What is the minimum purchase amount for a VAT refund in Europe?
Do you live outside the European Union and want to reclaim VAT on purchases made during your stay? Depending on the country where you shop, you may need to reach a minimum purchase amount to qualify for a VAT refund.
There is no single threshold that applies across the entire European Union. Each country can set its own rules, minimum purchase amount and refund procedure.
In France, the minimum purchase amount is €100.01 including VAT. In Belgium, it is €125.01 including VAT.
With Zapptax, you do not need to reach this threshold in a single store. You can combine several purchases made in different shops during your stay.
Key takeaways
- There is no common minimum purchase amount across the European Union.
- In France, eligible purchases must total at least €100.01 including VAT.
- In Belgium, eligible purchases must total at least €125.01 including VAT.
- With the traditional VAT refund system, the threshold has to be reached with the retailer issuing the tax-free form.
- With Zapptax, you can combine purchases from different stores.
- Purchases made in different countries cannot be combined on the same tax-free form.
Is there a common minimum purchase amount for VAT refunds in the European Union?
No. The main conditions for VAT refunds are defined at European level, but the system is not fully harmonised.
To qualify for a VAT refund, travellers must generally live outside the European Union, export the goods in their personal luggage and present the goods and required tax-free documents to Customs when leaving the EU.
However, each country may set its own rules, including:
- the minimum purchase amount;
- the documents required;
- the types of goods that are eligible;
- the deadline for taking the goods out of the European Union;
- the Customs validation procedure.
It is therefore important to check the rules that apply in the country where your purchases are made.
What is the minimum purchase amount for a VAT refund in France?
In France, the total value of the purchases listed on a tax-free form must be at least €100.01 including VAT.
Under the traditional system, the retailer must offer a tax-free shopping service and issue a tax-free form. You will usually need to reach the minimum threshold with that retailer, under the conditions set by French regulations.
With Zapptax
With Zapptax, you can combine several purchases made in France, even when they were made:
- in different stores;
- on different dates;
- for individual amounts below €100.01.
For example, you could combine:
- €45 spent in a clothing store;
- €35 spent in a beauty store;
- €30 spent in a bookshop.
The total comes to €110 including VAT. The French threshold has therefore been reached, and the purchases can be grouped together to generate your tax-free form.
For purchases made in France, remember to request an invoice issued using Zapptax’s billing details. You can then upload it to the app.
What is the minimum purchase amount for a VAT refund in Belgium?
In Belgium, the minimum purchase amount is €125.01 including VAT.
When using Zapptax, you do not need to spend this amount in a single store. Several purchases made with different retailers can be combined to reach the required threshold.
For example:
- €50 spent on chocolate;
- €40 spent on clothing;
- €38 spent on beauty products.
The total value of your purchases is €128 including VAT. You have therefore reached the minimum amount required to claim a VAT refund in Belgium.
A standard receipt is enough in Belgium
For purchases made in Belgium, you can upload your receipts directly to the Zapptax app. You no longer need to systematically request an invoice made out to Zapptax.
However, the receipt must clearly identify the purchase and include the required information, such as:
- the retailer’s name and address;
- a description of the items;
- the amount paid;
- the VAT rate or amount.
Most standard receipts already include this information.
Why is the minimum threshold easier to reach with Zapptax?
With the traditional VAT refund system, you first need to check whether the retailer offers tax-free shopping. Not every store has the required system or is willing to issue tax-free forms.
When a retailer does offer this service, you will need to reach the minimum purchase amount through the purchases handled by that retailer.
This can be restrictive when you make several smaller purchases in different shops.
Zapptax works differently. You add your purchase documents to the app throughout your stay. At the end of your trip, eligible purchases made in the same country can be combined to generate your tax-free form.
This gives you more freedom to shop without having to concentrate all your spending in a single store.
Can purchases made in different countries be combined?
No. Purchases made in different countries cannot be added together to reach a national threshold.
For example, a €70 purchase made in France and a €70 purchase made in Belgium would not allow you to reach the threshold in either country.
France and Belgium apply separate regulations and Customs systems. Purchases made in each country must therefore be processed separately, with a tax-free form for each country.
How to claim a VAT refund with Zapptax
The process takes just a few steps.
1. Download the app and add your purchase documents
In France, request an invoice issued using Zapptax’s billing details.
In Belgium, simply upload your receipt to the app, provided it contains the required information.
2. Generate your tax-free form
At the end of your stay, once you have reached the minimum purchase amount, generate your tax-free form directly in the app.
3. Have it validated by Customs
Before leaving the European Union, present your goods and validate your tax-free form with Customs in the last EU country you leave.
Customs validation is required before your refund can be processed.
4. Receive your refund
Once your tax-free form has been correctly validated and processed, Zapptax issues your refund using your chosen payment method.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to spend €100.01 in each store in France?
Not with Zapptax. You can combine several invoices from different stores to reach a total of at least €100.01 including VAT on eligible purchases made in France.
Do I need to spend €125.01 in a single store in Belgium?
No. With Zapptax, several receipts from different Belgian retailers can be combined.
Can I add a purchase that is below the minimum threshold to the app?
Yes. Each individual purchase can be below the minimum amount. It is the total value of the eligible purchases grouped together for a VAT refund in the same country that must reach the threshold.
Can I combine purchases made in France and Belgium?
No. Purchases must be grouped and processed separately for each country.
Are all products eligible for a VAT refund?
No. VAT refunds mainly apply to goods that are taken out of the European Union in your personal luggage.
Services, accommodation, meals consumed locally and certain categories of goods are generally not eligible.
Combine your purchases and simplify your VAT refund with Zapptax
Reaching the minimum purchase amount for a VAT refund does not mean you have to make all your purchases in a single store.
With Zapptax, you can centralise your eligible invoices and receipts, combine purchases made in different stores and generate your tax-free form at the end of your stay.
