Immigrate to Spain to learn about shopping in Spain: If you are a non-EU resident tourist, you can enjoy tax refund services when shopping at any store in Spain that displays the "Tax Free" sign, provided that your purchase amount exceeds 90.15 euros.
1. Tax Refund Conditions:
1. The tax refund applicant must be a non-EU resident.
2. Shopping must be done at stores displaying the "Tax Free" sign.
3. The purchase amount must exceed 90.15 euros. If you shop at the same store within the same month, you can combine all receipts on one tax refund form. However, please note that the minimum purchase amount per day is 90.16 euros. For example, if you shop at multiple outlets of the same brand in one day and the total exceeds 90.16 euros, you can request a tax refund form.
4. Only goods that can be personally carried out of the country (traveler's personal luggage) are eligible for tax refunds. The exported goods must be sealed and unused.
Spain's VAT Rate:
The tax refund we apply for refers to the value-added tax on goods, abbreviated in Spanish as I.V.A. The VAT rate varies slightly depending on the type of goods, as follows:
General: 21%
Some food items, some optical products: 10%
Medicines and medical supplies, books, magazines, some food items: 4%
2. Tax Refund Procedures:
1. Shop at stores marked with "Tax Free" for more than 90.15 euros, and request a tax refund form from the cashier at the time of payment.
2. After receiving the tax refund form, please fill in the required information in uppercase English letters. There are several tax refund companies in Spain, and the format of the tax refund forms may vary slightly, but the content is similar. You can refer to the Global Blue tax refund form filling guide: http://www.globalblue.com/incoming/article273962.ece/BINARY/SV_FormIns_A4_131120.pdf
3. Please allow ample time at the airport to present your tax refund form, passport, store invoice/receipt, and purchased goods at the customs office (Aduana) to obtain the customs stamp. (You can get the stamp within three months from the date of purchase.)
Please note: If the tax refund form does not have a customs stamp, you will not be able to obtain the tax refund.
4. Request the tax refund from the tax refund company. You can choose to receive the tax refund in cash at the corresponding tax refund company service point at the airport, or receive the refund amount via credit card, bank transfer, or international check. If you choose to receive the refund via credit card or check, please make a copy of the tax refund form or note down the tax refund form number (DOC-ID) for future reference when mailing the tax refund form.
Please note: The actual tax refund amount you receive = VAT to be refunded — tax refund company service fee.
3. Tax Refund Methods:
1. Credit card;
2. Cash: After passing through customs, cash can be collected at the following locations:
a) BBVA bank branches at Madrid Airport (Terminal 1), Canary Islands Airport, Ceuta, and Melilla Airport, or any branch of the bank in any city in Spain.
b) Global Blue offices located at Madrid Airport (Terminal 4) and Lisbon, Portugal.
c) La Caixa savings bank branches located at Barcelona Airport (Terminals 1 and 2) and Palma de Mallorca Airport.
3. Bank check: A named euro check will be mailed to the address of the tax refund applicant.
4. Important Notes for Customs Procedures:
1. You have a three-month period after receiving the goods to carry them out of the EU member states; otherwise, you will not be eligible for tax refunds.
2. Present the tax refund invoice and goods at the last exit point from the EU for verification.
3. Passengers transiting to other EU countries should have the invoice stamped at the customs office at the exit point from Spain (mainland and Balearic Islands).
4. If you choose to receive the tax refund via credit card or bank check, the customs office should stamp the invoice, which should then be neatly stacked and mailed back. When mailing from Spain, no postage is required; just use the envelope provided by the store. Keep a copy for your records.
