10 France: Duty free shopping
Description
This article is from the Paris, France FAQ, by Thierry E. Toniutti and Delphine Kensit nemo_n@yahoo.com.
10 France: Duty free shopping
Visitor to France may have the French value added tax deducted from
goods bought in the country. In France, VAT is called "taxe sur la
valeur ajoutee" TVA, it goes up to 20.6% or 22%. Note that not all
shops apply the duty free sales system.
Who benefits from the duty free sales ?
any person, 15 years old and over who is resident abroad when
purchasing the goods and travelling through France for less than six
months. At the time of purchase you must be able, as a foreigner, to
prove your identity. These facilities do not apply to embassy staff
and similar categories, students and trainees, immigrant workers who
are resident in France.
Everything can bought duty-free except foods either solid or liquid,
tobacco, medecines, fire arms (however, smooth bore shotguns and range
rifles, firing guns and small hand guns may be bought duty free),
works of art, collector's items and antiques. Nevertheless, you may
buy tax-free contemporary works of art in certain cases. Information
is available from "the Comite Professionnel des Galeries d'Art"
located 83, rue du Faubourg Saint Honor' in the 8th district, phone
number is 01.42.66.66.62.
Also private means of transport, cars, boats, planes and the
corresponding spares and equipment. However, car radios and cassette
players as well as sports articles such as bicycles, sailing and
surfing boards, may be bought free of tax.
Finally purchases of a commercial nature such as those made in large
amounts.
You can claim duty-free allowances at the time of purchase, the
assistant will give you an export sales invoice, "bordereau" in
French, made up of three pages, which you sign and have validated.
The purchases, inclusive of tax, from any single store must, at least
amount to 4 200 Francs per item either single or made up of differents
parts if you are resident in the E.E.C, 2 000 Francs whatever the
amount if you are resident in any other country.
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