1. Can I get a VAT refund on a hotel room charges (room and tax)? <BR> <BR>2. Can I apply for it after I am back in the US? <BR> <BR>3. If so, how?

My personal experience with the VAT return has been that cannot be done with room charges or the like, only on expensive or a considerable amount of merchandise purchased at the same time in a given store, they fill out the paper work which you present at the airport leaving the country, wherein they give you either the cash (which they did this last time) or credit it to your credit card. And keep in mind, you only get at the most about 12% of the 20% tax back, on the items. Good luck.

You can't get a VAT refund on hotel rooms - then room was "consumed" in France and thus any value added was added in France, and they get the tax. Clear as mud, huh? VAT refunds are for things taken out of the country, i.e. the consumption takes place in another country and the tax on added value is not incurred in France. <BR>I understand this. <BR>That scares me.

You can get VAT back on anything you take out of the country (not just expensive items). Make sure you keep all receipts. I've never actually applied for any refunds because it's a big hassle.

And as often as I go to Paris, I've never found the counter at CDG or Orly. Anybody who can direct me?