Zapptax — Shop Tax Free

I was a bit nervous since this is my first time using this app. However, it was a relatively smooth process. Download the app, make your purchase and ask for the invoice as indicated in the app (I went to Galeries Lafayette and either the clerk or their tax/concierge desk made the invoice without issue), then scan or stamp at customs. I had a bit of an issue with using an American bank account but a quick chat got it straightened out. You can either use a bank or PayPal for the refund (the credit card feature didn’t work for me). All in all I got 90% of the 20% VAT (calculated as 18% VAT on the subtotal as the refunded amount). Refund amount varies a bit depending on your total purchases. This is a lot more than the in person tax agencies! Refund took about a week after I submitted the forms. PayPal/your bank may also charge a fee for the wire/exchange into USD during the refund so be mindful for that. The in person places do the same. Definitely will use again!

At first I was a bit concerned because the process is a bit a complicated and strange: you buy items and have an invoice issued to ZappTax (so technically you’re buying your items for them), then ZappTax issues you a new invoice that states that they sold the item back to you. That invoice comes with the form to claim part of the VAT back. A few observations: - the first time I used that app, given the strange process I didn’t know if it was real and if it would work. Uploading documents on the app didn’t seem to trigger anything, so I had to reach out to their support. Support answers within minutes. - Getting the invoice issued to ZappTax not only makes the process complicated but can be challenging for the person at the store selling you items. I don’t know if I’d be able to get it if I didn’t speak the language. - The customs form got rejected by the automated (PABLO) machine, and I had to get a customs agent to clear it for me. The customs officer seemed a bit puzzled by the ZappTax invoice, but processed the tax refund document since technically this is all OK. Maybe the machine rejected it because I’m an EU citizen living abroad, or maybe it’s because of ZappTax, I got no idea. Again if I had not been speaking the language I don’t know how complicated it would have been. - The FAQ says refunds typically come within 24h. As far as my refund was concerned it took 5 days after a customer rep told me that everything was in order to receive my money. But I did receive it! - The best part now: the amount of money ZappTax refunds is way higher than what you can get through the traditional organizations like Global Refund. They brought the VAT down from 20% to 3%, where the traditional way only brings it down to 8%. So it was definitely worth it. My main concern was that they are a startup, so being a small company it is harder to trust them with your money because they don’t as established of a reputation as other big companies.