Although I made my purchases in Italy, customs did not stamp my vat forms @ the fiumicino airport-rome. They told me since I was flying to Charles De gaulle-paris, they needed to stamp there and I needed to mail it at De gaulle airport. I did not stay in Paris it was just part of the route to head back home to Houston (Fco-Charles De Gaulle-HOuston). It has been about 6wks. since I dropped it in the mail at the last airport. About how long does it take for refunds to be processed??? Anyone knows????I"m thinking if I don't get it is probbably becuase I dropped it off @ the Paris and Rome airport. Your comments are appreciated!!!

Did you get the customs stamp in CDG? If not you won't get the refund. Same thing happened to us in Italy when stopping off in England. The VAT line at Gatwick airport was too long and we didn't have enough time to wait as the secuiry checkpoint was really backed up. I think it's just another diversion to keep you from getting the refund. Why not just refund the money in Italy for non-european citizens? It was a very costly mistake for us.

It is not a diversion, it's because of the law and what it is for -- which I believe is that generally VAT can be refunded only when an item is removed from the EU. That is why it is required at the last airport you pass through out of the EU. Whether you are staying in a place isn't really an issue, it has to do with exiting the EU.

Customs officials usually don't lie about stuff like that. I think it usually takes about 4-8 weeks.

It is not fair when people do not have the time to go through customs when continuing homebound and connecting through another country, and I do think it is a diversion. Your passport clearly states what country you're from and where you're traveling to. If it were only that hard to go on the dole.

So it is safe to say it is 6-8 wks wait for the refund?????

Hi Lauren,

6-8 weeks is about right.

Also, you only get a VAT refund if you spend about 200E **in one store**.