Tax-Free Shopping in Czech Republic 🇨🇿

Shop Tax-free in the Czech Republic with Vatfree.com! The Czech Republic is a popular destination for tourists, offering a blend of rich history, stunning architecture, and unique shopping opportunities. With its charming cobblestone streets, bustling markets, and modern shopping malls, there's something for every type of shopper!

Prague is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and is known for its stunning architecture, rich history, and vibrant culture. The city is also a shopper's paradise, with a wide variety of shopping options available, from luxury boutiques to vintage stores and local markets. Wenceslas Square and Na Příkopě Street are popular shopping destinations, offering a mix of international brands and local shops. Additionally, the Palladium and Arkády Pankrác shopping malls offer a range of shops and dining options. Don't forget to take advantage of tax-free shopping opportunities to make the most of your shopping budget while in Czech Republic!

Value Added Tax (VAT) in the Czech Republic

• Local currency is CZK, The koruna, or crown, Kč

• VAT is applied to all purchases

• Standard VAT rate: 21%

• Low VAT rate: 15% on food and some optical products. 

• Low VAT rate: 0% 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. In the Czech Republic, the minimum purchase amount required to be eligible for VAT refund varies depending on the retailer and the refund provider. However, the general minimum amount is around 2,000 CZK (approximately €78 EUR) per purchase. 

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 Prague 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 Czech Republic 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 Czech Republic 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.