Tax-Free Shopping in Poland 🇵🇱

Shop tax-free in Poland with vatfree.com, and explore the fascinating blend of medieval and modern culture! Discover the Old Town of Warsaw, with its picturesque cobblestone streets and colorful architecture, where you can find boutiques, artisan shops, and souvenir stores. Explore the modern shopping centers, like Złote Tarasy or Arkadia, which offer a wide range of luxury and designer brands. Don't miss the chance to sample some of Poland's famous traditional delicacies while you shop, like pierogi or kielbasa.

Take advantage of the low prices and high quality of Polish goods while saving on VAT. Support local artisans and sustainable shopping practices while immersing yourself in the vibrant energy of Warsaw's shopping scene.

Value Added Tax (VAT) in Poland

• Local currency is PLN, Złoty (alternative spelling: zloty, Polski Zloty)

• VAT is applied to all purchases

• Standard VAT rate: 23%

• Low VAT rate: 8% on food and some optical products. 

• Low VAT rate: 5% on medicines, pharmaceutical goods, books, magazines.
  

5 Tax-Free shopping rules

1. You must live at least 6 months out of each year in a non-EU country.

2. You must purchase goods (online or in stores) for private use to take back home to a non-EU country.

3. Upon purchasing goods, let the store know you will export the goods. The store will provide you with a tax-free form.

4. There is a minimum spend for a tax refund in Poland. In order to be eligible for a VAT (Value Added Tax) refund, you must have spent a minimum of 200 PLN, which is equivalent to approximately €45 euros. This means that you must spend at least 200 PLN in a single transaction at a participating store to be eligible for a VAT refund.  It's important to note that certain items, such as fuel, food, and hotel stays, are not eligible for a VAT refund. 

5. You must get a Customs export validation stamp before the end of the 3rd month, after the month of purchase. So if you buy a product in February, you can declare the product for export validation till the end of May of that year. The Customs export validation (either an ink stamp on your documentation or digitally approved) is mandatory to prove export of goods. Without this proof, no VAT refund can be issued.

Where to get Customs validation?

At the last EU departure point like the airport of Warsaw, Krakow or upon arrival in a non-EU country. Required documentation to show the Customs officer: 

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

• Boarding pass;

• Purchased items;

• Purchase invoices/receipts and/or tax free forms
  

Good to know

At the airport, please allow enough time for Customs approval process before your flight departs. An extra 30 minutes before check-in time is usually enough.

Make sure the goods are in an unused condition.

Make sure to visit Customs before check-in as you will probably check in your main luggage. If you plan to carry the goods in your hand luggage, visit Customs after check-in if the airport map shows this option.

Make sure to take a photo of your stamped documents after visiting Customs. Upload these photos via the vatfree.com app or after logging in to your account. In case of loss, you will always have the digital copies in a safe place and the VAT refund process might still be able to take place.

If you are departing a Polish airport but changing flights at another EU airport, and if the goods you are exporting are to be checked through to a destination outside the EU, go to Customs at the Polish airport and your documentation will be export validated as if you were at the EU departure point. If your luggage is not checked through to a destination outside the EU, you need to have your documentation export validated at the EU airport where the changing flights occur. 

In smaller airports, there may be no Customs Official present, in this case, look for the Customs deposit box and instructions.