VAT Refund at Madrid Airport

Madrid International Airport (MAD) › Tax Refund

Tax-Free Shopping at Madrid Airport

Passengers from non-EU countries can benefit from tax-free shopping in Spain. They can purchase eligible items and then claim a refund (a part of the VAT) at Madrid Barajas Airport before departure. The standard VAT in Spain is 21%, while the value-added tax on certain food, medicines, restaurants, and cultural activities is 10% and on basic food, feminine products, newspapers, magazines, and books is 4%. So, how can a traveler save money on taxes when visiting Madrid?

Who is Eligible for a Tax Refund at Madrid Airport

Can you claim a VAT refund at Madrid Airport? What are the requirements to be exempt from the local value-added tax?

• You have to be a non-EU resident. Moreover, travelers from the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla are not entitled to tax-free shopping.
• You purchased products for personal use and not for commercial purposes.
• The purchase must have been made within three months before requesting the tax-free form stamp.
• You must leave the EU (traveling to a non-EU destination). If you’re traveling to another EU country first, you need to request the VAT refund at the last airport before exiting the EU.
• Spain doesn’t require a minimum purchase amount to get a VAT refund.

VAT Refund at Madrid Barajas Airport

The tax refund procedure in Spain is digital. Therefore, travelers use the DIVA system to get their forms stamped and proceed to the refund companies located airside, no paper forms needed.

In detail, the VAT refund process goes as follows:

Travelers must request the tax-free form, known as the Electronic Reimbursement Document (ERD), when purchasing an item. Expectantly, they won’t receive a paper form, as the process is digital. Please note that a passport or another form of identification is required to complete the tax-free form. Otherwise, they won’t be able to get the form.

As soon as they reach the airport and before dropping off their luggage, they must validate these forms. For that purpose, they’ll use the DIVA screens that can be found at Madrid airport’s check-in areas. They must have their passports, receipts, and DIVA forms (they’ll need to scan the QR code) available, as well as the products purchased and their boarding cards or tickets. Once they complete the procedure, they’ll be informed if the forms are stamped or not. In the last case, they must address the Civil Guard’s Receipt Stamping Offices, located next to the DIVA screens.

Passengers aren’t given paper forms. Still, they can check the status of their VAT refund online with the use of their CSV (secure verification code). Once it is validated (either through the DIVA system or the stamping offices), they can proceed to the returns offices located at the airport’s post-security zones to get refunded.

The Refund Process

The refund companies are located airside, near the boarding areas and the baggage claim zones. Several operators are available. Therefore, passengers must proceed to the correct operator based on the company that issued their tax-free form. Its logo should be clearly displayed on the form. Refunds are typically made by debit or credit card or via bank transfer. A few providers also offer cash refunds. Travelers can claim the refund within four years. However, the tax-free forms must be stamped within three months.

FAQs

How do I get my VAT refund from Madrid Airport?

The tax refund process at Madrid Airport is digital. Thus, you’ll need to go to one of the DIVA screens located at the check-in areas of MAD terminals, and have your passport, receipt, boarding pass or ticket, DIVA forms, and purchased items on hand. Once you scan the QR codes on the DIVA forms and follow the instructions, your forms will be digitally stamped. As soon as the stamping of the forms is validated, you can proceed to the returns offices, located airside near the boarding gates, to collect your refund.

What is the tax-free amount in Madrid?

There is no minimum amount required to be eligible for a VAT refund at Madrid Airport. Although Spain had a minimum amount of money per purchase as a condition for tax-free shopping, this rule has changed. Currently, non-EU travelers are entitled to a tax refund regardless of the purchase amount.