For shopaholics, traveling abroad equals (a lot of) tax-free shopping. A Dutch app, launched yesterday during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, is their dream come true. Vatfree.com enables travelers and expats to smoothly claim back their VAT by uploading stamped receipts, cutting out the need to visit service desks at airports. The app is available for both iOS and Android.
Travelers unaware claiming back VAT
“Every year over 3,3 million tourists from outside the EU visit The Netherlands alone. Over 70% of these travelers are unaware of the fact that they can claim back their VAT over all purchases made in the EU. On average they, therefore, leave almost 80 euro behind per person”, states Joni de Vogel-Smeenk, founder of vatfree.com (image above). “Our purpose is to enable travelers to easily shop Tax-Free at brands and stores that love them back.”