Tax refund for tourists visiting Spain.

Did you know that you may be entitled to the IVA tax refund when you leave Spain? Any tourist or traveller who resides outside the European Union can claim an IVA or VAT tax refund for certain purchases made in Spain. Not a bad farewell gift, is it?

Tax Free Shopping Spain Logo

The requisites are as follows:

• Your main residence must be outside the EU, including territories such us Gibraltar, Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla, Andorra, etc. You will be requested to present your passport or residence card.
• Purchases must be accompanied by an official invoice, listing each product and the applied tax stated separately. The total amount must exceed 90.15€ (taxes included) per supplier.
• The refund applies to products destined for personal use or gifts that leave the European Union with you no more than 3 months after the date of purchase, and in quantities that cannot be used for commercial purposes.
• The refund does NOT apply to products consumed during your stay, such as food, beverages, bills from restaurants, hotels, etc.

 Many retailers throughout Spain have signed up with the Tax Free Shopping Service, which is a program designed to make it easier for tourists to request a VAT refund. These shops may show their logo, but it´s a good idea to check with the staff before you make your purchase. If the retailer is a registered member, the procedure is simple:

1. The supplier will give you a detailed official invoice and a cheque.
2. At the airport, you must present these cheques at customs BEFORE you check your bags, since custom officials may ask to see the products before they stamp your cheques. They will also ask for your passport and boarding pass.
3. Present the stamped cheques at any Bureau de Change in your chosen currency.

Another alternative is to have your purchases sent home by TAX FREE REGISTERED SHOPS.  The Spanish refund system has set up a special arrangement with DHL which will do all the paperwork for you and also ensure that your goods are properly packed up and insured and sent to your home. You have to pay for the DHL delivery service, but often the refund that you obtain from the Spanish refund service will easily cover the shipment costs. There´s also the added benefit that you don’t need to collect your TAX refund cheques, because the TAX is automatically deducted from your final bill.