Tax Free allows shopaholics and ordinary tourists to save on purchases. Rules for receiving in different countries may differ. Consider how to get savings in Tax Free at Fiumicino Airport in Rome and other Italian cities.

The principle of obtaining Tax Free by passengers who travel

Tax Free- a system that allows travelers to save on the return of value added tax (VAT). The tax included in the final cost of goods in each state is directed to the development of the social sphere.

A tourist will not be able to take advantage of various social programs of the country, therefore he has the right to a deduction.

The store where goods are purchased must be included in the Tax Free Shopping system. The tax refund is not carried out by the outlet, but by the operator.

Most often, the service is issued in Global Blue, but if you can choose an operator, give preference to the last two. So, when receiving a refund at the airport, you will avoid long queues and tedious waiting.

You can return VAT when buying clothes and shoes, watches and accessories, gadgets, jewelry. If the product was purchased online, the tax refund is not available.

You can return Tax Free in Italy if the check amount is 154 euros. In this case, several goods can be included in the check, only the total amount matters.

In stores, when buying, sellers fill out a special form - Tax free shopping check. It reflects the total cost of the purchase, the details of the buyer and the amount that can be refunded. To prove that you are foreign citizen, you need to show your passport to the cashier.

The procedure for obtaining Tax Free on the example of Fiumicino (Rome)

You can return the tax upon departure from Italy. Purchase receipts are valid for 3 months, you need to meet this deadline.

If you do not apply for a refund within a given period of time, then checks can be thrown away, since it will not be possible to refund part of the VAT on them.

Returning Tax Free at Rome airport is not always easy, you should be patient. Long queues and large crowds of people will be a real test for the human nervous system.

There are two customs offices at Fiumicino Airport. The first customs is intended for passengers who wish to issue Tax Free, and then check in their luggage.

Customs officers verify the goods indicated on the check with real things. Often they simply check for the presence of things, in rare cases they can check the name of the product on the tag with the list in the check.

The passenger will have to put up with a long queue of the same tourists who want to issue Tax Free.

The second customs office is suitable for passengers who do not plan to check in their purchases as baggage. The queue moves faster, but the inspection of things is carried out more carefully.

You can get Tax Free at Fiumicino Airport in the following order:

1. If the purchases from which you want to return the tax will be checked in as luggage, go to the check-in counter. Tell the employee that you want to issue Tax Free. Get boarding pass but don't check in your luggage yet.
2. Together with your luggage, you go to the customs office.
3. The customs officer checks the correspondence of the list in the check with the real things. It is advisable to keep purchases on the surface of a suitcase or bag so as not to waste time looking for them.
4. If the check is successful, the customs officer will stamp the checks. Certified documents must be taken to the Tax Free operator's point.
5. Present checks at the operator's point. Money can be issued in cash immediately or transferred to a card. Transfer to the card may take up to 5 days. If the issuance is carried out on a card, save the document that the operator will issue. If for some reason the money is not received within the specified period, you need to contact the Tax Free operator by phone.

Important! Arrive at the airport early in order to have time to do all the necessary procedures and catch your flight. Getting Tax Free can take 1.5-2 hours. If you do not check in your luggage, you will be able to free yourself early.

Is the procedure different at other airports in Italy

Getting Tax Free at other airports is about the same as in Rome. Venice has a small airport, so the queue is not so long. You can withdraw money after passport control.

There are two customs offices in Bergamo. All passengers go through the first customs, regardless of whether they check in their luggage. Items are checked thoroughly. If the check was successful, you can pick up the money before passing through passport control.

In Bologna, customs is located in the arrivals area. First you need to check in for a flight, and then go through the entire airport to customs. You can get Tax Free at the currency exchange kiosk. The kiosk is open during the day, so if you get on a night flight, you will have to receive money while at home.

At Naples airport, you will not be able to get Tax Free cash. Funds are transferred to the card. After registration and customs clearance, the passenger goes to the cash desk, where the employee will put down the necessary stamps.

Can there be difficulties in obtaining Tax Free

Although the procedure is simple, sometimes there are difficulties. Refunds are not available for all product categories. For example, when buying precious stones, the tax is not refundable. You can clarify the list of things from which you can return VAT in stores or with Tax Free operators.

It is also important to observe the period during which you can return part of the VAT. An appeal later than 3 months will not be considered, and it will not be possible to receive money.

Global Blue Refund Office

Via del Tritone, 61, Rome 00187

Opening hours:

Mon-Sun: 09:30 - 23:00

Note: The maximum amount to receive a cash refund is 500 EUR per individual traveller.

Global Blue Lounge Rome - ACCESS ONLY WITH INVITATION

Piazza di Spagna 29, 00187 Rome

Opening hours:

Mon-Fri: 10.00 - 19.30

Sat: 10.00 - 19.30

Sun: Closed

Note: - 2999.50 EUR for each individual traveler

Note: The maximum amount for receiving a refund on a credit card is 14999.50 EUR / Tax Free form

Note: Only Global Blue Tax Free forms issued in Italy are accepted for payment.

0-25.00 EUR- 3 EUR

25.01 – 80.00 EUR- 4 EUR

EUR 80.01-150.00– 5 EUR

EUR 150.01-800.00– 8 EUR

800.01 – 2999.99 EUR- 1% of the refund amount

Maccorp Forexchange

Downtown Refund Office, Via Ponte di Piscina Cupa 64, c/o McArthurGlen Outlet, Castel Romano – Rome, 00128

Opening hours:

Mon-Fri: 10.00 - 21.00

Sat: 10.00 - 22.00

Sun: 10.00 - 22.00

Note: Only Global Blue Tax Free forms issued in Italy.

Note: Only early return (cash refund) is possible.

Note: The maximum amount to receive a cash refund is EUR 2999.50 per individual traveller.

Note: The fee charged depends on the amount of the refund.

0 - 25.00 EUR - 3 EUR

25.01 - 80.00 EUR - 4 EUR

80.01 - 150.00 EUR - 5 EUR

150.01 - 800.00 EUR - 8 EUR

800.01 - 2999.50 EUR - 1% of the reimbursement amount

Maccorp Forexchange

Downtown Refund Office, Via del Lavatore 88/a, 00187 Rome

Opening hours:

Mon-Fri: 10:30-19:30

Sat: 10:30-19:30

Sun: 11:30-18:30

Note: Only Global Blue Tax Free forms issued in Italy are accepted for payment.

Note: Maximum amount for cash refund

Note: Subject to cash refund, a fee per "form" will apply. There is no charge if you receive a refund on a credit card. The amount of the fee charged depends on the amount of the refund.

0-25.00 EUR - 3 EUR

25.01 – 80.00 EUR - 4 EUR

80.01-150.00 EUR – 5 EUR

150.01-500.00 EUR – 8 EUR

Maccorp Forexchange

Downtown Refund Office, Via del Caravita 6, 00100 Roma

Opening hours:

Mon-Fri: 10:30-19:30

Sat: 10:30-19:30

Sun: 11:30-18:30

Note: Only Global Blue Tax Free forms issued in Italy are accepted for payment.

Note: Maximum amount for cash refund- 500 EUR for each individual tourist

Note: Subject to cash refund, a fee per "form" will apply. There is no charge if you receive a refund on a credit card. The amount of the fee charged depends on the amount of the refund.

0-25.00 EUR - 3 EUR

25.01 – 80.00 EUR - 4 EUR

80.01-150.00 EUR – 5 EUR

150.01-500.00 EUR – 8 EUR

Maccorp Forexchange

Downtown Refund Office, P.zza della Rotonda 68/b, 00100 Roma

Opening hours:

Mon-Fri: 9.00-20.30

Sun: 9.30-20.00

Note: Only Global Blue Tax Free forms issued in Italy are accepted for payment.

Note: Maximum amount for cash refund- 500 EUR for each individual tourist

Note: Subject to cash refund, a fee per "form" will apply. There is no charge if you receive a refund on a credit card. The amount of the fee charged depends on the amount of the refund.

0-25.00 EUR - 3 EUR

25.01 – 80.00 EUR - 4 EUR

80.01-150.00 EUR – 5 EUR

150.01-500.00 EUR – 8 EUR

Maccorp Forexchange

Int. Stazione Termini c/o agenzia 365, Atrio Centrale P.zza 500, Roma 00185

Opening hours:

Mon-Fri: 07:15 - 21:45

Sat: 07:15 - 21:45

Sun: 07:15 - 21:45

Note: Only Global Blue Tax Free forms issued in Italy are accepted for payment.

Note: The maximum amount for receiving a refund on a credit card is 1500 EUR / Tax Free form.

Note: The maximum amount to receive a cash refund is EUR 2999.50 per individual traveller.

Note: Subject to receipt of a cash refund, a fee will be charged for each ""form"". There is no charge if you receive a refund on a credit card. The amount of the fee charged depends on the amount of the refund.

0 - 25.00 EUR - 3 EUR

25.01 - 80.00 EUR - 4 EUR

80.01 - 150.00 EUR - 5 EUR

150.01 - 800.00 EUR - 8 EUR

800.01 - 2999.99 EUR - 1% of the reimbursement amount

The Soviet era of total deficit has long passed. Domestic counters literally "groan" from imported abundance. The era is gone, but the harmful bacillus that prompts our compatriots to look for exclusive gizmos in the West has taken root in our minds forever. And it doesn't matter that you have to overpay for this "exclusive" (which has ceased to be such for 20 years already). Do the math: air tickets, visas, hotels, transfers - all this eventually translates into solid numbers. Maybe that's why (in order to sweeten the expensive pill), the leadership of the EU countries came up with for the Russians, Chinese, Japanese TAX FREE?

And the EU leadership is also making sure that we remember for a long time the long tails of queues “for something” in the beautiful Soviet era. After all, it is almost impossible to get a refund after shock shopping in Italy without tedious waiting. But, jokes aside, our story is on a serious topic. So…

Dedicated to all Russians shopping in Italy...

What is TAX FREE?

International VAT refund system for non-EU residents. This means that Russians (Chinese, Arabs, Japanese) who make a trip to Italian shops can alleviate the bitterness of losing their money by returning a small percentage.

What is the refund amount?

In different countries, the percentage of TAX FREE is different. Tax-free in Italy - 22%. It's official. In fact, its value varies greatly. Shops enter into unfavorable contracts for tourists with intermediaries, which we will talk about later. As a result, a Russian citizen receives 11-13% instead of 22%. The exception is exclusive stores (jewelry, fur). In them, the returned amount sometimes reaches several thousand euros.

Minimum purchase value

The total amount of purchases is over 155 €. They must be completed during the day and certainly in one store, less often - in one trading house. For example, Milan Center La Rinascente at the Global Blue office issues a common tax free invoice for all purchases in different boutiques.

Which stores provide Tax Free?

We noticed shop windows, on the glasses of which there is a logo or global blue, or Tax refund or Premier Tax Free- that way. There are more than 18,000 such outlets in Italy.

How to ask the seller about Tax Free?

After selecting the product and going to the checkout, say: "Tax Free, Perfavore". Say the phrase before making a purchase.

What documents are required?

Personally with you - a passport. For large purchases, branded equipment (for example, Apple) without a passport, a discount will not be issued.

The store must issue:

• Fattura- a special invoice, which indicates: the amount of the purchase (as in the check) and the amount of the return (without this figure, the customs officers will not put the necessary stamp). Sellers can fill in your personal data themselves or ask you to do so.

Return methods

1. In the city before leaving.
2. At the airport of Rome, Milan, Naples, Rimini, Verona, Pisa, Bologna.
3. In Moscow.

Return in the city

Without waiting for the return flight, you can return the tax free at the city offices of the return points. A list of Global Blue offices is available at globalblue.ru. The list of TAX Refund points is available at taxrefund.it. Going for money, grab:

1. Product.
2. fattura.
3. Passport.
4. Return ticket.
5. Credit card.

The tax-free return procedure looks like this. Employees, after checking the checks, pay money, while fixing the credit card data. You undertake, in turn, to send stamped checks to the address of the office in due time. Otherwise, the amount paid and a fine for non-fulfillment of the contract will be debited from the card.

Expensive fur and jewelry boutiques provide this service without intermediaries. This is the most favorable return for the buyer. Such stores return the maximum percentage (22%). That is, you buy a product "cleared" from value added tax (VAT).

For stamped checks in a branded envelope (it is issued with fattura), special boxes are installed at the airport. The envelope can be sent from Russia by mail, gluing the necessary stamps.

Standard return procedure at Italian airports

1. Take your boarding pass.
2. Approach the dogana (customs office) with documents (coupon, passport, checks, fattura) and with things bought in the country. Do not remove labels from products.
3. The customs officer, having checked the purchases and checks, puts a stamp.
4. Find points global blue, or Tax refund or Premier Tax Free and show stamped checks.
5. You receive money in cash or leave your credit card details, to which the entire amount will be transferred in 3-5 days.

Yaroslav, Petersburg:

“At the Rome airport (in January 2019) I left my card details. I waited 2 weeks in vain. I thought my blood was crying! It's good that I kept a piece of paper with a phone from Premier Tax Free. Called. I had to "roar" in Italian-English. Received mine after 3 weeks. Bad story."

Rome. Tax Free at Aeroporto di Fiumicino

There are 2 customs offices in the building. The first one is intended for passengers who wish to send items bought in Italy as luggage. Huge queues in which it is easy to lose 2 hours are 100% inevitable. The undoubted plus of this item is a superficial inspection of purchases.

Olga, Petrozavodsk:

“I once got TAX FREE by showing a used Naf Naf dress instead of a purchased Max Mara outfit.”

You will see the second dogana behind the store. Salvatore Ferragamo after going through passport control. This dogana has a procedure for those who “prefer to carry everything with them” rather than check it in as luggage. The queue here is small, but things are examined more carefully.

In front of this customs crowd of people at the window global blue. An immediate refund occurs in this window. Stock up on patience and time (the final step will take another 40 minutes).

Milan. Tax Free at Aeroporto di Milano - Malpensa

The first customs office (registration hall) checks checks more quickly than the point behind passport control. In the window Premier Tax Free(return) for some reason there are always fewer people than in the other two. Experienced shoppers in Milan know this and initially look for stores that have contracts with this intermediary firm. The return office opening hours can be found at airportmalpensa.com.

Vera, Tula:

“The worst airport in terms of money back! Active Arabs, disciplined Chinese visit Milan with the only mission - to collect more goods. Three-hour lines, noise, hassle. You don't wish it on your enemy! Passengers who are lost in lines are often called over the loudspeaker, and they drop everything and run to the plane.”

Rimini. Tax Free at Aeroporto di "Federico Fellini"

Map of Federico Fellini airport.

The customs office is located next to the check-in counters for aircraft flying to Russia. Customs officers are extremely picky: they open the boxes, check the letters on the shop receipt with the letters on the product label. The screening takes 20 (at least) minutes.

Cash points are located on the second floor. You need to get to them before going through passport control.

Moscow. Return Tax Free

In Moscow, a refund is carried out:

• First Czech-Russian Bank;
• SMP Bank;
• Intesa;
• Promsvyazbank;
• MDM Bank.

Payments may not be made by all Moscow branches of banks, therefore, before you go for blood money, call and specify the address of the desired branch. The checks you present must be stamped by Italian customs officials.

Do not forget!

• TAX FREE checks for Italian purchases are valid for 3 months. Make sure you meet this deadline!
• With each Fattura, upon receipt of cash, a commission is charged - 3 €.

farewell parable

At the planning meeting, the director of the holding instructs managers:
- Ask the client what he wants more: a discount or the product itself. If the discount is more important to him, offer the product for a triple price with a 50% markdown - let him rejoice!

Sometimes, when picking up goods worth more than 155 €, an excited customer does not notice that she is choosing an unnecessary item (skirt, trousers). At home, she sighs in disappointment: “Why did I grab this?”. Benefit as a result - zero. Don't make mistakes!

All tourists who are not residents of the Eurozone countries, Italy provides the right to receive TAX FREE. You can use this service if:

- make a purchase in stores where you will see company logos on the windows: Global Blue TAX FREE (the most popular), TAX REFUND or PREMIER tax free. If you do not see them, do not hesitate to ask the seller if they issue TAX FREE.

- make purchases with one check for an amount of at least 154.94 euros. If you were not able to pay for all purchases with one check, then when making several purchases on the same day in one store, you can add up all checks to make up the minimum amount above.

Registration of TAX FREE:

At the checkout according to your passport, the seller will issue you a TAX FREE check. Carefully check if your details are correct: last name, first name, country of residence, address and passport number.

It is important to remember that the check for TAX FREE is valid only for 3 months!!!

Return TAX FREE:

METHOD #1: a tourist can return TAX FREE, without waiting for the day of departure from the country, at one of the offices of the above-mentioned companies located in the center of Rome. You must have with you: receipts for purchases, a passport, the purchases themselves in an unpacked form with all tags and price tags, return ticket. The paperwork will be filled out and the money will be given to you. When leaving the country at the airport, you will need to stamp the previously issued checks at the customs office (in Italian Dogana) and present your purchases.

Addresses of TAX FREE Global Blue points in Rome:

— ACCORP FOREXCHANGE. Via del Lavatore 88/a. Opening hours: Mon.-Sat. 10.30-19.30, Sun. 11.30-18.30. Max refund Money- 500 Euro.

— MACCORP FOREXCHANGE. Via del Caravita 6. Opening hours: Mon.-Sat. 10.30-19.30, Sun. 11.30-18.30.

— MACCORP FOREXCHANGE. Piazza della Rotonda 68/b. Opening hours: Mon.-Sat. 9.00-20.30, Sun. 9.30-20.00.

Addresses of TAX REFUND points in Rome:

— Best and Fast. Via Nazionale, 19. Opening hours: Mon.-Sun. 7.45-21.00.

— ROMA Via Veneto. Via Lazio, 10. Opening hours: Mon.-Fri. 9.30-19.00, Sat. 9.30-13.00, Sun. - day off.

Rome Piazza di Spagna. Piazza di Spagna, 38. Opening hours: Mon.-Fri. 9.00-17.30, Sat. 9.00-12.30, Sun. - day off.

Rome Piazza di Spagna. Piazza di Spagna, 80. Opening hours: Mon.-Sun. 9.30-20.00.

Addresses of PREMIER Tax Free points in Rome:

— Premier Tax Free. Via Gregoriana, 54. Opening hours: Mon.-Fri. 9.00-18.00.

— Forexchange. Via della Conciliazone, 43/A. Opening hours: Mon.-Sun. 8.30-20.00.

— Forexchange. Termini Train Station, opposite platform 4. Opening hours: Mon.-Sun. 7.00-20.00.

— Forexchange. Via del Caravita, 6. Opening hours: Mon.-Sun. 9.00-20.00.

— Bank of China. Via Barberini, 97/103. Opening hours: Mon.-Fri. 8.45-16.00.

METHOD #2. TAX FREE can be returned at Fiumiccino Airport (Aeroporto nazionale Leonardo da Vinci Fiumiccino). In this case, I advise you to arrive early, because very often there is a long queue at the TAX FREE pick-up points.

The procedure for obtaining TAX FREE is as follows:

- go to the passenger check-in counter and take your boarding pass, tell the woman at the counter that you want to get TAX FREE, she shows you where the customs office is located (DOGANA in Italian).

- after receiving your boarding pass, you take your luggage and go to the customs point. Things for which you want to return the tax, you need to prepare in advance so as not to waste time. Do not remove tags and price tags from them and do not unpack them.

- the customs officer, at his discretion, may ask you to present all purchases according to the submitted checks. If there are no questions, he will put a stamp on your checks.

- with stamped checks, you go to the Global Blue TAX FREE, TAX REFUND or PREMIER tax free points, where you can receive money in cash immediately or on bank card within 3-5 working days. I advise you, until the transfer of money to your card, keep the papers that the customs officer will give you. If the money does not come, you will need to call back the number indicated on the papers to obtain information.

Customs (DOGANA) at Fiumicino Airport are located:

in the center of the first floor. After passing through this customs, upon presentation of your boarding pass, you check in your luggage.

- in the center of the hall behind passport control. For orientation: pass the Salvatore Ferragamo boutique, then the bar, on the right you will see the TAX FREE pick-up points of all the above companies, behind them there is a customs point. After passing through this customs, you pick up your things in the cabin of the aircraft.

TAX FREE Global Blue points at Fiumicino Airport are located:

— Global Blue Italia srl. Terminal 3, next to check-in desk 326. Opening hours: Mon.-Sun. 09.00-21.00. TAX FREE refund to credit card only.

— Global Blue Italia srl. Terminal 3 - Exit H1 (non-Schengen area). Opening hours: Mon.-Sun. 07.00-22.00. The maximum refund is 999.50 euros.

Global Blue Italia srl. Terminal 5. Opening hours: Mon.-Sun. 07.00-12.00. The maximum refund is 999.50 euros.

TAX REFUND points at Fiumicino Airport are located:

- Terminal 3 (Check-in Area). Opening hours: Mon.-Sun. 7.00-22.00.

- Terminal 3 (Departures Area). Opening hours: Mon.-Sun. 7.00-22.00.

Global Blue Italia srl

Terminal 3, boarding area, check-in counter 326, Leonardo da Vinci, 00050 Fiumicino

Opening hours:

Mon-Fri: 07.00-22.00

Sat: 07.00-22.00

Sun: 07.00-22.00

Note:

0 - 25.00 EUR - 3 EUR

25.01 - 80.00 EUR - 4 EUR

80.01 - 150.00 EUR - 5 EUR

150.01 - 800.00 EUR - 8 EUR

Note: Alipay box is available

Note: At Fiumicino Airport (Terminal 3), you can get an electronic customs stamp through the OTELLO system directly at the Global Blue Return Office. To obtain an electronic customs seal, you must provide Global Blue employees with the purchased goods, passport and plane ticket (boarding pass). Keep in mind that the electronic customs seal can be received no earlier than 5 hours before flight departure.

Note: The following payment methods are available: Alipay wallet, Wechat wallet and CUP wallet.

Global Blue Italia srl

Terminal 3, departures, terminal "E" - after passport control, Leonardo da Vinci, 00050 Fiumicino

Opening hours:

Mon-Fri: 07.00-22.00

Sat: 07.00-22.00

Sun: 07.00-22.00

Note: The maximum amount to receive a cash refund is 1500 EUR / Tax Free form.

Note: The maximum amount for receiving a refund on a credit card is 4999.50 EUR / Tax Free Form

Note: Any Global Blue Tax Free forms are accepted.

Note: Subject to cash refund, a fee per "form" will apply. There is no charge if you receive a refund on a credit card. The amount of the fee charged depends on the amount of the refund.

0 - 25.00 EUR - 3 EUR

25.01 - 80.00 EUR - 4 EUR

80.01 - 150.00 EUR - 5 EUR

150.01 - 800.00 EUR - 8 EUR

800.01 - 2999.50 EUR - 1% of the reimbursement amount

Note: Alipay box is available.

Note: At Fiumicino Airport (Terminal 3), you can get an electronic customs stamp through the OTELLO system directly at the Global Blue Return Office. To obtain an electronic customs seal, you must provide Global Blue employees with the purchased goods, passport and plane ticket (boarding pass). Keep in mind that the electronic customs seal can be obtained no earlier than 5 hours before the flight departure.

Note: Reimbursement can be paid on credit cards Alipay. Provide Alipay barcode for scanning. The refund will be transferred instantly.

The following payment methods are available: Alipay wallet, Wechat wallet and CUP wallet.