Customs control of tourists: how is VAT refunded in Spain and Italy

Argentine customs began to control high-end consumption Undeclared by Argentine tourists who come from Spain and seek to add those from Italy.

Official sources said Infobae who – which “As a result of the exchange of information with Spain, these controls are already in place”. Among the other unauthorized products were drones, luxury watches, luxury brand clothing and handbags.

Henceforth, when an Argentine tourist requests a tax refund at a Spanish airport (“tax refund”) for products purchased in that country, An alert goes directly to Argentine customs with this information.

In this context , Infobae Reveal how the “tax refund” systems work in Spain and Italy:

To request a VAT refund, Argentines must either make purchases in Tax free storeswhere should Complete a form and ask for tickets or invoices to be stamped. The amount required Minimum €90.15 to accumulate tickets for the same purchase In the same store or in different stores that share the same CIF. The items must have been purchased, at most, in the three months prior to requesting a VAT refund at customs, where they must be shown with your DNI, passport, visa, flights and other documents.

If you will be traveling across multiple EU countries, you must collect all tickets and tax-exempt forms for the items and show them at the last airport before leaving the EU.

If a “tax refund” will be requested in MadridIn addition to carrying out the procedure at the billing visa offices of the Civil Guard, bills can be stamped through an electronic system. With this method, the traveler has to order the DIVA form in stores, which can be validated electronically at the stamp points provided at Madrid Barajas Airport. You can then claim a refund at the store where the purchases were made, or at the tax-exempt management entities located in the boarding areas, and pay the corresponding commission. Tax exemption process in Barcelona It is similar to Madrid Airport.

There are also duty-free shops in Spain that give you money right away. Although this method is faster than doing it at the airports, it is more expensive because the management has to pay.

Although the government at the moment does not control the undeclared consumption that comes from Italy, it plans to start doing so soon.

In Italy, each product has a different VAT that can range from 4 to 22 percent of its worth. The same will always be indicated on the invoice.

In order to apply for a “tax refund” in Italy, it is necessary that the products be customized Personal or family useThe value of the Each invoice submitted must exceed 154.94 EURthe purchased goods must leave European territory within three months after purchase and must be carried in personal baggage, whether carried or on board.

To get a refund in Italy, Argentines must:

1. Purchase goods or products at a company that accepts tax exemption. When in doubt, ask the staff before buying. There are various companies to carry out the procedure in Italy, such as Global Return or Premier Tax Free, among others.

two. Fill out the tax exemption form specifying personal data, passport number and other required information. It is important to keep the form provided by the company as the original payment invoice. On some occasions, they put the “Duty Free” stamp directly on the invoice. When filling out the form, it is very likely that you will be asked for your passport, so it is recommended to have it ready.

3. At the last airport of departure from Italian territory, before boarding your luggage, look for the counter where tax-exempt receipts are stamped. They must provide the receipt, payment invoice, personal documents and in some cases airline tickets. At this box office, they will put the official stamp of tax-exempt receipts.

four. Once at the airport, find the offices of the same company, and request a VAT refund with the pre-stamped receipt. They can order it in cash (a small commission is charged) or directly to a credit card (it will arrive in 5 or 6 business days). It is important to keep in mind that this entire process can take between one and two hours, so it is essential that you give yourself enough time.

If the flight is at night, and the counter requesting a refund is closed or there is a long queue and they may miss the plane, they can leave the unit (already sealed) at one of the corporate mailbox counters. Payment in this case is made by letter of credit.

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