How to get a tax free form: the complete guide
You’ve been shopping in France and are now wondering how to obtain your tax free form to reclaim VAT? You’re in the right place.
We know that the tax free process can quickly become confusing, especially the first time: eligibility conditions to check, the tax free form to obtain, stores that don’t always know how to proceed… not to mention customs validation just before your flight.
With Zapptax, everything becomes much simpler. All you need to do is ask for an invoice in-store, then upload it to the app to generate a compliant tax free form in just a few moments. Most importantly, we guide you all the way through customs validation, so your tax refund is completely stress-free.
In this guide, we explain:
- What a tax free form is (and what it’s used for),
- Who is eligible for tax free shopping,
- How to obtain and validate your tax free form,
- And how to avoid the most common mistakes.
🎁 Bonus: an example of a tax free form, plus all the practical information you need to successfully claim your VAT refund.
Let’s get started — and reclaim VAT on your purchases with ease!
To learn more about VAT refund timelines, check out our dedicated guide.
In brief
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The tax free form is an essential document to obtain a VAT refund. It must be validated by customs before leaving the European Union.
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To be eligible for tax free shopping, you must live outside the EU, be at least 16 years old, stay temporarily (generally less than 6 months), make purchases for personal use, and reach a minimum purchase amount of €100.01 including VAT during your stay.
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To obtain your tax free form, you must upload all your purchase invoices to the Zapptax app. The app combines your purchases to reach the required threshold and then generates a secure, compliant tax free form.
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Validation takes place at the final point of exit from the EU, at a PABLO kiosk or with customs officers. Once your tax free form is validated, the VAT refund is automatically triggered.
What is a tax free form?
The tax free form, officially known in France as a “bordereau de vente à l’exportation (BVE)”, is the mandatory document required to reclaim VAT on purchases made in France when you live outside the European Union.
It contains several key pieces of information:
- your personal details (name, country of usual residence),
- details of the purchased goods,
- the total amount including VAT and the VAT paid,
- a barcode compatible with PABLO kiosks.
This document must be validated by customs before you leave the EU. Without customs validation, no VAT refund is possible.
Good to know: a tax free form is not just an invoice. It is a standardized document recognized by customs authorities and serves as official proof that the goods are leaving the European Union.
Example of a tax free form
Click here to see a tax free form example.
Who is eligible for tax free shopping in France?
Before trying to obtain a tax free form, it’s essential to check that you meet the eligibility conditions. These rules are defined by a European directive (the VAT Directive) and enforced by customs authorities.
Tax free eligibility conditions:
✔ Live outside the European Union
You must prove your usual residence in a non-EU country (EU and overseas territories excluded). In most cases, a passport is sufficient.
✔ Be at least 16 years old
Tax free shopping is only available to travelers aged 16 or over.
✔ Stay temporarily in France
Your stay in France must be shorter than 6 months.
✔ Purchase goods for personal use
The goods must not be intended for resale.
✔ Reach the minimum purchase amount
In France, the minimum amount is €100.01 including VAT.
Zapptax allows you to centralize and combine your invoices to reach this threshold more easily.
✔ Leave the European Union with your goods
You must travel with the purchased items and be able to present them if requested. The goods must be new, unused and not consumed.
Not eligible for tax free shopping:
- EU residents,
- travelers in transit without leaving the EU,
- business purchases,
- certain specific products (including manufactured tobacco, which is strictly excluded).
How to obtain a tax free form?
Obtaining a tax free form may sound simple in theory… but in practice, it’s often far from smooth. Many travelers believe they just need to ask for the document in-store, but:
- not all stores offer tax free shopping,
- very few stores use the customs system known as “PABLO-I”, and those that do often find it too complex or use it incorrectly,
- store staff are not always trained,
- and errors when creating tax free forms are unfortunately very common (an incorrect form = VAT refund denied).
As a result, many tourists leave without a tax free form, or with a non-compliant document that completely blocks the tax refund at departure.
This is exactly why Zapptax exists.
Get your tax free form with Zapptax
With Zapptax, you no longer depend on individual stores. You generate your tax free form yourself, directly in the app, in just a few seconds.
Here’s how it works:
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You shop anywhere in France and ask for an invoice in the name of Zapptax at checkout.
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You upload your invoices to the app.
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Zapptax generates a single tax free form, fully compliant with the PABLO system and accepted by French customs.
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On departure day, you simply validate the form at a PABLO kiosk or at the customs desk.
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You then receive your VAT refund from Zapptax.
Zapptax is a tax free shopping app operating in France, Belgium and Spain. In France, tax free forms are issued through its trusted partner Triptax, a tax-free operator officially approved by French customs.
Unlike in-store processes, where errors are common, with Zapptax you benefit from:
✔ A 100% PABLO-compliant tax free form, ready for customs validation
✔ All your invoices grouped together to easily reach the minimum threshold
✔ Responsive, human and multilingual customer support
✔ Ultra-simple app, even while traveling
✔ One of the best refund rates on the market, with up to 90% of your VAT refunded
How to validate your tax free form with customs?
Customs validation is the most important step in the tax free process. Without validation, no refund is possible — even if your tax free form is perfectly compliant.
With Zapptax, you’re guided at the right time and in the right place to avoid any stress. Here’s what you need to know.
Where should you validate your tax free form?
You must validate your tax free form at your final point of exit from the European Union:
- at an international airport (CDG, Orly, Nice, Lyon, etc.),
- at a cross-border train station (Gare du Nord, etc.),
- at a port,
- or at a road border checkpoint.
What matters is that this is the very last point before leaving the EU — the place where you check in your luggage if you have connecting flights and no access to your baggage, or the customs desk during connections.
Example: if you travel Paris → Amsterdam → Dubai and check in your luggage in Paris, you must validate your tax free form in Paris. If you check in your luggage in Amsterdam, you must validate it in Amsterdam.
If in doubt, contact the Zapptax support team, who can guide you based on your specific situation.
When should you validate your tax free form?
Always before checking in your luggage and before going through security.
Why? Because customs officers may ask you to present the purchased goods for inspection.
How does customs validation work?
You have two options, depending on the airport or your situation:
1. Validate at a PABLO kiosk
This is the fastest and easiest option.
Scan the barcode on your Zapptax tax free form:
- if the screen shows “VALIDATED”, you’re all set,
- if additional checks are required, you’ll be directed to a customs officer.
2. Go to the customs desk
If the kiosk is out of service, the scan fails or a check is required, you must present:
- your tax free form (printed or on your phone),
- your passport,
- your boarding pass or travel documents,
- the unused goods.
A stamp or electronic validation will then be applied.
Conclusion
Getting a tax free form has never been easier thanks to Zapptax. You generate your form in just a few seconds directly from the app, without relying on stores, and benefit from simple PABLO validation and a secure VAT refund.
Everything is centralized, compliant and supported for a smooth, reliable and truly rewarding tax free experience.
Ready to reclaim your VAT?
FAQ
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How do I obtain a tax free form?
In France, you can request a tax free form directly in-store, but this is not always easy: not all stores offer tax free shopping and data entry errors are common. A poorly completed form can prevent customs validation and therefore block any VAT refund — especially if you have multiple purchases and end up with several paper forms.
The most reliable solution is to use Zapptax, which generates a single, 100% PABLO-compliant tax free form from your purchase invoices. This allows you to combine all your purchases into one form and receive guidance all the way through customs validation.
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Is it possible to get a VAT refund for online orders?
Yes, absolutely. For all your in-store or online purchases, simply upload the purchase invoice to the Zapptax app.
Zapptax then creates a valid tax free form, even if the store itself does not offer tax free shopping.
This is a simple and flexible solution to claim a VAT refund on both online and in-store purchases.
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How can I claim tax free at the airport?
It’s important to understand that airports do not issue tax free forms — you must already have one before arriving.
At the airport, you only complete the customs validation step by scanning your tax free form at a PABLO kiosk. If a check is required, you’ll be directed to a customs officer.
Once validation is completed, the customs process is finished and the tax refund is automatically processed through your tax free shopping app.
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Which stores offer tax free shopping in France?
In practice, only some stores offer tax free shopping, as it requires a PABLO-I compatible system and trained staff. Many retailers either refuse or struggle with the process.
With Zapptax, this issue disappears entirely: all stores become compatible, as long as they provide you with an invoice in the name of Zapptax — which they are legally required to do.
And it also works for online purchases, making tax free shopping accessible everywhere, without depending on individual stores.
