VAT Refund Ireland: A How-To Guide For Tourists

If you’re travelling to Ireland from outside the EU, you may be entitled to a VAT refund/VAT tax refund.

In a nutshell, you can claim money back on some (not all – see below) of the purchases that you make in Ireland (and in other countries across the EU).

Below, I’ll going to show you how to get a VAT refund in Dublin Airport and how to know what purchases entitle you to one.

Ireland VAT refund for tourists

Here’s an overview of VAT that’ll get you up-to-speed quickly:

1. What is it

VAT is a tax that’s included in the price of your purchase of goods and services in Ireland. Now, while the % of VAT charged will differ depending on the goods or service that you’re purchasing, the standard VAT rate is 23%.

2. The different rates

• 23%: Alcohol, audio-visual equipment, cosmetics, detergents, diesel, fridges, furniture, hardware, jewellery, toys, bottled water and more
• 13.5%: Short-term car hire, cleaning, and maintenance services and more
• 9%: Gas, electricity and other things not really relevant to tourists

3. Who can claim a VAT refund in Ireland

‘Visitors’ to the EU qualify for the refund. A ‘visitor’ is a person who lives in a country outside of the European Union. For example, a family from the US who spend 2 months in a holiday home in Killarney every summer are visitors.

4. Who isn’t eligible 

1. EU residents: It’s non-EU residents only
2. Students: E.g. a student from outside the EU studying in Ireland and that heads home for the summer holidays
3. Non-EU workers: E.g. you’re from Brazil and you’re working in Dublin and you decide to head home for two weeks at Christmas
4. Embassy workers: Don’t qualify for a European Union VAT refund. However, they can claim VAT back via a protocol officer

5. It’s only for items you can carry in hand luggage

The deductible VAT scheme is intended to only apply to goods that you can carry with you in your hand luggage. Now, you might be thinking, ‘Sure, I’ll pop it in my check-in case and it’ll all be grand’.

If you do this, you won’t be able to get the refund. You need to be able to present your purchased goods to customs as you’re leaving Ireland.

How do you get a VAT refund in Ireland?

Ireland’s VAT refund program for tourists is known as the Retail Export Scheme. VAT refunds can be processed through either the retailer or a number of refund agents but note that it is only for non-EU residents.

Now, if you’re thinking, ‘Happy days, I’ll just tell them at the till/cash register that I’d like to pay for the item minus the VAT’, you’re going to be disappointed – you need to pay the full price with VAT when you’re in the shop.

There are several things that you need to do to ensure that you qualify to obtain a VAT refund after leaving Ireland. Take note of these as each is necessary to ensure that you qualify.

Step 1. When making your purchase

If you’re planning on heading out shopping, bring your passport with you. You’ll also need proof that you’re a visitor to the EU (your ticket home – printed or on a travel app – will suffice here).

When you visit a shop, ask one of the people working there if they take part in the VAT refund scheme. Many shops that operate within the tourist industry/that get good business from tourists will.

You also need to understand what threshold applies to the purchase in order for you to be eligible to get a tax VAT refund.

Step 2. Getting the appropriate documents

After you’ve made your purchase, ask the person manning the till to fill out the VAT refund form.

There are several things that you need to query at this point:

1. Ask the person what exactly needs to be done to get the refund: In some stores, they’ll organise a third-party to sort out the refund for them. In some cases, the store will issue the refund themselves
2. Ask about admin fees: Many stores will take an admin fee for processing the refund. Find out there and then how much it is

When they hand the form to you, have a quick scan of it to ensure that all the necessary sections are filled in.

VAT Refund Dublin Airport Terminal 2

Claiming your VAT Refund in Dublin Airport Terminal 2 is very easy, once you have all of your documents prepared.

Go through security and into duty free. Make your way to the toilets (just past the cafe in the centre).

Here, you’ll see the different places for claiming your Ireland VAT refund.

VAT Refund Dublin Airport Terminal 1

Claiming your VAT Refund in Dublin Airport Terminal 1 is also nice and straightforward, although many people miss the counter.

When you pass through security, turn right and you’ll see the duty free. You need to take the left turn before you reach the toilets.

If you can’t find it, ask a member of staff where The Gate Clock bar is – the VAT refund desks are on your left before you reach the pub.

Using third-party services

Now, another way to do get your sales tax refund is to claim a FEXCO Horizon Tax Free Card.

You can order one of these for free online or you can get one from many stores that take part in the tax free shopping scheme.

With the card, you simply register it online and then swipe it every time you make a qualifying purchase.

Then, when you’re in the airport, you simply give the card to the person working at the FEXCO tax free refund desk, which can be found in both of the airports at Dublin and Shannon.

There are also self-service kiosks for those of you that visit when the main desk is closed. You can also claim the tax refunds online. Refunds can take 4 to 6 weeks to hit your account.

If you found this useful, you’ll find our tourist information hub very handy! It contains info on everything from renting a car in Ireland to how to plan the perfect Ireland itinerary.