How to Claim tax-free on Purchases in Belgium: Steps to Follow
This page explains the entire process, from making your purchase in Belgium to receiving your VAT refund.
Steps to Get Your VAT Refund
Step 1. Make Your Purchase
You can request a tax-free form in-store if the following eligibility conditions are met:
- You reside outside the European Union
- You have spent at least €125.01 (VAT included) in that store
Step 2. Validate Your tax-free form at Customs Before Leaving the EU
Customs validation is mandatory to receive your VAT refund.
What to Bring
You will need to present:
- Your passport or national ID
- Your flight ticket or boarding pass
- Your tax-free form
- The goods listed on the form, unused and in their original packaging
Where to Go
To have your form validated, there are two options:
If you leave the European Union from Belgium,
go to a Belgian customs office.
If you leave the EU from another country,
present your paper tax-free form to a customs officer in the last EU country you visit before departure.
In both cases, your tax-free form will be stamped by customs.
Once stamped, send your tax-free form as soon as possible using the prepaid envelope provided by the store, or in a standard envelope to the following address: SolPay 11-13 chemin de l’Industrie 06110 Le Cannet, FRANCE.
Step 3. Receive Your Refund
Once your validated tax-free form is received and processed, your refund is issued using the payment method selected in-store (credit card or another payment method). Refunds are typically processed within 6 to 8 weeks, starting from the date the stamped form is received by mail or from the date of electronic validation.
Track Your VAT Refund in Real Time
You can track the progress of your refund online and stay informed at every step.
With online tracking, you can:
- Check the status of your tax-free form
- See whether your refund is being processed or has been completed
- Update your refund method if needed
Need Help or Assistance?
For any questions regarding your VAT refund, the SolPay customer service team is available to assist you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When will I receive my VAT refund?
Your refund is processed once your tax-free form has been validated by customs. You can track the status of your request at any time using the online tracking tool.
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What should I do if I did not validate my form before leaving the European Union?
Customs validation is mandatory to obtain your refund. If this step was not completed before your departure, the VAT refund cannot be processed. If you were unable to obtain validation of your tax-free form due to a malfunction or absence of customs services, we invite you to contact SolPay customer service, specifying your last EU exit point or departure airport.
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How long do I have to validate my tax-free form?
In both France and Belgium, you have 3 months plus the current month from the purchase date. For example, if you made a purchase in March, you have until the end of June to validate it.