The “who, what, how?” of tax exemptions

Tax-free Shopping? Yes! Simply Tax Free? Yes! Provided that you meet the following conditions:

WHO?

Any person over 16 years of age residing outside the European Union, or passing through France for less than 6 months, or tourists, businessmen, French expatriates etc.

You must be able to prove these qualities at the time of purchase by presenting a passport, or a valid original identity document if you are a resident of a country outside the European Union but belonging to the Schengen area (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland or Liechtenstein).

Those therefore not eligible for tax exemptions:

• Any person with their main registered address in the E.U., detailed as follows:

• residents of the overseas departments of Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte and Réunion
• persons who leave to take up a post in a third country or equivalent territory
• members of diplomatic and consular missions and international organisations serving in France or the European Union
• students or trainees residing more than six months a year in France or in the European Union
• people who leave the European Union permanently, even if they return to their country of origin
• residents of the Principality of Monaco
• persons who have returned to France or the European Union to resettle there
• people who leave the European Union permanently, even if they return to their country of origin

The purchase must be a retail commodity, of a tourist and non-commercial nature. It is therefore not possible to buy more than 15 units of the same item.ou must bring these goods back to your country of usual residence yourself

You must bring these goods back to your country of usual residence yourself

Starting from a minimum amount of €100.01 including VAT spent over a period of 3 consecutive days (or same sign if stores located in the same city).

HOW MUCH?

The average tax-free rate in France corresponds to 12% of the amount including tax, but this rate is adjustable if the brand so wishes.

WHAT?

Ready-to-wear fashion, leather goods, jewellery, liquid or solid food products, gifts/souvenirs, optical products, sports items, decoration, art objects, books, personal care products, etc. (non-exhaustive list).

Some goods are excluded:

Manufactured tobacco, petroleum products, prescription drugs, goods subject to special formality(s), means of transport for private use, capital goods, weapons and ammunition (with some exceptions), certain cultural goods, postage stamps, unassembled precious stones. (Non-exhaustive list). Contact us for more information.

HOW?

Travellers must present their Simply Tax Free tax-free slip(s) with their passport and tax-exempt goods to the Customs officials at the point of exit from the European Union.

From France, the validation of tax-free slips is done electronically at “PABLO” terminals (by scanning the slip’s barcode) located mainly in airports, ports and borders points, near a customs service. The procedure is quick and simple.

WHEN?

It is the traveller’s responsibility to have their slip validated within 3 months + the month of purchase, and to return or present their endorsed slip within 6 months of the sale.

THE REIMBURSEMENT can be made:

• By any kind of credit card, using its number
• By cheque
• By bank transfer (IBAN required)
• In the shop at the time of purchase or afterwards
• In cash at our counters, with a choice of currency, in the city centre or airports
• By cheque

All the provisions relating to tourist tax exemptions are detailed in the Official Customs Bulletin, which you can find on the official website:

http://www.douane.gouv.fr/articles/a10805-la-detaxe-electronique-en-france-pour-les-touristes-pablo