How to Claim tax-free on Purchases in France: Steps to Follow
Find all the information you need to validate your tax-free form, track your refund, and get assistance at every step of your journey.
Get Your VAT Refund: How It Works
Step 1. Shop
You can request a tax-free form in-store if all of the following eligibility conditions are met:
- You have spent at least €100.01 (VAT included) per store per day
- You are a non-EU resident
- You are 16 years old or older
- You stay in France less than 6 months per year
Step 2. Get Your tax-free form Validated Before Leaving the EU
Customs validation is mandatory to receive your VAT refund.
Prepare the following documents:
- Your tax-free form
- Your passport
- Your original receipt or invoice
- The purchased items, unused and in their original packaging
Are you leaving the European Union from France?
Two options are available:
PABLO Kiosks
Scan your tax-free form at a PABLO kiosk and follow the instructions on screen.
View the list of PABLO kiosk locations
Customs Office
If a PABLO kiosk is not available, present your documents to a customs officer so your tax-free form can be validated and stamped.
Return it to SolPay using the pre-paid envelope provided by the store, or mail it to the following address:
SolPay, 11-13 chemin de l’Industrie, 06110 Le Cannet, FRANCE.
Are you leaving the European Union from another EU country?
Present your tax-free form in paper format to the customs office of the last European country you visit before leaving the EU. Your tax-free form will be stamped by customs.
Return it to SolPay using the pre-paid envelope provided by the store, or send it by mail to:
SolPay, 11-13 chemin de l’Industrie, 06110 Le Cannet, FRANCE.
View the list of EU countries.
Step 3. Receive Your Refund
Once your tax-free form has been received and validated, your refund is processed according to the method chosen in-store (credit card or other payment method). Refunds are issued within 6 to 8 weeks, from the date your tax-free form is received with a customs stamp or from the date of electronic validation at a PABLO kiosk.
Track Your VAT Refund in Real Time
You can track the progress of your refund online and stay informed at every step.
With online refund tracking, you can:
- Modify your refund method if needed
- Check the status of your tax-free form
- See whether your refund is being processed or has been completed
Need Help or Assistance?
For any questions regarding your tax-free form or your refund, the SolPay customer service team is here to help.
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.