Hello! I have a question on where to claim my VAT Tax Refund.

I will be in Italy for a couple of weeks and I plan to shop there. From Milan, I will fly to Marrakech for a few days. After Marrakech, I will then fly to Madrid, which is my last stop. From Madrid, I will be flying back home.

My question is: Where do I claim the tax refund? Upon my flight out of Milan or Marrakech, as my last exit point?

Appreciate any input, thanks!

I would guess Madrid unless it is just a transit point without leaving the secured section of the airport, otherwise Milan--Morocco is not part of the EU.

Thanks, I will be spending a few days in Madrid so it's not just a transit point.

Oh sorry correction:

My question is: Where do I claim the tax refund? Upon my flight out of Milan or MADRID, as my last exit point?

You can claim your VAT refund at the Madrid airport, but you will have to show the items you are claiming the refund on, so they will have to be in your carry-on. Just make sure all of your paperwork is in order and be prepared to wait in line.

Note that the VAT refund programs are different in Italy and Spain, so you may want to claim your Italian purchases at the airport in Milan.

http://www.aena.es/en/madrid-barajas...at-refund.html

I just did this in March and was told the tax refund has to be claimed on your exit from the last European country. Which would be Madrid for you. If you were just transiting through Madrid you could do it in Milan.

And I agree, make sure all your paperwork is totally in order and have the items in your carry on, OR go to the tax back office before checking your bag through. (that is what I did…too much stuff to put in the carry on)

I would think you should claim the refund in Spain. Otherwise, you would be subject to paying VAT and customs on items being imported to Spain.

<i>Vat Refund Question
Posted by: harlequin on Aug 17, 16 at 12:31pm
I will be in Italy for a couple of weeks and I plan to shop there. From Milan, I will fly to Marrakech for a few days. After Marrakech, I will then fly to Madrid, which is my last stop. </i>

Doing the paperwork in Milan would probably be easier. The Spanish douane might be a bit perplexed seeing Italian goods. When you arrive in Madrid go through the "Nothing to Declare" green door if you are under the duty free limit. Here is a link to the EU taxation page for visitors http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs...s/index_en.htm.

I would agree as to claiming in Milan, where you'll expect to have goods. Then, you fly out of the EU, and back to Madrid. If you were to purchase goods there, is there a legality about submitting the VAT there for goods from Spain?

The OP is leaving the EU from Milan, reentering via Madrid, thus Milan is where the OP should do the VAT refund, but there is no problem doing it when leaving Spain, it's just that the OP may need to show the Guardia Civil the claimed items.

Note" there is no actual time limit in claiming the refund. We did one in Spain, on items purchased in Paris on a privious trip, 6 months earlier.