Shopping Tax Refunds and Rising Tourist Fees: What Travelers Need to Know

So you're planning your next adventure abroad? That's awesome! But before you start dreaming about cobblestone streets and epic mountain vistas, let's talk about something way less sexy but potentially way more valuable: getting some of your money back on travel taxes and understanding some of the new fees, or increasing ones, popping up around the world.

I've been traveling for years and never bothered to look into this for some reason. Not that I do a lot of shopping abroad but still, I probably could have claimed hundreds (maybe even thousands?) of dollars back over the span of my travels if I'd taken the time to learn what to do. Let me save you from making the same mistakes.

The VAT Refund: Europe's Best-Kept Shopping Secret

Here's the deal: when you buy stuff in Europe, you're paying something called Value Added Tax (VAT) although the name will change from country to country; Italy uses IVA for example. Think of it as Europe's version of sales tax, except it's usually way higher—we're talking anywhere from 8% to 27% depending on the country. The good news? As a tourist, you can get most of that back on goods you're taking home.

Positano, Italy

What Can You Actually Claim?

This is important: you can claim VAT on goods, but NOT on services. So that beautiful tile collection from Positano? Yes. Your hotel in Amsterdam? Nope. Meals at restaurants? Also no. In effect, if you're paying for an experience or a service, that VAT is staying with the Europeans. Apart from accommodations and dining, these include everything from car rentals, museum fees, attraction fees, cooking classes, tours, concerts, spas, and well...you get the gist.

Bottom Line: If it isn't something you have purchased—clothes, electronics, jewelry, souvenirs, whatever— to pack and bring home it does not qualify for the VAT refund.

How Much Can You Get Back?

It varies by country, but you're typically looking at getting back somewhere between 10-20% of your purchase price after service fees. On a €500 shopping spree, that could be €50-100 back in your pocket. Not bad for some paperwork, right?

Most countries have minimum purchase requirements (though Spain eliminated theirs entirely in 2018). These can range from basically nothing in Germany to around $200+ in some other countries. The key is to ask at the store if they participate in tax-free shopping.

The Process (Not Super Easy but Worth it Sometimes)

1. Shop at participating stores – Look for "Tax Free Shopping" stickers in windows

2. Bring your passport – The store needs it to fill out your refund form

3. Get the paperwork – Don't leave the store without your VAT refund forms and receipts

4. Don't use the items (yet!) – Technically you're supposed to keep tags on and items unused

5. Get to the airport early – You'll need time to find the customs office

6. Get your forms stamped – This happens at your LAST stop in the EU, before you leave

7. Claim your refund – Either at a refund desk or by mailing forms back

Pro tip: Most stores use services like Global Blue or Planet to handle refunds. They make the process super smooth, though they take a small commission.

The Important Stuff They Don't Always Tell You

• Your goods need to leave the EU within 3 months of purchase

• Get everything stamped at your LAST EU country before heading home (so if you're flying out of Paris after shopping in Italy, Spain, and Germany, Paris is where you do the paperwork)

• Switzerland, Norway, and Turkey aren't in the EU, so handle refunds separately if you shop there

• Some airports have the customs office before security, others after—and they may want to see your actual purchases, so plan accordingly

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Beyond Europe: GST and Sales Tax Refunds Around the World

Now here's the thing: VAT isn't the only game in town. Many countries have similar consumption taxes with their own names—GST (Goods and Services Tax), consumption tax, and so on. And some of them also offer tourist refunds, while others... not so much.

Countries Where You CAN Claim Refunds:

Australia has a Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) where you can claim back the 10% GST on goods purchased within 60 days of departure. You need to spend at least AUD $300 from the same retailer, and you claim it at the airport before you leave. The process is pretty streamlined—they even have an app to speed things up.

Japan currently lets tourists shop tax-free on their 10% consumption tax right at the point of purchase (no waiting for refunds!). But heads up: starting November 2026, they're switching to a refund system similar to Europe's, where you'll pay the tax upfront and claim it back at the airport. Still worth doing, just plan for the extra airport time.

Countries Where You CAN'T Claim Refunds:

Canada has no national tax refund program for tourists. You'll pay the 5% federal GST plus provincial taxes (which vary by province), and there's no getting it back. Your only strategy here is to shop in provinces that only charge the federal GST.

United States doesn't have a national VAT system. Instead, sales tax is handled state-by-state (and sometimes city-by-city), with rates ranging from 0% (in states like Oregon and Delaware) to over 10% in some cities. There's no centralized system for refunds like you'd find with VAT in Europe. So, shop in the states that don't have the sales tax basically. I know that the outlet malls in PA are often crowded with out of state shoppers and Canadians looking to buy clothing and shoes at bargain prices and no sales tax (PA does not tax these items)

New Zealand also offers no GST refunds for tourists. That 15% GST is non-refundable, period. The only way around it is buying duty-free or having retailers ship items directly overseas before you take possession.

The principle is the same as VAT—you're a tourist taking goods out of the country, so some governments let you skip the consumption tax. But it's definitely not universal, so always check before assuming you can claim anything back.

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Plot Twist: Amsterdam's Getting More Expensive

Canals in Amsterdam

So circling back to services you can't claim back... if you're planning a trip to the Netherlands, buckle up. Starting in January 2026, the VAT rate on hotel accommodations is jumping from 9% to 21%. That's a massive increase that could make your Amsterdam canal-view hotel significantly pricier.

Amsterdam is already considering raising its tourist tax even further if the VAT increase doesn't reduce visitor numbers, so costs could climb higher still. The city currently has the highest tourist tax in the Netherlands (12.5% of the accommodations cost)—combine that with the new VAT rate, and you're looking at some seriously expensive stays with a whopping 33.5%. That €400 per night Booking.com house you found will now cost €534 per night. Yikes. Oh, and if you are a cruise passenger? You'll be paying a fixed day tax of €14.50 per person.

What does this mean for you? If you're planning an Amsterdam trip, you might think booking now before the VAT increases and paying up front will save you. You'd be wrong. You will need to pay the difference when you arrive at the hotel. Accept that this increase will be a factor but maybe consider staying outside the city center where prices might be slightly more forgiving. You are still going to be paying the municipal tax (assuming you are staying in Amsterdam proper) and the VAT, it is countrywide, but you could be paying 33.5% on a €200 per night hotel as opposed to a €400 per night hotel located closer to the city center. The tram system there is great BTW so getting into the center from outer neighborhoods isn't too challenging.

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America Gets in on the Action: National Parks Fee Hikes

Antelope Canyon

Now let's talk about a change that caught a lot of international travelers off guard. Starting January 1, 2026, foreign visitors will pay an additional $100 per person fee to enter 11 of America's most popular national parks—and that's on top of the regular entrance fees.

Which Parks Are Affected?

The big hitters, unfortunately:

• Grand Canyon

• Yellowstone

• Yosemite

• Glacier

• Rocky Mountain

• Grand Teton

• Acadia

• Bryce Canyon

• Everglades

• Sequoia & Kings Canyon

• Zion

The Numbers

The annual "America the Beautiful" pass is also getting a price bump for international visitors—from $80 to $250, while US residents continue to pay the original $80.

So if you're a family of four international tourists planning to visit just Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, you're looking at an extra $800 in fees (assuming you don't buy the annual pass). That's... significant.

The stated goal is to generate more revenue for park maintenance while having US taxpayers pay less (since they already fund the parks through taxes). Whether you think that's fair or not probably depends on which passport you're carrying.

Silver Lining?

Look, if you're planning to visit multiple parks, that $250 annual pass starts making sense pretty quickly. Visit three of those parks and you've already broken even compared to paying per visit.

Travel Taxes and Fees: Other Countries Do This Too

Before anyone gets too worked up, it's worth noting that many countries charge different rates for locals versus international visitors. Ecuador's Galapagos Islands charge local adults $30 but international visitors pay $200. Thailand, Egypt, Cambodia, and tons of other places have similar two-tier pricing systems for tourist attractions. Just recently I went to Topkapı palace in Istanbul. The cost for entry for a foreign tourist (a.k.a me) was about $57 whereas for my Turkish companion it was only about $10. Under 6 kids are free BUT you'll need their passport or they pay full price too.

It's becoming more common as popular destinations try to manage overtourism and fund conservation efforts. Just took at Venice who, in 2021, were desperately trying to reduce their numbers and banned cruise ships from entering the lagoon and in 2024 also banned loudspeakers and tour groups in excess of 25 (who would want a group that big anyway!).

For a while they also had a €5 (€10 if you did not obtain the pass ahead of time) access fee in place for any tourists although currently this fee has been removed with discussions in place to bring it back in 2026. Not saying these added fees don't sting your wallet—just that it's not exactly unprecedented.

If you really want to visit a National park and not pay exorbitant fees consider this: National parks in Canada will have free entry during two periods in 2026 as part of the Canada Strong Pass from December 12 (2025) to January 15, and from June 19 to September 7. There is also a 25% discount on fees for camping and overnight stays in places that the National parks operate like cabins, campsites, yurts etc. but not on third party privately run properties of course. These discounts apply to residents of Canada AND foreign tourists alike. Yay, eh!

Cascade Mountain in Banff

The Bottom Line

Traveling is getting more complex on the money front, but knowledge is power (and savings). Here's your action plan:

For Europe:

• Always ask about VAT refunds when shopping

• Keep all your paperwork organized

• Budget extra time at the airport for customs

• Consider the new Netherlands accommodation costs in your planning

For US National Parks:

• If you're an international visitor planning a 2026 US trip, factor in these new fees

• Do the math on whether the annual pass makes sense

• Book your trip with realistic budget expectations

General Travel Wisdom:

• Research tax and fee structures before you go

• Don't assume prices you see online include all taxes. Many US hotels charge an urban fee or a resort fee that is added when you check in. Read more about that below in our related post.

• When in doubt, ask—store clerks and hotel staff deal with these questions constantly

The key is not to let these fees and taxes ruin your trip. They're just part of the deal now. But by knowing the rules, you can make smarter decisions about where to shop, where to stay, and how to get some of your money back.

Happy Travels!

Got questions about tax refunds or encountered new fees on your travels? Drop a comment below and let's figure it out together.