Tax-Free Shopping in Italy 🇮🇹

Value Added Tax (VAT) in Italy

• Local currency is EUR

• VAT (IVA in Italian) is applied to all purchases

• Standard VAT rate: 22%

• Low VAT rate: 10% on food and some optical products. 

• Low VAT rate: 4% on medicines, pharmaceutical goods, books, magazines.

6 Tax-Free shopping rules for Italy

1. You must receive a Tax-Free form from the store or a complete invoice, showing your name, non-EU address and passport number

2. If the store can’t provide a Tax-Free form or complete invoice, you must bring your own Tax-Free form to customs

3. You must spend a minimum of EUR 70 (including VAT) per store, per day.

4. The goods you buy must be for private use

5. You must live in a non-EU country at least 6 months of the year

6. You must get proof of export before the end of the 3rd month, after the month of purchase

Where to get Customs validation?

You can get proof of export at Customs desks at all international airports in Italy. They’re usually located before check-in, in international departure halls. If you’re unsure, ask an airport employee to point you in the right direction.

Bring to Customs:

• Tax-Free form (from the store or your own), or a complete invoice from the store, showing your name, non-EU address and passport number

• Any other purchase documents received from the store

• Purchased items

• Passport (If you have an EU passport; other proof of residence outside the EU)

• Boarding pass

Good to know

• If you don't have a complete invoice from the store, an additional Tax-Free form is mandatory for Customs

• Please plan in some extra time at the airport, so you have time to visit Customs before your flight. An extra 30 minutes before check-in time is usually enough.

• Make sure your new items are in an unused condition.

• If you were not able to get proof of export when leaving the EU, check the alternatives here.