{"id":44226,"date":"2026-05-30T13:34:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-30T13:34:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/?p=44226"},"modified":"2026-05-30T13:34:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T13:34:20","slug":"how-travelers-can-get-money-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/?p=44226","title":{"rendered":"How travelers can get money back"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> \n<\/p>\n<div id=\"RegularArticle-ArticleBody-5\" data-module=\"ArticleBody\" data-test=\"articleBody-2\" data-analytics=\"RegularArticle-articleBody-5-2\"><span class=\"HighlightShare-hidden\" style=\"top:0;left:0\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"InlineImage-imageEmbed\" id=\"ArticleBody-InlineImage-108313445\" data-test=\"InlineImage\">\n<div class=\"InlineImage-wrapper\">\n<div>\n<p>Shoppers enter and exit a Dior luxury boutique in Venice, Italy, on Nov. 16, 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Michael Nguyen\/NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p>Travelers to Europe may be leaving money on the table when they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2025\/08\/27\/wealthy-travel-to-europe-to-dodge-tariffs-on-luxury-goods.html\">buy goods there<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>I learned this during a recent trip to Italy. My girlfriend, who bought a pair of shoes in Venice, was able to claim a refund on the <a href=\"https:\/\/taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu\/taxation\/vat\/vat-directive\/how-does-vat-work_en\" target=\"_blank\">value-added tax<\/a> she paid on the purchase. <\/p>\n<p>She ultimately got back 17 euros (US$20) on a total purchase of 155 euros (US$181). <\/p>\n<p>Refunds of value-added tax, known as VAT, can be worth a \u201cchunk of money\u201d for U.S. travelers to Europe, depending on what they buy and in which country they purchase the item, said Sofia Markovich, a travel advisor and founder of Sofia\u2019s Travel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"Placeholder-ArticleBody-Video-108311080\">\n<div role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" id=\"Placeholder-ArticleBody-Video-108311080\" class=\"PlaceHolder-wrapper\" data-vilynx-id=\"7000413789\" data-test=\"VideoPlaceHolder\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-videoEmbed\" id=\"InlineVideo-0\" data-test=\"InlineVideo\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-inlineThumbnailContainer\"><span class=\"InlineVideo-videoButton\"\/><span\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p>Getting a few extra dollars back after a European vacation may help somewhat defray the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/05\/02\/iran-war-airfare-travel-airlines-plane-tickets-when-to-buy.html\">higher cost of airfare<\/a> resulting from the Iran war, and a <span class=\"QuoteInBody-quoteNameContainer\" data-test=\"QuoteInBody\" id=\"RegularArticle-QuoteInBody-4\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/quotes\/EUR=\/\">euro-U.S. dollar exchange rate<\/a><span class=\"QuoteInBody-inlineButton\"><span class=\"AddToWatchlistButton-watchlistContainer\" id=\"-WatchlistDropdown\" data-analytics-id=\"-WatchlistDropdown\"><button class=\"AddToWatchlistButton-watchlistButton\" aria-label=\"Add To Watchlist\" data-testid=\"dropdown-btn\"><span class=\"AddToWatchlistButton-addWatchListFromTag\"\/><\/button><\/span><\/span><\/span> that has become less favorable in recent years. <\/p>\n<p>However, we would have missed out had the Italian shopkeeper not asked whether we wanted the paperwork necessary to claim the refund later, which we did with relative ease at an airport kiosk in Rome. <\/p>\n<p>Many times, stores don\u2019t flag the option for customers, experts said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have to remember to get [the paperwork] in the shop, because not every shop will remind you of it,\u201d Markovich said. \u201cYou personally have to be proactive about it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For some, the additional hassle \u2014 which generally includes an extra stop at the airport \u2014 may not be worth it for lower-value items, said Sally French, a travel expert at NerdWallet. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a nice-to-have, but I\u2019m not getting to the airport early to save $10,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"definitely-worth-it-for-luxury-goods\" class=\"ArticleBody-subtitle\"><a id=\"headline0\"\/>\u2018Definitely worth it\u2019 for luxury goods <\/h2>\n<div class=\"InlineImage-imageEmbed\" id=\"ArticleBody-InlineImage-108313447\" data-test=\"InlineImage\">\n<div class=\"InlineImage-wrapper\">\n<div>\n<p>People shopping in the city center of Bonn, Germany, on April 25, 2026. <\/p>\n<p>Ying Tang\/NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p>Value-added taxes are a tax on domestic consumption, like retail sales taxes charged by U.S. state and local governments.<\/p>\n<p>VATs are the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2025\/03\/31\/as-trump-reciprocal-tariffs-near-economists-say-vats-arent-trade-barrier.html\">most common type of consumption tax<\/a> in the world, used by <a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/commission\/presscorner\/detail\/en\/qanda_25_541\" target=\"_blank\">more than 170 countries<\/a> worldwide. <\/p>\n<p>European nations levy a range of VAT rates, which can also vary by product. <\/p>\n<p>Standard VAT rates <a href=\"https:\/\/taxfoundation.org\/data\/all\/eu\/value-added-tax-vat-rates-europe\/\" target=\"_blank\">range from<\/a> 8.1% in Switzerland to 27% in Hungary, according to the Tax Foundation. <\/p>\n<p>Spain, for example, has a standard VAT rate of 21% but carries a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalblue.com\/en\/shoppers\/how-to-shop-tax-free\/destinations\/spain\" target=\"_blank\">lower rate<\/a> for certain items, like 10% for sunglasses and 4% for books and magazines, according to Global Blue, a payments company that helps facilitate VAT refunds.<\/p>\n<p>However, not all purchases qualify for a refund, experts said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<div class=\"RelatedContent-relatedContent\" id=\"RegularArticle-RelatedContent-1\">\n<div class=\"RelatedContent-container\">\n<div class=\"RelatedContent-nonCollapsibleContent\">\n<h2 id=\"read-more-cnbc-personal-finance-coverage\" class=\"RelatedContent-header\">Read more CNBC personal finance coverage<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p>For one, refunds are generally only meant for merchandise, and not for certain categories like hotels and meals, experts said. <\/p>\n<p>Many countries also impose a minimum value on purchases to be eligible.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTypically, you must ring up the minimum at a single retailer \u2014 you can\u2019t add up purchases from various shops to reach the required amount \u2014 so if you\u2019re doing a lot of shopping, you\u2019ll benefit from finding one spot where you can buy big,\u201d Rick Steves, a travel expert who has authored a series of guide books, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ricksteves.com\/travel-tips\/money\/vat-refunds\" target=\"_blank\">wrote<\/a> in an article about VAT refunds. <\/p>\n<p>For example, countries like Greece and the Netherlands require that travelers spend at least 50 euros (US$58) at a retailer in order to claim a refund, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ricksteves.com\/travel-tips\/money\/vat-rates-in-europe\" target=\"_blank\">Rick Steves\u2019 Europe<\/a>, a travel and tour company. In Italy, the minimum is 75 euros (US$88); France\u2019s is 100 euros (US$117). In Switzerland, the minimum is 300 Swiss francs (US$384). Spain, on the other hand, doesn\u2019t have a minimum. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p>Claiming the refund \u201cis definitely worth it\u201d for travelers buying luxury goods, like high-end fashion or jewelry, Markovich said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt can be in the hundreds of dollars back, or even thousands, depending on what you\u2019re buying,\u201d Markovich said. \u201cI know people who go to Europe just to shop.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Travelers also aren\u2019t supposed to use their goods before leaving Europe, Steves wrote. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you show up at customs wearing your new Dutch clogs, officials may deny you a refund,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"the-refund-process\" class=\"ArticleBody-subtitle\"><a id=\"headline1\"\/>The refund process<\/h2>\n<div class=\"InlineImage-imageEmbed\" id=\"ArticleBody-InlineImage-108313450\" data-test=\"InlineImage\">\n<div class=\"InlineImage-wrapper\">\n<div>\n<p>Travelers at a refund shop at Adolfo Su\u00e1rez Madrid-Barajas Airport in Spain, preparing to claim VAT refunds before their international flights.<\/p>\n<p>Xavi Lopez\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p>There\u2019s typically a multistep process to claim VAT refunds, experts said. <\/p>\n<p>Participating merchants generally must fill out a refund document, and will need the traveler\u2019s passport (or, sometimes, a photo of the passport) to do so, Steves wrote. <\/p>\n<p>In most cases, travelers will need to then process those documents at their final stop in Europe, most likely the airport, Steves wrote. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt some airports, you\u2019ll have to go to a customs office to get your documents stamped and then to a separate VAT refund service, such as\u00a0Global Blue\u00a0or\u00a0Planet, to process the refund,\u201d Steves wrote. \u201cAt other airports, a single VAT desk handles the whole thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"Placeholder-ArticleBody-Video-108305850\">\n<div role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" id=\"Placeholder-ArticleBody-Video-108305850\" class=\"PlaceHolder-wrapper\" data-vilynx-id=\"7000412710\" data-test=\"VideoPlaceHolder\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-videoEmbed\" id=\"InlineVideo-0\" data-test=\"InlineVideo\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-inlineThumbnailContainer\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"InlineVideo-videoThumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/image.cnbcfm.com\/api\/v1\/image\/108305851-17786112761778611273-45892179508-1080pnbcnews.jpg?v=1778611275&w=750&h=422&vtcrop=y\" alt=\"Europe is still a hot destination for U.S. tourists, says Mastercard's Michelle Meyer\"\/><span class=\"InlineVideo-videoButton\"\/><span\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p>Refund services typically charge a fee \u2014 generally around 4% or so \u2014 so travelers likely won\u2019t receive the VAT\u2019s full value, Steves wrote. <\/p>\n<p>Travelers should remember to process the documents at their last stop in the European Union, Steves said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, if you buy sweaters in Denmark, pants in France, and shoes in Italy, and you\u2019re flying home from Greece, get your documents stamped at the airport in Athens,\u201d he wrote, adding, \u201cAnd don\u2019t forget: Switzerland, Norway, and Turkey are not in the EU, so if you shop in one of those countries, get your documents stamped before you cross the border.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"InlineImage-imageEmbed\" id=\"ArticleBody-InlineImage-108313452\" data-test=\"InlineImage\">\n<div class=\"InlineImage-wrapper\">\n<div>\n<p>Tax free refunds line at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport in Spain.<\/p>\n<p>Jeff Greenberg | Universal Images Group | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p>Customs offices are sometimes located before airport security, and agents may ask to see travelers\u2019 unused goods, he wrote. <\/p>\n<p>The whole process was simple for us: It took about five minutes from start to finish at one digital kiosk at the airport in Rome, which we accessed just before the security checkpoint. Others will need to budget more time if they want to claim a refund, experts said. <\/p>\n<p>In some countries, \u201cthere is a line, and then you have to budget extra time when you go to the airport to wait in that line,\u201d said NerdWallet\u2019s French.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d question whether it\u2019s worth spending time in the airport for,\u201d she said. \u201cIt makes sense if you\u2019re buying a $5,000 designer bag. But time is money, and it\u2019s OK to skip on saving a couple dollars here and there for the time and work involved.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ArticleBody-googlePreferredSourceContainer\" data-module=\"GooglePreferredSource\" data-id=\"RegularArticle-GooglePreferredSource-5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/05\/30\/europe-vat-refunds-travelers.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Shoppers enter and exit a Dior luxury boutique in Venice, Italy, on Nov. 16, 2025. Michael Nguyen\/NurPhoto via&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":44227,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-investing","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=44226"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44226\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/44227"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=44226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=44226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=44226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}