VAT or value added tax is an indirect tax on the final consumption of products and services in countries in the European Union. UK residents can claim a tax refund on occasional purchases made in Spain of items for personal use or as gifts which they wish to take back to their country (with the exception of purchases made in the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla).

You must apply for a VAT refund on your purchases at the airport or port of departure from Spain when you are returning to the UK with the goods purchased, within a maximum period of three months after the purchase.

You just have to request the invoice and the electronic tax-free refund document (DER/DIVA form) at the time of purchase, in addition to proving your identity and your residence in the United Kingdom.

Once at the airport or port of departure, when you are going to return to your country, you must take the electronic tax-free refund documents (DER/DIVA form) with you to validate at the DIVA kiosks or interactive stands, or, where applicable, at the customs office. It is also essential that you bring the purchase invoices, passport, boarding pass and the goods for which you are requesting a refund.

We recommend that you arrive well in advance so that you can make the necessary arrangements and return home with complete peace of mind.

Once the electronic validation process of the tax-free refund documents (DER/DIVA forms) has been completed, you can claim the money. You have two options: Request a VAT refund directly from the shop where you made the purchases, or through tax free management entities authorised by the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT), which you will find in the boarding areas.

- If you choose to request it directly through the shop: they will refund the entire amount within 15 days by cheque, bank transfer, or to your credit card or other refund method. To do this, you must send the DER visa to the retailer. You have a period of four years to claim it. Once this period has elapsed, the retailer does not have the obligation to return the VAT.

- If you choose to process the refund through the authorised tax free collaborating entity: they will pay you the corresponding amount of VAT less the authorised fee. The refund may be in cash (in euros), to your credit card, by cheque, or by bank transfer.

On the following list, you can find the collaborating entities authorised by the Spanish Tax Agency for VAT refunds on your purchases:

• Global Blue España, S.A. (formerly European Tax Free Shopping Spain, S.A.)
• Planet Payment Spain S.A.U. (formerly Cashback and Premier Tax Free)
• Innova Taxfree Spain (formerly Spain Refund, S.L.)
• Caja de Ahorros y Pensiones de Barcelona
• Open Refund S.L.
• Comercia Global Payments Entidad de Pago S.L.
• Financiera El Corte Inglés, E.F.C.
• Travel Tax Free, S.L.U.
• S21 TAX FREE, S.L.
• KEEP SHOPPING TAX FREE, S.L.
• HISPANIA TAX FREE, S.L.
• B FreeTax Back S.L.
• Safety Tax Free España, S.L.
• Wiblink, S.L.
• WOONIVERS SPAIN, S.L. (formerly Getrefund S.L.)
• Traveleasy GmBH
• Pucela Brain Storm, S.L.
• Refundit, S.L.
• Yourtaxback, S.L.
• Upshop Tax Free España, S.L.