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Reclaiming VAT on export
Publication date 02-09-2025 | Last update 06-11-2025 |
Do you live outside the EU? And did you make purchases during your stay in the EU that you are taking with you in your luggage to a country outside the EU? Then you can request a refund of the VAT (btw) you paid on goods bought from retailers (shops) or suppliers in the EU.
You can request a refund of Dutch VAT (btw) if the total amount you paid for the goods is at least €50. This amount includes VAT.
To get your VAT refunded, you can use a tax refund agent (tax-refund-intermediair). The retailer (shop) or supplier where you make your purchase can tell you more about this. But you can also request the VAT refund yourself. To do this, you need an invoice or a copy of it for the goods for which you are requesting the VAT refund.
Please note
From 1 January 2026, the process for VAT refunds will only be digital. From that moment on, you will need the 'NL Customs VAT' app to request a VAT refund. Some retailers (shops) already accept this app. You can find more information about the digital process at the bottom of the page. There you can also download the app.
How does VAT refund work?
Are you leaving the EU from the Netherlands? Then the VAT refund process works as follows:
- Ask the retailer (shop) or supplier for an invoice (receipt) for your purchase. Agree in advance that they will refund the VAT to you.
- Have the invoice or a copy of it signed (validated) by Customs (Douane) when you leave the EU.
Customs will check:- whether you live outside the EU
- whether the goods are with you
- whether you are taking the goods with you yourself
- the date on the invoice: no more than 3 months may have passed since the month of purchase
- Send the signed invoice to the retailer (shop), supplier or your tax refund agent (tax-refund-intermediair).
- The retailer (shop), supplier or tax refund agent will then refund the VAT to you.
Check the Dutch overview list of Customs offices (douanekantoren) where you can have your invoice signed.
Requesting a VAT refund digitally with our app
Would you like to request a Dutch VAT (btw) refund easily? Use our app ‘NL Customs VAT’ when you are leaving the EU from the Netherlands.
This app only works for goods bought in the Netherlands. For goods bought in another EU country, the process described above under ‘How does VAT refund work?’ applies.
Tip: download the app before you arrive at the Dutch airport or port you are leaving from. This will save you time. You can download the app using the link later in this text.
How to request a VAT refund using the app
Follow these steps to add your invoices to the app:
- Ask the retailer (shop) or supplier to put the invoice in your name and to register it digitally. This must be done at the time of purchase!
Please note
Some retailers (shops) and suppliers in the Netherlands are not yet connected to the digital VAT refund process. In that case, you must follow the process described above under ‘How does VAT refund work?’.
- Download the ‘NL Customs VAT’ app.
- Register in the app. You will need your passport for this.
- Your purchases will now appear in the ‘NL Customs VAT’ app.
At the Dutch airport or port, do the following: - Open the ‘NL Customs VAT’ app.
- Go to the area near the Customs desk (douaneloket).
- Switch on ‘Bluetooth’ and ‘Location’ or ‘Location services’ on your phone.
- In the app, request validation for your VAT refund. The app will tell you whether you need to report to the Customs desk first with your purchases.
- Once your request has been validated in the app, you can receive your money.
Please note
Steps 6 to 9 currently only work at Schiphol Airport. At other airports and at ports, you need to go to the Customs desk (douaneloket) with the app.
There, the validation is handled digitally. You will not receive a signature or stamp on your paper invoice. You can see the validation in your app. Your tax refund agent (tax-refund-intermediair) can see the validated invoices in the system.
Download the 'NL Customs VAT' app
Request your VAT refund within 3 months after the month of purchase
Do you want to request a VAT (btw) refund? This is only possible for goods that you take with you to a country outside the EU within 3 months after the month of purchase. Customs (Douane) will check the purchase date.
Example
You live outside the EU and you buy some goods in the EU in January. You want to take these goods with you in your luggage to a country outside the EU. If you leave the EU within 3 months after the month of purchase – so 3 months after January – you can get a VAT refund on the goods.
This means you must leave the EU and request the refund no later than 30 April.
Are you moving to a country outside the EU? Then this rule also applies to you – but only if you move within 3 months after the month in which you bought the goods, and re-quest the VAT refund within that period.
Customs cannot help if you do not receive your VAT refund
We cannot help you if the retailer (shop) or supplier where you made your purchase does not refund the VAT. Customs only validates your VAT refund request. The Tax Ad-ministration (Belastingdienst) also cannot help in this case.