Value added tax; application for a refund by travelers from a non-EU country

Travelers from a non-EU member state can make purchases in Germany free of VAT under certain conditions.

Description

Travelers from third countries (non-member states of the European Union) can make VAT-free purchases in Germany under certain conditions for goods with a value of EUR 50.01 or more. For travelers residing in Northern Ireland, tax-free shopping is excluded.

If you make purchases while traveling privately in Germany, you must initially pay the full price including VAT when you make the purchase, but you can have the tax refunded.

The sales tax exemption does not apply to goods that are used to equip or supply private means of transport (e.g. car, motorboat, airplane). This includes, for example, bumpers, wing mirrors, fuel or care products. Likewise, services such as hotel stays and restaurant visits are excluded from the exemption.

In order to be able to have the tax refunded, you must present the form "Export and Purchaser Certificate for VAT Purposes for Exports in Non-Commercial Travel (Section 6 (3a) UStG)" completed by your dealer or the cash or invoice receipt to a border customs office before leaving the customs territory of the Union. If the requirements are met, the border customs office will confirm that the goods have been exported on time and that you are a buyer from a third country (export and buyer confirmation).

Upon presentation of the export documents confirmed by the customs office to the dealer, the dealer can refund the VAT to you. Alternatively, you can have the sales tax refunded by a service company. On presentation of the customs-certified export documents, this company will pay the tax amount after deducting a processing fee (primarily at airports).

Prerequisites

  • You have your place of residence in a non-EU member state.
  • Your place of residence is not Northern Ireland.
  • You are not in possession of a residence permit that entitles you to stay in Germany for more than 3 months.
  • Your purchase is retail goods. Services are excluded.
  • The goods must enter the third country territory within three months after purchase.
  • You export the goods in your personal luggage. Personal luggage includes only luggage that you carry with you when crossing the border. Luggage sent home by mail or by a forwarding agency is not considered personal luggage.
  • The purchase must amount to at least EUR 50.01 (including VAT) per receipt.

Procedure

Ask in the store for the form "Export and buyer certificate for VAT purposes for exports in non-commercial travel (§ 6 para. 3a UStG)" and have it filled out on the spot. Alternatively, you can print out the form yourself from the customs website and carry it with you during the purchase. Or you can use the cash or invoice receipt. This can be used instead of the previously mentioned form for presentation at the border customs office.

In the store

  • If you use the form: Have the merchant fill it out and confirm it with his signature.
  • Alternatively: use the cash or invoice receipt.

At the border customs office

  • At check-in, inform your airline staff that you will need an export and buyer's receipt in order to be reimbursed for the sales tax on your purchases.
  • The airline personnel will direct you to the appropriate border customs office with your luggage after you have cleared your luggage and attached the luggage tag.
  • The customs personnel will confirm the export of your purchases on the form or the receipt/invoice. If your purchases are in your checked baggage, the baggage remains at customs and is forwarded from there to transport. If your purchases are in your hand luggage, you can take it with you to the cabin after check-in.
  • With the export and buyer confirmation by customs, you can now have the sales tax refunded. There are 2 ways to do this:
    • Back home, you send the export and buyer certificate to the dealer. The dealer will then refund the sales tax to you.
    • Alternatively, you can contact a service company directly at the airport before departure, which will carry out the refund for you for a service fee.

Please note if you are transferring again within the European customs area:

  • You must have goods in checked baggage confirmed by the customs office at the first departure airport.
  • The export of items in hand luggage will be confirmed by customs at the last departure airport of the EU.

Deadlines

You will be refunded sales tax only if you export the goods before the end of the 3rd calendar month following the month of purchase.

Processing time

You will usually receive the export confirmation from the responsible border customs office immediately.

Required documents

  • Required Documents

    • Proof of residence by means of personal documents (e.g. passport or identity card)

Forms

Fees

  • There are no costs for you.

Remedy

  • Objection (in case of rejection of the confirmation)
  • The objection must be filed with the main customs office in whose jurisdiction the border customs office that rejected the confirmation is located.
  • Tax court action

Status:08.05.2023

Responsible for editing:Bundesministerium der Finanzen

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  • Prefillable Form, Bavaria-wide
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