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VAT refund for tourists

Tourists and visitors can claim refund on VAT paid on purchases they made during their stay in the UAE. Recovery of payment will be done through a fully integrated electronic system which connects retailers registered in the ‘ Tax Refund for Tourists Scheme’ with all ports of entry and exit from the UAE. Read the details.

Tax-free shopping for tourists

Federal Tax Authority (FTA) introduced Value Added Tax (VAT) of 5 per cent in January 2018 and launched 100 per cent digital tax-free shopping service for tourists in the last quarter of 2018.

What is tax-free shopping?

Tax-free shopping is the purchasing of taxable goods in the UAE which will be exported, subject to terms and conditions. Eligible tourists may request a refund on the VAT incurred on their purchases, after they validate their purchases at the point of exit. Refunds for already export validated tags can be claimed within one year from the date of export validation.

Operator of the VAT refund system

Planet is the exclusive operator of the tax refund system for tourists which FTA executes in the UAE. Most popular stores are registered with the scheme, and refund is secured on departure via land, sea or air.

How to shop tax-free?

• At the store, a tourist can request for a tax-free purchase, which is valid on a minimum expenditure of AED 250.
• The tourist must present a valid travel document to be scanned for use on the payment system.
• The shop assistant will capture the tourist’s information using the Planet system.
• The shop assistant will place the ‘tax-free’ tag on the back of the sales receipt.
• A digital tax-free form is then created.
• The tourist must validate the transaction at the airport within 90 days of the purchase date.

Find out how to shop tax-free in the UAE - Planet website

Conditions for tourists to claim their VAT refunds

Refunds are not applicable on:

• anything that has been consumed, fully or partly in the UAE, and
• goods that are not in the possession of the tourist when leaving the country.

Other conditions to claim refund include:

• The tourist must be at least 18 years old
• Goods must be purchased from a retailer who is participating in the 'Tax Refund for Tourists’ scheme
• Goods are not excluded from the refund scheme of the FTA
• The tourist must physically present the tax invoice, ‘tax-free’ tags and relevant goods.

How to collect VAT refund?

Tourists can collect their refunds through a special device placed at the departure port - airport, seaport or border port. They must submit:

• the tax invoices for their purchases from the outlets registered in the scheme
• a copy of their passport and
• a copy of their credit card.

After they submit these documents, tourists can recover the VAT either in cash in UAE dirhams, or have it refunded to their credit card.

Tourists can use this eService from FTA, in cooperation with Planet, to have their VAT reimbursed upon their departure from the UAE.

Note: The tourist will receive 85 per cent of the total VAT amount paid, after the deduction of a fee of AED 4.80 per tax-free tag.

Find in this ‘ Guide to Tax Free Shopping’ (PDF, 416 KB) more information on the following:

• Who is eligible for tax-free shopping?
• What goods are eligible for tax-free shopping?
• How can you shop tax-free?
• How to validate your goods?
• How much time do you have to complete the procedure?
• Where to collect vat refund on purchases?

More useful links:

• Vat Refund for tourists - Abu Dhabi Airport
• Guide to tax-free shopping in Dubai - VisitDubai website .

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We're sorry that there's been an issue with your Tax Free form

Please leave your details here so we can get in touch with you just as soon as possible.

If you are claiming a tax refund for goods bought in the United Arab Emirates, please visit the dedicated UAE website .

Please note: you cannot use the below form for enquiries about Tax Free shopping conducted in the UAE.

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How to shop.

Request a VAT refund claim for your shopping from a merchant registered with Planet and present your travel document used to enter the UAE.

The retailer will enter your information into our digital Tax Free system to issue a VAT refund claim.

To ensure that your tax free transaction has been successfully issued you should check our Shopper Portal. This can be accessed by scanning the QR code on the tax free tag attached to the back of your tax invoice or via the link sent to your phone via SMS.

You must validate your claim at any of our validation points before checking in, when leaving the UAE.

An example of your tax free transaction

Some of our merchants will issue a digital tax free transaction.

Some of our merchants will issue you a physical tax invoice and attach this tag to the back of it.

Check the status of your Tax Free shopping refund by clicking below.

How much will you get back?

You will receive 87% of the total VAT amount paid, minus a fee of 4.80 dirhams per Tax Free transaction.

Validate your goods? 

Go to Planet's validation counter prior to checking in your luggage.

Present documents & have all invoices & goods ready for inspection.

Once validated, please choose a refund method Cash, Card or WeChat.

Planet processes your refund within 9 days.

Track your Tax Free shopping refund using our Shopper Portal.

What you need to know about your VAT refund:

Fully digital process that takes only 2 minutes to complete.

The minimum spend required to get a VAT refund is 250 AED.

Present travel documents used to enter the country when making your purchases.

VAT Refund types

Digital Wallet

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Shopping Guides

Tax refund for tourists brochure, the federal tax authority launched a 100% digital service for tax free shopping in november 2018 following the introduction of 5% vat in january 2018..

Planet is the exclusive operator of the Tax Refund System.

Explore the opportunity to know more about Tax Refund policy and services by clicking here:

1. Request a VAT refund claim for your shopping from a merchant registered with Planet and present your travel document used to enter the UAE

2. The retailer will enter your information into our digital Tax Free system to issue a VAT refund claim 

3. To ensure that your Tax Free transaction has been issued successfully you should look for one of two things. Either the Tax Free tag placed on the back of your tax invoice, or the Planet logo and Tax Free tag number printed on the front of the tax invoice. 

4. You must validate your claim at the Validation Point before checking in , when leaving the UAE.  

Simply shop at any participating store, follow the easy refund process, and enjoy the benefits of Tax Free Shopping. Start exploring our trusted partners today and make your purchases with confidence, knowing that you can shop tax-free and save on your favorite products.

Follow the link sent to you via sms 

1. Open your smartphone's camera app

2. Point it at the QR code on the Tax Free tag

3. Open the URL link that appears on your smartphone's web browser

To learn about the local rules and regulations regarding tax-free shopping, click here .

If you have questions about tax-free shopping and want quick answers, the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section is a valuable resource.

How does tax-free shopping work?

What is tax-free shopping? Tax-free shopping is the ability for international tourists to purchase goods in their destination country without paying the value-added tax (VAT) that applies to local residents. In some cases, refund forms are automatically issued at the point of sale and, in other cases, tourists must save their receipts and request refunds via VAT refund desks, self-service kiosks, or online.  

Although not every tourist or retailer takes advantage of tax-free shopping, both stand to gain from these common government-backed schemes. Fortunately, as technology for claiming VAT refunds advances and gets more accessible, more individuals, businesses, and local economies can experience the benefits of tax-free shopping. 

Good to know

• Tax-free shopping is when VAT or “sales tax” is waived for international tourists. 
• Many countries across the world have VAT refund policies in place for international tourists, although certain restrictions and eligibility rules apply. 
• International travellers can participate in tax-free shopping by shopping at participating retailers and submitting an export-validated Tax Free form at the end of their stay. 
• Retail and hospitality businesses benefit from integrating tax-free shopping solutions at the point of sale, as it encourages tourists to spend more, provides value and convenience for their customers, and fosters brand loyalty. 
• Countries that make it easy to claim VAT refunds increase their appeal as tourist destinations, encouraging word-of-mouth referrals and repeat travel. 

The philosophy behind tax-free shopping Why would a country allow tourists to bypass taxes that could bring in huge sums of money for the government? Although it may seem counterintuitive, there are two main reasons why so many countries have established VAT refund policies for international visitors. 

1. Fairness As non-residents, tourists won’t benefit from the long-term impact of local taxes (e.g. public services, infrastructure, etc.). In this respect, one can argue that it’s simply not fair for tourists to contribute to tax-funded projects in which they have no direct benefit.

2. Increased spending VAT refund policies encourage spending and fuel the local economy. Tax-free shopping essentially lowers the price tag on items so that tourists end up spending more in their destination than they would have otherwise. This boost to spending more than makes up for the small percentage that’s refunded from each purchase. 

Plus, although many tourists shop with the intention of claiming back VAT at the end of their holiday, many fail to follow through on this task. This is a win-win situation for the destination country, as the economy benefits from increased spending and the unclaimed refunds end up as further tax revenue for the government. How does tax-free shopping work?

Tax-free shopping destinations Although many countries across Europe, Asia, and beyond offer tax-free shopping for international visitors, the rules vary from destination to destination. Most countries with tax-free shopping policies will have a minimum purchase limit before a tax refund can apply. It’s also common for there to be restrictions on the types of goods that are eligible for VAT refunds and the timeframe that tourists have to request their refunds. 

Other countries, particularly those without a federal sales tax rate like the United States, don’t have a nationwide tax refund policy for tourists at all. 

Before travelling to a new destination, it’s always worthwhile for tourists to research the country’s tax refund policy in order to plan ahead and maximise the potential savings.

Ways to participate in tax-free shopping Regardless of the destination country, if you’d like to shop tax-free while abroad, you first must make sure to shop at retailers that participate in tax-free shopping, and you must let them know you would like a VAT refund for the goods you’re purchasing. You’ll also need to have your passport with you for the retailer to review. 

After you’ve purchased your items in a participating shop, you need to complete a Tax Free form for validation by the local customs authorities. Certain retailers may automatically complete and issue this form for you digitally at the point of sale. Others will provide the form for manual completion. 

Below are the most common methods for tax-free shopping. 

• VAT refund counters The traditional method of receiving VAT refunds is to locate an official refund desk, most likely at the airport, and speak with the person behind the counter. They will view your passport, view your sales receipts, walk you through the required paperwork, calculate the amount you are owed, and process your refund.
• Self-service tax-free shopping kiosks Self-service kiosks for VAT refunds walk you through the process of claiming your refund. You can simply locate a kiosk at the airport, scan your passport, confirm your details, and scan the barcode on your validated Tax Free form. The machine will calculate how much you’re owed and either issue the refund back to the card that was used, provide it in cash directly like at an ATM, or print out a voucher that you can redeem at a designated refund desk.
• Tax-free shopping at the point of sale  More and more retailers automate and digitise the VAT refund process directly at the checkout till. Modern Electronic Point Of Sale (EPOS) tills that are integrated with tax-free shopping software can automatically detect your credit card origin and issue the Tax Free form with no manual data entry required. This makes the process of validating the form at the airport and submitting it to the service provider even easier. 
• Online and mobile app tax-free shopping services In some cases, depending on the destination country and the company managing the refund, you can use a mobile app or website to complete your Tax Free forms at the point of sale and track the progress of your refund. 

Good to know: It is important to stress that all Tax Free forms must be “export validated” in order to be processed. In most cases, this means that they must be stamped or digitally validated by customs officials at the destination airport prior to leaving the country. 

What are “integrated” tax-free shopping solutions? Integrated tax-free shopping solutions refer to payment tools and software that businesses can use to encourage and facilitate tax-free shopping at their locations without complicating or disrupting their existing sales process. 

The primary way in which businesses can integrate tax-free shopping into their sales process is to use an electronic point-of-sale (EPOS) system that automates and digitises the VAT refund procedure. In addition to digitising and issuing Tax Free forms, these sophisticated payment systems can also offer currency conversion based on the shopper’s country of origin and the prevailing exchange rate. By integrating these features into a robust payment processing system, merchants add value for their customers without compromising security, efficiency, and customer service.

Good to know - Discover how El Corte Inglés improved the Tax Free experience for their shoppers

Benefits of tax-free shopping for businesses

1. Attracts international tourists Many international tourists, particularly those who plan to spend time shopping at their destination, are attracted to businesses that make tax-free shopping easy. For example, a retail shop with a card machine that automatically issues a VAT refund form based on the origin of a patron’s credit card is offering a valuable service that will draw in customers. Similarly, an airport that has a seamless VAT refund process for international travellers will enhance the experience of its tourists and increase word-of-mouth referrals and repeat travel to that destination.

2. Encourages more spending A VAT refund is money that goes back into a tourist’s pocket, increasing their spending budget and, more often than not, encouraging them to make additional purchases. Even if a tourist doesn’t receive their refund until the end of their holiday, simply knowing that they’ll be refunded VAT in future can incentivise them to add more items to their shopping basket, or spring for a higher priced item they might otherwise forgo.

3. Streamlines the sales process Before the advent of more integrated tax-free shopping solutions, retailers who wanted to offer their customers VAT refunds had to provide the shopper with physical paperwork at the checkout counter. After completing the form, the employee would need to manually process the paperwork, verify the details, and submit it for approval to the tax authorities. This process was time-consuming for the retailer and the customer, so much so that many opted not to complete it at all. An integrated system that automates Tax Free forms through the point-of-sale system saves time, stress, and effort for everyone involved.

4. Gives a competitive edge Retail and hospitality businesses that integrate tax-free shopping into their sales process give international tourists one more reason to choose them over a competitor. This is particularly true for people who travel frequently for business, for those who routinely visit the same destination, and for affluent tourists, all of whom are particularly less inclined to wait in queues at airport refund desks or to complete lengthy paperwork. These types of travellers appreciate having a completely stress-free refund process that doesn’t take any time out of their day. 

5. Fosters customer loyalty As with any service that adds value for a customer, quick and seamless tax-free shopping keeps shoppers coming back. It demonstrates to customers that you value their time and prioritise their convenience. This creates a positive experience that fosters loyalty and boosts your business’ reputation.  The future of tax-free shopping

Although tax-free shopping schemes have been in place for some time, advances over the last decade have made the VAT refund process much easier and more accessible for tourists and businesses alike. While many once questioned whether claiming refunds was even worth the time and hassle, digitising and streamlining the process has transformed this mindset. Increasingly, more countries are adopting tax-free shopping schemes, more businesses are participating, and more tourists are claiming their VAT refunds. 

As technology continues to evolve, and as more countries recognise the benefits of tax-free shopping in their economies, we can expect to see wider participation in these schemes, further automation of the refund process, quicker refund processing times, and more cross-border standardisation of the tax-free shopping experience. 

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FAQs What is the typical VAT rate? How much can international tourists actually recoup from tax-free shopping? The potential savings for international tourists who take part in tax-free shopping are significant. VAT rates vary from country to country, but tend to hover around 20 per cent. After deducting administrative and service fees, tourists often get back around  10 to 15 per cent of what they spend. For example, if someone were to spend €500 on a  new handbag while on holiday in Paris—France has a VAT rate of 20 per cent—after admin and service fees, they might expect to be refunded €50 to €75. 

Good to know: Keep in mind that minimum and maximum purchase rules apply

What items are usually eligible for VAT refunds? Most goods that are bought for personal use, meet the minimum purchase threshold, and are taken by the tourist when they leave the destination, are eligible for a tax refund in countries with VAT refund policies. However, certain luxury goods that exceed a certain price may have limitations to the amount of tax that can be claimed back. 

Items that are not typically eligible for VAT refunds are:  - Intangible goods/services - Food and beverages - Items purchased for business use - Items purchased from non-participating retailers - Items below the minimum price threshold  - Items that have been opened and used prior to export

How can tourists identify shops that offer automated VAT refunds? Tourists who want to take advantage of tax-free shopping should look for retailers that display a tax-free shopping logo on their premises, often as a decal in their storefront window and/or at the checkout counter.     How can tourists track their refunds? The process for tracking a refund will depend on the country where the refund was requested, how the refund was requested, and the entity that is managing the refund process. 

Although some VAT refunds are managed directly by customs agents and the country’s tax authorities, it’s more common for the process to be managed by a third-party service provider. Tourists will likely need to take the following steps to track their refund:

1. Check their Tax Free form to determine which third-party provider is managing the refund.  2. Visit that provider’s website and locate the tracking page.  3. Enter their Tax Free Form number / barcode in order to view the current status of their refund.

How long does the tax-free shopping refund process take? Firstly, it’s essential that tourists submit their refund requests within the required timeframe laid out by the destination country’s tax authorities and, if applicable, the third-party service provider that is managing the refund. This timeline varies from country to country and provider to provider. 

The time it takes for tourists to receive their refund also varies based on how they request it, the policies of the destination country, the refund management company, and whether they've chosen to receive the refund in cash or by card.

For refunds to a credit card, it typically takes a few weeks, or up to 30 days, to receive the funds. Cash refunds, on the other hand, are issued instantly either via a kiosk or airport refund counter. Keep in mind that there is usually an added fee for receiving the refund in cash.

Talk to one of our Tax Free experts

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VAT Refunds

Tips on getting value-added tax refunded

If you don’t live in the EU, you can get a refund on the *value-added tax (VAT). The VAT is paid on purchases within the EU.

Information

Please Note:

VAT Refunds are only available on purchases of more than € 50. For further information please look at our download.

The following providers offer a tax refund service:

Global Blue

From May 4, 2023 Global Blue is located in Terminal 1, Departure Hall C, close to the Customs Export Station.  

Website: www.globalblue.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone:    +49 800 32 111 111

Get more information about the locations of   Global Blue   at Frankfurt Airport.

Website: www.travelex.de

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +49 69 348 738 70

Click here for further information about   Travelex at Frankfurt Airport.  

Planet Payment

From May 4, 2023 Planet Payment is located in Terminal 1, Departure Hall C, close to the Customs Export Station.  

Website: www.planetpayment.com

Phone:  +49 89 244 109 810

Get more information about   Planet Payment .

The tax refund service of Reisebank is available at all six airport locations.  

Website: www.reisebank.de

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +49 69 697 198 92

Here you will find everything you need to know about   Reisebank   at Frankfurt Airport.  

This is how it works:

1. what you need for a tax refund.

• Get a tax free exemption form from the shop
• Fill it out completely (using the Latin alphabet)

Advice, information and assistance on VAT-free shopping is available at all stores at Frankfurt Airport. In the duty-free stores, prices are already reduced by VAT.

2a. Merchandise in checked luggage

• Inform the check-in staff of your airline about any merchandise and VAT refunds
• They will separately tag your bags and return them to you for presentation at the customs office

No bag tag - no tax refund

2b. Merchandise in hand luggage

• Go through the security check

3. Get a customs stamp

• Got to the customs office and allow enough time for the formalities
• Present your purchased items, your passport, the receipts and the completed forms
• The customs officer will stamp your voucher and have your luggage transferred to a belt within the customs area

4. Get the refund

• Go to a refund counter  
• Present the completed and stamped tax exemption forms
• Get a cash refund (a small processing fee is already deducted)

For more information, visit zoll.de   or call +49 351 44834 510

General information

* What is VAT?  

All goods sold in Europe are subject to EU VAT. In Germany, the VAT is 7 or 19 percent. If your place of residence is outside the European Union (EU), you have the possibility to get this tax refunded when leaving the EU. For you as a passenger, this makes goods in Germany even cheaper.

• Attention: VAT Refunds are only available on purchases of more than € 50 294 KB (PDF)

• FTA services are only available through UAEPass! Register in UAEPass here

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Manned desks: 5 minutes, kiosks: 3 minutes, estimated time to submit application.

• Service Description Through this service, the FTA in cooperation with Planet (the service provider for the Tourist Tax Refund Scheme), refunds the VAT to tourists upon departing the UAE.

• Planet’s tax-free manned validation desks at exit points: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week* • Self-service Kiosks: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week**

* If the manned desk is at exit points such as land borders and sea ports, the standard timings of the location, as determined by the relevant border authority would apply.

**If the Kiosk was in a location that is not open for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, such as shopping malls, the standard timings of the location would apply.

• Service Fees Details - AED 4.80 for each tax-free tag - Deduction of 13% from the VAT amount requested
• Estimated Time to Submit Application Manned desks: 5 Minutes, Kiosks: 3 Minutes
• Estimated Time to Complete Application by the FTA Bank Card Refunds: 9 Days, Cash Refunds: 3 Minutes
• Required Documents and Forms • Original valid passport or GGC national ID card (based on the requirements to enter the UAE) – Copies are not accepted. • Original tax invoices with the tax refund tag affixed to it. Your name on the receipt should match your name as per your travel document. * • Purchased goods (please present your purchased goods to Planet staff located at Planet's manned validation desks before you check in your luggage). • Valid ticket or confirmed booking evidencing your departure from the UAE (in cases of departure through air or sea borders). • Online boarding pass if using kiosks located at shopping malls or hotels (departure must be within 24 hours). *If tax-free transaction is digital (through Planet's POS Issuing 2.0 solution adopted by select merchants), presentation of tax-free tags and original tax invoices is no longer applicable.  

1. Purchase of goods eligible for refund from retailers registered under the Tourist Tax Refund Scheme, there are three types of register retailers issuing different kind of tax invoices: • A retailer issuing a Paper Tax Invoice and Tax-Free Tag, you need to keep Tax invoice and tax-free tag and present it if required. • A retailer issuing Paper Tax Invoice with a Digital Tax-Free Tag (QR code), you need to keep Tax invoice and present it if required. • A merchant adopting the Paperless Method by issuing digital Tax Invoice, you can track your tax-free transactions by using Planet Shopper Portal, after your purchasing is completed you will receive a link via SMS that direct you to the shopper portal. 2. At the time of departure from the UAE, you may initiate validation of your tax-free transactions by scanning your passport or GGC national ID card at the following locations: a. Planet's self-service kiosks located at exit points. b. Planet's self-service kiosks located at leading shopping malls or hotels (to use self-service kiosks located at leading shopping malls and hotels, an online valid boarding pass where your flight is departing within 24 hours is required to initiate the validation process). c. Planet’s tax-free manned validation desks located at UAE's exit points (airports, land borders and sea ports if you are departing within 6 hours). Your purchased goods may require inspection by Planet staff which can only be done at Planet's Validation desk located at UAE's exit points. 3. If inspection is required, please present the tax-free tag(s), original tax invoice(s) and purchased goods at Planet’s validation desks located at UAE's exit points when you are leaving the country. 4. Upon successful validation of your transactions, select your preferred refund method (Credit Card or WeChat or Cash). 5. In case if you choose the cash refund, make sure to visit the cash partner (participating currency exchange offices in the Tourist Refund Scheme) after the immigration desk.

1. Can a person other than registered passport / GCC national identity card holder initiate or complete the validation process? No one other than registered passport / GCC national identity card holder can initiate or complete the validation process. 2. What is the timeframe within which the validation process must be completed? Once tax-free tags are issued, they must be validated within 90 days. The tourist must depart the UAE within 6 hours of completing the validation process. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of the validation approval, and the validation process will need to be repeated.

3. Which bank cards are eligible for receiving a refund? Refunds may be processed to Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Union Pay cards. Refunds processed by Planet to the credit/debit card will normally be in AED. The card issuing company or bank determines the foreign exchange rate to be applied on the refund. 4. What if the card refund amount was not received within 9 calendars days? If the card refund is not received within 9 calendars days, the issuing company or bank must be followed up with. 5. Who can be contacted for any queries? You may contact Planet Tax Free's Customer Happiness Centre via email at [email protected], or alternatively, on +971 4 586 4700 from 9 AM to 12 AM GST.  6. How can I track the request through the Shopper portal? • Open your smartphone camera app. • Point it at the QR code on the tax-free tag. • Open the URL link that appears on your smartphone’s web browser.   If your tax-free transaction is issued by a merchant who has adopted the Paperless Tax Free Issuing solution, you will receive an SMS with a URL linked to the Shopper Portal. Click on this link and enter the relevant information to login to the Shopper Portal.

1. The tourist should have entered the UAE on a tourist visa. 2. You must be 18 years and above and not a resident in the UAE. 3. The tourist must export validate their tax-free transactions within 90 days from the date of the tax invoice, at the time of their departure from the UAE. 4. The tourist must physically present the tax invoice, tax free tags and relevant goods, if requested by Planet staff. 5. Tourists may request a refund within one year from the date of export validating their tax-free transactions. 6. The maximum amount of cash refund is AED 35,000. 7. Retailers should be registered with the tourist refund scheme. 8. A VAT refund is applicable only for the goods that are eligible under the Tourist Refund Scheme. 9. The goods are not fully/partially consumed in the UAE.

10. Minimum purchase of AED 250.

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Your Tax Free questions answered

Am i eligible for tax free shopping, in order to be eligible for tax free shopping (a vat refund), you must permanently reside outside the country in which you are making your purchases., if you are shopping within the eu, you must permanently reside outside of the eu., you must also spend a minimum amount in one store on the same day., these rules vary from country to country - do please visit the below pages to learn more:.

• Countries and their Rules

I am a foreign student studying overseas: can I shop Tax Free?

Foreign students can only shop tax free within the last months of their studies before they head home permanently., this time period differs from country to country and is the same time period specified for export validation., useful information:, how do i shop tax free, you can find some advice on how and where to shop tax free, and our multi-lingual customer services team are always happy to help, useful pages:.

• Or you can  contact our Customer Services

What goods are eligible for Tax Free shopping?

All taxable goods that are exported in your personal baggage., please note that goods should be sealed and unused., for local refund rules for a list of goods that are exempt in each country, and useful information on tax free shopping, please check out the below pages., how do i know which stores offer tax free shopping, look for stores displaying the planet tax free sign, or ask in-store whether they offer planet tax free services. , you can also search our brand directory for specific stores and locations - see below for useful links:.

• Brands we work with
• Countries and their rules

In which countries can I shop Tax Free through Planet?

You can view where tax free shopping is available by visiting:, is it compulsory to get a tax free form, yes. if you want a vat refund, you must get a tax free form from the retailer that sold you the goods., this tax free form needs to be fully completed and export validated before you can get a refund. , does the tax free form need to be fully completed in-store, yes. in most cases, the tax free form must be fully completed in-store., at the very least, this form must be fully completed before you request export validation. , what is export validation, all tax free forms must be export validated to qualify for a refund. in most cases, this is a customs stamp., the relevant customs officials or airport agents need to check that you are eligible and meet all of the requirements to get a vat refund., you will need to present your tax free form, passport and travel documents., some countries require that you attach your receipts to the tax free form. you may also be asked to present your goods. , where do i get export validation, if you have made your purchases in the eu, you get export validation from customs at your last point of departure from the eu., for any other countries, this is when you finally depart., customs is well signposted at all airports, land border or ports. , please allow enough time at the airport to complete the export validation - please check the airport website for further information or contact our customer services team. , please refer to the list of validation points, and other useful links, below:.

• Export Validation Points
• Feel free to  contact our Customer Services

Do I have to get export validation?

Yes. without export validation (a customs stamp), you cannot get a refund. , can i use the purchased goods before export, customs request that all goods are sealed and unused., if they check your goods, they may refuse to export validate your tax free form if they see that goods have been used. , should my luggage with the exported goods be checked in before customs, generally, no. you must have your goods on you, ready to present to customs on request for export validation., if you are required to present your boarding cards, you can check-in but you must not drop your bags off until after export validation. , in some countries, you must check-in before export validation. in these cases, you must ask check-in staff to label your luggage and return it to you., once customs have inspected your purchases and validated your tax free forms, they will organise for your luggage to be transferred to the airplane. , should i carry the goods in my hand luggage, any high-value goods should be carried in your hand luggage and you should receive export validation after security. , how can i get my refund, the refund methods differ from country to country, and there are country-specific local rules and thresholds. r efund options and opening hours may vary across refund locations and may change periodically. please check with the individual refund location for availability  - please visit the pages below for specifics:.

• Refund locations
• Tax Refund methods

Does a service charge apply?

Most Credit Card companies/Banks charge Planet for processing refunds through their network.

Planet pass on this charge by way of deduction from the refund amount. The Amex charge is £1, or equivalent. The Visa charge is €0.87c, or equivalent. The exchange rate used to convert this charge to other currencies is periodically reviewed.

Choosing this refund method indicates agreement to pay an additional charge.

Some card companies require the expiry date of the card as well as the card number to process a refund. Where you have not supplied the expiry date the refund may not be successfully processed to your card by your card company. Where this occurs Planet can reprocess your refund once you have provided us with the necessary data.

Where are the cash refund points located?

Please see our full list of refund points and other useful links, below: .

• Tax Refund points

Is there a separate charge for collecting my refund in cash at the airport?

Yes. in most airports, a separate charge will be made by the airport agent providing the cash refund service. , for credit card refunds, must it be the same credit card that i used to purchase the goods, no, you can receive the refund on any credit card. , how long will it take for my vat refund to come through, we process your refund within 30 days of receiving your original export-validated tax free form., due to credit card procedures put in place by credit card companies, refunds generally appear on your bank statement in the month following the transfer of your refund amount from planet to your bank. , if you do not receive your refund two months after posting the form back to us, we advise you to contact us as there may have been a problem with your tax free form. , where do i mail my planet tax free form, the sales assistant in-store will provide you with a stamped, pre-addressed planet tax free envelope., you can send your custom approved tax free form for free in this pre-paid envelope within the country of purchase, however tax free forms posted from outside the country of purchase may require additional postage., if you did not get a pre-paid envelope, please post your customs approved tax free form back to our shared services centre in poland at the following address: domaniewska 39, warsaw, poland, 02-672. other useful links are below:, under what heading and in what currency will my refund appear on my credit card statement, your refund will appear on your credit card statement as "planet refund.", in most cases, the refund amount will appear in the currency of your credit card; for example, if you have a us credit card, it will appear in us dollars., why did you charge my credit card, if you received an immediate cash refund or had the refund deducted from the amount you paid in store and do not return your export-validated tax free form to us within the specified time period, we charge the credit card you gave us as a guarantee for the agreed amount., these charges can be avoided by making sure you return the export-validated tax free form to us within the specified time period., if you are unsure what this is, please check the local rules (see links below) for the country where you got the immediate cash refund. .

• Credit card charges

Can I change my refund option?

Yes, once you have mailed your tax free form, it is still possible to change your refund choice - if it has not been processed., to change your refund option, please contact the planet office in the country where you made the purchases asap. , can i claim the vat on behalf of someone else, the person who presents their id and signs the form in-store must be the one exporting goods., this doesn't necessarily have to be the person who pays for the goods. for further information please see the eu guide to vat refund for visitors to the eu ., what if my last departure point from the eu is through (transit) flight via another eu country, hand baggage: goods carried as hand baggage and tax free forms must be produced to customs at the final transfer, the last point of departure before you leave the eu., hold baggage: if you are leaving from one eu airport but changing flights (in transit) at another eu airport and the goods you are exporting are checked through to your final destination outside the eu, go to customs at the country where you check-in your bags, your tax free form will be export-validated as if that were your last eu departure point., if you collect your bags in-between transit, then you must go to customs at your last point of departure in the eu where you finally check-in your bags., can i track my refund, yes, and you can check the status of your refund by using the 'track my refund' service. , please make sure you fill in all the requested information. , if you have any issues or questions about your tax refund, you can fill in your details via our dedicated enquiry form..

• Track My Refund
• Customer Services for specific tax refund voucher queries

What are the Terms and Conditions?

Our terms and conditions, privacy policy and other useful information can be found below:.

• Privacy Policy

If you can't find the answer you need, then our multi-lingual Customer Services team will be more than happy to help you

Sales enquiries      |      Shopper Customer Services      |      About Us      |      Careers      |      Operating under the rules of     |        Privacy      |      GDPR     |     B2B

How much can you claim on tax without receipts? Here's a breakdown

No-one likes keeping receipts, so we often throw them away.

But this can be an issue when tax time arrives.

That raises the question, can you still claim tax deductions without a receipt?

Here are the expenses you can claim without a receipt and the maximum allowable amount.

What is the most you can claim on tax without a receipt?

According to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), if your total work-related expenses are $300 or less , you are not required to provide a receipt.

The $300 deduction limit for work-related expenses doesn't apply to claims for:

Car expenses

• Meal allowances
• Award transport payments allowance
• Travel allowance expenses

But keep in mind that the ATO may still ask you to explain what it is you're claiming, how you paid for it, and how it's related to your work.

What expenses can you claim without a receipt?

Claiming expenses without a receipt can be risky because the ATO is always watching for false claims.

But in some cases, it's okay to claim without a receipt. 

Although, you'll likely need to keep some form of record, such as a diary.

We've put together a quick guide of what you can claim on tax without a receipt, but keep in mind that this is quite wide-ranging. 

Check out the ATO website for more details and, if you're looking for individual advice, you can pay a tax agent to help .

Eligible people earning $60,000 can also use the ATO's free service Tax Help Program , where volunteers help people lodge their tax returns online. 

Here's what you can claim on tax without a receipt:

If your total claim for laundry expenses is $150 or less (excluding dry cleaning), you can claim a deduction without written evidence .

But you must be able to show how you spent the money and how you calculate the amount of your claim if the ATO comes asking.

Even if your deduction for work expenses is more than $300, you can still claim a deduction for laundry expenses up to $150 without written evidence.

However, the $300 limit for work expenses still applies, this exception doesn't increase the $300 limit for work expenses to $450.

For more information on what constitutes occupation-specific, protective clothing and distinctive uniforms, head to the ATO website .

Small expenses

You don't have to keep receipts for work-related expenses that are $10 or less , as long as the total claim doesn't exceed $200 .

But the ATO does want you to keep a record of all the small expenses.

It must be written in English and it should show:

• What you purchased
• Where you got the item from
• How much you spent
• The date of purchase
• The date the record was made

Hard to get receipts

If you incur expenses where it's hard to get a receipt, the ATO says you can make a record of the expenses instead of getting a document from the supplier.

The expenses can be more or less than $10 and there is no total limit .

In your records, you must show the:

• Name of the business/supplier
• Amount of the expense
• Nature of the goods or services
• Date of purchase
• Date the record was made

But remember, the ATO uses industry averages as a tool to help them spot suspicious claims.

If you're over claiming (especially without receipts), you may be headed for an audit — which is where the ATO does an in-depth investigation of your tax affairs. 

If you're eligible to claim car expenses and use the cents per kilometre method , you don't need to provide any receipts for proof.

But you'll need to show how you calculate your work use, so you may want to consider keeping diary records or using the myDeductions tool in the ATO app.

You'll be able to claim up to a maximum of 5,000 kilometres for work-related use.

How many kilometres can you claim on tax without receipts?

If you're using the cents per kilometre method , you can claim up to 5,000km without receipts for work-related vehicle travel.

You don't need receipts or written evidence to show how many kilometres you travelled.

But, the ATO may ask you to show how you worked out your business kilometres — which is where diary records will come in handy. 

The 2023-24 cents per kilometre rate is 85 cents.

It covers all car expenses including:

• Decline in value
• Registration
• Maintenance

Here's an example to consider:

Once per week, Tim makes a 32-kilometre round trip in his own car from his head office in the city to meet with clients. When Tim consults his diary at the end of the financial year, he works out he was at work for 48 weeks. But he did miss two weekly meetings as he was sick. He works out his work-related kilometres as: Number of weekly trips x distance of weekly trip = total weekly trip kilometres 46 x 32 = 1,472 kilometres Tim works out his deduction for the 2023-24 income year as: 1,472 x 0.85 = $1,251

What if I don't have a receipt?

You may be able to submit bank statements and income statements .

But this is at the discretion of the ATO — they have to be satisfied the records are good.

One way to do this is to check the bank/income statement contains all of the following information:

• Name of the supplier
• Date the expense was paid
• Date of the document

The ATO may also want you to provide supplementary evidence such as a written record (e.g. in a diary) and other documents that outline the nature of the goods or services.

What can I claim on tax?

There are many work and non-work-related expenses that you can claim on your tax return.

Deductions can include:

• Cars, transport or travel
• Working from home expenses
• Tools, computers and items you use for work
• Education, training and seminars
• Memberships, accreditations, fees and commissions
• Meals, entertainment and functions
• Personal grooming, health and fitness
• Gifts and donations
• Investments, insurance and super
• Cost of managing tax affairs

But there are very strict rules about what you can and can't claim.

So check out the ATO website for the full details before filling out your tax return.

Why is my tax refund so low in 2024?

If you've logged into the ATO's portal to have a look at your tax refund estimate, you might have been puzzled to find it doesn't meet your expectations.

There could be a few reasons for this, according to the ATO:

• Your refund could have been offset against other debt you have
• There could be a difference between the details in your tax return and the pre-fill information data
• Your income and deductions are different from last year
• The discontinuation of the low and middle income tax offset (LMITO)
• X (formerly Twitter)

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