Making the most of your trips: VAT refunds for second-home owners in France

If you own a second home in France, your visits often come with a familiar rhythm: time with family, enjoying the region… and inevitably, a few purchases along the way.

From clothing and beauty products to gifts or personal items, these purchases quickly add up. What many non-EU residents don’t fully realise is that a part of this spending can be recovered.

Thanks to VAT refunds (tax-free shopping), you can reclaim the VAT paid on eligible goods — typically up to 20% of the purchase price.

A simple principle that is often overlooked

VAT refunds apply to goods that are purchased in France and taken out unused of the European Union.

In practice, this means that items you buy during your stay and bring back with you to the UK can qualify for a refund.

It’s a straightforward principle, but one that is often underused, especially by regular visitors who don’t necessarily think of their trips as “tax-free opportunities”.

A matter of awareness, not complexity

For many second-home owners, the challenge isn’t eligibility. It’s timing.

VAT refunds are rarely top of mind when travelling back and forth between countries. Purchases are made naturally, without necessarily thinking about the administrative side.

Yet with the right reflex, asking for the correct invoice and validating your documents before leaving the EU, the process is simple and accessible.

A more seamless way to manage VAT refunds

In recent years, digital solutions have made VAT refunds significantly easier to handle.

Zapptax is one of them, offering a fully digital experience designed for frequent travellers and expatriates.

With Zapptax:

• you request an invoice in Zapptax’s name when shopping in France
• upload it directly in the app
• your tax-free forms are generated automatically
• you validate them at customs when leaving the EU
• and receive your refund afterwards

The app allows you to manage multiple purchases across different trips, without paperwork or unnecessary complexity. 

Good to know : with Zapptax, you can order goods online, make them delivered in France and have them tax-free when returning home. You simply need to add Zapptax invoicing details when placing your order online.

Making the most of each trip

Owning a second home in France means travelling regularly, and these trips naturally come with spending.

Without changing your habits, simply being aware of VAT refunds allows you to make those purchases more efficient.A simple reflex before your next trip: think VAT refund.

Download the Zapptax app and make the most of your purchases in France.