Thanks for all your great videos Tony. I've learned so much about traveling in Spain from your insider tips. Today is no exception. I learned that it's not worth the trouble to get back a small percentage of what I've spent.
Tony - just got back from a 2 week Spain trip - thanks a million for your videos - the trip logistics were simplified because of ur tips - ur videos are simply amazing.
THANK YOU for unravelling one of the great mysteries of European travel with another wonderfully clear video. I've failed twice before in other EU countries - last time it was because I had already checked in my luggage. So this time if I make any significant purchases, I will be prepared!
Also, thank you for explaining the steps. I wouldn’t have been able to take advantage of this when I visited last, since I did not have a direct flight and the connecting flight would not have given me enough time to get this sorted out!
Hi Tony thank you for your informative vdo as always. I have a flight from Madrid with a transit in Istanbul before flying back home outside EU. In this case, I have to do the validation in Madrid or Istanbul. From my understanding Turkey is a part of EU but they are not in Schengen area.
Thanks for your very informative video Tony. What about when you buy a work of art and has it shipped directly from the shop? Can you still get a validation without the merchandise?
Thanks David, to be absolutely honest with you, we have no idea of how that works. We know the export of works of art is subject to special controls. You'd better ask the shop directly.
Hi, Tony! It was a nightmare to get the tax refund at Barcelona airport . We got an X from the Kiosh, so we were directed to the office which already had a long line at 10:15am. It took us 2hr.10min. to finally see the only one officer who was on duty . They have so many windows, but there's only ONE officer to deal with hundreds of tourists. Its ridiculous! The line suddenly went faster, not because they speed up of the process, its because people had to leave because people had to leave for their flights! I saw lots of unhappy tourists, frustrated! If they really sincerely want to give foreigner the tax free purchase, they should do it like Japan ,do it right there at the store. Simply don't charge the tax when we show them passport. Otherwise, they should try to be more helpful at the process. Putting only one officer to process hundreds of tourists who were in a timely schedule is not helping anyone. Waiting in line for 2 hours to get our documents processed is not acceptable!
Dear Peiyu, so sorry to hear of your experience. It is totally unacceptable to have a number of officers than cannot cope with the amount of people trying to use the system, we agree 100% with you. It's been going on for years and that's why we insist on the importance of getting early to the airport. EU tax rules do not permit a system like the one in place in Japan, the risk of fraud would be immense (people buying goods for locals). All the best!
Hi, Tony! Just to update, we have received our tax refund in 5 days! What a surprise! I have learned from friends it's better to just get cash refund right there at the tax refund office, even if you paid with credit. You get a little bit less, but you will rest for sure you get your refund.
Some companies will give you the money back at their offices downtown. You will then have to go through the validation steps at the airport as described in the video. You are only changing the order of the steps.
Hi Tony, great video as always! If we pay by cash at the store, will yhe refund be issued at the airport in cash only or we can give our credit card or bank account number and they will refund online? Also, if its done online then in usually how many days does this refund come in?
Hi Sachin, the way the money is refunded depends very much on the company handling the VAX refund. The same goes for the period of time, you should ask the company once you know which one it will be. All the best.
Hi Tony, we are in Spain now for 3 months. We needed an extra cabin bag to fly to Italy tomorrow so we purchased one today hoping to get the tax back. But am i right in thinking we won't get it back because we're using it here? And thank you for all your wonderful information! We thoroughly enjoyed our day at Montserrat thanks to you.
Hi Tony, how do you say “I want a commission free tax return?” In Spanish so that I can say it at the store? Thank you so much for all of your videos!!! 🥰
Hola. Voy a volar Berlín y después Ámsterdam antes de salir del UE. Entonces mi VAT debería ser en Ámsterdam? Pero si mis compras están en las maletas que no viajan conmigo entonces no tendré cómo enseñar mis compras?
Hi Tony, great video. I was not aware of having the stamp at your last exit point in EU, I am flying out of Barcelona but have a short layover in Rome. I’ve been seeing in some forums that if my layover is 3 hours or less and on the same ticket, i can get my goods Validated on my first point of departure? My layover is only 1 and 1/2 hrs. Thank you.
Hi, validation on the point of departure is entirely up to the immigration officer. A bit like a traffic agent spotting you doing something illegal and end up not fining you. The rule in Spain is clear, always in the last airport.
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal Hello, thank you. I’ll just try my luck as it will cost more for me to change my flight to get the tax refund. And also, is it true that there’s an office in Plaza Catalunya where i can get the tax refund already? Thank you.
@@janine9399 hello, I managed to do the refund in Barcelona, i just proceed as normal, I even went to the tax officer because i got X on the Diva Machine but they validated it without questions.
You need to buy from a seller that forms part of the Tax Free program. If they do and you indicate you intend to claim Tax back, they'll issue the invoice accordingly.
@@kennyhuang1985 this is what we've found, no mention of opening times: www.lisbonairport.pt/en/lis/services-shopping/essential-services/vat-refund I suggest you go to a tourist office when you arrive in Lisbon to obtain that information.
![ร้อยพ่อพันแม่ - WanMai [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XY2pNYASEbg/mqdefault.jpg)
😍 Our complete list of Spanish Travel tips here th-cam.com/play/PLWH9E2sQGItoMlm3PPVjyhTP-_4usm3sV.html&si=jr-LYpZLiyXcuAJy
Thanks for all your great videos Tony. I've learned so much about traveling in Spain from your insider tips. Today is no exception. I learned that it's not worth the trouble to get back a small percentage of what I've spent.
If the amount of money is small, it might not be worth the trouble. If you are buying an expensive smartphone, it's worth going after the money.
Another great video Tony. You always have terrific information.
Thank you, Peter.
Thank you for another informative video Tony.
Our pleasure!
Excellent information
Glad to hear that!
Tony - just got back from a 2 week Spain trip - thanks a million for your videos - the trip logistics were simplified because of ur tips - ur videos are simply amazing.
Delighted to hear that, hope you had a nice trip!
THANK YOU for unravelling one of the great mysteries of European travel with another wonderfully clear video. I've failed twice before in other EU countries - last time it was because I had already checked in my luggage. So this time if I make any significant purchases, I will be prepared!
👏👏👏
Excellent and indispensable video with detailed and useful information. I really liked it 👏
Thank you, Yara!
Very informative. Thank you!
Our pleasure!
Also, thank you for explaining the steps. I wouldn’t have been able to take advantage of this when I visited last, since I did not have a direct flight and the connecting flight would not have given me enough time to get this sorted out!
👏👏👏
Hi Tony thank you for your informative vdo as always. I have a flight from Madrid with a transit in Istanbul before flying back home outside EU. In this case, I have to do the validation in Madrid or Istanbul. From my understanding Turkey is a part of EU but they are not in Schengen area.
Hi Tanya, Turkey is not part of the EU. Validation in Madrid.
Also, I like the Don Quixote on your desk.
It was made by an artisan and given to us as a wedding present.
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal It's beautiful and looks wonderfully appropriate next to you during your videos.
Thanks for your very informative video Tony. What about when you buy a work of art and has it shipped directly from the shop? Can you still get a validation without the merchandise?
Thanks David, to be absolutely honest with you, we have no idea of how that works. We know the export of works of art is subject to special controls. You'd better ask the shop directly.
Thanks a lot for the helpful videos. Is the customs located before or after passport control in terminal 2?
Our pleasure! Which airport are you referring to?
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal bcn Barcelona Airport ? Thnks
@@banudelen5930 if you mean the VAT office, in the open side of the airport.
Hi, Tony! It was a nightmare to get the tax refund at Barcelona airport . We got an X from the Kiosh, so we were directed to the office which already had a long line at 10:15am. It took us 2hr.10min. to finally see the only one officer who was on duty . They have so many windows, but there's only ONE officer to deal with hundreds of tourists. Its ridiculous! The line suddenly went faster, not because they speed up of the process, its because people had to leave because people had to leave for their flights! I saw lots of unhappy tourists, frustrated! If they really sincerely want to give foreigner the tax free purchase, they should do it like Japan ,do it right there at the store. Simply don't charge the tax when we show them passport. Otherwise, they should try to be more helpful at the process. Putting only one officer to process hundreds of tourists who were in a timely schedule is not helping anyone. Waiting in line for 2 hours to get our documents processed is not acceptable!
Dear Peiyu, so sorry to hear of your experience. It is totally unacceptable to have a number of officers than cannot cope with the amount of people trying to use the system, we agree 100% with you. It's been going on for years and that's why we insist on the importance of getting early to the airport. EU tax rules do not permit a system like the one in place in Japan, the risk of fraud would be immense (people buying goods for locals). All the best!
Great advice!
Hi, Tony! Just to update, we have received our tax refund in 5 days! What a surprise! I have learned from friends it's better to just get cash refund right there at the tax refund office, even if you paid with credit. You get a little bit less, but you will rest for sure you get your refund.
@@peiyuhuang4015 excellent news, Peiyu! We see no need to get a cash refund unless you are willing to give away your money!
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal Thank you for your advice!
Hi! Can you explain more about getting money back in the center of the city? In Madrid for example.
Some companies will give you the money back at their offices downtown. You will then have to go through the validation steps at the airport as described in the video. You are only changing the order of the steps.
Thanks, Tony. Did the minimum VAT change? I could have sworn that in 2023 there was a minimum purchase of $100 in order to get money back…
There's been no minimum amount for at least six years now.
Hi Tony, great video as always! If we pay by cash at the store, will yhe refund be issued at the airport in cash only or we can give our credit card or bank account number and they will refund online? Also, if its done online then in usually how many days does this refund come in?
Hi Sachin, the way the money is refunded depends very much on the company handling the VAX refund. The same goes for the period of time, you should ask the company once you know which one it will be. All the best.
Hi Tony. Do you know if alcohol is included in the goods allowed? Of course you would have to do the check in luggage after due to liquids rules!
Hi Alan, alcohol is included.
Hi Tony, Do we actually need an original passport to shop for getting VAT refund. Some people said they can use just the copy of their passports.
On a legitimate shop, they might want to see your original passport.
Hi Tony, we are in Spain now for 3 months. We needed an extra cabin bag to fly to Italy tomorrow so we purchased one today hoping to get the tax back. But am i right in thinking we won't get it back because we're using it here? And thank you for all your wonderful information! We thoroughly enjoyed our day at Montserrat thanks to you.
Hello, glad to hear you had a great time in Montserrat. Vax return is for those goods that will not be used in the EU.
Hi Tony, how do you say “I want a commission free tax return?” In Spanish so that I can say it at the store? Thank you so much for all of your videos!!! 🥰
Hi Charlotte, say "quiero la devolución sin pagar comisiones". All the best!
Hola. Voy a volar Berlín y después Ámsterdam antes de salir del UE. Entonces mi VAT debería ser en Ámsterdam? Pero si mis compras están en las maletas que no viajan conmigo entonces no tendré cómo enseñar mis compras?
Hola, lo explicamos en el vídeo, los productos deben estar contigo.
Hi Tony, great video. I was not aware of having the stamp at your last exit point in EU, I am flying out of Barcelona but have a short layover in Rome. I’ve been seeing in some forums that if my layover is 3 hours or less and on the same ticket, i can get my goods Validated on my first point of departure? My layover is only 1 and 1/2 hrs. Thank you.
Hi, validation on the point of departure is entirely up to the immigration officer. A bit like a traffic agent spotting you doing something illegal and end up not fining you. The rule in Spain is clear, always in the last airport.
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal Hello, thank you. I’ll just try my luck as it will cost more for me to change my flight to get the tax refund. And also, is it true that there’s an office in Plaza Catalunya where i can get the tax refund already? Thank you.
@@edr232 there's an office where you can get the refund (step 3), but you will still have to do step 2 at the airport.
@@edr232how did it go? Im flyingg out from barcelona via zurich but like you only for 1.5 hrs layover
@@janine9399 hello, I managed to do the refund in Barcelona, i just proceed as normal, I even went to the tax officer because i got X on the Diva Machine but they validated it without questions.
Hi Tony, if im purchasing a product online and only receive the receipt and not the form to claim the tax. Am i still eligible for the refund?
You need to buy from a seller that forms part of the Tax Free program. If they do and you indicate you intend to claim Tax back, they'll issue the invoice accordingly.
Ones validated do you still need to post the receipt ?
Validation is one step, returning the form to the company a different one.
So yes I do need to post it after validation so I need to get an envelope ?
@@MichaelHill-o4s you will need to follow the instructions the company responsible for your VAT return will give you.
I’m going to Barcelona then to Lisbon, then flight back home from Lisbon. Where should I do my tax refund process? Barcelona or Lisbon?
As explained in the video, in Lisbon.
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal thank you! I have an early flight out of Lisbon, I can't find the custom operating hours, would you know it?
@@kennyhuang1985 this is what we've found, no mention of opening times: www.lisbonairport.pt/en/lis/services-shopping/essential-services/vat-refund I suggest you go to a tourist office when you arrive in Lisbon to obtain that information.
Can we get tax back in the restaurant?
Answer in the video!
Este video tiene una vrrdion en español?
Todos los vídeos del canal están en español en España Total: th-cam.com/video/0-vb4JEAizo/w-d-xo.html