Longchamp VAT refund: how to claim tax back on your purchase in France
Buying a Longchamp bag in Paris is one of those shopping moments travelers actually plan their trip around. Yet many non-EU visitors leave the country without realizing they could have recovered a meaningful share of the price through a VAT refund.
Good news, if you live outside the European Union and meet the French eligibility rules, eligible purchases made during your stay can qualify for tax-free shopping.
This guide walks through how a Longchamp VAT refund works in-store and online, the official conditions to meet, the Customs steps not to miss, and where to find the main Longchamp stores in Paris.
Shopping for more French icons? Read our Chanel Paris VAT refund guide.
Key takeaways
- Non-EU travelers can claim a VAT refund on eligible Longchamp purchases made in France, including boutiques, department store concessions, and the outlet.
- France's standard VAT rate is 20%. With Zapptax, eligible shoppers can recover up to 15% of the VAT-included price on their Longchamp purchases.
- The process is fully digital. Ask for a VAT invoice billed to Zapptax at the till, upload it in the app, and the tax-free form is generated automatically.
- Eligible online orders can qualify too, if billed to Zapptax, delivered in France, and exported with you when you leave the EU.
How to get a Longchamp VAT refund on an in-store purchase ?
Claiming tax back on a Longchamp bag bought in store is easier than the paperwork reputation suggests.
Zapptax is a VAT refund operator available as a mobile app, designed to help non-EU travelers consolidate every eligible French purchase into one digital tax-free form.
Here is how the in-store process works.
1. Ask for a VAT invoice at checkout
At the Longchamp store counter, ask for a VAT invoice ("une facture") billed to Zapptax. French retailers are legally required to issue a VAT invoice when a customer requests one. The Zapptax app provides the exact billing details to share with the sales associate.
If the team is unfamiliar with the process, Zapptax customer support is reachable directly from the app.
2. Upload the invoice in the app
Once the invoice is issued, upload it in the Zapptax app. The app centralizes every eligible invoice from your trip, so there is no need to handle a separate paper form at each Longchamp store or other boutique you visit.
3. Receive your tax-free form
As soon as your eligible purchases exceed €100.01 including VAT, Zapptax generates the tax-free form needed for Customs validation before you leave the EU.
4. Validate at your last EU departure point
Customs validation is non-negotiable: no validation, no refund. If you leave the EU through France, you generally use a PABLO kiosk near Customs, before checking in your luggage.
If you exit the EU through another member state, validation must happen at that final EU departure point. Keep your Longchamp items in your carry-on or accessible in your luggage, as Customs officers may ask to inspect them.
5. Get refunded
Once the form is validated, the refund is processed to the payment method selected in Zapptax. Most refunds arrive within a few weeks.
How to get your Longchamp VAT refund on a Longchamp online order
Bought a Le Pliage Filet or a Roseau bag on longchamp.com during your stay? Tax-free shopping can still apply with Zapptax if you follow these steps.
1. Use Zapptax billing details at checkout
Enter the name, address, and VAT number provided in the Zapptax app in the billing details on longchamp.com. This is the key condition for an online tax refund to be processed.
2. Choose delivery in France during your trip
The order must be delivered in France while you are there: hotel, temporary accommodation, click & collect, or a pickup point. You then take the goods out of the EU in your personal luggage.
3. Upload the invoice in Zapptax
Save your Longchamp invoice and upload it in the app, just as you would for an in-store purchase.
4. Validate at customs before leaving
The same Customs rule applies to online orders: validation before EU exit is mandatory. The full process is detailed in this online tax refund guide.
VAT refund conditions in France
To qualify for tax-free shopping at Longchamp (or any French retailer), every condition below must be met.
| Condition | What it means |
|---|---|
| Residence | You must live outside the European Union |
| Age | You must be 16 or older |
| Length of stay | Your visit to France must be under 6 months |
| Minimum purchase | €100.01 including VAT. With Zapptax, eligible purchases from different stores can be combined to reach the threshold |
| Nature of goods | Retail sale of a tourist nature, not commercial resale |
| Condition of goods | Items must be new and unused at the time of export |
| Excluded goods | Tobacco, fuel, weapons, and some cultural goods |
| Export deadline | Goods must be validated before the end of the 3rd month following the month of purchase |
| Customs validation | Mandatory at the final EU departure point |
Source: French Customs (douane.gouv.fr).
Why use Zapptax for your Longchamp tax refund
- One app for the whole trip. Invoices from every eligible French retailer are grouped into a tax-free form.
- Up to 15% back on the VAT-included price, depending on the total amount spent.
- Online and in-store coverage, including eligible Longchamp.com orders delivered in France.
- Customer support in-app when a store team is unfamiliar with the process.
Where to shop Longchamp in Paris
Paris is Longchamp's hometown, and the brand maintains several major addresses across the city, from the largest flagship in Europe to its historic Saint-Honoré headquarters.
Longchamp Champs-Élysées : the largest flagship
Spread over two floors and 500 m² at Champs-Élysées, this is Longchamp's biggest store in Europe and the easiest single-stop for any tourist shopping list. The boutique stocks the full women's and men's collections: bags, luggage, ready-to-wear, shoes, and accessories.
📍 77 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris
Longchamp Saint-Honoré : the historic address
After major renovation, the Saint-Honoré "Maison" has become the brand's flagship Parisian home, split across two adjacent buildings: women's collections at 404 and men's at 271. Expect the full universe of the house, plus exclusive pieces tied to the neighborhood.
📍 404 Rue Saint-Honoré (women) & 271 Rue Saint-Honoré (men), 75001 Paris
Longchamp inside Paris department stores
For visitors planning a full department store day, Longchamp operates concessions inside the major Parisian addresses. Practical for combining a Longchamp purchase with several other brands under one VAT invoice trip.
The major addresses include Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, Printemps Haussmann, BHV Marais, and Le Bon Marché.
Longchamp at La Vallée Village outlet
Travelers looking for past-season Longchamp at reduced prices can head to the Longchamp outlet at La Vallée Village, about 40 minutes east of Paris by RER. Tax-free shopping also applies at the outlet, which makes it a strong stop for budget-minded shoppers who want a Le Pliage or a Roseau at a discount.
Conclusion
A Longchamp purchase should travel home with more than great Parisian style. It should travel home with its VAT refund too.
From the iconic Le Pliage to a leather Roseau or the latest ready-to-wear, every eligible purchase made during your trip deserves the savings that tax-free shopping was designed for. Pair your Longchamp shopping with other affordable French fashion brands and let Zapptax consolidate the refund into a single, digital process.
FAQ
1. Can you get a VAT refund on Longchamp purchases in France?
Yes. If you live outside the European Union, are 16 or older, and visit France for less than 6 months, eligible Longchamp purchases made during your trip can qualify for a VAT refund. The minimum purchase threshold is €100.01 including VAT, and Customs validation before leaving the EU is mandatory.
2. How much is the VAT refund on a Longchamp bag in France?
France's standard VAT rate is 20%, but travelers do not receive the full 20% back. After the refund operator's service fees, most shoppers recover between 12% and 15% of the VAT-included price. With Zapptax, eligible non-EU travelers can recover up to 15%.
3. Can you claim a VAT refund on Longchamp online orders?
Yes, under specific conditions. The order must be billed using the Zapptax details, delivered to an address in France during your trip, and the goods must leave the EU in your personal luggage. The invoice must then be uploaded in the Zapptax app and validated at customs before departure.
4. Does Longchamp outlet shopping qualify for tax-free shopping?
Yes. Longchamp outlet purchases at La Vallée Village can qualify for a VAT refund as long as the general French eligibility rules are met. The discount status of the goods does not affect the right to a tax refund.
