Tax-free guide · Europe

Tax-free shopping in France

Yes. Visitors can claim back TVA (20%) on goods they take home through Détaxe (PABLO). You need to spend more than €100 including tax per receipt, and some shops refund at the till, otherwise you claim it when you leave. A refund is never automatic: customs has to confirm the export, and operators can deduct a fee.

Last checked 2 November 2026. Figures are estimates, not tax advice.

France at a glance

StatusRefund available
SchemeDétaxe (PABLO)
Tax in the priceTVA, standard rate 20%
Reduced rates10%; 5.5%
Minimum spendMore than €100 including tax per receipt
One sales slip (bordereau) for 100.01 EUR or more TTC, purchases in the same store or store group over at most 3 consecutive days (customs circular 10 Dec 2021). Some customs pages still say 'same store, same day'.
Where you get it backAt the till in some shops, otherwise when you leave
Typical refund65% to 78% of the tax
Operator rate tables, not statute. Global Blue's table as printed by a French retailer: at 20% VAT the refund is 13.0% of the price including VAT by card/cheque/transfer (78% of the VAT) and 10.8% in cash (65%); 10% VAT to 6.0% (66%); 5.5% to 3.0% (58%). La Vallée Village: 'save at least 12%' on 100 EUR+ (72%). Tables vary by retailer and amount.
Who can claimResidents outside the EU (age 16+ per French customs), goods for personal use carried in luggage.
DeadlineLeave the EU with the goods and validate the slip at a PABLO kiosk by the end of the 3rd month after the month of purchase.
Prices on tagsShelf prices include tax
Not yet checked against an official source

What could you get back?

Here's the arithmetic on a €500 purchase. The tax inside a price that includes 20% tax is 20/120 of it, about 16.7%.

Example purchase

France, standard rate

Price you pay, including tax€500
Tax inside it (20/120 of the price)€83.33
Estimated refund€54.17 to €65.00

€500 is about US$560.80, £417.90, A$800.21 at the mid-market rate for 2 November 2026.

An estimate, not a promise. Goods at a reduced rate get back less, and you only get a refund if customs and the operator approve your claim.

What may change: Customs circular DA 26-044 (24 Apr 2026) on export sales slips; content not reviewed yet.

How to claim the refund in France

Bring your passport. Shops need to see it to sell tax-free. Residents outside the EU (age 16+ per French customs), goods for personal use carried in luggage.
Spend enough in one go. Spend more than €100 including tax per receipt and ask the shop for the tax refund form.
Ask about a refund at the till. Some shops take the tax off at the till or refund it on the spot. Otherwise you pay the full price and claim later.
Keep the goods unused and with you. Customs can ask to see them when you leave, so keep them in your hand luggage until the claim is done.
Validate the claim when you leave. Have the form validated by customs or at a kiosk when you leave the last EU country you leave. Leave the EU with the goods and validate the slip at a PABLO kiosk by the end of the 3rd month after the month of purchase.
Collect the refund. The shop or refund operator pays you, usually by card or in cash, less any fee it charges.

The EU rule

Non-EU residents (incl. EU nationals living outside the EU who can prove it) can reclaim VAT on goods taken out of the EU in personal luggage within 3 months of purchase, with the refund document validated by customs at the last EU exit point. Minimum set by each Member State. Retailer or intermediary pays and may deduct a fee.

Source: European Commission - VAT refunds, checked 2 November 2026.

Want the real cost of a price tag here? Try the refund calculator, and read why you should always pay in local currency.

Questions

How much is the tax refund in France?

TVA is 20%, so the tax inside a price is 20/120 of it, about 16.7%. On a €500 purchase that's €83.33, and you could get back between €54.17 and €65.00, the share of the tax the official source gives. It's an estimate: reduced-rate goods get back less and every claim needs approval. Last checked 2 November 2026.

What is the minimum spend for tax-free shopping in France?

More than €100 including tax per receipt.

Where do I claim the tax refund in France?

At the till in some shops, otherwise when you leave. Leave the EU with the goods and validate the slip at a PABLO kiosk by the end of the 3rd month after the month of purchase.

Is it cheaper to buy things in France?

Only if the price on your card, after any tax refund you'll actually get, beats the price at home. Convert the tag at the mid-market rate, add your card's foreign transaction fee (often around 3% on bank cards, 0% on travel cards), then take off the refund estimate, and compare. Always pay in the local currency, because the shop's conversion costs more. Priceglot does this for every tag you point it at.

Sources

douane.gouv.fr - Tax exemption in France for tourists (PABLO) (checked 2 November 2026)
Circulaire du 10 décembre 2021 - Vente à des voyageurs (BVE) (checked 2 November 2026)
Your Europe - VAT rates (checked 2 November 2026)
Snowleader - Global Blue détaxe conditions with refund-rate table (pre-2022 document) (checked 2 November 2026)
La Vallée Village - Tax-free shopping (checked 2 November 2026)

Last checked 2 November 2026.