Shopping

VAT or value added tax is an indirect tax on the final consumption of products and services in countries in the European Union (EU). All visitors whose main residence is outside the EU 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 can request a VAT refund for your purchases through two channels:  - at the airport or port when you are leaving the territory of the European Union where you made the purchases and within a maximum period of three months after the purchase was made. - in the city centre via Global Blue and Planet with the Early Refund. You can search for their locations in Spain at the following links:  Global Blue refund pointsPlanet refund points

Travellers can request an advance refund in cash or by card, before validation at the airport. To enjoy this benefit you must: - provide a credit card as a guarantee,- leave the country within a maximum period of 15 days,- validate the form at the exit point in any of the Spanish airports. Currently the only Tax Free operators that offer the advance refund service in cities (not including airports) are: Global Blue and Planet. In the previous question, you can find links to the websites of both companies, where their exact refund points in Spain are indicated.

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 outside the European Union. Once at the airport or port of departure, when you are going to return to leave Spain, 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 you to 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 immediately 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 SA (formerly European Tax Free Shopping Spain SA)• Planet Payment Spain SAU (formerly Cashback y Premier Tax Free)• Epay Taxfree (Innova Tax Free Spain S.L.)• Caja de Ahorros y Pensiones de Barcelona• Open Refund  SL• Comercia Global Payments Entidad de Pago SL• Financiera El Corte Inglés, EFC• Travel Tax Free, SLU• S21 TAX FREE, SL• KEEP SHOPPING TAX FREE, SL• HISPANIA TAX FREE, SL• B FreeTax Back SL• Safety Tax Free España, SL• Wiblink, SL• WOONIVERS SPAIN, SL (antes Getrefund SL)• Traveleasy  GmBH• Pucela Brain Storm, SL• Refundit, SL• Yourtaxback, S.L.• Upshop Tax Free España, S.L.• Pie Systems Spain, S.L.