VAT Refund & Tax Free Calculator
Calculate your potential tax refund when shopping abroad. Instantly checks VAT rates and minimum purchase thresholds for top tourist destinations like the UK, France, Japan, and Italy.
About
Shopping is a major part of global travel, and the 'Tax-Free' perk offered by many countries can result in significant savings—often between 8% and 20% of the purchase price. However, the process is shrouded in complexity. Each country has a distinct standard VAT rate, a specific Minimum Purchase Threshold (the amount you must spend in one store to qualify), and varying administrative fees charged by refund processors like Global Blue or Planet.
This tool eliminates the guesswork. Whether you are buying luxury goods in Paris, electronics in Tokyo, or fashion in Milan, this calculator automatically applies the local tax rules. It separates the Gross price into the Net value and the VAT component, then subtracts estimated administrative fees to show you the actual cash (or credit) you will get back at the airport.
Formulas
The VAT is extracted from the gross price (shelf price) using the formula:
The final refund amount considers the administrative fee:
Reference Data
| Country | Standard VAT Rate | Min Purchase Threshold (Local Currency) | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 20% | €100.01 | EUR |
| Italy | 22% | €154.95 | EUR |
| Germany | 19% | €50.00 | EUR |
| Spain | 21% | €0.00 (No Min) | EUR |
| Japan | 10% | ¥5,000 | JPY |
| South Korea | 10% | ₩30,000 | KRW |
| United Kingdom | 20% | N/A (Abolished for tourists) | GBP |
| Singapore | 9% | $100 | SGD |
| Switzerland | 7.7% | CHF 300 | CHF |
| Netherlands | 21% | €50.00 | EUR |