Paris VAT refunds are for visitors who buy goods in France and take them out of the EU within three months

The "tax refund in Paris" refers to VAT (Value Added Tax) refunds, which is France's version of sales tax. When you buy physical goods in Paris as a non-EU visitor, you can reclaim the VAT you paid at the point of sale — typically 20% of the purchase price. This is not a government payment to you; it's a refund of tax you already paid to a store.

The refund only works if you meet three conditions: you must be a non-EU resident, you must export the goods out of the EU within three months of purchase, and the store must participate in the VAT refund system. Most department stores, boutiques, and tourist-area shops do; small independent shops and restaurants do not.

You do not get the refund at the register. Instead, you ask the store for a tax refund form (called a "bordereau de détaxe" in French), have it stamped by customs when you leave France, and then submit it to get your money back — either as cash at the airport, a credit to your card, or a check mailed to you.

Key Takeaways

  • VAT refunds in Paris apply only to goods you physically take out of the EU within three months, not to services or meals.
  • You must ask the store for a tax refund form at the time of purchase; you cannot go back later and request one.
  • The refund amount varies by store and item, but is typically 12% to 15% of the purchase price after the store's processing fee.
  • You must have your form stamped by French customs before you leave the country, or the refund will be denied.
  • Refund processing takes 4 to 12 weeks depending on the method you choose (cash, card, or check).

Which purchases may have access to for a VAT refund

Not every purchase in Paris is refundable. The item must be a physical good — clothing, jewelry, electronics, cosmetics, luggage — that you take with you when you leave France. Services do not may have access to: haircuts, hotel stays, restaurant meals, museum tickets, and tours are not refundable, even if VAT was charged.

The purchase must also meet a minimum spending threshold, which varies by store but is typically €100 to €150 per transaction. Some stores set it higher. If you buy a €50 shirt and a €60 pair of shoes at the same store on the same day, you may cross the threshold and may have access to; if you buy them at different stores, you do not.

The goods must leave the EU within three months of purchase. If you buy something in Paris and mail it to yourself in the United States two weeks later, that qualifies. If you buy it, leave it in a Paris hotel storage room, and pick it up six months later when you return to Europe, it does not.

How to request a VAT refund form at the store

Tell the cashier or sales associate that you want a tax refund form before you pay. Do this at the time of purchase, not after. The store will ask for your passport to verify you are a non-EU resident. If you do not have your passport with you, some stores will not process the form; others will accept a copy or your driver's license, but this varies.

The store will print a bordereau de détaxe (tax refund form), usually in triplicate. One copy goes to you, one stays with the store, and one is for customs. The form shows the purchase amount, the VAT amount, and the refund amount after the store's processing fee (typically 2% to 4%). Read the amount before you leave the store; if it looks wrong, ask the cashier to recalculate it.

Keep the form and your receipt together. Do not open the sealed bag the store may give you — customs needs to see that the goods are still in their original packaging and unused.

Getting your form stamped by customs before you leave France

You must have your tax refund form stamped by French customs before you leave the country. This is the step most visitors miss, and without it, your refund will be denied.

If you are flying out of Paris, go to the customs desk in the departure hall of Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Orly, or Beauvais before you check in. Have your passport, the tax refund form, and the unopened goods ready. The customs officer will examine the items (they may open the bag), stamp the form, and return it to you. This usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.

If you are leaving by train or car, the process is harder. You can ask customs to stamp your form at the border, but you must do this before you cross into another country. Train passengers often cannot do this easily; car travelers can stop at a customs post near the border. If you cannot get it stamped at the border, some refund companies will accept a stamped form from a customs office in another EU country, but this is not may provide and delays the refund.

Submitting your form and receiving your refund

Once customs has stamped your form, you have three ways to get your money back: cash refund at the airport, credit to your credit card, or a check mailed to your home address.

Cash refund: Most major airports in Paris have refund company desks (Global Blue, Planet, Tax Free World) in the departure hall or near the gates. You hand over your stamped form and passport, and they give you cash in euros. This takes 10 to 15 minutes. The refund amount is slightly lower than what the store calculated because the refund company takes a fee (usually 2% to 3%). You get your money immediately.

Credit card refund: You can mail your stamped form to the refund company or the store, and they will credit your card within 4 to 12 weeks. The amount is higher than the cash option because there is no refund company fee, but you have to wait. Some stores include a prepaid envelope; if not, you pay for postage.

Check by mail: The refund company will mail you a check in your home currency, which takes 6 to 12 weeks and may incur a bank fee when you deposit it. This is the slowest and most expensive option.

What to do if you did not get a form stamped at the airport

If you left Paris without getting your form stamped by customs, your refund will be rejected when you try to submit it. The refund company or store will send the form back to you and ask for a customs stamp.

You can contact French customs (the local customs office in Paris) and explain that you left without a stamp. They may agree to stamp a form retroactively if you provide proof of purchase and proof that you left the country, but this is not may provide and can take weeks. Some refund companies have relationships with customs offices and can handle this for you, but you will lose time and may lose money to additional fees.

The best approach is to plan ahead: if you know you are buying goods for a refund, allow extra time at the airport to visit the customs desk before you check in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a VAT refund if I live in another EU country?

No. VAT refunds are only for visitors from outside the EU. If you live in Germany, Italy, Spain, or any other EU country, you cannot get a refund on purchases in France, even if you are traveling there temporarily.

What if the store says the minimum purchase is €200 and I only spent €180?

You do not may have access to for a refund at that store. However, you can shop at a different store with a lower threshold, or you can make another purchase at the same store on the same day to reach the minimum. Each store sets its own threshold, so it pays to ask before you buy.

Do I have to open the sealed bag to show customs the goods?

Customs may ask to inspect the items to confirm they are unused and match the receipt. If they do, they will open the bag themselves. You should not open it before you reach customs, because an opened bag can raise questions about whether the goods are truly new.

Can I mail my stamped form to the refund company instead of going to the airport desk?

Yes. You can mail your stamped form to the refund company address (usually printed on the form) and request a credit card refund or check. This takes 4 to 12 weeks and you receive less money because you are not getting cash, but it works if you do not want to wait in line at the airport.

What if I buy something in Paris but ship it to my home in the US before I leave France?

You can still get a refund as long as you have proof that the goods left the EU within three months. Keep the shipping receipt and customs declaration. When you submit your tax refund form, include a copy of the shipping receipt to show that the goods were exported.