VAT refund at Orly airport: How to claim your tax back easily

VAT refund at Orly airport: How to claim your tax back easily

Your trip to France is coming to an end, we hope you enjoyed sipping wine on sunny terraces, shopping sprees in major brands, and of course, all the wonders of French cultural heritage.

Now it’s time to head to Paris-Orly Airport, one of France’s main international departure hubs. Less crowded and quicker to access, Orly Airport is the perfect place to calmly complete your VAT refund.

If you are a resident of a country outside the European Union and you are leaving with the goods you purchased during your stay, you can recover part of the VAT, provided you meet a few conditions.

In this article, we’ll explain how VAT refunds work on purchases made in France and show you the easiest ways to claim them.

Discover Zapptax now to simplify your VAT refund in France.

Understanding VAT and Tax-Free Shopping in France

VAT (Value Added Tax) is an indirect tax included in the price of most goods and services in France. The standard rate is 20%, but there are also reduced rates:

• 10% for dining, transportation, some renovation work, and over-the-counter medications
• 5.5% for essential goods such as food, books, and equipment for people with disabilities
• 2.1% for certain prescription medications and the press

In the context of tourist shopping, the 20% rate is the most common: clothing, cosmetics, electronics, accessories... which means these are the purchases where a VAT refund is most valuable.

The VAT refund allows non-EU visitors to claim part of this tax back. It only applies to physical goods that you take with you when leaving EU territory.

Are you eligible for a VAT refund?

To be eligible, the following conditions must be met:

• You must be over 16 years old.
• You must live outside the EU.
• Your stay in the EU must be under six months.
• You must take the new, unused goods with you in your personal luggage.

Eligible goods include physical items bought in-store or online: clothing, leather goods, perfumes, electronics, souvenirs…
Be aware that VAT on services, meals, transport tickets, or already consumed items is not refundable.

How to get a VAT refund at Orly: the traditional way

Traditionally, here’s how it works:

1. Make your purchases with your passport (to prove you reside outside the EU) and request a tax-free form in each store.
2. On your departure day, validate your tax-free forms at a PABLO kiosk at Orly Airport for electronic validation.
3. If the kiosk isn’t working, you’ll need to go through Customs for a manual stamp. You must then drop the stamped form in one of the designated mailboxes at the airport so it can be forwarded to the tax refund operator.
4. Then all you can do is wait: the refund can take up to 6 weeks or more, depending on the provider.

This method works, but it can be time-consuming, especially if you made multiple purchases in different stores. The main downside: the €100 minimum applies per store, per day, which limits your options and complicates the process. Add to that frequent errors on paper forms, the hassle of tracking multiple refunds, customer service spread across various operators, and the fact that online purchases are excluded from tax-free shopping using this method.

The mobile alternative that simplifies VAT refunds

Thanks to the Zapptax app, you no longer need to show your passport or request paper forms in each store. Everything is handled directly from your phone, from invoices to the tax-free form.

Here’s how it works:

1. Download the app to your smartphone.
2. When shopping, request an invoice made out to Zapptax (invoicing details are provided in the app).
3. Take a photo of your invoices and upload them in the app.
4. A tax-free form is generated in the app, grouping all your purchases.
5. Validate this form at a PABLO kiosk at Orly when you depart.
6. Receive your refund quickly via your preferred payment method.

Why Zapptax is your best ally

• Refund rates up to 15% higher than the market average. Up to 90% of the VAT refunded!
• A huge time saver: no waiting in stores, the process is fully digital, saving you valuable time.
• It works in all stores, even online: Zapptax is valid everywhere in France, including shops that don’t offer traditional tax-free shopping. Your online purchases are also eligible.
• No minimum per store (unlike the traditional method), only a €100 minimum for your entire stay.
• Intuitive interface and 24/7 multilingual customer support.
• Everything is centralized on your phone. No more paper forms, no printing needed. All your invoices, forms and validations are stored and managed in-app. Convenient, modern, and paper-free.

Where to validate your VAT form at Orly

Even if Zapptax makes the whole tax refund process easier, one step remains essential: validating your tax-free form at the airport, before leaving the EU.

PABLO kiosks are located near the customs desks. At Paris-Orly Airport, you can find them at the following locations:

• Orly 1-2: Level 1, near Gate 21d
• Orly 3: Level 0, near Arrivals 3
• Orly 4: Level 0, near Gate 47d

These kiosks are easy to spot thanks to the red “Détaxe” signs.

Simply scan the barcode on the tax-free form generated by the Zapptax app (or from your smartphone wallet).

In some cases, a customs officer may ask to inspect your purchases after validation at the kiosk.

Our tips to avoid unpleasant surprises

1. Plan to arrive early at the airport to ensure you have time to complete the validation.
2. Keep your new items easily accessible in your luggage in case customs asks to see them.
3. If your last EU departure point is not in France (for example, Madrid or Brussels), you must have your form manually stamped by a customs officer there, as PABLO kiosks only exist in France. In this case, you must print your form in advance to get it manually validated. Afterward, upload a picture of the stamped form in the app.

Conclusion

You’re already dealing with the stress of travel, don’t make it worse with complicated paperwork and long delays!

No more running around stores collecting paper forms, or juggling documents at the airport. With Zapptax, you handle your entire VAT refund from your phone, and validate everything just once at Orly via a PABLO kiosk.

Less waiting, a better refund, and zero stress. Whether you’re heading home with a luxury bag, a new camera, or tasty souvenirs, don’t let the VAT fly away without you.

Download the Zapptax app now on iOS or Android and claim back the VAT you’re entitled to!

FAQ

1. Can I use Zapptax even if I shopped in different stores?
Yes! That’s one of the key benefits: you can combine purchases from different stores, as long as they’re invoiced to Zapptax (info available in the app). You only need to reach a total of €100 across your entire stay.

2. Where can I do tax-free validation at Orly Airport?
PABLO electronic kiosks are located in the check-in areas, near the boarding counters at terminals 3 and 4. They are clearly marked and accessible before security.

3. How do I get a tax refund at the airport?
You uploaded your invoices in the Zapptax app, and your tax-free form was generated. Simply scan it at a PABLO kiosk at the airport—and you're done.

4. Do I need to show my items at the airport?
You must validate your tax-free form before checking in your luggage, so your items are available for inspection if requested. Random checks are possible, though infrequent.

5. Where will I receive my VAT refund?
With Zapptax, once your form is validated at the kiosk, the refund is automatically confirmed. You’ll receive the money via your selected payment method in the app: bank transfer, credit card, PayPal, or Alipay.

6. Is the refund guaranteed with Zapptax?
Yes. Once your form is validated via PABLO, your refund is guaranteed. You’ll be notified of your refund status in the app.