{"id":26948,"date":"2026-06-25T15:43:40","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T22:43:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reead.com\/en\/?p=26948"},"modified":"2026-06-25T15:50:45","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T22:50:45","slug":"tax-refund-in-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reead.com\/en\/tax-refund-in-france-269482026\/","title":{"rendered":"Tax Refund in France: How Tourists Get VAT Back on Their Shopping (up to 13%)"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019re visiting France from the United States or living outside of the European Union, and you plan to do some shopping. Good news: you can claim a tax refund on most of goods you buy and taking back home. France<\/a> charges a value-added tax (VAT) of about 20% on most goods, and as a visitor from outside the European Union, you can get a large share of it back. Most American travelers leave that money on the table. Here\u2019s how it works and how to get a Tax Refund in France<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Tax<\/p>\n

What is a VAT refund?<\/h2>\n

A VAT refund<\/a><\/strong> returns the sales tax you pay on goods you take home with you. In the US, sales tax is added at checkout and is fairly low. In France, the 20% VAT is already baked into the sticker price, so the amount is much larger. On a $1,000 purchase, the VAT comes to roughly $167. You can recover most of that when you fly home.<\/p>\n

The logic is simple. The government refunds a part of the VAT on goods you export<\/a> in your personal luggage. Your purchases leave the EU, so the local tax no longer applies.<\/p>\n

Who qualifies for this Tax Refund in France?<\/h2>\n

You\u2019re eligible if you meet three conditions:<\/p>\n