Ireland VAT Refund: How Tourists Can Get Tax Back
It's a sad fact; at one point or another, your magical vacation in Ireland will come to an end.
As you’re packing your bags and making room for those sweaters, whiskey bottles, and wool throws, don’t forget one final task before heading to the airport: organizing your VAT refund paperwork.
What is the VAT?
VAT stands for Value Added Tax. If you’re from the United States, the easiest comparison is sales tax – with one important difference.
In Ireland, VAT is already included in the price you see. It’s not added at checkout. The price on the tag is the price you pay.
VAT rates range from 9% to 25% and apply to most goods and services. There are a few notable exceptions, including food, children’s clothing, medical services, and purchases from nonprofit organizations.
If you live outside the European Union, you may qualify for a VAT refund on eligible purchases. To do so, you must:
- Spend at least €75 per receipt
- Request VAT refund paperwork at the time of purchase
- Submit your forms before leaving Ireland
And one more important detail: all goods must leave Ireland within three months of purchase (the length of a tourist visa).
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VAT and Republic of Ireland Shopping Tips
While VAT is added to most goods purchased in Ireland, you will not receive a refund on every item you buy. Hotel stays, car rental, and restaurant meals are a few of the purchases you will make that do not offer a VAT refund.
Most stores will recognize you as a tourist, but it is always helpful to request your VAT upon check out. Ireland VAT has 3 refund systems; the first two listed are the ones I encounter most often.
Read More: Best Ireland Souvenirs for Everyone You Know
Planet VAT Refunds
Most shops in Ireland that offer VAT refunds use Planet to process them.
If the store participates, the process is simple:
At checkout, ask for VAT refund paperwork. The clerk will prepare a form that shows:
- What you purchased
- The amount of VAT paid
- The store’s details
You’ll provide your passport information and sign the form. Keep this paperwork safe – you’ll need it at the airport.
Before leaving Ireland, you must validate your refund. This is done at the airport using Planet kiosks, drop boxes, or staffed counters. After validation, your refund is processed back to your credit card (minus processing fees).
A few important things to remember:
- Your purchase must total at least €75 per receipt.
- You must request the paperwork at the time of purchase.
- You may be asked to present your purchases during the validation process, so keep higher-value items accessible – just in case.
- Allow extra time at the airport to complete the process.
That’s it. No special cards. No advance registration. Just ask at the till and keep your forms organized.
Tip: If you have multiple Planet receipts for the same traveler (or family), they can be placed into a single envelope. If receipts are for different people, use separate envelopes.
Global Blue VAT Refunds
Some shops may use Global Blue instead of Planet to process VAT refunds. It’s less common, but you could encounter it – especially in larger retail stores.
The process is similar:
At checkout, request VAT refund paperwork. The clerk will prepare a detailed form showing:
- What you purchased
- The amount of VAT paid
- The store’s information
You’ll provide passport details and sign the form. Keep the paperwork safe – you’ll need it when departing Ireland.
Before leaving, validate your paperwork at the airport according to the instructions provided. Once processed, your refund can be issued to your credit card or, in some cases, as cash (fees and exchange rates apply).
Tip: Global Blue offers a mobile app that allows you to track refunds and view participating retailers.
In-Store VAT Refunds
Some retailers, often larger shops, offer an in-store VAT refund option.
In this case, the VAT is removed or processed at the time of purchase, rather than being handled at the airport.
Here’s how it typically works:
- If paying by credit card, the VAT may be refunded directly back to that card after the transaction is processed.
- If paying in cash, you may pay the full amount and receive the VAT refund later by check or card credit (processing times vary).
If you choose to have your purchases shipped home from the store, the VAT is usually handled at the point of sale and does not require airport validation.
You’ll still receive detailed documentation of the transaction – keep it for your records – but you typically do not need to complete additional paperwork at the airport.
Turning in Your VAT Refund at the Airport
You will find the VAT refund locations just past security and before the customs office at both Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport.
Do be sure to figure in time at the airport to visit the VAT desks. While it is often a quick process, queues can form and cause a wait.
Dublin Airport Arrival & Departure Tips
Shannon Airport Arrival & Departure Tips
Not flying home from Ireland?
Here's how you can still collect your VAT refund.
Shopping in Northern Ireland: No VAT Refund
Purchases made in Northern Ireland follow UK tax rules. The UK ended its VAT Retail Export Scheme on January 1, 2021.
This means VAT refunds are no longer available for goods carried home in your luggage, so most in-store purchases there are not eligible for refund.
A Final Money-Saving Tip: Avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion
When using a credit or debit card in Ireland, always choose to pay in the local currency.
Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) allows you to pay in your home currency, but it almost always results in a worse exchange rate.
In the Republic of Ireland, pay in euros.
In Northern Ireland, pay in pounds.
Your bank or credit card provider will typically offer a better exchange rate than the one built into Dynamic Currency Conversion.
When the payment terminal asks, choose the local currency – even if the screen tries to make the home-currency option look convenient.
A merchant near Connemara could not get their VAT receipt printer to work. They provided the envelope but not the firm and told us the VAT refund would be €8 if we submit for it.
How can travelers submit without that form?
I think the person who gave you that information may have been mistaken in a couple of ways.
In Ireland, tourists can’t submit a VAT refund claim directly on their own. The refund must go through a VAT refund operator, and the shop normally provides the official Tax-Free form at the time of purchase. This form links the purchase to the retailer’s VAT refund account and includes the information needed to process the claim.
According to the Planet Tax Free FAQ, travelers must receive the refund form when making the purchase, and the form generally cannot be issued afterward. Without that official form, the refund company has no way to process the claim.
If you wanted to try to pursue it, the steps would be:
• Contact the merchant and ask which VAT refund company they work with.
• Request the official Tax-Free form for your purchase (though these are usually issued only at the time of sale).
• Bring the form, receipt, and the purchased goods to Irish customs at the airport before departure to have the form validated. In some cases the validated form can also be mailed to the refund operator.
• Submit the validated form through the refund company (usually online or at the airport desk).
Most shops that offer VAT refunds also keep manual carbon-copy forms for situations when the receipt printer or system isn’t working. In those cases they can fill out the form by hand and attach the receipt so travelers still have the documentation needed to claim the refund.
If the merchant didn’t issue the official refund paperwork at the time of purchase, the simplest approach is usually to treat the purchase as not eligible for a VAT refund.
I’m sorry I can’t be of more help.
can we claim the VAT in the U.S. as power was out when leaving Dublin Airport on
15 September 2024.
Hello John.
You can, though the process isn’t as easy.
I cover all of that in this article.
Do you know if there is an address to send a receipt to to acquire a refund after returning to the US?
Thanks for your question.
First you would need to know which VAT provider the store used. Unfortunately there isn’t just one provider, and each store choses which one they use.
You would then visit the tax back provider’s website to get the steps needed to submit the receipt.
For Planet the rules can be found here. (Planet recently purchased Fexco so these are likely the steps you need to follow.)
For Global Blue the customer service page has information about filing VAT from home.
I hope that helps.