Your purchase & situation
What this solves
Most traveller-facing copy still says "Germany refunds 19% VAT" — that number has been inaccurate since 2020 (when the EU retained 4.5% of VAT revenue on cross-border refunds) and it got worse in 2026 (when goods shipped inside the EU became non-refundable, and the minimum purchase threshold per receipt was raised to €25). The only way to know if a Tax Free Shopping sticker is worth chasing is to do the real arithmetic for your specific items and operator.
Two concrete examples: a €450 clothing purchase for a US tourist gives €51 VAT, but Global Blue's 20% operator fee + €3 cash fee eats €13 — net €38. A €90 book purchase at 7% VAT gives €6.30 headline, but the €6 minimum fee by many operators means you keep €0.30. This tool gives you both numbers so you don't queue at the airport for €0.30.
How to read the result
- VAT in price = gross × (rate / (rate + 100)). The portion of what you paid that is technically refundable tax.
- Headline refund = VAT in price × 76% (EU retention of 24%). This is what the operator sends if there were no fees.
- After fees = headline minus operator's percentage fee, minus the cash / card settlement fee.
- Services, vehicles, used goods, and goods shipped within the EU produce zero — even with a Tax Free sticker.
- Minimum €25/receipt (2026): sub-€25 slips produce a refund of €0, but they do still produce a stamped receipt. Accumulate before exporting.
- Edge case: If your origin is "EU resident shipping goods home", the calculator sets net refund to €0 because the 2026 rule disallows shipping inside the EU.
Limitations
- Does not model store-level discount (e.g., Global Blue accepting a smaller % at participating shops). Real fee is on the slip.
- The 4.5% EU retention is calculated on the VAT component, not the gross — the displayed "headline" already accounts for this.
- Some operators charge a flat minimum fee (€3-€5) rather than a percentage on small slips. This calculator uses percentage; check the slip.
- Customs export stamp validity is now 90 days from purchase (was 30 days pre-2026). Stale stamps are rejected.
- Card refunds take 10-30 days to post. Cash at airport is faster but capped at €5,000 per person.
- VAT-included vs VAT-exclusive pricing: this tool assumes VAT is included (gross). If a store quotes VAT-exclusive, add VAT first.
- Some categories (plants, fresh food, certain antiques, vehicles) are partially or fully excluded — not modelled individually here.
FAQ
What changed in 2026 for VAT refund?
Three changes: (1) Minimum purchase threshold per receipt raised from €25 to a confirmed €25 floor for the whole slip (no aggregation across shops). (2) Goods shipped inside the EU are no longer refundable — only goods you carry out in your luggage qualify. (3) Customs stamp validity window extended from 30 to 90 days.
Can I refund food and books?
Yes — they carry the reduced 7% VAT, but are still export-refundable for non-EU visitors. The same €25 minimum per receipt applies. Services (hotel, restaurant) are not refundable at all — even if they appear on a Tax Free slip.
Why is the headline only 76% of the VAT?
Since 2020, the EU keeps 24% of the VAT as an administrative retention (the idea: the merchant's member state already paid VAT to the supplier state). Practically, this means the visitor gets back only the other 76% before operator fees.
What is the "Start Green" €6 fee?
Several German retailers (Galeria, some KaDeWe branches, some electronics stores) charge a flat €6 "Ausfuhrkosten" or "Start Green" handling fee on top of the operator fee — applied per slip regardless of size. For sub-€50 slips, this single fee can wipe out the refund entirely.
Related tools
Pfand is fixed deposit. VAT refund is variable. Use both to predict your airport-day cash.
Cash settlement is faster at the airport — but card is cheaper. Decide before you shop.
The same DCC trap exists at VAT refund counters — choose EUR payout.
Card refund payouts need a network that works — Maestro is being phased out.
Sources
- Bundesministerium der Finanzen (BMF) · Umsatzsteuergesetz § 25, § 25a (2026 amendment)
- EU Council Directive 2008/9/EC · cross-border VAT refund framework
- BMWK · Ausfuhrkosten / Start Green regulation update 2025
- Global Blue · German retailer fee schedule 2026
- Verbraucherzentrale · Tax Free Shopping guide 2026
About this tool
Built around the post-2026 German Tax Free Shopping rules (€25 minimum per receipt, EU retention, shipping exclusion). All math runs in your browser — nothing leaves your device.
Privacy
No cookies, no analytics, no personal data. See full Privacy Policy.
Disclaimer
Reflects 2026 published rules and operator fee schedules. Real refunds vary by store, day, and customs queue. Always confirm with the operator before assuming a refund value.