase is in hand luggage, you need to go through the customs point before registration. If in luggage - after check-in, because It is more convenient to check in your luggage at the customs point.

The customs officer checks the purchase and its integrity, also looks at the receipt issued to the buyer, and compares the data in the receipt with the information in the international passport. Afterwards, he puts a stamp on the Tax Free receipt.

Third stage. You can receive your due funds as follows:

note

Before closing the envelope, the payment instrument number must be indicated on the receipt. If this procedure is completed correctly, the money will arrive on the card within 8 weeks.

We return money for purchases of 25 euros or more when traveling around Europe and the world. And we don't pay taxes.

Tax Free is an international value added tax (VAT) refund system. Travelers shopping abroad do not have to pay this portion of the cost of goods and services because they are not residents of other countries. VAT on goods purchased while traveling abroad can be refunded. As a rule, it is reimbursed for purchases of a certain amount in one store (or shopping center) on one day. You can return from 3 to 20 percent or more. It's not easy to make sense of all this. And there may not be time. As a result, you lose money. We recommend preparing for your Tax Free refund in advance. Then it will be easy to arrange it.

What else you need to know about Tax Free

The system operates throughout the world, but is best developed in Europe. In addition to European countries, the tax can be returned, for example, in Turkey, Israel, Argentina, South Africa, Singapore, Mexico and other countries. Each of them sets a minimum amount that must be spent to return VAT. There may be several goods, but they must be paid for with one check. Some large department stores and shopping centers, such as London's Harrods or Spain's El Corte Inglés, count as one store.

So the minimum amount in Italy is 155 €, in Greece - 120 €, in Spain - 90 €, in Lithuania - 48 €, in Germany - 25 €. The VAT rate also differs from country to country and from one product group to another. However, the amount of tax does not mean that you will receive exactly this share of the amount spent. The operating company that helps return funds will take its percentage. The approximate cost of a return can be calculated on the website of one of the operators - the Swedish company Global Blue. Next we will talk mainly about her.

This is the world's largest Tax Free refund company. Based in Sweden. Its offices (return points) are located in 37 countries. In second place is the Irish Premier Tax Free (20 offices). There are several other companies, for example, the Spanish trading house El Corte Inglés has its own Tax free system. Partly you decide who to return the money from, partly it’s a matter of chance. There are stickers on the doors and shop windows, as well as on the cash registers - you can use them to determine which operator is which. Global Blue cooperates with 300 thousand stores around the world. In Barcelona there are 90% of them. That is, there are many shops. If there is no sticker, ask.

How to make purchases

Food and non-food products are considered separately - they cannot be “mixed” in the receipt; it is better to purchase goods from one of the groups up to the minimum amount, even if we are talking about 1 euro.

After paying for purchases at the checkout, ask the seller to issue Tax Free. In a small store this will happen there. There are special counters in shopping centers. You will be asked to fill out small form, where all information about the return will be indicated: date of purchase, your passport details, home address with zip code, store details. See an example of filling out the Global Blue form here. You will need a foreign passport or a copy of it (required). All information must be triple checked. An error in a letter or number may cause refusal at the next stages of the return - do not relax, there are several more of them.

Another, a little more quick way- personalized Global Blue card (SHOP TAX FREE Card). It will already have all your data. The seller will count them from the card and print out the completed form. To apply for a card, register on the operator’s website. Previously, cards were plastic - they were delivered by regular mail. From December 13, 2016, Global Blue issues only virtual cards. You can show it to the seller directly on your smartphone. But regular cards are still valid. It is important to remember that each card is individual. It cannot be transferred to another person, even close relatives.

What happens next: in some European countries, purchases are sometimes sealed with special tape. The Tax Free receipt along with the check will be pasted on top. In this case, it is better not to open the purchases. However, even if they are not sealed, you should not unpack the boxes (or carry things) until you return home. The tax can only be refunded on goods that were not used in the European Union. For information on other countries, check in stores or on the Global Blue website in the “FAQ” section.

In addition, not all products can be returned Tax Free. “Returnable” categories include all industrial goods: clothing, shoes, Jewelry, household supplies, watches, household and electronic appliances.

“Non-refundable”: alcohol and tobacco, medicines, weapons, antiques, books and souvenirs, food, as well as various services. The exact lists of goods and services differ in each country. Or the refund amount for certain groups will be lower than for popular clothing, shoes and equipment. For example, VAT in Poland on medicines is only 8% instead of 23% for other groups of goods.

Tax Free can also be returned for purchases in online stores.

What to do at customs

At customs at the airport (or train station), check in for your flight, but do not rush to check in your luggage. Tax Free receipts and receipts from stores must be stamped at the customs service. This is a very important point - without stamps, they will not be considered valid, no matter where you go with them later. This way you confirm the export of goods from the country. Customs officers may ask you to show your purchases - therefore they cannot be checked in or unpacked. You should apply for Tax Free in the European Union only once in the last country, before flying home, or a third country outside the EU if you are traveling across several countries.

At large airports, customs can be located anywhere - arrive a few hours in advance. Another reason to take your time is the long queues at tourist season or sales season. There may be many people wishing to return VAT, and you simply will not have time to go through all the stages of the return. At the same time, travelers agree that applying for Tax Free at night is more difficult than during the day - there may be no employees at customs, and in general there are fewer flights at night.

The Tax Free form completed in the store must be stamped within a certain period of time from the date of purchase, depending on the country. In some places this period is short, in others it is impressive. In Italy, the Czech Republic and Lithuania - three months, in France - six months, in Germany and Spain - four and five years, respectively. This means that during this time the product must leave the country once it was purchased. A stamped receipt is also valid for a certain period of time: from a month (in Switzerland) to infinity (in Spain and Austria), but in most European countries - three months. During this period you are entitled to a refund. Read on to find out how to do this.

How to receive the money

There are three main ways and one unexpected one:

1. At the airport at operator return points- they are located after passing inspection and customs. They must include representatives of the tax operator. The money is returned in cash or to the card account. If you choose the first option, the Global Blue service fee will be 3% and the total amount will be less than in the store receipt. If the second one - without it. Money is returned in the currency of purchase or in US dollars. If you bought in euros and returned in dollars, you will be charged a commission again. Therefore, it is more profitable to return funds not in cash, but to the card and in the currency of purchase - your bank will make the conversion itself (if necessary).

2. By mail yourself. To do this, place the Tax Free form with the receipt in a special envelope from the operator (ask in the store) - it should also have a customs stamp on it. Place the envelope in a box at the same return point, or send it by regular mail from your home country. This method is suitable for those who, for some reason, did not get to the operator after customs - they arrived at the airport late, or did not want to stand in line. The return address is indicated on the receipt, envelope and on the Global Blue website.

3. In a bank that cooperates with operators. For Global Blue this is Bank Intesa. In Russia, returns can be made in four cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Pskov and Kaliningrad. As in the first case, Global Blue will charge a service fee of a few percent for cash returns. It is more profitable to return it to the card. Transfer times are standard: 3-5 working days.

Unexpected. In rare cases, Tax Free is ready to be returned to the store immediately after purchasing and filling out the form. But it will still need to be stamped at customs and the form sent from home by mail back to the store to confirm that the goods were exported. If you do not do this within the prescribed period, funds will be debited from your card in the amount that has already been returned to you. This also applies to online purchases, but after the goods leave the country. For example, you spend 100 euros, export the goods (put stamps at the border), confirm the fact of export, and the funds are returned to the card.

What will prevent a return?

If all other conditions are met, they may refuse if you filled out the documents incorrectly: you made mistakes in the Tax Free receipt or did not stamp it at customs. The form should be filled out cleanly - without many corrections.

The same applies to the customs stamp - it should read the name of the checkpoint - this is important if you are returning money through a bank in your home country. Bank employees must read its name.

Another likely reason for refusal is incorrect dates. The Tax Free form and cash receipt must be issued on the same day. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, in Spain, purchases in one store on different days are added up. In Germany, products under the same brand are also counted as one receipt. It is impossible to learn the tax rules of all countries. To avoid confusion, find out about the return conditions in each specific country (store and each Tax Free operator) before making purchases.

Finally, you definitely won’t be able to get your money back using Tax Free if you are a tax resident of this country.

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