Tax free companies. Who can't return tax free? How is the Tax Free refund amount calculated?

Tax free is a popular VAT refund system among tourists for goods purchased abroad. This system is common in the European Union and several Asian countries.

The Tax Free amount ranges from 7 to 24% in accordance with the amount of tax in a given country. Tax refunds do not apply to services, vehicle rentals, food products, or books.

Not all retail outlets interact with the Tax Free system. There should be a Tax Free emblem on the window of a store or shopping center; if it is missing, you should check with the staff about tax refunds.

The tax is refunded from the VAT of goods purchased in one day using one receipt in one store. VAT is not refundable on goods purchased online.

Each country has an individual VAT refund amount. Before visiting the country, it is advisable to study the tax refund conditions. In Turkey, Greece, and Italy, it is more convenient to bargain with sellers of small stores and get a discount on purchases in the amount of VAT.

How to get Tax free in Moscow?

In Moscow, Russian citizens can receive compensation for VAT on goods purchased abroad. To do this, you need to contact intermediary banks and submit all the necessary documents and their copies.

Tax free check refund rules

Tax free compensation is possible if the tourist:

• stays for less than 3 months on the territory of the state;
• does not have a residence permit;
• does not have a work permit;
• purchases goods from specialized retail outlets;
• payment for the purchased goods must exceed the established minimum;
• No more than 3 months should pass between the purchase and removal of purchases.

Each country in the European Union has its own percentage of additional tax on refunds. Also within the country, the percentage of VAT on different goods differs. Several systems are responsible for VAT refunds, the two largest being Global Blue and Premier Tax Free.

To receive a refund on purchases abroad you must:

• get a receipt from the store Tax free forms;
• When crossing the border, the customs officer must put a stamp on the Tax Free form about exporting purchases;
• receive compensation for VAT.

To receive a check, you must make purchases at retail outlets that cooperate with the Tax Free system.

When purchasing a product, a tourist must ask the seller or cashier to issue a personalized Tax Free form to receive a tax refund. The form comes in two types: white and blue, filled out with letters of the Latin alphabet if you have a foreign passport.

The form contains the following items:

• recipient's first and last name;
• foreign passport number;
• home address and zip code;
• Country of Residence;
• E-mail address.

Errors in the form will result in a refund being denied. The form must be correctly completed and signed.

At customs control you need to obtain confirmation of export. For convenience, all purchases are placed in hand luggage. The customs representative is presented with sealed purchases with labels, a passport, receipts and a Tax Free form. After checking purchases and documents, customs officers stamp them.

Then you should contact a special refund point, where you need to provide:

• international passport;
• passport or other identity document;
• receipts from stores;
• Tax free form with customs stamp.

Based on the documents, the amount is issued in cash banknotes in any currency.

How to return Tax Free?

Several ways to return Tax Free:

1. Receiving the amount at special cash desks near customs. A small commission may be charged upon payment. The amount can be received in any currency, but when transferring to the currency of another country you will have to pay a commission. For example, in the countries of the European Union, when converting an amount into dollars, you will have to pay a commission.

   You need to find out in advance where the refund desk is located to save time. This information is on leaflets, they are on counters at tax free checkout points or stores.

   There may be long queues near the ticket office and the tourist may not have enough time to get the amount before boarding the plane or train.

2. Transfer to a card of any bank. To do this, you need to put a stamped tax free receipt and all other necessary data in an envelope and drop it in a mailbox near the operators’ offices. You can also send an envelope to the operator by mail from any city in Russia. The refund will be returned to any specified bank card within two months.
3. In authorized Russian banks in cash.It is necessary to provide copies and originals of the following documents to the bank branch:
   • tax free form filled out without errors;
   • check with customs stamp;
   • passport of a Russian citizen;
   • international passport.

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If you forgot to put the tax free stamp at the border

One of the main conditions for VAT refund on goods is obtaining confirmation from customs control. If there is no confirmation in the form of a stamp, then you cannot receive a Tax Free refund.

There is also a repeated opportunity to obtain confirmation at the customs point. To do this, you need to re-cross the border and obtain confirmation of the export of goods based on existing state rules.

If the goods were purchased in the European Union, then you must go through customs again and obtain a stamp confirming the export of goods.

Where can I return tax free in Moscow?

You can receive a VAT refund on goods purchased in other countries in Moscow at authorized banks, for example, VTB24 and Financial Standard.

Branches of Financial Standard Bank are located at the following addresses:

• Sheremetyevo Airport to terminals E and F;
• st. Troitskaya, house 7, building 4, main office;
• Petrovsky lane, house 5, building 8;
• st. Tverskaya, building 7.

VTB24 Bank branches are located at the following addresses:

• st. Bolshaya Sukharevskaya, 14/7, no. 2
• st. Avtozavodskaya, 6
• Pokrovka st., 28, building 1
• st. Marksistskaya, 5, building 1
• st. Bolshaya Molchanovka, 17/14, building 2
• st. Barclay, 7, building 1

Deadlines for receiving tax free

At the cash desk, the amount is issued immediately.

Tax free tax refund to the recipient's account or card will be transferred through:

• 5 working days when the request goes through the Tax Free office;
• 21 days from the date of receipt of the Tax Free form by mail;
• 10 days to Alipay account when sending Tax Free form by mail.

Minimum amount for Tax Free registration

The minimum purchase amount is not constant for all countries. It ranges from 40 euros in Finland to 175 euros in France. To receive the Tax Free form, goods must be purchased in one store in one day for an amount not less than the minimum.

The purchase of one or more goods is paid for with one check. In large supermarkets, the cost of purchased goods is added up and withdrawn in one receipt.

Conclusion

By purchasing goods abroad, you can save on VAT and receive a refund. Before traveling, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the tax refund rules in a given country, since the legislation of each country has its own nuances.

Not all travelers know that abroad you can save a lot of money on purchases by returning part of the money spent on them using the tax free system. Read about how to do this in this article.

What is tax free

Tax free(in translation from English tax free - “without fees”) is a system for returning the amount of value added tax (VAT). VAT is refunded on purchases made by foreign citizens upon returning from the border of the country in which they were purchased. Refund amounts usually, depending on the country where the shopping took place, range from 8% to 25% of the purchase amount. Legal entities can also return part of the money spent - for them there is a Business Tax free - a system for refunding VAT on expenses for foreign business trips.

Thus, since you are not a taxpayer in the country where your purchases were made, you can get some money back for them, including VAT. However, you can only do this in those stores that support the tax-free program.

Where does the system work?

Tax free does not work in all countries and not for all store goods. For example, in Russia only at the beginning of next year will an experiment on the gradual introduction of the system begin, but in most European countries it has been working for a long time. We are talking about Austria, Cyprus, Slovenia, Belgium, Latvia, Turkey, Great Britain, Lithuania, Finland, Hungary, Luxembourg, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Croatia, Greece, Norway, Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland, Switzerland, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden , Spain, Slovakia, Italy and Estonia. You can also get a tax refund or part of the tax for some purchases in Australia, Argentina, Belarus, Belgium, Israel, Indonesia, Iceland, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Morocco, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, South Africa and Japan.

How tax free works

Moreover, if we talk about those goods for which you can get a refund, then it is much easier to return the tax on clothing and equipment than, for example, on food and alcohol. You also cannot count on getting tax free for a hotel stay, dinner at a restaurant, or car rental, since the tax refund does not apply to services.

In general, the following services are involved in the tax refund process:

1. The store, whose task in this case is to sell you the goods and help you prepare documents for a tax refund.
2. Customs, which will check your documents and purchases before your departure from the country, after which they will either confirm your right to a tax refund or deny it. Service employees usually check purchases with receipts and may ask you to present new clothes, while the strictness of customs depends on the country.
3. A tax-free operator who must pay you money (to a bank card or in cash), but he can only do this with the permission of customs. Since tourists undergo customs control when leaving the country, tax-free operators are most often located at the airport, but they also have offices located in the city near banks or in large shopping centers. In such offices, money is paid even before leaving the country, but the tourist is still obliged to certify tax-free documents at customs upon departure and send them to the operator. If he does not do this, the operator will demand the issued money back.

So how do you actually get back part of the amount spent on shopping?

First, when planning to make a tax-free purchase, find out whether the store you have your eye on is part of one of the tax-free systems. Usually this is evidenced by a sticker stuck on the doors next to the emblems of payment systems whose bank cards are accepted at the point of sale, or announcements like “We issue tax free.” If there is no such information, then perhaps this system cannot be used here.

Secondly, you must spend at least a certain amount on one-time purchases, which is set separately in each individual country. Meanwhile, usually this amount is at least 40-50 euros, sometimes 100-150.

Thirdly, when purchasing, you need to make sure that you receive a special tax-free check. Without a correctly completed check, no one will return your money. In small stores, this is done by the sellers themselves; in large stores, there may be a separate counter. Make sure that the tax free check includes your passport details and full home address in Russia, indicates all purchased goods separately and their cost and the amount that will be returned to you when leaving the country. However, remember that the rules for purchasing tax free in a particular country may change, so just in case, check with the sellers immediately before shopping.

Important! When completing tax free documents, you will be required to present your international passport.

Thirdly, when crossing the border, the customs officer must certify that the goods were purchased “for export” and put a special stamp. To do this, you need to not only find customs, but also present them with goods in unopened store packaging (this serves as proof that you did not use them in the EU) and receipts.

Fourthly, in order to get some of your money back for purchases, you will need to find your “cash return” point (usually there is a Tax Free Cash Refund sign on it). Keep in mind that there are different tax free reimbursement systems (Premier Tax Free, Tax Free Worldwide, Global Blue, Innova Tax Free) and you need to contact the one indicated on your receipt. Please remember that in some countries, if you want to receive a tax-free refund immediately (in real money), you may be charged a small commission.

If you are short on time and you are unable to receive funds on the spot (at the airport or train station) when crossing the border, you can receive money on a bank card by sending a stamped tax free check and your data by mail to the operator. You can also cash out tax free in Russia - through branches of a number of banks.

Mistakes that could cost you tax free check refunds

If you want to use tax free, then you must be very careful at different stages of the procedure, since you may accidentally make mistakes that will not allow you to get back part of the amount spent on foreign shopping at the finish line. Among the typical mistakes made by tourists:

1. Negligence. After purchasing goods in a store, after filling out the documents for tax free (filling out a form, receiving a receipt), you may simply forget them on the spot or fail to check whether the store employee put them in the envelope for you. In this case, as you understand, even with a receipt with a taxfree stamp on it, you obviously won’t have to wait for a refund without a form certified by the store. Thus, you should always check all tax free documents: a cash receipt must be attached to each application.
2. Availability of goods. The customs officer has every right to make sure that you have the goods that you purchased in the store. Meanwhile, if you checked them in with your luggage, and the customs officer asks you to present the things in any form, unopened or in any other condition, and you don’t have them, then you won’t see a tax-free voucher either.
3. Time. You need to plan your time carefully, since taxi-free operators at the airport usually have long queues.
4. Payment from the operator. Having received money instantly, you can immediately at the airport and take it to duty-free. Keep yourself in control and ask the tax free operator to pay you money on your card to protect yourself from impulsive purchases and save on commissions.

Who cannot use the tax-free system in Europe?

Not everyone is eligible to receive tax free refunds in Europe. Among the “unlucky ones” who have Russian citizenship are those who

• has a residence permit in one of the European Union countries;
• has permission to work in the country where the purchase was made;
• stays on the territory of this country for more than six months;
• the period between the purchase of the goods and its export exceeds three months, counting from the end of the month when the purchase was made.

In general, be economical and, when buying the goods you need abroad, do not forget to get your money back using the tax-free service.

Tax Tree (tax free) - a VAT refund system when making a purchase in a foreign country. The procedure for refunding part of the cost of goods is the same for all countries participating in the system, but there are differences in the amount of tax, the minimum purchase amount for the right to receive tax free and other nuances that you need to familiarize yourself with so as not to lose money.

Who can get taxfree: VAT refund conditions

Refund part of the purchase price made in a participating country TaxFree Shopping is possible if several conditions are simultaneously met:

• lack of citizenship, refugee status, residence permit and work permit in the state where the purchase was made;
• less than three months' one-time stay in the country;
• purchase of goods for a certain amount: the lower limit of the purchase price that gives the right to receive tax free, is set individually by states (for example, in France it is 175 euros, and in Germany - only 25).

Important: in most countries, VAT is not imposed on food and other food products, as well as tobacco, alcohol, printed products, precious metals and stones, and vehicles. Therefore, to return taxfree There is no need to count when buying cigarettes, books or a car.

Program TaxFree Shipping operates in all countries that are part of the European Union, as well as in Belarus, Argentina, Great Britain, Turkey, Jordan, South Korea, Morocco, Lebanon, Israel, South Africa, Iceland and Uruguay. Russia is not one of the participants in the system.

Important: system tax free does not apply to online purchases, even if they were made in a foreign store.

Tax free return procedure

The main condition for the subsequent return of VAT is the purchase of goods in stores that are partners of the system TaxFree. This is usually indicated by corresponding signs on the front door. If in doubt, you can always check with the seller - for this you do not need to be fluent in a foreign language, one phrase is enough: “ Tax free?».

1. Receiving a receipt.

When making a purchase, the seller must provide a receipt tax free(Global Refund Check or TaxFree Form - depending on the operator providing the return service), in which the buyer’s last and first name, country and city of residence, as well as the date of purchase and the total cost of the purchased goods are indicated in Latin letters.

The data is filled in in accordance with the buyer’s international passport - therefore it is necessary to have its original or copy with you. Most often, sellers issue a receipt themselves, but sometimes they limit themselves to only entering the purchase amount and issuing a cash receipt. In this case, you will have to fill out the form yourself.

Important: the integrity of the packaging of goods must be maintained until the money is returned. The same goes for tags, labels, labels and other insignia. In some stores, upon checkout taxfree the packaging is reinforced with special stickers or seals.

1. customs control.

Processing a VAT refund begins immediately before returning to your home country. Therefore, it is better to arrive at the place of departure (airport, train station, etc.) in advance - the procedure can be quite lengthy.

First resort on the way back taxfree- customs point. If taxable items are in your hand luggage, you can go to the customs officers before checking in for the flight, otherwise it is better to do this after, since it will be more convenient to check the suitcase into your luggage right there.

The customs officer will check the integrity of the packaging of the goods, make sure that there is a cash receipt, and then put a stamp on the receipt taxfree.

Important: when taking a transit flight or moving between EU countries, a refund is issued at the airport (seaport, etc.) of the last country visited before leaving for Russia, regardless of the place of purchase. For example, when purchasing goods in Germany with a subsequent flight to France, and from there to the Russian Federation, you should begin the return procedure in France.

Don't know your rights?

1. Receiving the money .

Get tax free possible in three ways: directly at the airport; in any Russian bank - a partner of the system TaxFree Shopping; or to a bank card - within several weeks after leaving all the documents in a specially equipped box.

Receiving money at the airport

Documents for VAT refund should be submitted to the VAT Refund point or TaxFree Refund, located in the international departures area (in the same place as Duty Free). Operators often provide the opportunity to choose the currency of the refunded amount.

Leaving documents in a special box

Choosing this method of receiving money is advisable when you have limited time - waiting your turn at VAT Refund often takes from 20 minutes to an hour and a half. Receipt tax free with a customs stamp and a cash receipt must be packed in an envelope and placed in a box marked “ TaxFree» - usually it is located next to the money issuing point. Before packaging, you should write your bank card number on the receipt - funds will be returned to it within 3-8 weeks.

Obtaining tax free in Russia

You can get information about banks that provide VAT refund services on the operators’ website TaxFree. To receive money at a bank branch you need to present a receipt TaxFree Form, cash receipt and both passports - Russian and foreign.

Important: tax refund points for the purchase of goods abroad do not operate in all bank branches - they are only in 10 cities in Russia. Therefore, if the way home lies through the capital, it is better to return the money there. Moreover, the period is limited - apply for a refund tax free possible within 3 months from the date of purchase.

How to calculate the tax free amount

Sum taxfree depends on the amount of value added tax established in the country in which the purchase was made. The range is from 7 to 21%. For example, in the Netherlands the VAT rate is 21, in France - 19.6%.

To accurately calculate the amount to be refunded, it is better to use an online calculator - it is available on the website of any operator taxfree.

It should be taken into account that a certain percentage will be withheld as a commission for the service, and if we are talking about a non-cash return of money, there will also be a commission for converting into rubles (usually about 3-5%).

Refund of tax free in Moscow

Get tax free in Moscow possible if you have a receipt TaxFree Form with customs stamp and cash receipt. Refunds are made both in cash and to a bank card. Moreover, for this you do not have to be a citizen of Russia: the partner bank of the system will issue money upon presentation of any identification document specified in the receipt.

With the program TaxFreein Moscow The banks Intesa, SMP, Promsvyazbank, MDM and JSC Bank Russian Credit cooperate.

Features of tax free in Germany

Since 2013, Italy has established a VAT rate of 22% (previously it was 20%), the minimum purchase price for tax free tax free

The VAT rate in Germany is 19%. Previously, the country had set a maximum limit tax free, but as of today it has been cancelled. Minimum purchase price to receive tax free- 25 euros. That is, tourists can count on a refund of the full amount of tax minus commissions.

Receipt procedure tax free in Germany complies with the general rules, however, there are restrictions on the timing of customs control - the customs stamp must be affixed to TaxFree Form within 30 days of purchase.

Features of tax free in Italy

In 2013, Italy established a VAT rate of 22% (previously it was 20%), the minimum purchase price for tax free- almost 155 euros (154.94). A significant advantage of Italian tax free- the ability to issue a refund directly upon purchase, that is, in essence, to receive a discount equal to the VAT rate.

However, in practice, such a service is provided only by elite stores selling exclusive and very expensive goods; others prefer to cooperate with operators TaxFree.

You can return VAT in Italy either in the traditional way - when leaving the country, or at money issuing points located in large cities, for example in Rome or Milan. But the latter is only possible if the service is provided by the Global Blue operator.

Put a customs stamp on TaxFree Form is required within 3 months from the date of purchase.

Features of tax free in Finland

Finland has the highest VAT rate in Europe - 23%. But in practice, it turns out to reimburse only 16% - the rest will be deducted by the operator as a commission.

The longest period for customs inspection is established here - 6 months from the date of purchase of the goods. Eligibility taxfree occurs when purchasing a value of 40 euros or more.

GlobalBlue: tax free in 37 countries

Largest system operator Tax Free Shopping - Global Blue. VAT refund points are located in 37 countries, including Russia - however, there are only 10 cities in which you can receive money:

• Moscow;
• Saint Petersburg;
• Novosibirsk;
• Chelyabinsk;
• Kaliningrad;
• Murmansk;
• Monchegorsk, Olenegorsk and Polyarnye Zori (Murmansk region);
• Rostov-on-Don.

Instructions

In order to apply for Tax-Free, purchases must be made only in those stores that have the appropriate one. If there is no icon, check with the seller whether the store issues Tax-Free checks.

In each country there is a minimum amount for Tax-Free registration. The lowest tariff is in Germany and is 25 euros. In Switzerland the tariff is the highest and is equal to 400 euros. All purchases must be paid for with one check. If you made purchases in a supermarket and purchased non-food and food products at the same time, then Tax-Free can be issued for each group separately. However, the amount of each group of goods must correspond to the minimum Tax-Free amount in a given country.

After making a purchase, you must ask the seller to issue Tax-Free. To do this, you must present your passport. The seller will issue you a receipt indicating the purchases, their cost and the refund amount. You will need to enter your last name, first name, passport details and your address and sign. A check is attached to the receipt form. In large shopping centers, a Tax-Free check is issued at the central cash desk or at the customer service bureau.

On the day of departure, you must arrive early in order to have time to return the money. When you arrive at the airport, check where the money refund point is. In some countries it is up to the passport control line, in others it is beyond the line.

It is advisable to pack purchased goods with price tags in one place, as you may be asked to buy them.

If you are leaving the country by , then the money refund procedure can be completed at the station or in your compartment, when customs officers will check your documents at the border.

If you are traveling across several EU countries, you will need to have your receipt stamped when leaving the country where the purchases were made.

If you are traveling by ferry, you will need to go to your local customs office and show your purchases before boarding.

Traveling tourists need to present their purchases and receive a customs stamp on their receipt at the last border.

If you did not have time to apply for Tax-Free when leaving the EU, upon returning home, you need to contact the representative office of the country where the purchases were made and show them your passport, receipt and purchases. After receiving the customs stamp, you will need to contact the Europe Shopping representative. There you will get your cash back in the one you choose, but you will be charged a commission. Value added tax refund offices are located at all major airports, train stations and highways.

The period between the purchase of goods and its export should not exceed three months.

In Spain, in addition to a great holiday, our compatriots are attracted by big brands: international brands, long sales, and even the opportunity to return a percentage of purchases. The tax-free shopping program, or Tax Free, operates in most Spanish stores. How to wisely save on shopping?

Thrifty shopping can be even more frugal.

What is tax free?

This is a value added tax refund system that can be used by tourists coming to EU countries. Why are tourists given this right? The fact is that the price of goods in Europe includes a tax surcharge, which at the end of the trading period goes to the state treasury. This is how the government collects additional taxes from residents of the country. Visitors have the right not to pay VAT.

How much money can I get back?

Standard VAT in Spain is 21%.

For optical items and a small list of products, the surcharge is 10%.

For pharmaceuticals and printing - 4%.

Please note that Restaurants and hotels do not operate under the Tax Free system. Expenses for food, accommodation and entertainment will have to be paid at full cost. You can get a tax refund only for those goods that you export from the EU, that is, you will use them in your homeland in Russia.

When purchasing clothes, shoes, accessories, and equipment, you will actually be able to return an amount of less than 21%. An administrative fee will be deducted from VAT, and stores and banks will take their commission percentage. As a result You will be able to save 10-16%.

You can return tax free only from purchases for a certain amount. In 2019 it should exceed 90.16 euros. Some agents require that this amount appear on receipts for one day's purchases from one store, while others allow receipts from one calendar year to be totaled.

Don't throw away your receipts!

Some tourists don't want to worry about tax refunds. However, there is actually nothing complicated about the tax free return system if you study its rules in advance when going shopping in Spain. By following a simple order for making purchases, you will make them even more profitable.

How to get tax free?

1. Shop in stores that support the tax-free system

This is about 90% of Spanish stores. Search the inscription on the windows is Tax Free for Tourists. Or check with store consultants to see if they provide the necessary receipts. Stores in Spain cooperate with various operators to refund the additional tax. The most popular in Spain: Global Blue and Premier Tax Free.

If you see such a sticker, this store will issue you all the documents for a Tax Free return.

2. Fill out the Tax Free Form

Having received a tax refund receipt from the seller with his signature and store seal, fill in the required fields in Latin letters. The seller can help you with this if you provide him with your passport.

3. Do not use things until you return to Russia

Things must be new in sales packaging with all tags. You will have to present them to customs. Do not pack purchased items in a suitcase and do not check them in until you have been checked, or keep them in your carry-on luggage.

4. Apply a customs stamp

At the airport, before check-in, go to the customs control counter and present your purchases, receipts, passport and completed forms. Tax Free Form will be certified with customs stamps. The form must be stamped by European customs within three months from the date of issue in the store. With the seal it is valid for five years.

Customs office in (24 hours):

• terminal T1, floor 3, registration hall;
• terminal T2, floor 0, arrival hall.

Customs at Madrid Airport:

• terminal T1, floor 1, departure hall;
• terminal T4, floor 2, near the security checkpoint. Opening hours - from 7:00 to 23:00;
• terminal T4 S, floor 2 - 24 hours a day.

Purchase tax refund point at Barcelona Airport.

5. Receive your money at the return point

With all certified documents, contact the VAT refund agency indicated on your forms. In some cases, you can return the money in cash on the spot or request a refund to a bank card. If you are making a wire transfer, you are required to provide your credit or debit card. It is safer to use a cash refund. There are frequent cases when money does not arrive on the card for one reason or another: errors in documents, their loss, etc.

At El Prat Airport, the Global Blue office is located in terminal T1. VAT on checks from other operators is paid by La Caixa Bank at terminal T2.

In Madrid, Global Blue can be found in Terminal T1 on the ground floor and in Terminal T4 on the ground floor.

Global Exchange operates in T4 S on the ground floor and in T1 terminal on the ground floor.

Bank La Caixa - in terminal T1 on the first floor.

We have looked at the simplest and most convenient Tax Free refund scheme at a Spanish airport. If you do not fly home from Spain, but continue to travel further across Europe or make a transit flight through another EU country, you should contact the Tax Free office at the airport of the European country from which you are flying to Russia.

How to get a tax refund when returning to Russia

Those tourists in Russia who did not have time to complete documents at the airport, were unable to find an office, or flew out at night when the offices were closed are forced to return money in Russia. Checks stamped by customs with a copy of the bank card must be sent to the address of the agent-operator from the airport in Spain (there are special boxes here) or from Russia. A prepaid postage envelope is usually provided at the store. You can send one from Russia for free. If you do not have a special envelope, you will have to buy stamps at the post office to send a letter to Spain.

The money will be transferred to the card within 1.5-2 months. In some cities of Russia there are offices of operating companies, where you can also apply for and receive a refund. Return points operate in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Rostov-on-Don, Chelyabinsk in bank branches: MDM Bank, Binbank, Bank Intesa, Russian Credit Bank, SMP Bank.

Tax free through tourist offices

You can also return Tax-Free at special tourist offices in Spain or upon returning home.

Return points at tourist offices are not empty.

The Barcelona Tourist Information Center accepts Global Blue checks. Located in Plaza Catalunya.

The FNAC chain stores, in Plaza Catalunya and Plaza de la Repubblica, cooperate with the operator Premier Tax Free.

You must contact the office within 10 days after purchase, presenting a completed receipt, passport, and credit card, which will expire no earlier than four months. Then, within 21 days, send checks stamped by European customs to the office in a prepaid envelope from the airport or from Russia. This will guarantee that you have left Spain. If the documents are not sent, an amount equal to the tax refund will be withheld from your credit card.

Julia, Novosibirsk:

“I received tax free at the FNAC store in cash. I was asked to present a bank card and warned that at the airport I would need to put an envelope with documents in a special yellow mailbox. I did just that: I filled out the form, received a stamp, sealed it in an envelope and dropped it into a box. Imagine my surprise when, after some time, the amount of the refunded tax was withdrawn from my card. Apparently, the documents were simply lost. So I advise you to make copies of checks, otherwise you won’t find the culprits.”

Olga, Krasnodar:

“I received taxi free at Valencia airport. Cash is not issued here; you can only issue a refund to a card. The form must first be stamped at the customs office and then dropped into mailboxes in an envelope. The boxes are located on the street, at the entrance to the airport. The money came to me in 4 weeks.”

I returned the money at Valencia airport - everything went well.

Nina, Serpukhov:

“I encountered a scam at Barcelona airport. At the money issuing window, I was told that the shopping center where I made purchases issues refunds only to the card. The card was scanned, and the checks with the customs stamp were taken from me, giving me a bank check. As a result, after a week or two I received a message that the refund operation had been cancelled. Be careful, ask for cash or don’t hand over checks, but mail them yourself.”