Frequently asked questions
In order to be eligible for Tax Free shopping (a VAT refund), you must permanently reside outside the country in which you are making your purchases.
If you are shopping within the EU, you must permanently reside outside of the EU.
You must also spend a minimum amount in one store on the same day.
These rules vary from country to country - do please visit the below pages to learn more:
Foreign students can only shop Tax Free within the last months of their studies before they head home permanently.
This time period differs from country to country and is the same time period specified for export validation.
Useful information:
You can find some advice on how and where to shop Tax Free, and our multi-lingual Customer Services team are always happy to help!
Useful pages:
All taxable goods that are exported in your personal baggage.
Please note that goods should be sealed and unused.
For local refund rules for a list of goods that are exempt in each country, and useful information on Tax Free shopping, please check out the below pages.
Useful information:
Look for stores displaying the Planet Tax Free sign, or ask in-store whether they offer Planet Tax Free services.
You can also search our brand directory for specific stores and locations - see below for useful links:
You can view where Tax Free shopping is available by visiting:
Yes. If you want a VAT refund, you must get a Tax Free form from the retailer that sold you the goods.
This Tax Free form needs to be fully completed and export validated before you can get a refund.
Yes. In most cases, the Tax Free form must be fully completed in-store.
At the very least, this form MUST be fully completed before you request export validation.
All Tax Free forms must be export validated to qualify for a refund. In most cases, this is a Customs stamp.
The relevant Customs officials or airport agents need to check that you are eligible and meet all of the requirements to get a VAT refund.
You will need to present your Tax Free form, passport and travel documents.
Some countries require that you attach your receipts to the Tax Free form. You may also be asked to present your goods.
If you have made your purchases in the EU, you get export validation from Customs at your last point of departure from the EU.
For any other countries, this is when you finally depart.
Customs is well signposted at all airports, land border or ports.
Please allow enough time at the airport to complete the export validation - please check the airport website for further information or contact our customer services team.
Please refer to the list of validation points, and other useful links, below:
Yes. Without export validation (a Customs stamp), you cannot get a refund.
Customs request that all goods are sealed and unused.
If they check your goods, they may refuse to export validate your Tax Free form if they see that goods have been used.
Generally, no. You must have your goods on you, ready to present to Customs on request for export validation.
If you are required to present your boarding cards, you can check-in but you must not drop your bags off until after export validation.
In some countries, you MUST check-in before export validation. In these cases, you must ask check-in staff to label your luggage and return it to you.
Once Customs have inspected your purchases and validated your Tax Free forms, they will organise for your luggage to be transferred to the airplane.
Any high-value goods should be carried in your hand luggage and you should receive export validation after security.
The refund methods differ from country to country, and there are country-specific local rules and thresholds. Refund options and opening hours may vary across refund locations and may change periodically. Please check with the individual refund location for availability - please visit the pages below for specifics:
Most Credit Card companies/Banks charge Planet for processing refunds through their network.
Planet pass on this charge by way of deduction from the refund amount. The Amex charge is £1, or equivalent. The Visa charge is €0.87c, or equivalent. The exchange rate used to convert this charge to other currencies is periodically reviewed.
Choosing this refund method indicates agreement to pay an additional charge.
Some card companies require the expiry date of the card as well as the card number to process a refund. Where you have not supplied the expiry date the refund may not be successfully processed to your card by your card company. Where this occurs Planet can reprocess your refund once you have provided us with the necessary data.
Please see our full list of refund points and other useful links, below:
Yes. In most airports, a separate charge will be made by the airport agent providing the cash refund service.
No, you can receive the refund on any credit card.
We process your refund within 30 days of receiving your original export-validated Tax Free form.
Due to credit card procedures put in place by credit card companies, refunds generally appear on your bank statement in the month following the transfer of your refund amount from Planet to your bank.