What the French VAT refund is and who can claim it

France's VAT refund, called détaxe or remboursement de TVA, lets non-EU visitors recover the value-added tax they paid on purchases. When you buy something in France, the price includes VAT at 20% (the standard rate). If you're a visitor from outside the EU, you can reclaim that tax when you leave the country, getting back roughly one-fifth of what you spent on may be able to access goods.

The refund exists because you're not a French resident and won't benefit from French public services that VAT funds. The system is designed to make shopping in France less expensive for tourists and business visitors. You don't need to be a citizen of any particular country—you just need to live outside the EU and have a valid passport or ID proving your residency.

EU residents cannot claim French VAT refunds, even if they're visiting from another EU country. The refund only works for people whose permanent home is outside the European Union.

Key Takeaways

  • Non-EU visitors can reclaim VAT paid on purchases made in France, typically recovering around 20% of the purchase price.
  • You must spend a minimum amount in a single store on a single day—currently €100—to be may be able to access for a refund on those goods.
  • The refund process requires a bordereau de détaxe (tax refund form) completed by the store at the time of purchase, not after you leave France.
  • You must have the goods, receipts, and completed forms with you when you leave the EU, and you present them to customs for validation before departure.
  • Refunds are processed by mail or to a credit card weeks or months after you leave, depending on the refund company handling the claim.

Minimum purchase amounts and which stores participate

Not every purchase qualifies. You must spend at least €100 in a single transaction at a single store on the same day. This is the threshold set by French tax law. If you buy €60 worth of items at one shop and €50 at another, neither purchase qualifies—you need €100 or more in one place.

Most major retailers, department stores, and tourist-focused shops participate in the refund system. Luxury brands, perfumeries, and fashion stores in central Paris almost always offer it. Smaller independent shops, markets, restaurants, and services (haircuts, hotel stays, meals) do not. When you're ready to buy, ask the cashier: "Puis-je avoir une détaxe?" (Can I get a tax refund?). They'll tell you when ready whether the store participates and whether your purchase meets the minimum.

Some stores have their own refund systems; others use third-party companies like Global Blue or Planet. The store handles this—you don't choose. The refund percentage you actually receive varies slightly depending on the company processing it, because each takes a small fee, but you'll see the exact amount on the form before you sign.

How to request a refund at the point of sale

Ask for the refund before you pay, not after. Tell the cashier you want a détaxe and show your passport. They will print a bordereau de détaxe (a multi-part tax refund form) and ask you to sign it. The form shows the purchase amount, the VAT amount being refunded, the refund company's fee, and your net refund amount.

The store keeps one copy, you keep one or two copies, and the refund company gets one. You must keep your copy and your receipt together—you'll need both at the airport. The form is not a receipt; it's a tax document that proves you bought the goods and are may have access to to reclaim the tax.

The cashier will also ask for your address outside the EU. Give your real home address, not your hotel. This is where the refund will be sent if you choose the mail option, or it's used to verify your residency status.

Validating your refund at the airport or border

Before you leave the EU—not after—you must present your goods, receipts, and completed bordereau forms to customs. This is the critical step that makes the refund official. You cannot validate the forms after you've left France or the EU.

At the airport, find the customs office or tax refund desk, usually located in the departure hall before security or in the duty-free area. Have your passport, the goods you bought (unworn, in original packaging), the receipts, and all copies of the bordereau ready. The customs officer will inspect the items, stamp the bordereau, and return it to you. This stamp proves you exported the goods and are may have access to to the refund.

If you're driving out of France, you can stop at a customs post at the border. If you're taking a train or ferry, ask staff where the customs desk is located. Do not skip this step—without the customs stamp, the refund company will not process your claim.

How refunds are processed and when you receive the money

After customs stamps your bordereau, you have two options: mail it back to the refund company, or use an when ready refund kiosk if one is available at the airport.

when ready refund kiosks are the fastest option. Global Blue and Planet both operate kiosks at major French airports (Paris Charles de Gaulle, Paris Orly, Nice, Lyon). You insert your stamped bordereau, and the machine processes it when ready. You can receive your refund as cash (in euros), a credit to your credit card, or a travel voucher. Cash refunds are when ready. Card refunds take a few business days. This option is convenient but the cash amount may be slightly lower than mailing, because the kiosk operator takes a fee.

Mailing your forms takes longer but often results in a slightly higher refund. You mail the stamped bordereau back to the refund company's address (printed on the form) within a set timeframe, usually three to six months. The company then processes your claim and sends the refund by check or credit card transfer. This can take six to twelve weeks from the time they receive the form.

If you don't validate at customs, the refund company will reject your claim. There is no way to recover the refund after you've left the EU.

What goods are refundable and what are not

Most tangible goods are refundable: clothing, shoes, accessories, cosmetics, electronics, souvenirs, and luxury items. Services are not: restaurant meals, hotel stays, museum entry, transportation, and haircuts cannot be refunded, even if VAT is included in the price.

Goods you consume or use before leaving the EU are not refundable. If you buy wine and drink it in France, you cannot claim the refund. If you buy clothes and wear them, you cannot claim the refund. The customs officer will ask if the goods are for personal use and export—if they're already used, they'll refuse to stamp the form.

Some items have lower VAT rates (5.5% for food, books, and certain other goods) rather than the standard 20%. The refund percentage is lower on these items, but you can still claim it if you meet the €100 minimum.

Common reasons refunds are denied or delayed

The most common reason is missing or invalid customs stamps. If you don't get the bordereau stamped by customs before leaving the EU, the refund company has no proof you exported the goods and will reject the claim. There is no appeal process for this—the stamp is mandatory.

The second reason is incomplete or illegible forms. If your signature is missing, your address is unclear, or the store didn't fill in required fields, the refund company may delay processing or ask you to resubmit. This can add weeks to the timeline.

The third reason is mailing delays. If you mail the form back to the refund company and it gets lost in the post, they won't receive it and won't process your claim. Some people photograph the stamped bordereau before mailing as proof they sent it, though this doesn't may provide recovery if the mail is lost.

Refunds are also sometimes denied if the goods are deemed used or if the purchase amount was actually below €100 (the store made an error). If your refund is denied, contact the refund company directly using the contact information on the bordereau. They can explain the reason and tell you whether an appeal is possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a VAT refund if I'm an EU citizen visiting France?

No. VAT refunds are only for non-EU residents. If you live in any EU country, you cannot claim a French VAT refund, even if you're visiting from another country. The system is designed for people whose permanent home is outside the EU.

What if I don't have time to go through customs before my flight?

You must validate your refund before you leave the EU, not after. If you're short on time, use an when ready refund kiosk at the airport instead of mailing the form. Kiosks process claims in minutes. If there's no kiosk available and you cannot reach customs, you will lose the refund—there is no way to validate after you've left.

Can I claim a refund on multiple small purchases that add up to €100?

No. The €100 minimum must be spent in a single transaction at a single store on the same day. If you buy €50 at one shop and €50 at another, neither qualifies. You need €100 or more in one place at one time.

How long does it take to receive a refund if I mail the form?

Mailed refunds typically take six to twelve weeks from the time the refund company receives your form. Mail delivery itself can take two to four weeks, so the total timeline from when you mail it to when you see the money is often two to four months. when ready kiosk refunds are processed when ready.

What if the refund company goes out of business before processing my claim?

This is rare but possible. If the refund company fails, you have no recourse—the store is not liable once they've issued the bordereau. To reduce this risk, use when ready kiosks at the airport rather than mailing forms. If you do mail a form and the company fails, you can contact the store where you made the purchase and ask whether they have a backup refund processor.