Tax-free guide · Europe

Tax-free shopping in Germany

Yes. Visitors can claim back Umsatzsteuer (MwSt) (19%) on goods they take home through Ausfuhrlieferung im nichtkommerziellen Reiseverkehr. You need to spend more than €50 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.

Germany at a glance

StatusRefund available
SchemeAusfuhrlieferung im nichtkommerziellen Reiseverkehr
Tax in the priceUmsatzsteuer (MwSt), standard rate 19%
Reduced rates7% on food, books and other reduced items
Minimum spendMore than €50 including tax per receipt
Invoice amount including VAT must exceed 50 EUR (since 1 Jan 2020). The threshold is legally temporary until electronic export confirmations are introduced.
Where you get it backAt the till in some shops, otherwise when you leave
Typical refundNot confirmed yet
Who can claimResidents outside the EU; goods for equipping private vehicles excluded.
DeadlineGoods leave the EU within 3 months of purchase with customs export confirmation (Ausfuhr- und Abnehmerbescheinigung).
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 19% tax is 19/119 of it, about 16.0%.

Example purchase

Germany, standard rate

Price you pay, including tax€500
Tax inside it (19/119 of the price)€79.83
Estimated refundup to €79.83, less fees

€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: Digital confirmation app (dAKZ) at the Swiss border from 16 Jun 2026; the 50 EUR threshold lapses at the end of the year electronic confirmation goes live nationally.

How to claim the refund in Germany

Bring your passport. Shops need to see it to sell tax-free. Residents outside the EU; goods for equipping private vehicles excluded.
Spend enough in one go. Spend more than €50 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. Goods leave the EU within 3 months of purchase with customs export confirmation (Ausfuhr- und Abnehmerbescheinigung).
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 Germany?

Umsatzsteuer (MwSt) is 19%, so the tax inside a price is 19/119 of it, about 16.0%. On a €500 purchase that's €79.83, and you could get back up to €79.83, less the refund operator's fee, which the official sources don't publish. 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 Germany?

More than €50 including tax per receipt.

Where do I claim the tax refund in Germany?

At the till in some shops, otherwise when you leave. Goods leave the EU within 3 months of purchase with customs export confirmation (Ausfuhr- und Abnehmerbescheinigung).

Is it cheaper to buy things in Germany?

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

Zoll - Tax free einkaufen (checked 2 November 2026)
BMF - Merkblatt Ausfuhrlieferungen im nichtkommerziellen Reiseverkehr (2025-03-12) (checked 2 November 2026)
Your Europe - VAT rates (checked 2 November 2026)

Last checked 2 November 2026.