Tax-free guide · Americas
Is there tax-free shopping in the United States?
No. The United States has no tourist tax refund. No national VAT or sales tax and no tourist refund. Shelf prices exclude sales tax, which is added at the till: state plus local rates run from 0% (no statewide tax in AK, DE, MT, NH, OR; only AK allows local tax) to about 10% (population-weighted average 7.53%; highest state averages Louisiana 10.13%, Tennessee 9.61%; some cities higher). Not refundable to tourists: Louisiana Tax Free Shopping ended 1 Jul 2024; Texas has no tourist program, a retailer may refund the tax only against proof of export (e.g. a licensed US customs broker's export certification).
United States at a glance
- StatusNo tourist refund
- SchemeNot confirmed yet
- Tax in the pricesales tax (state/local), standard rate 0%
- Prices on tagsShelf prices exclude tax, which is added at the till
Not yet checked against an official source
Regional schemes
- Louisiana Tax Free Shopping: withdrawn (site)
- Texas export refund (via retailer): no tourist refund (site)
Want the real cost of a price tag here? Try the refund calculator, and read why you should always pay in local currency.
Questions
Can tourists get a tax refund in the United States?
No. No national VAT or sales tax and no tourist refund. Shelf prices exclude sales tax, which is added at the till: state plus local rates run from 0% (no statewide tax in AK, DE, MT, NH, OR; only AK allows local tax) to about 10% (population-weighted average 7.53%; highest state averages Louisiana 10.13%, Tennessee 9.61%; some cities higher). Not refundable to tourists: Louisiana Tax Free Shopping ended 1 Jul 2024; Texas has no tourist program, a retailer may refund the tax only against proof of export (e.g. a licensed US customs broker's export certification). Priceglot shows no refund estimate for the United States. Last checked 2 November 2026.
Is it cheaper to buy things in the United States?
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), 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
- Tax Foundation - State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2026 (checked 2 November 2026)
- Louisiana Department of Revenue - LTFS program for international visitors to end July 1 (2024) (checked 2 November 2026)
- Texas Comptroller - Sales tax FAQ: shipped out of Texas / exports (checked 2 November 2026)
Point at the tag. Get the real price.
Priceglot converts every price in view, adds your card fee and estimates the tax refund.
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