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Are you eligible for Wevat tax-free shopping?

+ What is tax-free shopping?

In most countries, the price of goods will include some tax (VAT - value added tax, or "TVA" in French). This tax is automatically added onto your shopping, and can be as much as 20-25% of the original price 😱.

Luckily, there's a way to get that money back - if you're shopping abroad and take your purchases home with you to enjoy, you're eligible for a VAT refund. Unfortunately, the refund process can be a pain, traditionally involving lots of forms and queueing - not what you want when travelling!

That's where we come in. At Wevat, we make getting a VAT refund on shopping abroad simple and easy. You can shop, add invoices and generate your refund straight from your phone, whilst on-the-go. So use Wevat, and save your money and time for better things!

P.S. Don't forget - now that the UK has left the European Union, UK travellers visiting EU countries can get a tax refund on their EU shopping. So start saving today!

+ Who is eligible for a tax refund on France shopping?

To be eligible for a VAT refund on your shopping in France, you must:

  • have your permanent address outside France and the European Union ("EU");
  • be visiting France for less than six months; and
  • be departing France for a non EU country.

Please note: Your eligibility may be checked by French customs/their designated agents at your departure airport. They have statutory powers to make the final decision on your VAT refund. Wevat cannot interfere with or overrule their final decision.

+ Am I eligible to use Wevat for tax-free shopping?

To claim a tax refund with Wevat on your shopping in France, you must:

  • sign up to Wevat before shopping and be at least 16 years old;
  • have your permanent residence outside the EU and be visiting France for less than 6 months;
  • spend at least EUR100 (incl. VAT) during your trip on eligible goods;
  • get a purchase invoice (a "facture" in French) with Wevat name and address for your shopping; and
  • leave France for a non-EU country from a Wevat supported exit point within 3 months following the month of your purchase date, taking your shopping with you.

+ Purchase time requirements for tax-free shopping

A valid VAT receipt must contain the following:

Your purchases are only eligible for a VAT refund if they meet all of the following time requirements:

  1. You must sign up to Wevat and agree to our terms before you make a purchase;
  2. We accept the purchase time before, on and after your arrival date in France; and
  3. You must leave France and the EU with your purchase within 3 months following the month in which you bought your item. If your purchase falls outside this time period, it will not be eligible for a VAT refund. For example, if you are leaving in April (1st-30th April), the earliest date you can make an eligible purchase is 1st January.

+ Wevat supported departure points

To use Wevat, you need to leave the EU from one of our supported departure points:

  • ✈️ Paris Charles de Gaulle airport;
  • 🚄 Paris Gare du Nord Eurostar station;
  • ✈️ Paris Orly airport;
  • ✈️ Nice Côte d'Azur airport;
  • ✈️ Lyon Saint-Exupéry airport;
  • ✈️ Bordeaux-Mérignac;
  • 🚄 Lille-Europe station;
  • 🚇 Calais Eurotunnel;
  • 🛳 Calais Ferry Port；
  • 🚄 Chessy Marne-la-Vallée (Disneyland Paris);
  • ✈️ Marseille-Provence airport；
  • 🚁 Toussus-le-Noble airport;
  • 🛫 Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL);
  • 🛫 Bergerac (EGC);
  • 🛫 Béziers / Cap d’Agde (BZR);
  • 🛫 Biarritz (BIQ);
  • 🛫 Caen-Carpiquet (CFR);
  • 🛫 Carcassonne (CCF);
  • 🛫 Chambéry-Savoie (CMF);
  • 🛫 Grenoble-Isère (GNB);
  • 🛫 Chambéry-Savoie (CMF);
  • 🛫 Grenoble-Isère (GNB);
  • 🛫 Lamentin (FDF);
  • 🛫 Limoges Bellegarde (LIG);
  • 🛫 Montpellier Méditerranée (MPL);
  • 🛫 Nantes Atlantique (NTE);
  • 🛫 Nîmes-Garons (FNI);
  • 🛫️ Strasbourg Entzheim (SXB)

If you‘re leaving the EU from other European departure points outside of France, you can also use Wevat. Please contact our customer support team from the app for more information and instructions.

What do I need to know before shopping?

+ What is the minimum and maximum spend per trip

To use Wevat for your tax refund, you will need to spend more than €100 (incl. VAT) across your entire trip. (This is a requirement set by French customs.)

You won't be able to generate your refund form until you have verified invoices totaling more than €100 (incl. VAT).

There is no maximum spend, but high value items may take longer to verify.

+ What shopping can I get a VAT refund on?

You can claim a VAT refund on most items purchased in France during your trip, as long as they are for personal use and taken with you when you leave.

You can claim for: clothes, cosmetics, jewellery, watches and electronics.

You cannot claim for:

  • Goods with no VAT e.g. duty free shopping
  • Goods you have already claimed a tax refund on
  • Purchase of services e.g. museum tickets, concert tickets, hotels, car rental, fuel, restaurant bills
  • Food items consumed in France
  • Tobacco
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Cars and car parts
  • Invoices showing returned or exchanged items (you should request a new clean invoice for the items you're keeping)

To prevent your refund claim being rejected by Customs when you leave France:

  • keep your shopping in its original packaging (consumable items, such as perfume and alcohol, should remain unused);
  • have all invoices and items on your tax refund form ready for inspection. If you're not able to produce one or more of your items or invoices for inspection, your entire refund claim may be rejected.

+ Where can I shop and get a VAT refund?

To get a VAT refund with Wevat on your shopping in France, you will need purchase invoices with Wevat name and address for your goods. This is known as a "facture" in France.

Most retailers in France offer factures, but there are a few that don't (for example, Louis Vuitton). To avoid disappointment, we always advise that you check with sales staff before making your purchase.

+ Does Wevat work at all stores?

Almost! You can get a tax refund through Wevat on eligible purchases made at any store as long as you have a valid purchase invoice that is correctly addressed to Wevat. If you’re shopping at Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Céline, or Hermès, the procedure for obtaining an invoice is different. Please contact our customer support on live chat for more information and instructions!

Favourite shops for Wevat customers: Galeries Lafayette,Le Bon Marche, Sephora, Apple, Pharmacies, wine shops, boutiques at Le Marais etc.

+ Can I get a tax refund for online shopping in France with Wevat?

Yes, online purchases are now accepted for tax refunds with Wevat. Before shopping, you need to ensure:

  1. You are shopping at a French registered retailer. The retailer must be VAT registered and based in France - look for a “VAT” or “TVA” number starting with “FR”. We suggest you check with the retailer before you shop.
  2. It must be delivered to an address in France. Click and collect at a shop in France also works.
  3. You are eligible to use Wevat.

How to get a tax refund for online shopping?

Step 1: Sign up to Wevat and check your eligibility

Step 2: Shop online and obtain an invoice addressed to Wevat by entering the following details under the billing address section:

Company name / First and last name: Vatcat France

Address: 41 Cours de la Liberté, 69003 Lyon

Step 3: Once you have received or collected your goods, please forward your invoice to e-invoices@wevat.com, in the subject, insert the email address that is linked to your Wevat account.

Step 4: Scan your in-app barcode at your departure point

Step 5: Receive your refund

+ What is a purchase invoice and how do I get one?

What is a purchase invoice?

A purchase invoice (known as a "facture" in French!) is an invoice containing the following information:

  • Shop name and address
  • Buyer name and address (your invoice should be addressed Wevat - see below)
  • Date of purchase
  • An invoice number
  • Description of each item purchased
  • VAT rate of each of the items and the total purchase value

*If your invoice is handwritten, please ensure it was valid by a company stamp from the shop.

To get your tax refund, your invoices must be addressed to Wevat, not yourself. If the invoice is not addressed to Wevat, it will be rejected in-app as an "incomplete invoice" and we won't be able to refund you.

How do I get a purchase invoice addressed to Wevat?

It's easy - just show the purchase invoice request screen within the Wevat app to the salesperson when you are buying your items. This gives the salesperson instructions on what to do in French and Wevat's address details for the invoice.

Please note: Although most retailers in France offer purchases invoices, there are some that don't - please read our guidance here on different store policies for help. To avoid disappointment, it's best to check with sales staff before making your purchase.

+ Tips for getting an invoice

  1. Ask for a “facture” (Invoice in French) addressed to Wevat (Click the mascot on the app homepage where you will see our request an invoice screen). Show this screen to the store staff where it has Wevat’s info;
  2. You can also search the store where you can see the invoice examples for facilitating your request invoice process;
  3. Please do not mention tax refund form otherwise they will issue you a paper tax refund form from a traditional tax refund company;
  4. FYI: Tourists have their right to use their own tax refund provider and stores are obligated to provide invoices upon request.

+ I want to exchange/return some purchases - can I still get a tax refund?

Unfortunately, we do not accept invoices that contain returned or exchanged items. Since retailers process returns/exchanges in different ways, we're unable to guarantee that these invoices will satisfy tax refund rules.

If you want to return/exchange an item but still want to claim a tax refund on the items you're keeping, you'll need to return everything and repurchase to get a new, clean purchase invoice.

What do I need to know when I use Wevat?

+ How long does it take to verify my invoice?

Once you've added your invoices, they will be verified by our team to check your shopping is eligible for a VAT refund.

It usually takes a few hours for an invoice to be verified during normal hours, but it can take longer on a busy day. For this reason, we recommend you add your invoices on-the-go, as you shop!

If your invoices have not yet been verified and you're due to leave France soon, contact our live customer support chat for help.

+ How do I avoid my invoice being rejected?

Once you have uploaded your invoice, it will be verified by our team to ensure your shopping meets the legal requirements for a VAT refund.

Unfortunately, for legal and operational reasons, we can't accept the following types of invoices:

  • return and exchange invoices
  • invoices for ineligible items (i.e. items that do not qualify for a VAT refund)
  • invoices outside the purchase time requirements
  • incomplete invoices (i.e. invoices missing required information)

If you have any questions about your invoice, please contact our customer service team using the in-app chat.

These requirements are in place to ensure compliance with French law, and a smooth and reliable refund experience for you.

+ What refund methods can I choose?

Currently we offer the following refund methods:

  • Alipay
  • WeChat Pay
  • Bank transfer
  • PayPal

Please note that your available refund methods will also depend on the currency you choose to be paid in. We're working hard to provide additional methods in the near future - so watch this space!

+ How do I get my refund approved?

To get a tax refund on your shopping, your refund form must be approved at your Wevat-supported departure point.

Before departure:

  • Generate your tax refund form in the app, and check that it's correct
  • Collect together your invoices and shopping. Customs may ask to see these so make sure they're accessible e.g. packed in your hand luggage.

At your departure point:

  • Find the PABLO détaxe kiosk
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to get your tax refund approved: (1) Select your language (2) Scan your in-app refund form barcode (3) Get customs approval (a green screen should appear with the message "Form valid").

We recommend that you take a picture of the approval screen for your records.

+ How much will I be refunded?

You will be refunded all the VAT paid on your shopping (which is usually 20% of the overall price of your shopping), minus Wevat's single service fee.

VAT paid

The standard VAT rate in France is 20%, which will apply to most of your shopping. However, on occasion your item may have a lower VAT rate e.g. 5.5%. The amount of VAT you paid on your shopping will be clearly shown on your receipts and purchase invoices.

Service fee

Unlike most other tax refund companies, Wevat charges a single flat fee of 22% of your refund.

  • There are no complicated tier structures, extra fees, or hidden costs through poor exchange rates.
  • If you choose to receive your refund in a foreign currency, you will be given your refund at the market exchange rate.

Example calculation

You have spent €600 on a designer handbag in France. You paid 20% VAT for the bag, which means you paid an extra €100 on top of the original cost of the bag (€500).

This means that your total claimable VAT refund is €100.

If you complete your VAT refund with Wevat, you will be refunded €78 (€100 minus Wevat's 22% fee). If you choose to be refunded in another currency (e.g. GBP), Wevat will refund you the equivalent of €78 at the exact market exchange rate at the time.

If your VAT is 20%, it means you can get 13% back on your purchase if you use Wevat.

❗ Remember - you can always check how much you're due to be refunded by clicking on the refund amount at the top of the Wevat home screen. This will take you to your refund calculator, which shows your exact refund amount and the amount of Wevat's service fee.

+ When will I get my refund?

It should take up to 3 months for you to receive your refund from the date of your departure. The exact time it takes for your tax refund to arrive depends on your chosen refund method and currency.

You can track the status of your refund in the "Refund" section of the app.

Need more help?

 

More France tax refund information, please click below to find more.