Italy VAT Refund and How to Claim

Italy is known for many things, its amazing food, beautiful architecture, and most importantly shopping! If you’re visiting Italy and want to shop till you drop this post is for you. The Italy VAT Refund is a helpful tip to save money when traveling. Did you know that all non-residents visiting Italy (or any EU Country) can claim a refund on Value Add Tax (commonly referred to as VAT)? Imagine what you could do with that extra money in your pocket! Keep reading to find out how to use this benefit.

Where Can I Claim a VAT Refund?

Each country has different rules on how to receive a refund. Below are some details on how much you need to spend. The VAT Standard rate represents the amount of tax that will be refunded in a percentage form. For example, if you spent 200 Euros in Italy, you would be entitled to a refund of 44 Euros!

In Italy, the VAT percentage is 22% and has a minimum spend of €155
In Germany, the VAT percentage is 19% with a minimum spend of €25.
In France, the VAT percentage is 20% and you have to spend €155
In Spain, the VAT percentage is 21% with a minimum spend of €90.16
In Portugal, the VAT percentage is 23% with a minimum spend of €61.35
In The Netherlands, the VAT percentage is 21% with a minimum spend of €50.

For a complete list of countries and their VAT Rates click here.

How To Claim Your VAT Refund

As you can see it can be quite valuable to claim a VAT Refund while traveling in Europe, so let me show you how to do it in three easy steps.

Step 1: During your trip save your receipts at all locations! If you’re buying a high-cost item, like a designer bag, these stores can help with your paperwork. The store employee will ask for a copy of your passport and/or your passport number. This is used to verify that you aren’t an EU Resident.

Step 2: Before you head back to your country, make sure to stop at a VAT Refund Booth. In Italy, I used Global Blue and used the booth at the airport. The teller at the booth will take your forms, and you’ll fill out some personal information such as your name, address, and the form of payment you’d like to receive your refund. During my visit in September of 2021, credit card refunds were the only form of payment accepted.

Step 3: Drop off your form to the dropbox directly across from the booth and you’re good to go straight to the airport lounge!

So as you can see, claiming your Italy VAT Refund is as easy as 1-2-3! For more travel tips, tricks and inspiration follow me on IG below.