Germany tax-refund shopping

Standard VAT is 19%. VAT contained in a tax-inclusive price is 19/119, about 15.9664%, rather than 19% of the sticker price.

Policy reviewed: Nov 1, 2026, 12:00 AM UTC

Price and tax rates

Standard VAT is 19%. VAT contained in a tax-inclusive price is 19/119, about 15.9664%, rather than 19% of the sticker price.
You generally must reside outside the EU. Each qualifying receipt must exceed EUR 50 including VAT; exactly EUR 50 does not meet the threshold.
Export the goods from the EU by the end of the third month following the purchase month and obtain export validation. Customs confirmation is not a refund paid by customs.
The shop or service provider pays the actual refund and may charge a fee. An unknown fee assumed to be zero is only an estimate; no nationwide net-refund amount-band table has been verified.

Source: Purchasing VAT-free in Germany as a traveller from a non-EU state

Source: VAT rates applied in EU member countries - Germany