How tax refunds work for tourists in Paris

If you are a non-EU visitor to France, you can recover the value-added tax (VAT) you paid on purchases made in Paris and other French cities. VAT is a sales tax built into the price of most goods — it is currently 20% on most items in France. The refund process is called détaxe in French, and it works at the airport or train station when you leave the country.

The refund does not happen automatically. You must ask for a tax refund form at the time of purchase, keep your receipts, and present both the goods and paperwork to customs before you leave France. Most visitors receive their refund as a credit back to their credit card, though some airports and train stations offer cash refunds on the spot.

Eurostar passengers leaving Paris have a specific customs location where they must present their paperwork — it is not the same as the airport process, and timing matters because the train does not wait.

Key Takeaways

  • You must make a single purchase of at least €100 (before tax) in one store on the same day to be may be able to access for a VAT refund in France.
  • Ask the store clerk for a tax refund form (called a bordereau de détaxe) at the moment you pay, and keep your original receipt.
  • Eurostar passengers must visit the customs office in Paris Gare du Nord before boarding, not after arrival in London.
  • Customs will stamp your refund form and goods, then you submit the paperwork to a refund company representative or mail it in to receive your money back.
  • Refunds typically take two to four weeks to appear on your credit card if processed by mail.

Minimum purchase amount and which stores participate

You must spend at least €100 (before VAT is added) in a single store on a single day. This means the price tag total, not the amount you pay at checkout. Many stores will tell you whether you have crossed this threshold before you reach the register.

Not all stores participate in the tax refund system. Department stores, luxury shops, and chain retailers almost always do. Small independent shops, markets, and restaurants typically do not. If you are unsure, ask the cashier directly: "Do you do tax refunds for tourists?" They will know when ready.

The €100 minimum applies per store, not per day. If you buy €60 worth of goods at one shop and €50 at another, you cannot combine them into one refund. You would need to spend €100 or more in a single location.

Getting the refund form at the point of sale

When you are ready to pay, tell the cashier you want a tax refund form. Say "Je voudrais un bordereau de détaxe" (zhuh voo-dreh uh bor-duh-roh duh day-taks), or straightforward show them your passport and say "tax refund." They will print a form, usually a multi-part document, and ask you to sign it.

The form will show the store name, the purchase amount before tax, the VAT amount, and your passport number. Check that your passport number is correct before you sign. The store will give you one copy of the form and keep another for their records.

Keep this form with your receipt and your passport. Do not pack these items in checked luggage — you will need them to show customs before you board the Eurostar train.

Where to go for customs clearance at Gare du Nord

Paris Gare du Nord (the main Eurostar terminal) has a customs office specifically for tax refunds. It is located in the departure hall, before you enter the security checkpoint for your train. Look for signs that say "Détaxe" or "Tax Refund" — staff at the information desk can point you to it if you cannot find it.

You must visit this office before you go through security and board your train. Once you are in the find area, you cannot go back to customs. Plan to arrive at the station at least 90 minutes before your train departure so you have time to find the customs office, wait in line, and still make your train.

Bring your refund form, your receipt, your passport, and the goods you purchased. Customs will inspect the items (they do not need to be unwrapped, but they should be accessible), stamp your form, and return it to you.

How to receive your refund money

After customs stamps your form, you have two options. The first is to hand the stamped form to a refund company representative at the customs office — companies like Global Blue and Premier Tax Free have desks in most major European airports and train stations. They will process your refund on the spot and credit your credit card within a few days, though they will deduct a small processing fee (usually 2% to 3%).

The second option is to mail the stamped form yourself. You can drop it in a mailbox at the train station, or take it with you and mail it from the UK. The refund company address is printed on the form. This route takes longer — typically two to four weeks — but you keep the full refund amount without a processing fee.

If you choose the mail-in route, use a mailbox or post office, not a hotel front desk. The form must reach the refund company within a set time frame (usually six months from the purchase date, but check your form). Keep a photo of the stamped form before you mail it, in case it gets lost.

What happens if you do not get the form stamped

If you leave France without having customs stamp your refund form, the refund company will not process your claim. Customs stamps prove you actually left the country with the goods — without that stamp, the store and the refund company have no way to verify you did not resell the items in France or claim the refund twice.

If you realize after boarding that you forgot to get the form stamped, you cannot go back. The refund is lost. This is why it is important to build in extra time at the station and ask for help finding the customs office if you are unsure where it is.

Tax refunds on items you cannot carry on the train

If you bought something large or fragile that you packed in checked luggage, you can still get a refund. Show customs the receipt and the refund form, and explain that the item is in your checked bag. They will stamp the form based on your word and the receipt. You do not need to unpack it at the station.

The risk is that if customs later suspects you did not actually take the item out of France, they could deny the refund. This is rare, but it is why keeping your receipt and being honest about what you bought matters. If you are uncomfortable with this, ask customs whether they want to inspect the item before you check it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a tax refund if I am an EU citizen living outside France?

No. Tax refunds are only for visitors whose permanent home is outside the EU. If you live in any EU country, you cannot get a VAT refund on purchases in France, even if you are visiting from another country.

What if I do not have my receipt when I get to customs?

Customs will not stamp your form without the receipt. The receipt proves the purchase amount and the store. If you lost it, you cannot recover the refund. Keep receipts in a separate pocket or envelope while you are shopping.

Do I have to use the refund company desk at the station, or can I mail the form later?

You can do either. The desk is faster but charges a fee. Mailing takes longer but costs nothing extra. Both are valid — just make sure the form is stamped by customs first, regardless of which route you choose.

Can I get a refund on food, wine, or restaurant meals?

No. VAT refunds explore only to goods you take out of France, not to food, beverages, or services like meals and hotel stays. Wine and food purchased at a shop can be refunded if you meet the €100 minimum, but restaurant bills cannot.

What if my train leaves in 30 minutes and I have not been to customs yet?

Go directly to the customs office and explain your situation. Staff will try to process you quickly, but there is no may provide. If the line is long, you may miss your train. This is why arriving early is important. If you do miss it, you can rebook on a later train and still get your refund stamped before you leave.