Who can claim a tax refund in Paris and what triggers one
If you are a non-EU resident visiting Paris, you can reclaim the value-added tax (VAT) you paid on goods you bought and took out of France. VAT in France sits at 20% on most items, so the refund can be substantial. The catch: you must buy the items in a single store on the same day, spend a minimum amount (currently €100 in that one transaction), and leave France within three months of purchase.
You cannot reclaim VAT on services—only on physical goods you physically remove from the country. A meal at a restaurant does not may have access to. A leather jacket from a department store does. The store must also participate in the tax refund scheme; most major retailers in central Paris do, but small independent shops may not.
Your passport determines whether you are may be able to access. EU citizens, Swiss citizens, and residents of France cannot claim. If you live in another country and are visiting on a tourist visa or visa-free entry, you almost certainly can.
Key Takeaways
- You must spend at least €100 in a single store on the same day, and the store must be part of the tax refund scheme—ask at the till before you buy.
- The refund covers VAT only (20% on most goods), not the full price, and you must take the goods out of France within three months of purchase.
- At the airport or border, you show your receipts and goods to customs, get them stamped, then claim your refund from a refund office or by mail.
- Most refunds arrive as a credit to your card or bank account within four to six weeks, though some refund offices offer cash on the spot for a fee.
The refund process at the airport or border
When you leave France, you must present your goods and receipts to customs before you check in your luggage or pass through the departure gate. This is the critical step: without a customs stamp, the refund company will not pay you. Customs officers will ask to see the items, verify they are unused, and stamp your receipt or refund form.
Arrive at the airport at least three hours before an international flight so you have time to find the customs desk. At Paris Charles de Gaulle, the customs office for VAT refunds is in the departure hall before security; at Orly, it is in the departure area. If you are driving to another EU country, you can also get stamped at the border, though this is less common and slower.
After customs stamps your form, you have three options. Some airports have a refund office on-site where you can claim cash when ready—Global Blue and Planet operate desks at Charles de Gaulle and Orly—but they take a commission (usually 3 to 5%). You can also mail the stamped form to the refund company's address, which takes four to six weeks but costs nothing. Or you can submit it online through the refund company's app or website if they offer that service.
Which refund company handles your refund
The store tells you which refund company they use when you buy. The three largest in Paris are Global Blue, Planet, and Taxe System. Each has its own form, its own refund office, and its own timeline. You do not choose the company; the store does.
When you buy, the store gives you a refund form (sometimes called a détaxe form) with your receipt. Keep this form and your receipt together. The form has a barcode or reference number that links to the refund company. At the airport, you present the form to customs, they stamp it, and then you submit it to that company's refund office or mail it to their address.
If you lose the form before you leave France, you cannot claim the refund. If you lose it after customs stamps it, you can still mail it, but you must do so quickly—most companies require the stamped form within a set number of days (often 30 days) of the stamp date.
What happens if you do not get the goods stamped at customs
If you leave France without showing your goods to customs, the refund company will reject your claim. They verify the customs stamp as proof that you actually took the goods out of the country. Without it, they have no way to know you did not sell the items in France or give them away.
If you realize after you have left that you forgot to get stamped, contact the refund company when ready with your receipt and form. Some will accept a statutory declaration or other proof, but this is rare and slow. The safest approach is to not check your purchases—carry them in your carry-on bag so you can show them to customs before you board.
Refund amounts and how long they take
The refund is not 20% of the price you paid. The store calculates it as 20% of the pre-tax price, which is roughly 16.67% of what you actually paid. So a €100 purchase refunds about €16.67, not €20. Some stores show this calculation on the receipt; others do not.
If you claim cash at the airport refund office, you receive the money minus a commission—usually 3 to 5%—within minutes. If you mail the form or submit it online, the refund goes to your card or bank account in four to six weeks. The timeline depends on the refund company and your bank; some are faster, some slower.
Keep your receipt and any confirmation email from the refund company. If the refund does not arrive after eight weeks, contact the company with your reference number and receipt. Refunds can be delayed if customs did not stamp the form clearly, if the form was damaged in the mail, or if the refund company is processing a backlog.
Goods you cannot refund and common mistakes
Services never may have access to: meals, hotel stays, museum tickets, and haircuts are not refundable. Goods you consume in France—food, wine, cosmetics you open and use—are also not refundable, even if you bought them. Customs will reject them if they see they have been used.
The most common mistake is buying from multiple stores and trying to combine the receipts to reach the €100 minimum. You cannot. Each store is separate; you must spend €100 in one store on one day. If you buy €60 worth of items from one shop and €50 from another, neither qualifies.
Another mistake is checking your purchases. If you check a bag with your refund items, you cannot show them to customs before you board. Carry them with you, show them at customs, then check them if you need to. Customs will not open checked luggage to inspect items for a refund claim.
Stores that participate and where to shop
Most large department stores and chain retailers in central Paris participate: Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, Sephora, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and similar luxury brands all offer refunds. Independent boutiques vary; some do, some do not. Always ask at the till before you pay whether the store offers VAT refund.
The store will not refund you at the till. Instead, they give you the form and receipt. You claim the refund at the airport or by mail after you leave. If a store offers to refund you cash on the spot, they are not part of the official scheme and you should be cautious.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim a refund if I am an EU citizen living outside the EU?
No. The refund is for non-EU residents only. If your passport is from an EU country, you cannot claim, even if you live in the United States or Australia. Your residency status does not matter—your citizenship does.
What if I buy something in Paris and take it to another EU country before I leave?
You must leave the EU within three months of purchase and get the goods stamped at the EU border you cross. If you buy in Paris and then drive to Germany, you get stamped at the France-Germany border or at a major EU exit point. The three-month clock starts from the purchase date, not from when you leave the EU.
Do I have to carry the goods in my carry-on bag?
No, but it is safer. If you check them, you cannot show them to customs before you board, so customs cannot stamp your form. You can ask customs to open your checked bag after you have checked it, but this is slow and not may provide. Carrying items with you avoids the problem.
What if the refund company goes out of business before I claim?
This is rare but possible. If the company closes, contact the store where you bought the items and ask for their refund company's contact information or a replacement form. The store may be able to issue a new form or direct you to a successor company. Keep your original receipt and form as proof.
Can I claim a refund on items I bought online and had shipped to my hotel?
No. The refund applies only to goods you buy in a physical store in France. Online purchases shipped to a hotel do not may have access to, even if you bought them while in Paris. The purchase location matters, not where you take delivery.