Tax free italy. How to refund VAT on goods purchased in Italy. Basic rules for paying Tax Free

This site is dedicated to self-learning Italian from scratch. We will try to make it the most interesting and useful for everyone who is interested in this beautiful language and, of course, Italy itself.

Interesting about the Italian language.
History, facts, modernity.
Let's start with a couple of words about the current status of the language, it is obvious that Italian is the official language in Italy, the Vatican (simultaneously with Latin), in San Marino, but also in Switzerland (in its Italian part, the canton of Ticino) and in several counties in Croatia and Slovenia, where there is a large Italian-speaking population, Italian is also spoken by a part of the inhabitants on the island of Malta.

Italian dialects - can we understand each other?

In Italy itself, even today you can hear many dialects, sometimes it is enough to drive only a few tens of kilometers to encounter another of them.
At the same time, dialects are often so different from each other that they can seem like completely different languages. If people from, for example, the northern and central Italian "outback" meet, then they may not even be able to understand each other.
What is especially interesting is that in addition to the oral form, some of the dialects also have a written one, such as the Neopolitan, Venetian, Milanese and Sicilian dialects.
The latter exists, respectively, on the island of Sicily and is so different from other dialects that some researchers distinguish it as a separate Sardinian language.
However, in everyday communication and, especially, in large cities, you are unlikely to experience any inconvenience, because. today the dialects are spoken mainly by older people in countryside The young people use the correct literary language, the language of radio and, of course, television, which unites all Italians.
It may be mentioned here that until the end of the Second World War, modern Italian was only a written language used by the ruling class, scientists and administrative institutions, and it was television that played a large role in spreading the common Italian language among all inhabitants.

How it all began, origins

The history of the formation of modern Italian, as we all know it, is closely connected with the history of Italy and certainly no less fascinating.
Origins - in ancient Rome, everything was in the Roman language, commonly known as Latin, which at that time was the official state language of the Roman Empire. In the future, from Latin, in fact, the Italian language and many other languages ​​\u200b\u200bof Europe arose.
Therefore, knowing Latin, you can understand what a Spaniard is saying, plus or minus a Portuguese, and you can even make out part of the speech of an Englishman or Frenchman.
In 476, the last Roman emperor Romulus-Augustula abdicates the throne, after the capture of Rome by the leader of the Germans Odoacar, this date is considered the end of the Great Roman Empire.
Some also call it the end of the "Roman language", however, even today disputes still do not subside, because of what exactly the Latin language has lost its relevance, due to the capture of the Roman Empire by the barbarians, or was it a natural process and in what language itself spoke towards the end of the Roman Empire.
According to one version, in ancient Rome, by this time, along with Latin, the spoken language was already widespread, and it is from this folk language of Rome that Italian comes, which we know as Italian of the 16th century, according to the second version, in connection with the invasion of the barbarians Latin was mixed with various barbarian languages ​​and dialects, and it is from this synthesis that the Italian language already originates.

Birthday - first mentioned

960 is considered the birthday of the Italian language. The first document is associated with this date, where this "proto-folk language" is present - vulgare, these are court papers related to the land litigation of the Benedictine abbey, the witnesses used this particular version of the language so that the testimony was understandable to as many people as possible, up to this point in all official papers we can see only Latin.
And then there was a gradual spread in the ubiquitous life of the vulgare language, which translates as a folk language, which became the prototype of the modern Italian language.
However, the story does not end there, but only becomes more interesting and the next stage is associated with the Renaissance and with such well-known names as Dante Alighiere, F. Petrarch, J. Bocaccio and others.
to be continued...

Online translator

I suggest that all guests of my blog use a convenient and free Italian online translator.
If you need to translate a couple of words or a short phrase from Russian to Italian or vice versa, you can use the little translator on the sidebar of the blog.
If you want to translate a large text or need other languages, use the full version of the online dictionary, where there are more than 40 languages ​​on a separate blog page - /p/onlain-perevodchik.html

Italian self-instruction manual

I present a new separate section for all learners of the Italian language - Italian Tutorial for Beginners.
Of course, it is not easy to make a full-fledged Italian tutorial from a blog, but I try to give the most convenient and logical sequence of interesting online lessons so that you can learn Italian from them yourself.
There will also be a section - an audio tutorial, where, as you might guess, there will be lessons with audio applications that can be downloaded or listened to directly on the site.
How to choose an Italian language tutorial, where to download it, or how to study it online, you will find information about this in my posts.
By the way, if someone has ideas or suggestions on how best to organize such a tutorial on our Italian blog, then be sure to write to me.

Italian via Skype

Secrets of how to learn Italian via Skype for free, whether a native speaker is always needed, how to choose a teacher, how much it costs to learn Italian via Skype, how not to waste your time and money - read about all this in the section "Italian via Skype.
Come, read and make the right choice!

Italian phrasebook

Free, Fascinating, with a native speaker - a rubric for those who want to learn words and phrases on certain topics.
Join, listen, read, learn - voiced Italian phrasebook for tourists, shopping, airport, everyday situations and much more
In chapter "

Tax free - one of the forms tax relief. Its essence is that the buyer can get the value added tax (VAT) back when purchasing imported goods.

Ways to get Tax Free in Italy

It is possible to return Tax free in Italy:

• directly from the seller immediately upon purchase;
• directly from the seller after the export of the purchased abroad, by sending an invoice by mail (a customs mark on export is required!);
• through an intermediary company. There are three of them in Italy - Global Blue, Premier Tax Free or Tax Refund S.p.a. About the company with which commercial enterprise signed a contract, you can find out in the store.

By choosing the first two options, you will save more than 1/5 of the cost of the goods, since the amount of Tax free in Italy, received directly from the seller, is 21%. The difficulty is that most often sellers do not take on an additional function, but enter into agreements with intermediary firms. The exception is boutiques selling rather expensive goods, such as furs and jewelry. When contacting intermediary firms, Tax free is 11% of the cost of goods, 10% is taken by the firm itself as payment for the service provided.

Rules for paying Tax free in Italy

• the country to which the Italian product is exported must not be a member of the European Union;
• the customs mark through which the goods were exported must not be overdue. The maximum time elapsed after the purchase is 3 months.

The algorithm for issuing Tax free in Italy

1. Receipt of an invoice in the store. The document must indicate: surname and name, passport details, home address, the amount to be reimbursed. The invoice can be completed by both the seller and the buyer himself. At customs, the document is presented only in completed form.

2. Stamping at customs. All international Italian airports have dedicated offices. But it happens that the traveler continues his trip to other countries of the European Union. In this case, it is possible to obtain a customs stamp in the country that is the last point of your trip.

Attention: Be prepared to present your purchases at customs. In no case should things be used before departure!

3. Receipt in Cash refund at the airport or credit to bank card. You can send the form in an envelope by mail to the company from airport. You must indicate the number of the credit card to which the transfer will be made.

Amount to be refunded Tax free in Italy

The minimum amount for which a Tax Free refund in Italy is provided is € 154.94, including VAT. According to the rules, an amount not less than the specified one must be spent either in one or in several stores per day.

How much can I get when refunding Tax Free in Italy?

There are no restrictions on VAT refunds. But you can get € 999.50 in cash, so it’s more convenient to get the amount on the card.

Refunds for Tax free goods are also carried out in other European countries, for example, Finland.

Tax free Italy

What is Tax Free.

This is a form of tax relief, when the buyer, under certain conditions, can receive back VAT on imported goods. In Italy, VAT is called Imposta sul Valore Aggiunto or IVA. The basic VAT rate in Italy is 22%.

All options for obtaining Tax free are divided into two types:

1. directly from the seller
2. through intermediaries.

There are two ways to get Tax Free directly from the seller:

• After the export of goods abroad (by sending an invoice with a customs mark on export by mail).
• Immediately upon purchase (“cleared” from VAT goods).

Direct VAT refund.

The advantage of a direct VAT refund is that you will receive the full amount of VAT - 22%, i.e. you will save a fifth of the cost of buying in Italy. The downside is that sellers rarely agree to take on extra headache, which is why they enter into agreements with intermediary firms (see below). Exception: sellers of exclusive and very expensive goods. For example, sellers of fur coats, jewelry, when the refund amount can reach several thousand euros from one item alone.

VAT refund through an intermediary company.

You can receive a Tax Free refund through one of three intermediary firms: Global Blue, Premier Tax Free or Tax Refund S.p.a. (depending on which of them the store has an agreement with). The advantage is that you simplify the procedure for receiving money as much as possible, and the disadvantage is that you receive only about 11% of the cost of purchases, the rest is taken by the intermediary for their services. However, the more expensive the purchase, the lower the percentage the intermediary takes for himself, respectively, the client receives more.

Stores that use the services of TAX FREE VAT refund companies usually place this or a similar logo at the entrance to the store:

Terms and conditions for VAT refund in Italy:

1. The buyer must reside or be registered outside the EU
2. The product must be intended for personal use and must be transported in personal baggage
3. The value of purchases in Italy must exceed 154.94 euros including VAT. Each country independently sets such an amount, for example, in Switzerland, the amount is 300 francs
4. The goods must be exported outside the EU within three months from the date of purchase
5. It is necessary to go through special customs formalities (see below).
6. The invoice must be returned to the seller within four months from the date of purchase (in the case of a “direct” VAT refund by the seller, TAX FREE sends the document for you), if the seller does not receive it within this period, then he will not be able to refund the VAT .

Stages of registration and receipt of Tax Free.

If you decide to use the services of intermediaries, you will need to do the following:

• Get a special invoice in the store (in Italian - fattura) (also called Tax Free Shopping Check or Il Modulo Tax Refund). It must contain your passport and your home address. Sometimes sellers fill it out themselves, sometimes they ask you to fill it out. In any case, you need to check that they are filled out before presenting them at customs and signed by you. The invoice also indicates the amount to be reimbursed.
• Put a customs stamp (il timbro doganale). This is usually done at the airport after check-in for the flight. At all major airports in Italy, the customs office (Dogana) has a special office for stamping invoices. If you are traveling further within the EU countries, then the stamp is placed in the last country before leaving the EU. You need to be ready to demonstrate the goods to the customs officer. Therefore, all things must be with you, so do not check in your luggage until you get a stamp from customs. They must not be used. If you have an e-ticket printout in English, you can get a stamp at customs even before check-in. Important addition! From August 1, 2015, the procedure for returning tax free from Global Blue at Malpensa Airport has changed. Now you do not need to stand in two queues (first at customs, then at the point of issue). You need to immediately go to the Global Blue pick-up point (which is located in the departure area, i.e. before passport control).
• Get cash at the Cash refund point of the corresponding company at the airport, either get credited to the card, or send the forms by mail to the address of this company (if there is no Cash refund point at the airport, or for some reason it is closed or you do not have time to stand in line ). Moreover, it is recommended to send the envelope immediately at the airport, entering the number of your credit card.

Restrictions on the return of Tax Free in cash.

Cash withdrawal is limited - 999.50 euros. Also, there may not be enough cash in the points in Tax Free Refund. In this case, you may be offered to pay the entire amount, for example, in dollars. However, the course can be very disadvantageous. You can ask for the full amount to be credited to your card. Reimbursement occurs within 5 days of receipt of the form in points or within three weeks of receipt of the forms in the mail. Since 2015, Global Blue began to transfer the amount to the card not in euros, but in dollars.

How do I mail a Tax Refund form?

If you have used Global Blue services, etc. when buying goods, and could not receive a VAT refund in Italy, then you can send checks and a receipt with a customs stamp in a company envelope, which is issued along with the invoice. Moreover, there is no need to glue postage stamps on these envelopes, because. they indicate that the recipient pays the shipping costs. But the Russian Post sometimes does not send such letters, requiring you to stick stamps. By the way, many airports have special boxes for collecting such envelopes, this method is more reliable.

The tax refund applies to many items such as jewelry, phones, wines, clothes, shoes, accessories, etc.

Standard VAT rate: 22%

Clothing, textiles, leather goods, jewelry, frames, sunglasses, and wine and other alcoholic beverages: 22%

Food (meat and other products): 10%

Herbs (basil, oregano and sage): 5%

Milk, vegetables, fruit and bread, prescription glasses: 4%

Minimum purchase value: 154.95 euros including VAT.
According to the rules, such an amount should be spent during the day in any stores, not necessarily in one. But, and this is important, in practice, tax free registration is possible only if a purchase for such an amount was made in one store, from one seller.

In what case is Tax Free shopping available to you?

If you permanently reside in a country that is not a member of the European Union.

Additional Information

The minimum value of purchases can be made up of several checks if the purchases were made on the same day and in the same store.

Goods subject to return Tax Free:

The tax refund applies to those purchases that the traveler takes out of the country in personal luggage. If the goods are too large to take on board the aircraft, it is recommended to contact Customs in advance.

Important: Books are not subject to VAT, so tax refunds on purchased books are not possible. However, the cost of books is taken into account in total cost purchases, if the books are purchased at the same time as other goods subject to VAT.

Goods not subject to tax refund:
Petrol
Cars

IMPORTANT: Tax refunds require the following requirements and conditions:

The purchase is acquired by a private individual;
- the purchase concerns goods (and not services) for amounts exceeding 154.94 euros, including VAT;
- the product is intended for personal or family consumption;
- goods are transported in personal baggage outside European Union within 3 months from the date of purchase;
- there is a regular invoice.
- there must be a customs mark that this happened within 3 months from the date of purchase.

Options for obtaining Tax free:

Independently directly from the seller

through intermediary firms.

ReceiptTaxFree independently directly from the seller:

1. After exporting the goods abroad (by sending an invoice by mail with export stamp.
2. Immediately upon purchase (goods without VAT).

With a direct VAT refund from the seller, you will receive the entire amount of VAT - 22%. But the problem is that sellers rarely agree to take on this function, which is why they enter into agreements with intermediary firms. The exception is sellers of exclusive and very expensive goods, when the refund amount can reach several thousand euros from one item alone.

Obtaining Tax Free through intermediary firms:

Global Blue, Premier Tax Free or Tax Refund S.p.a.(depending on which of them the store has an agreement with).
In this case, you simplify the procedure for receiving money as much as possible. But at the same time, you receive only about 11% of the cost of purchases, the company takes the rest for its services.
In this case, the exact percentage depends on the amount of the purchase. The more expensive the purchase, the lower the percentage the intermediary takes for himself, respectively, the client receives more.

You can get a VAT refund (tax free refund):

In the town.

In Rome:
Addresses can be viewed at the link taxfree refund

In Milan:
If the store is part of the Global Blue system, then the refund can be received in mall Rinascente (Piazza Duomo) on the 6th floor. Opening hours: Mon-Fri: from 09:30 to 21 hours. Sat: from 09:30 to 22 hours. Sun: from 10:00 to 21:00.
Mmaximum return Money — 999,50 Euro.
At Premier Tax Free at via Montenapoleone, 21. Opening hours: Mon-Fri from 10.30 to 19, Sat from 13 to 19.
Tax Refund S.p.a. office in Milan: CorsoV. Emanuele - Via Larga, 4 Mon-Fri from 9 to 17.

In the airport.

This is the most common way to return taxfree. There are Tax Refund points at all major airports. Do not forget that at customs you must make a mark.

So, if you decide to use the services of an intermediary company, then your actions should be as follows:

1. In stores, before the seller at the checkout began to make a purchase, you must definitely say that you want to receive tax free. To do this, you can simply say: TaxFree, perfavore". You will be understood.
   You receive a special invoice in the store, the so-called Tax Free Shopping Check or Il Modulo Tax Refund. It must contain your passport and your home address. They must be completed and signed by you before presenting them at customs. The invoice also indicates the amount to be reimbursed. If this amount is not specified, then there will be no VAT refund.
2. Stamp at customs il timbro doganale ) . This is usually done at the airport after check-in for the flight. At all major airports in Italy, the customs office (Dogana) has a special office for stamping invoices.
   Important: If you are traveling further within the EU countries, then the stamp is placed in the last country before leaving the EU.
   You need to be ready to demonstrate the goods to the customs officer. Therefore, all things must be with you, so do not check in your luggage until you get a stamp from customs. Items must be new with labels. If you have an e-ticket printout in English, you can get a stamp at customs even before check-in.
3. Get cash at the Cash refund point of the corresponding company at the airport, or get credited to the card or send forms by mail to the address of this company (if the point Cashrefund not at the airport, or for some reason it is closed, or you do not have time to queue).
   Moreover, it is recommended to send an envelope immediately at the airport, entering your credit card number on the form.
   There may not be enough cash in points in Tax Free Refund. Or you will be offered to pay the amount, for example, in dollars. However, the course is very unfavorable. It is better to ask for the amount to be credited to your card.
   Reimbursement occurs in the currency in which your credit card is opened, within 5 days from the receipt of the form in points or within three weeks from the date of receipt of the forms by mail. Important addition! Since 2015, Global Blue began to transfer the amount to the card not in euros, but in dollars at a very unfavorable rate. So, if possible, try to get tax free cash in euros.

Upon arrival home in Russia.
- Non-cash (charged on a credit card), sending checks and forms by mail (with a customs stamp) in their branded envelope, if you did not have time to send it at the airport in Italy.
- Cash (in Russian banks with which intermediaries have an agreement).

Dear friends, we hope that this information will be useful to you.
Happy travels and happy shopping to all of you!

This article answers the questions: What is Tax Free? How to get a tax free refund in Italy? What are the difficulties with obtaining Tax Free in Italy? and etc.

WhatTaxfree shopping

This is a form of tax relief, when the buyer, under certain conditions, can receive back VAT on imported goods. AT Italy VAT is called Imposta sul Valore Aggiunto or IVA. Main VAT rate in Italy is 22% (since the summer of 2013, and earlier it was 20%).

Taxfree payment points at Malpensa Airport

How can I get a VAT refund (Tax Free) in Italy

All pick up options tax free are divided into two types: independently directly from the seller or through intermediaries.

1. GetTaxFree directly from the seller in two ways:

1. After the export of goods abroad (by sending an invoice with a customs mark on export by mail).
2. Immediately upon purchase (“cleared” from VAT goods).

The advantage of a direct VAT refund is that you will receive the full amount of VAT - 22%, i.e. you will save a fifth of the cost of buying in Italy. The downside is that sellers rarely agree to take on extra headaches, which is why they enter into agreements with intermediary firms (see below). Exception: sellers of exclusive and very expensive goods. For example, sellers of fur coats, jewelry, when the refund amount can reach several thousand euros from one item alone.

2. Get your Tax Free refund through one of three intermediary firms: Global Blue, Premier Tax Free or Tax Refund S.p.a.(depending on which of them the store has an agreement with) (see below).

The advantage is that you simplify the procedure for receiving money as much as possible (see below). The downside is that you only get about 11% of the cost of purchases, the rest is taken by the intermediary for their services.

Tax Free return systems introduced in Italy

1. Global Blue (www.global-blue.com). It is an organization headquartered in Sweden that has the most a large number of VAT refund points around the world and with which stores cooperate the most. The most recognizable label.
2. PremierTaxFree (www.premiertaxfree.com) is the second largest organization established in Ireland that provides tax free refund services in many countries around the world.
3. TaxRefundS.p.a. (www.tax refund.it) The Italian company, the least known.
4. Innova taxfree (www.innovataxfree.com). Works in 5 other countries.
5. Tax free service(www.taxfreeservice.com). Italian company headquartered in Milan, operates only in Italy.

The first three are preferable, because they have many VAT refund offices, including at Malpensa Airport, through which most Russian tourists arrive.

How to get options TaxFree through intermediaries

You can get a VAT refund (tax free refund) in one of the following ways:

1. Immediately in the city of Milan.

If the store is logged in Globalblue, then the refund can be obtained in the Rinascente shopping center itself (Piazza Duomo) on the 6th floor. Opening hours: Mon-Fri: from 09:30 to 21 hours. Sat: from 09:30 to 22 hours. Sun: from 10:00 to 21:00. Maximum cash back - 999.50 Euro. At Premier Tax Free at via Montenapoleone, 21. Opening hours: Mon-Fri from 10.30 to 19, Sat from 13 to 19. TaxRefundS.p.a. office in Milan: CorsoV. Emanuele— Via Larga, 4 Mon-Fri from 9 to 5.

An important addition. Since 2015, Global Blue requires that if you receive money in the city, and not when you fly to the airport, you must give tax free invoices to the Global Blue point at the airport upon departure. So it turns out that you still have to stand in line. But the advantage of getting tax free in Milan, and not at the airport, remains - you get the money earlier and can have time to spend it in Italy.

2. When crossing the border at the airport.

This is the most common way to return taxfree. Items TaxRefund(at least for GlobalBlue) is available at all major airports. Upon receipt cash currency in points since the autumn of 2014, they began to take a commission of 3 euros from each tax-free form. Important! Arrive at the airport EARLY (3 hours before departure). there are very long queues to get tax free.

3. Upon arrival home in Russia.

1. By bank transfer (on a credit card) by mailing checks and forms (with a customs stamp) in their company envelope, if they did not have time to send it at the Italian airport.
2. Cash (in Russian banks with which intermediaries have an agreement).

Here is a list of Russian banks located in Moscow, as of December 2018, where you can get a tax free refund. (Only for GlobalBlu).

New Moscow Bank (branches)

• Moscow, Myasnitsky Ave., 2/1, building 1.
• Moscow, Novinsky Boulevard, 8, building 2
• Moscow, Bolshoi Savvinsky lane, 2-4-6, building 10.

Energotransbank

Moscow, st. Solyanka, 3, building 3.

Lanta-Bank (branches)

• Moscow, st. Novokuznetskaya, 9, building 2
• Moscow, st. Novaya Basmannaya, 35, building 1
• Moscow, Gogolevsky Boulevard, 23

For each invoice Russian bank A commission is charged depending on the amount of compensation:

up to €50 — commission €3;

from €50 to €100 - commission €5;

from €100 to €500 - commission 5% of the amount;

over €500 - commission €25.

Commission rates may vary, check with banks.

There is another option, which is not actually a tax free refund, but a kind of compensation. For example, a shopping mall (which operates fromGlobalBlue) offers instead of issuing Tax Free invoices to receive a voucher for the amount of the refund due (this is 10% of the amounts spent on purchases), which you can use as a means of payment in the same shopping center.

Basic rules for paying Tax Free

Most importantly, the goods must be exported from Italy to a country outside the EU, and there must be a customs mark that this happened within 3 months from the date of purchase. An important addition. Since 2018, the customs no longer puts a stamp, but immediately enters the fact of crossing the border into the database.

The minimum amount from which a Tax Free refund is made in Italy

Each country independently sets this amount. In Italy, the minimum amount from which you can request a VAT refund is € 154,94 (including VAT) (by the way, in Switzerland, the amount is higher: 300 francs). It follows from the official rules that such an amount should be spent during the day in any stores, not necessarily in one. But in practice, tax free registration is possible only if the purchase for such an amount was made in one store, from one seller. By the way, in the Rinashento shopping center you can shop in different stores for smaller amounts, and at the end of the day you can issue one general tax free account in the office global blue on the 6th floor.

Stages of registration and receipt of Tax Free

If you decide to use the services of intermediaries, you will need to do the following:

1. Get a special invoice in the store(in Italian - fattura) (also called Tax Free Shopping Check or Il Modulo Tax Refund ) . It must contain your passport and your home address. Sometimes sellers fill it out themselves, sometimes they ask you to fill it out. In any case, it is necessary to check that they are filled out before presenting them at customs. signed by you. The invoice also indicates the amount to be reimbursed.
2. Stamp at customs il timbro doganale ) . This is usually done at the airport after check-in for the flight. At all major airports in Italy, the customs office (Dogana) has a special office for stamping invoices. If you are traveling further within the EU countries, then the stamp is placed in the last country before leaving the EU. You need to be ready to demonstrate the goods to the customs officer. Therefore, all things must be with you, so do not check in your luggage until you get a stamp from customs. They must not be used. If you have an e-ticket printout in English, you can get a stamp at customs even before check-in. Important addition! From August 1, 2015, the procedure for returning tax free from Global Blue at Malpensa Airport has changed. Now you do not need to stand in two queues (first at customs, then at the point of issue). You need to immediately go to the Global Blue pick-up point (which is located in the departure area, i.e. before passport control).
3. Get cash at the point Cashrefund corresponding company at the airport, either receive credit on the card or send the forms by mail to the address of this company (if the point Cashrefund not at the airport, or for some reason it is closed or you do not have time to queue). Moreover, it is recommended to send an envelope immediately at the airport, entering your credit card number on the form.

Frequently asked questions about Tax Free

Where to put a customs stamp on Tax Free if you leave another country?

Customs stamp on the export of goods is placed in the last EU country, which you leave, you also get tax free there. The exception is Switzerland. Because Since it is not part of the EU, then you need to get a customs stamp at the Swiss border. The VAT refund itself is made in the EU country that you left last. This is how Global Blue works, at least in Italy.

How to get a Tax Free refund in Italy (before leaving the EU)?

You can get a tax free refund even before leaving the EU. For example, Global blue provides such a service. The procedure is as follows: At the Global blue tax free refund points, you show invoices (receipts) for receiving tax free. In doing so, you also give your credit card. It is needed in order for Global blue to be able to withhold from this card the amount that it pays you if it does not receive invoices with customs marks within a certain period of time. In fact, you are given a trust payment, in the expectation that you fulfill the condition on your part: put a stamp at customs and send a stamped invoice to Global blue. If you do not do this, Global blue will charge your card all the money paid to you plus a fine.
The same option is available at some boutiques that sell luxury goods. This is even more beneficial, because. without an intermediary, the refund amount is 22% (VAT in Italy since 2013). It looks like this: they sell you goods without VAT, i.e. minus 22%. At the same time, the same amount is “frozen” on your credit card. If the store receives an invoice from you with a customs stamp, then this amount on the credit card is “unfrozen”. If the store does not receive this invoice on time, then it will simply write off this very amount from your credit card.

HowTaxFree is different fromdutyFree?

Tax-free and Duty-free are, in fact, the same thing - the ability to purchase goods without VAT. The main differences are that 1) EU citizens leaving their country can also take advantage of this benefit, 2) the sale of Duty Free goods is "territorially" limited: airports and aircraft making international flights. (Also ferries between the two countries, cruise ships). 3) Goods are sold already “cleared” from VAT (the price tag shows the price without VAT, i.e. in Italy it is automatically 22% cheaper).

Why is the VAT rate in Italy 22%, but only 11% is reimbursed?

If we are talking about receiving VAT through one of the return systems (eg. GlobalBlue), then the difference is used to pay the remuneration to the intermediary for the VAT refund services provided. In this case, the exact percentage depends on the amount of the purchase. The more expensive the purchase, the lower the percentage the intermediary takes for himself, respectively, the client receives more.

How to find out exactly how much tax free is refundable?

Each invoice must indicate the exact amount to be reimbursed, already taking into account all deductions, i.e. the net amount to be returned. It is affixed in the store where the product was purchased, on the invoice. If this amount is not specified, then there will be no VAT refund. In addition, for example, Global blue has a progressive scale for VAT refunds: the more you spend, the higher percentage of this amount will be reimbursed to you. They have a calculator on their website that can help you calculate an approximate refund amount.

Are there any return restrictions?TaxFree cash?

The TFS system does not provide for any restrictions on the return of value added tax. But the cash payout is limited to 999.50 euros. Also, there may not be enough cash in the points in Tax Free Refund. Or you will be offered to pay the amount, for example, in dollars. However, the course is very unfavorable. It is better to ask for the amount to be credited to your card.

How to senda Tax Refund form by mail?

If you have used the services GlobalBlue etc. when buying goods, and could not receive VAT refund in Italy, then you can send checks and a receipt with a customs stamp in a company envelope, which is issued along with the invoice. Moreover, there is no need to glue postage stamps on these envelopes, because. they indicate that the recipient pays the shipping costs. But the Russian Post sometimes does not send such letters, requiring you to stick stamps. By the way, many airports have special boxes for collecting such envelopes, this method is more reliable.

Customs only puts a stamp, you must send the stamped invoice.

Instead of an invoice (blank) of tax free in the store, they issued a “long check”. What to do?

Indeed, instead of "invoice" they can issue a "long check", which is a full-fledged alternative to tax free invoices. Its main difference from other checks is that it must contain your data: full name, passport number, and your signature must also be. This data can be entered manually after. The "long check" is stamped by customs. After that, it can be presented to the tax free refund point or sent (necessarily in a BRANDED envelope to the address indicated on this envelope. Also indicate on the check the number of the credit card to which you will receive the tax free refund. No additional forms need to be sent.

How to ask the store forTaxFree in Italian?

In stores, before the seller at the checkout began to make a purchase, you must definitely say that you want to receive tax free. To do this, you can simply say: TaxFree, perfavore". You will be understood. Or say : Mi faccia il Tax Free, per favore. (Mi faccia il taxi fries, per favore).

How does the refund work?TaxFree on a credit card?

Reimbursement occurs in the currency in which your credit card is opened, within 5 days from the receipt of the form in points or within three weeks from the date of receipt of the forms by mail. Important addition! Since 2015, Global Blue began to transfer the amount to the card not in euros, but in dollars at a very unfavorable rate. So if possible, try to get tax free cash in euros (if you made purchases in euros).

Olesya Maranova, stylist-shopper in Moscow and Milan