How to Get a Tax Free (VAT) Refund? Step-by-Step Process

How to get a tax free VAT refund: you get an e-Invoice printout from an authorized store, go to the customs tax-free desk with the goods and invoice on your way out, and receive the refund from an intermediary firm. The answer is conditional: the right is granted to foreign nationals and to Turkish citizens holding a residence permit abroad. Below are the conditions, steps and a checklist.

In short

• The right is granted to foreign nationals and Turkish citizens holding a residence permit abroad; Turkish citizens living in Turkey are not covered.
• Goods must be worth more than 1000 TL excluding VAT and must be taken out of the country within 3 months.
• On departure, go to the customs tax-free desk with the goods and the e-Invoice printout; you receive the refund from the intermediary firm.
• Rules vary by country for shopping abroad; check the current rules of the country before you go.

How does tax free work?

Tax-free is the refund of VAT on goods purchased at authorized points in Turkey when the goods are taken out of the country. Since the goods leave the country, the tax you paid is refunded to you.

The process has four basic elements:

• Authorized store: Not every seller can make tax-free sales. Before paying, ask whether the store is authorized for tax-free sales.
• e-Invoice printout: A store authorized for Tax-Free sales gives the passenger a printout of the e-Invoice. This document is the basis of the refund process.
• Customs approval: When leaving the country, you show the goods and invoice at the customs tax-free desk.
• Intermediary firm: If customs sees that the conditions are met, it approves the invoice and the invoice is forwarded to the intermediary firm. You receive the VAT refund from the intermediary firm.

In other words, the money comes not from customs but from the intermediary firm. Find out from the store which intermediary firm is used and how the refund will be paid during your purchase; looking for this at the airport wastes time.

Who can benefit from the tax free refund?

This right is not granted to everyone. Those who can benefit fall into two groups:

• Foreign nationals who have not lived in Turkey for more than 185 days retroactively,
• Turkish nationals with a residence permit abroad.

The second group is often misunderstood. The residence permit here refers to a residence permit obtained by a Turkish citizen from a country where they live outside Turkey. If you are a Turkish citizen living in Turkey and going abroad for a holiday, you do not fall into this category; do not expect a tax-free refund for your purchases in Turkey. If you are unsure of your situation, confirm it with the store and customs before shopping.

Even if you are eligible, two further conditions apply:

• The value of the purchased goods must be more than 1000 TL excluding VAT.
• The goods must be taken out of the country within 3 months.

Ask the store and the intermediary firm about details such as whether the amount applies to the total invoice or item by item during your purchase. We do not have verified information on these details.

The tax free process step by step

From the purchase to the money reaching you, the process proceeds in this order:

1. Ask about tax-free at the store. Before paying, find out whether the seller is authorized and whether the amount of goods meets the condition. Also ask which documents are required.
2. Get the e-Invoice printout. The authorized store gives you the printout of the e-Invoice. Keep the printout together with the goods, somewhere easily accessible.
3. Keep the goods with you. When departing, you must show the goods together with their invoice to the customs officer. Ask at the airport how to proceed before checking in the goods.
4. Go to the customs tax-free desk. You must have the e-Invoice printout and the goods with you. If customs sees that the conditions are met, it approves the invoice.
5. The invoice is forwarded to the intermediary firm. The stage after approval is not at customs but with the intermediary firm.
6. Receive the VAT refund from the intermediary firm. Check the firm's conditions for the payment method and timing.

Do not change this order. If step 4 is skipped, the invoice is not approved at customs and the refund process does not begin.

Exceptions and common mistakes

Problems most often arise at these points:

• Checking the goods into registered baggage. The customs officer wants to see the goods with their invoice. Find out in advance where the tax-free desk is relative to baggage check-in. To arrive early, also consider the times in the online check-in guide.
• Missing the 3-month period. The goods must be taken out of the country within 3 months of the purchase.
• Falling below the 1000 TL minimum. The value must be above this amount excluding VAT. Ask the store whether small purchases can be combined into a single invoice.
• Shopping at an unauthorized point. You cannot get an e-Invoice printout from a store not authorized for tax-free sales.
• Losing the invoice. The e-Invoice printout is required together with the goods at customs; be careful not to lose the printout.

Whether using the goods matters for the refund is not included in our verified information. To stay on the safe side, it is advisable to carry the goods unused, if possible in their packaging, and confirm this matter with the store and the customs desk. Also ask about restrictions on specific product categories the same way.

VAT refunds for shopping abroad

If you are a traveler living in Turkey, what you usually need is the VAT refund in the country you are visiting. There is no single global rule for this; the minimum amount, the period, the eligible types of goods and the refund method vary from country to country. We do not give these figures here, because each country's rule is separate and may be updated.

Before you go, find out:

• Under what conditions you are eligible as a tourist,
• The minimum amount,
• Where to get the refund document approved,
• By what method and within what time the money is paid.

Confirm this information with the store where you will shop and the country's official customs sources.

To choose which cities to shop in according to your route, you can check the Germany places to visit guide. If you travel to Schengen countries often, the Schengen trusted person formula may be useful for your visa plan.

Checklist before setting off

Review this list before shopping and at the airport.

At the time of purchase

• Confirm that you are entitled to tax-free: a foreign national or a Turkish national with a residence permit abroad.
• Find out whether the store is authorized for tax-free sales.
• Make sure the value of the goods is above 1000 TL excluding VAT.
• Get the e-Invoice printout and check it.
• Note the name of the intermediary firm and the refund method.

During travel

• Mark the 3-month period on your calendar.
• Carry the invoice printout together with the goods, somewhere easily accessible.
• Carrying the goods unused is a safe choice; confirm this with the store.

At the airport

• Find out the location of the customs tax-free desk and plan your order relative to baggage check-in.
• Go to the customs officer with the goods and the e-Invoice printout.
• Make sure the approved invoice is forwarded to the intermediary firm.
• Receive the refund from the intermediary firm.

If you are considering a multi-country trip, you can check out tours abroad. Since short holidays get busier, you can also check the 4-day route suggestions for the October 29 holiday abroad.

Frequently asked questions

What is tax free?

Tax-free is the refund of VAT on goods purchased at authorized points in Turkey when they are taken out of the country. On departure, you must show the goods and their invoice to the customs officer.

Can a Turkish citizen get a tax free refund in Turkey?

Only Turkish nationals with a residence permit abroad can benefit. Turkish citizens living in Turkey are not covered. Confirm your own situation with the store and customs.

Is there a minimum amount for tax free?

Yes. The value of the purchased goods must be above 1000 TL excluding VAT. The goods must also be taken out of the country within 3 months.

Where do I get the tax free invoice approved?

You get it approved at the customs tax-free desk when leaving the country. You must have the e-Invoice printout and the goods with you. If customs sees that the conditions are met, it approves the invoice.

Who do I get the VAT refund from?

You get the refund not from customs but from the intermediary firm. After customs approval, the invoice is forwarded to the intermediary firm. It's a good idea to learn the payment method at the time of purchase.

Can I put tax free goods in my checked baggage?

On departure, you must show the goods with their invoice to the customs officer. So find out the location of the tax-free desk before checking in the goods. Check the current rules of your airline and airport.

Sources

• Tax-Free — gumrukrehberi.gov.tr
• Passenger Guide - Tax-Free — gumrukrehberi.gov.tr